Cimmerian September and Other Adventures

[@Starglyte]

I am a simple man. I see Robert E. Howard and/or Conan and then I click the like button.

[@SnakePlisskin.]

I am also simple

[@anonymousbosch9265]

Same, I like the Solomon Kane stuff. I like it so much that I bought a side sword as my last HEMA purchase and now I’m looking into a flintlock pistol

[@SuperDevilDoctor]

The coverage of REH on your channel is excellent, sir... Thanks so much! (I have both the "Complete Chronicles" hardcover and the three-volume Del Rey set. Love 'em!) Now personally, I've found that reading the stories in the chronological order of his (Conan's) life/career is the way to go for a first-timer. (When re-reading them, I now skip around the chronology randomly). For anyone wishing to read the Conan tales in the chronological order of the Cimmerian's life & career, this is the timeline I used: - The Frost Giant's Daughter - The Tower of the Elephant - The God in the Bowl - Rogues in the House - Black Colossus - Queen of the Black Coast - Shadows in the Moonlight - A Witch Shall Be Born - Shadows in Zamboula - Xuthal of the Dusk (aka "The Slithering Shadow") - The Devil in Iron - The People of the Black Circle - The Vale of Lost Women - The Pool of the Black One - