Robert E. Howard Readers discussion

I'm somewhat new to REH and I'm looking for a list of what you guys think the best Conan stories are. From what I've read so far the quality varies considerably. Thanks!

I think these are the pick of the bunch:

The Tower of the Elephant
Black Colossus
Jewels of Gwahlur
Shadows in Zamboula
Red Nails

but I also like:

The Phoenix on the Sword
The Slithering Shadow
Rogues in the House
A Witch Shall Be Born
Queen of the Black Coast


to be honest though the only Howard ones I find a bit disappointing are:

The Devil in Iron
The People of the Black Circle

and even these two are decent enough.

That's a tough choice. One of my favorites is "Beyond the Black River". It's in Conan the Warrior which also has "Jewels of Gwahlur" & "Red Nails" in it.

Thanks guys. I've only read a few of those so far. Anyone else?

For me the best on is "The People of the Black Circle." Follow that up with "Red Nails," "The Tower of the Elephant," "Black Colossus," "Xuthal of the Dusk," "Jewels of Gwahlur," "Queen of the Black Coast," and "Shadows in Zamboula."

I would hold off on "God in the Bowl" and "The Vale of Lost Women": Read those last. They're considered to be the worst among most Conan afficianados.

"The People of the Black Circle" was the first Conan story I ever read. It has princesses, murder, sorcerers, weird locations, demons, kidnapping, politics, lust... all the elements of a great Conan story. I love the scene where he kidnaps the Devi of Vendhya.

Best Conan story? There are several good ones, but "Beyond the Black River" is in a class by itself.

Beyond the Black River, People of the Black Circle, and Tower of the Elephant are the best in my opinion. Beyond the Black River is definitely in a class by itself as O Ruairc states.

They're all good. But yes, the pinnacle resides with Beyond the Black River. And perhaps you should read all of the others first, then Beyond the Black River, to have full appreciation of Conan as seen through the other adventures first? The 'man' has been many things in his literary existence.

My top 5 are:

1. Red Nails
2. Beyond the Black River
3. Hour of the Dragon
4. People of the Black Circle
5. Queen of the Black Coast

I'm going to echo many of you and choose "Beyond the Black River," because it is pretty much REH's manifesto. Plus it has some of the bloodiest, grimmest action ever in any medium. But I don't know if I'd recommend it as the best choice for an introduction to Conan, "The People of the Black Circle" or "Tower of the Elephant" might be better suited for that, being a little lighter in tone.

Beyond the Black River is wonderful but not what I'd call a "typical" Conan story. Red Nails is excellent. My favorite is probably Queen of the Black Coast, a perfect Conan story

So far "Tower of the Elephant" is my favorite, but I haven't gotten to "People of the Black Circle" yet. Sounds like it's a favorite of many of the folks here.

Are you reading the Conan stories in chronological order, Randy? I liked to do that with the Lancer editions. A lot of the purists don't like those stories since deCamp & Carter edited the stories, finished some, & made them fit together, so they're not pure REH. They were the first version I read & I still like them the best.

My top 5 are:

1) The Hour of the Dragon
2) The Black Stranger
3) The God in the Bowl
4) Red Nails
5) The Queen of the Black Coast.

The Black Stranger is a great one, but often doesn't make the lists. Cool choice. What put that one so high up for you?

Vincent wrote: "The Black Stranger is a great one, but often doesn't make the lists. Cool choice. What put that one so high up for you?"

Maybe it's because when I translated it, back in 2007, I loved knowing this tale finishes with the beginning of a second Conan's Barachan career, instead of his kingship. And it also gave me a great inspiration for writing my pastiche "Valadelad" - in 2007, too.

Other point which puts this tale so high up for me is the fact Thoth-Amon isn't there, showing me one more time REH never intended T-A to be Conan's greatest foe, as LSDC and DH did.

Fernando wrote: "Vincent wrote: "The Black Stranger is a great one, but often doesn't make the lists. Cool choice. What put that one so high up for you?"

Maybe it's because when I translated it, back in 2007, I lo..."

There are some prominent REH fans who dislike "The Black Stranger" because Conan is not in the story very much. I always thought it was a good pirate yarn though. It is essentially the same story as "Swords of the Red Brotherhood" featuring another of Howard's characters, Black Terence Vulmea.

There's a reason it's the same story. When "The Black Stranger" didn't sell, REH rewrote it as "Swords of the Red Brotherhood."

Vincent wrote: "There's a reason it's the same story. When "The Black Stranger" didn't sell, REH rewrote it as "Swords of the Red Brotherhood.""

And, when "Swords of the Red Brotherhood" didn't sell, REH rewrote Vulmea's history in "Black Vulmea's Vengeance". BTW too bad Howard's Vulmea yarns didn't sell too...

Jim wrote: "Are you reading the Conan stories in chronological order, Randy? I liked to do that with the Lancer editions. A lot of the purists don't like those stories since deCamp & Carter edited the stories,..."

I'm actually reading the three book collection of the REH stories only. I read The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian a few months ago, and I'll be reading The Bloody Crown of Conan hopefully later this year. That collection arranges the stories in the order in which they were written, not necessarily the order in which they were published. There are also some extras like the bits and pieces of REH unfinished Conan stories which were eventually finished by de Camp and Carter in the Lancer series.

Eventually I'm going to read the Lancer series from beginning to end also, but those are getting hard to find. I'm trying to pick them up where I can. Like you, those were the ones I read in my youth so I'm happy to revisit them, even the non-REH works.

And I suppose I'll get around to all the later stories someday too...

there's now an entire book suggesting which Conan tale is the best!

Yes, there is! "Hither Came Conan." Want to tell people here about it, when/where to get it?

Thanks for the heads up! I just pre-ordered it on Kindle. Would love to hear Jason tell about it.

Why, indeed I do! Hither Came Conan: The Best Conan Story Is… can be had today in electronic and hardcover at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWWVKLCG (if only Goodreads let you follow the link)!

This is THE book you want whenever discussing, examining, even thinking about Conan and his original tales.

Michael wrote: "Thanks for the heads up! I just pre-ordered it on Kindle. Would love to hear Jason tell about it."

Have you read it? That book sounds interesting if the other REH,Conan fans think it is an interesting read. Im more of REH fan who just happened to start reading Conan first of all his stories.
I never read all the *pure REH* Conan stories because Solomon Kane, El Borak, the horror, western, historical stories was something i prefered to focus on reading.

Yes, it is interesting. Basically essays discussing the stories and why each story is awesome in its own right.

I do truly think it is now the premiere book to have for any discussion or exploration in the original REH Conan tales. however, it is not a book to read before you read those Conan stories. either after or in accompaniment.

I agree. I just finished it! I pre-ordered on Kindle but picked up the hard cover at REH Days. I also just finished listening to all of the Del Rey Conan stories on audible which is straight REH stories.
I have been reading the stories for years. When the unedited stories were finally released I was excited to get the real thing! I sold all my Lancer/Ace paperbacks and no longer read them.
It was interesting to read some of the essays/criticisms from authors who have discovered REH more recently.
I've been reading them for so many years I have very few criticisms of the stories. I have grown up with them and found them all very satisfying in a way that even Edgar Rice Burroughs, Doc Savage and many other great adventure/fantasy stories have yet to compete with in my estimation!