Robert E. Howard Readers discussion

I understand a lot of howard fans despise the pastiches, but I myself enjoy seeing other's views of the characters be it for better or worse. I have looked forever trying to find a thread anywhere on the web about people saying which ones to avoid and which ones to read however I was not able to find one that I thought helped a person out in deciding which ones to steer clear of (besides Conan Tor of course), so I thought it would be nice to see peoples takes on pastiches. I myself have only read a few pastiches, Randy Campbell's completed fragments of Solomon Kane and Fred Blosser finishing Mystery at Tannernoe Lodge. I myself enjoyed both authors take on the character and would of personally loved to see Campbell finish Death's Black Rider's, I unfortunately have been unable to get my hands on the elusive Fantasy Book V3N2 which has Blosser finishing the fragment.

Another book which I am very interested in reading is The Witch of the Indies, would anyone here happen to have an opinion on that one? I have read that people despise it or enjoy it but I have not seen a reason why it was bad or good.

Update: After saying I was not able to find it I just searched ebay and it was up for 8 dollars yay me, so once I receive it I will post a review on Blosser's take on Kane.

I never cared for anything Offut (sp?) wrote or finished.

I recall enjoying Offut's Conan Trilogy Conan and the Sorcerer, Conan the Mercenary, and Conan the Sword of Skelos.

I liked David Drake's completions of REH's Cormac stories in Cormac Mac Art.

Nameless Cults: The Complete Cthulhu Mythos Fiction of Robert E. Howard has completions by CJ Henderson, Joseph S. Pulver, August Derleth, and Robert Price which were competent.

And, of course, Roy Thomas' stories in Marvel's Conan the Barbarian comics.

The Karl Edward Wagner pastiche of Bran Mak Morn, which is called Legion from the Shadows, is my vote for the best Howard pastiche ever

I, for one, have a certain fondness for Andrew Offut's, "Cormac Mac Art" series. I think there is seven books in all, and they are well done. I first read the series in high school. Since then, I find myself reading them every 4 - 5 years, or so. In any event, I'm hard put to call these books pastiches. True, Offut uses some of Howard's creations as his main characters, but that is where the similarities end. The books are great. Offut incorporates a lot of Irish history and legendry in these tales, and the Irish parlance he integrates into his characters' dialogue is brilliant.

I recently acquired Conan - Blood of the Serpent. Has anyone read it yet?

Vincent wrote: "I recently acquired Conan - Blood of the Serpent. Has anyone read it yet?"

I haven't read it, but I'd be interested in your opinion of it when you have.

I'm not a big fan of Conan pastiches although years ago I read all the Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter, et al. Never could get into or read any the Tor books in the 80s-90s.
I'm not opposed to them, I am just not a fan but if there is a good one I would like to know.
One pastiche I liked that I read awhile back was an El Borak Short Story by James Reasoner for an anthology fundraiser, "Cross Plains Universe, Texas Celebrate Robert E Howard". Edited by Scott Cupp and Joe R Lansdale and had many contributors. I got it at Howard days a long time ago. I enjoyed it.