Robert E. Howard (1906 - 1936)
Robert
Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 – June 11, 1936) was an American author
who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He is well known
for his character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of
the sword and sorcery subgenre. Howard was born and raised in the state
of Texas. He spent most of his life in the town of Cross Plains with
some time spent in nearby Brownwood. A bookish and intellectual child,
he was also a fan of boxing and spent some time in his late teens
bodybuilding, eventually taking up amateur boxing. From the age of nine
he dreamed of becoming a writer of adventure fiction but did not have
real success until he was 23. Thereafter, until his death at the age of
30 by suicide, Howard's writings were published in a wide selection of
magazines, journals, and newspapers, and he had become successful in
several genres. Although a Conan novel was nearly published into a book
in 1934, his stories never appeared in book form during his lifetime.
The main outlet for his stories was in the pulp magazine Weird Tales.
Howard’s suicide and the circumstances surrounding it have led to varied
speculation about his mental health. His mother had been ill with
tuberculosis his entire life, and upon learning that she had entered a
coma from which she was not expected to wake, he walked out to his car
and shot himself in the head. Howard created Conan the Barbarian, in the
pages of the Depression-era pulp magazine Weird Tales, a character
whose cultural impact has been compared to such icons as Tarzan, Count
Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, Batman, and James Bond. With Conan and his
other heroes, Howard created the genre now known as sword and sorcery,
spawning many imitators and giving him a large influence in the fantasy
field. Howard remains a highly read author, with his best works still
reprinted.
Beyond the Black River
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- Conan
the Barbarian is employed by one of the civilized countries to help in
it's push to claim lands from the primitive Picts. The Picts are not
excited about the idea however. Old gods and mythical creatures are
called up by the Pict witches to contest the invading army and Conan
finds himself battling for his life amid the blood thirsty hordes that
include saber-toothed tigers, 40 foot long venomous snakes and a demon
from another dimension who is intent on crushing him. The huge dog
Slasher makes an appearance here and distinguishes himself so well in a
doomed battle to delay their forces that Conan openly praises his
courage and pledges that 7 Pict heads will roll in his honor. (Summary
by Phil Chenevert)
- Genre(s): Science Fiction
The Devil in Iron
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- Conan's
lustful desires again get him into a whole pile of trouble. This time
the beautiful, golden haired, noble born Octavia, lures him into a
fiendish trap set by his most powerful enemies and from which there
seems to be no escape. But on the long deserted island of Xapur where he
goes to capture this crafty beauty, it is not just mortal enemies that
await him; Khosatral Khel a demon that crawled up from the abyss many
eons ago and is of a substance as hard as iron has been awakened and is
intent on crushing Conan and the woman like bugs for it's amusement.
Conan is up against a being immensely stronger than he is and which he
cannot kill with normal weapons. Will his mighty thews and muscles
finally be crushed beneath the iron fists of this devil? Will Conan
finally meet his match in this fierce but scantily clad woman or will
she finally yield to his powerful kisses? Listen and discover the answer
to these questions. (Summary by Phil Chenevert)
- Genre(s): Science Fiction
The Hour of the Dragon
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- This
is absolutely the best Conan novel ever written in my opinion. It
follows Conan when at the peak of his power as king of Aquilonia, he is
overthrown by dark, evil magic from Stygia and turned into a hunted
refugee. A 3,000 year old magician from the most evil empire that ever
existed is resurrected and with his sinister aid, Conan's enemies cause
the barbarian's downfall. The plot twists and turns in wonderful
fashion, following the Heart of Arihman, a strange extremely powerful
magic jewel from another universe. He fights back as only he can against
tremendous odds; beautiful women love and aid him; other beautiful
women try to kill him; he travels through many hostile countries; his
days as a corsair and pirate are remembered and used; and so, so, much
more. This book was a joy to read and it will be a good listen for Conan
fans. (by phil Chenevert).
- Genre(s): Fantasy Fiction
Jewels of Gwahlur
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- Conan
The Barbarian is after fabulous treasure in this exciting story. But he
finds himself in more difficulties than he had counted on. Crafty and
powerful human opponents seek to skin him alive, bestial mutations seek
to rip his arms off, denizens of the deep want to devour him whole and
scantily clad dusky beauties try to waylay him at every step. And all of
this to find the Jewels of Gwahlur, the most fabulous treasure every
hidden in a secret temple. Has Conan finally met his match? Will his
evil enemies or the seductive women finally succeed in making him beg
for mercy? Listen and find out. Caution: there is some sex, lots of
(justified) violence and the women are all equally voluptuous,
independent, yielding and very dangerous.
