The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian collects thirteen original short stories featuring Howard's legendary barbarian hero, presented in their unedited form. This volume represents the first third of Howard's complete Conan tales, written between 1932 and 1933. The collection includes classic stories like "The Phoenix on the Sword," "The Tower of the Elephant," and "Queen of the Black Coast." Each tale follows Conan's adventures across the fictional Hyborian Age as he encounters sorcerers, monsters, and ancient civilizations. The book contains extensive supplementary material including Howard's original maps, story drafts, and detailed notes about the world and its peoples. Mark Schultz provides illustrations throughout the volume, bringing Howard's vivid descriptions to life. These stories established the sword and sorcery genre, combining primal adventure with meditations on civilization, barbarism, and human nature. Howard's raw, visceral prose style and mythological themes influenced decades of fantasy literature that followed.

Readers appreciate Howard's raw, energetic prose style and his ability to pack action into short stories. Many note the vivid world-building and atmospheric descriptions that bring Hyboria to life. Fans point to "The Tower of the Elephant" and "The Phoenix on the Sword" as standout tales. Common criticisms include dated racial attitudes, thin characterization, and repetitive plot structures. Some readers find the pacing too breakneck and wish for more character development. Several reviews mention the stories can feel formulaic after reading multiple in succession. Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (450+ ratings) Sample Reader Comments: "Pure pulp adventure that never lets up" - Goodreads "Problematic content aside, the action scenes are unmatched" - Amazon "Stories start blending together by the end" - LibraryThing "More sophisticated than expected, but still rough around the edges" - Reddit r/Fantasy

The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson Norse mythology and dark fantasy merge in this tale of a warrior caught between worlds, featuring the same raw combat and mythological elements found in Conan's adventures.

Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock The story follows an albino sorcerer-emperor who wields a soul-drinking sword, incorporating the same blend of swordplay and dark sorcery that defines Howard's work.

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks This epic quest through a post-apocalyptic fantasy world captures the sweeping scope and primal adventure elements that characterize the Conan tales.

Kane: Bloodstone by Karl Edward Wagner The immortal antihero Kane battles through a world of dark magic and ancient ruins, reflecting Howard's mix of horror elements with sword and sorcery action.

Imaro by Charles R. Saunders Set in a fantasy version of Africa, this sword and sorcery tale follows a warrior's journey through mythical lands, maintaining the visceral combat and world-building depth of Howard's stories.

🗡️ Robert E. Howard wrote the first Conan story, "The Phoenix on the Sword," in 1932 when he was just 26 years old. 🌍 The Hyborian Age, Conan's fictional setting, was conceived by Howard as taking place around 10,000 BCE, after the sinking of Atlantis but before recorded history. 📝 Howard created Conan during the Great Depression while living in Cross Plains, Texas, and wrote all the original stories in just three years (1932-1936). 🎨 The character of Conan was partly inspired by real-world historical figures, including Celtic and Viking warriors, as well as Howard's own Texas oil field workers. 💫 Despite the massive franchise Conan would become, Howard earned only about $1,600 (equivalent to roughly $34,000 today) for all his original Conan stories combined.