Robert E. Howard

Robert E. Howard was one of the most influential American pulp fiction writers of the 1920s and 1930s, creating the sword and sorcery genre through his character Conan the Barbarian. His work spanned multiple genres including fantasy, horror, boxing stories, westerns, and historical adventure. Born in Texas in 1906, Howard spent most of his life in the small town of Cross Plains, where he developed his craft writing for pulp magazines. His primary outlet was Weird Tales, where he published many of his most famous works including the Conan series, Solomon Kane, and King Kull. Despite his relatively short career, Howard's influence on fantasy literature has been profound and long-lasting. His writing was characterized by vivid world-building, fast-paced action, and complex themes of civilization versus barbarism. Howard's life ended tragically by suicide in 1936 at age 30, but his work gained significant posthumous recognition. His stories have been adapted into numerous films, comics, and other media, while his creation Conan the Barbarian has become an enduring figure in popular culture.

Readers praise Howard's vivid action scenes, muscular prose style, and ability to create immersive worlds with minimal exposition. Many note his talent for pacing and building tension. His Conan stories maintain high ratings on Goodreads (4.2/5 average across collections) and Amazon (4.4/5). Common criticisms include dated racial attitudes, shallow female characters, and repetitive plot structures. Some readers find his writing style overwrought or purple. Several reviews mention difficulty connecting with his protagonists due to their superhuman abilities and lack of vulnerability. "His descriptions put you right in the scene - you can smell the smoke and hear the clash of steel," notes one Amazon reviewer. Another writes: "Great action, but after a few stories the formula gets predictable." Goodreads: 4.2/5 (32,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (15,000+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (3,000+ ratings) Most frequently recommended starting points: "The Tower of the Elephant" and "Red Nails."

Conan the Barbarian - The original collection introducing Conan of Cimmeria, a fierce warrior who rises from thief to king in a mythical Hyborian Age.

The Hour of the Dragon - Howard's only full-length Conan novel follows the barbarian king defending his throne against ancient sorcery and usurpers.

Red Nails - The last Conan story written by Howard, featuring the warrior and a female mercenary trapped in a dying city of ancient horrors.

Kull - Chronicles of an exile who becomes king of Atlantis, dealing with conspiracies and supernatural threats in a pre-cataclysmic age.

Worms of the Earth - A dark tale of revenge following Bran Mak Morn, last king of the Picts, as he unleashes ancient horrors against the Romans.

Red Shadows - Introduces Solomon Kane, a Puritan wanderer who tracks evil across 16th century Africa and Europe.

Tigers of the Sea - Collection of historical adventures featuring Cormac Mac Art, a 5th century Irish pirate operating in northern Europe.

A Gent from Bear Creek - Western tales centered on Breckinridge Elkins, a good-natured but immensely strong cowboy in the American frontier.

Almuric - Science fantasy novel about a Earth man transported to a savage alien world where he must fight to survive.

Black Colossus - Conan leads an army against a resurrected sorcerer-king threatening to conquer the world.

The People of the Black Circle - Conan becomes entangled in high-stakes political intrigue while rescuing a kidnapped princess.

The Tower of the Elephant - A young Conan attempts to steal a precious gem from a mysterious tower, discovering cosmic horror within.

Fritz Leiber Created the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series that follows roguish sword-wielding heroes in a fantasy setting. His work shares Howard's blend of action and dark fantasy while expanding the sword and sorcery genre.

Michael Moorcock Wrote the Elric saga featuring a complex anti-hero in a world of swords and magic. His stories contain similar themes of civilization versus barbarism and feature intense combat scenes in fantastical settings.

Karl Edward Wagner Created Kane, an immortal warrior-sorcerer whose tales mirror the darkness and intensity of Howard's work. His stories feature similar historical-fantasy settings and explore themes of violence and power.

Charles Saunders Wrote the Imaro series featuring a warrior in an African-inspired fantasy world. His work follows Howard's sword and sorcery format while bringing new cultural perspectives to the genre.

David Gemmell Created the Drenai series focusing on warrior heroes in a gritty fantasy world. His books feature similar themes of heroism and barbarism with an emphasis on combat and warrior cultures.