- Genre(s): Science Fiction
The People of the Black Circle
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- The
People of the Black Circle" is one of the original novellas about Conan
the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first
published in Weird Tales magazine in three parts over the September,
October and November 1934 issues. Howard earned $250 for the publication
of this story.
- It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age
and concerns Conan kidnapping a regal princess of Vendhya
(pre-historical India) and foiling a nefarious plot of world domination
by the Black Seers of Yimsha. Due to its epic scope and atypical
Hindustan flavor, the story is considered an undisputed classic of Conan
lore and is often cited by Howard scholars as one of his best tales. It
is also one of the few Howard stories where the reader is treated a
deeper insight on magic and magicians beyond the stereotypical Hyborian
depiction as demon conjurer-illusionist-priests. - Summary from
Wikipedia
- Genre(s): Fantasy Fiction
Queen of the Black Coast
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- Conan
finally meets his match in Belit, the fierce, bloodthirsty and scantily
clad pirate Queen. She also is unable to resist the huge, blue eyed,
iron thewed barbarian who literally sweeps her off her feet. Together
they become pirates of legend and are the scourge of the Black Coast.
They venture up the river of death where no one has gone in centuries
and lived, in search of plunder, battle and adventure. And get get more
of all three than they could wish for.
- Genre(s): Science Fiction
Red Nails
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- Conan
the Barbarian finds himself lusting after and fighting alongside the
toughest woman alive, Valeria The Red, a beautiful pirate who out
pirates the best of them in her strength and ferocity. This is one of
the strangest stories ever written by Robert E. Howard — the tale of a
barbarian adventurer, a woman pirate, and a weird enclosed and long dead
city now inhabited by the most peculiar race of men ever spawned.
Listen and be amazed at Howard's inventive genius. - Summary by phil
Chenevert
- Genre(s): Fantasy Fiction
Shadows in the Moonlight
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- For
a genuine Conan tale, full of barbarian craftiness, magic, fierce
fighting and his berserker strength, this meets every criteria and is
one of the best. Conan was raiding with the Free Companions when they
were trapped and slaughtered by the merciless Shah Amurath the great
Lord of Akif. Conan is one of the very few who escape by hiding in the
mud of the marshes like a beast living on raw snake and muskrat. Luck,
which seems to have deserted him, smiles again and allows him the chance
for revenge and he eagerly seizes it, destroying his enemy with fierce
strokes. Barely escaping his soldiers with the slave girl Olivia, once a
princess of Koth, they reach a deserted island that holds many
enchantments and strange dangers. Then the pirates arrive and things
become even bloodier. (Summary by Phil Chenevert)
- Genre(s): Fantasy Fiction
Shadows in Zamboula
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- In
the dark streets of Zamboula, huge ghouls stalk the night seeking
victims for their ghastly rites and feasts. Conan is passing through
this city and is almost a victim but escapes, only to rush to the aid of
a beautiful, voluptuous maiden still in their horrible talons. Swords
flash, thews are strained and the mighty Conan almost meets his match in
the temple of the monkey god. Will he escape? Will he get the girl?
Listen and marvel! Excellent story, well told as always by Howard.
Summary by phil chenevert
- Genre(s): Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction
A Witch Shall Be Born
- Robert E. HOWARD (1906 - 1936)
- The
kingdom of Khauran is admittedly a small one, nestled between the vast
desert and the plains, but it is blessed with an abundance of rich soil,
hard working devoted inhabitants and much gold but most of all by a
sweet young queen who is as wise and beneficent as she is beautiful. But
then from out of nowhere, disaster strikes. A horrible witch (her evil
twin sister) secretly replaces her and introduces devil worship, human
sacrifice and other things too repulsive to mention. Conan, who was the
captain of her guard is captured and crucified in the desert. From there
the incomparable story telling skill of Robert E. Howard takes us on a
spiral of exciting intrigue, battle, blood, demons, and final
retribution. (summary by phil chenevert)
- Genre(s): Science Fiction
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