While shopping for my brother's birthday gift, I found Lord of Samarcand and Other Adventure Tales of the Old Orient, a collection of Howard's historical tales. Edited by Rusty Burke, the collection is available from the University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0-8032-7355-x.
Haven't cracked it open yet (today during lunch I'm planning to dig in), but I thought I'd post this up for anyone who might be interested.
Anyone ever read any of Howard's non-fantastic work? I know that I'm personally excited to hear that there are plans to release his detective and Western tales. I'd also love to see a few of his sports stories; Howard and a boxing yarn just seem to go hand in hand.
I've read at least a couple historical stories from him. You just can't go wrong with the guy.
Quote from: KenHRAnyone ever read any of Howard's non-fantastic work? I know that I'm personally excited to hear that there are plans to release his detective and Western tales. I'd also love to see a few of his sports stories; Howard and a boxing yarn just seem to go hand in hand.
The boxing stories are fun if somewhat repetitive. They work best if read one story at a time and put aside for a while. You likely picked the most interesting book of the series, though the Westerns are worth checking out to see where Howard was heading.
The Works of Robert E. Howard series (http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/search/GenericSearch?searchtype=series&search=true&precision=3&query=The%20Works%20of%20Robert%20E.%20Ho)
Wildeside Press also has themed collections of REH out that I've heard are pretty good. Collecting a lot of more obscure weird pulp stuff. Not sure what overlap (if any) there is between these two series.
Thanks for the link! Never even thought to see if there were more, as there was nothing on the flyleaf to indicate it was a series.
The Sailor Steve Costigan stories are the best things Howard ever set to paper. Full stop.
They let Howard pour pure chauvanism into the page (he's got scheming women, you-betcha'ing Chinamen, mustachio'd European perfidy and inherent Texan superiority in virtually every story) without taking even a word of it seriously. They're funny, light on the brain, full of action and stand up to rereading. Best damn short stories this side of Flannery O'Connor.
Steve Costigan spoiled me. I can't even get a page into a Conan yarn without yearning for someone to start a fistfight.
Quote from: fonkaygarryThe Sailor Steve Costigan stories are the best things Howard ever set to paper. Full stop. [snipped further arguments]
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...all right, sold.
Ken,
Serious thanks, I had no idea these existed and am really pleased to learn they do.
Great stuff, many thanks again.
Quote from: BalbinusKen,
Serious thanks, I had no idea these existed and am really pleased to learn they do.
Great stuff, many thanks again.
Well, the way I see it, I owe you one. You e-mailed me a pdf of the old DragonFist (since lost again...and we never got to play it) in response to an RPGnet post years back.
Quote from: KenHRWell, the way I see it, I owe you one. You e-mailed me a pdf of the old DragonFist (since lost again...and we never got to play it) in response to an RPGnet post years back.
Ken, I've still got it. PM me and I'll email it to you as many times as you need it :-)
I've run it by the way, it's a fun game.
Hey, thanks!
Work has been brutal this week, and somehow I've a social schedule lately...so haven't had a chance to get deep into the book yet. But I do like what I've read.
Gotta save up some pennies for those sports stories and the late Westerns, too.
I've got this book, and the stories are pretty good- but they are one and all bleak as hell.
Rise thread of yore! I bid you rise!
Ahem, most of the way through the boxing stories now, Steve Costigan is brilliant, wonderful stories.
So, thanks again to all here. This is really great stuff and Steve Costigan is up there with the Brigadier Gerard among my favourite literary heroes.
And let's not forget Mike.