Heroes in the Wind

Heroes in the Wind is a collection of fantasy and horror stories by Robert E. Howard, published by Penguin Books in 2009. The anthology brings together key works featuring Howard's most notable characters, including Kull, Bran Mak Morn, and Conan the Barbarian. The book is organized into three main sections - Black Dawn, Dark Interlude, and High Noon - each containing stories that showcase Howard's range in dark fantasy and horror. The collection includes essential Conan tales like "The Tower of the Elephant" and "Red Nails," alongside standalone horror stories such as "Pigeons from Hell." The stories explore themes of power, civilization versus barbarism, and humanity's struggle against cosmic forces. Howard's vision of a mythic past combines historical elements with supernatural horror, creating worlds where heroes must face both human adversaries and otherworldly threats.

Readers note this collection showcases Howard's best pulp fiction from across genres - horror, historical adventure, boxing stories, and westerns. Several reviews praise how the varied selection highlights Howard's range beyond just Conan stories. Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced action and vivid descriptive language - Stories of Solomon Kane and Bran Mak Morn - The horror tales' atmospheric tension - Howard's boxing stories based on his own experiences Common criticisms: - Some dated language and cultural references - A few stories feel formulaic or rushed - Inconsistent quality between stories Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (32 reviews) Notable review quote: "These stories punch hard and move fast. Howard understood pacing better than most modern writers." - Goodreads reviewer James K. This 2009 Del Rey edition receives praise for its comprehensive selection and scholarly introduction providing historical context.

Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures - A collection of Robert E. Howard's historical adventure tales featuring strong protagonists who battle through ancient and medieval settings.

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian - The first volume in a three-book series containing Howard's Conan stories in their original, unedited forms with their chronological publication dates.

Jirel of Joiry by C. L. Moore Six interconnected stories about a female warrior who encounters supernatural forces and dark magic in medieval France.

The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson A Norse-inspired fantasy tale involving changelings, elves, and trolls that captures the same mythic tone as Howard's work.

Elric: The Stealer of Souls by Michael Moorcock The first collection of stories about the albino sorcerer-emperor whose adventures mix sword and sorcery with cosmic horror.

🗡️ Robert E. Howard wrote most of his famous stories for Weird Tales magazine, earning about 1-2 cents per word during the Great Depression. 🏰 Howard created the sword and sorcery genre with his Conan stories, influencing countless writers, games, and films including Game of Thrones and Dungeons & Dragons. 📚 Despite his prolific output and enduring legacy, Howard's career only lasted 12 years - he took his own life in 1936 at age 30 after learning his mother would not recover from a coma. 🌟 H.P. Lovecraft and Howard were close friends who never met in person but exchanged over 100 letters discussing writing, philosophy, and their shared cosmic horror themes. 🎬 The Conan character alone has generated over $300 million in book sales and spawned numerous films, with the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger movie helping launch the actor's Hollywood career.