Kull

Kull is a collection of fantasy short stories published in 1967, featuring the character of Kull, a barbarian who becomes king of the ancient kingdom of Valusia. The original publication included stories completed by Lin Carter from Howard's unfinished works, though later editions removed these additions in favor of Howard's original fragments. The stories follow Kull's journey from his origins as an outcast from Atlantis through his rise to power and subsequent adventures as king. The tales pit him against supernatural threats, political intrigue, and ancient magic while he navigates the responsibilities and challenges of rulership. The collection includes some of Howard's most notable Kull stories like "The Shadow Kingdom" and "By This Axe I Rule!", as well as the poem "The King and the Oak". Multiple editions have been published over the years, with varying content and editorial approaches. The stories explore themes of power, civilization versus barbarism, and the isolation of leadership. Howard's work in Kull laid important groundwork for the sword and sorcery genre, establishing many conventions that would influence fantasy literature for decades to come.

Readers see Kull as a precursor to Howard's later Conan stories, with rougher but more philosophical writing. Many note the dreamlike, mystical tone compared to Conan's action-heavy tales. Likes: - Strong world-building and atmosphere - Deep themes about reality vs illusion - Raw, poetic writing style - Character development of Kull as an outsider king Dislikes: - Uneven pacing - Less polished than Conan stories - Some find the philosophical elements slow the action - Limited number of complete stories Average Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (90+ ratings) Reader Quote: "The Kull stories have a haunting, dreamlike quality that sets them apart. While not as refined as Conan, they're more introspective and experimental." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted the stories work better when viewed as a bridge between Howard's early writing and his later refined style.

Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock Chronicles an albino emperor who rules an ancient kingdom while battling supernatural forces and wrestling with the burdens of power.

The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson Tells the tale of a changeling warrior caught between the mortal world and faerie realms in a Norse-inspired setting filled with magic and ancient powers.

Imaro by Charles R. Saunders Follows a warrior-king's rise to power across a fantasy version of Africa, combining sword and sorcery with African mythology.

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard Presents Howard's original Conan stories about a barbarian who carves his path through ancient kingdoms filled with sorcery and monsters.

Jirel of Joiry by C. L. Moore Chronicles the adventures of a medieval French warrior-queen who faces otherworldly threats and dark magic while defending her realm.

🗡️ Kull predates Conan the Barbarian and served as a prototype for Howard's later, more famous barbarian character 📚 The character first appeared in "The Shadow Kingdom" (1929), which is considered by many scholars to be the first true sword and sorcery story ever published ⚔️ Howard wrote the Kull stories while working as a boxer in Texas, drawing inspiration from his experiences in the ring for the combat sequences 🏰 The kingdom of Valusia was part of Howard's fictional Thurian Age, set approximately 100,000 years ago during the age of Atlantis 🖋️ After Howard's death in 1936, many of the unfinished Kull manuscripts were discovered and later completed by fantasy author Lin Carter in the 1960s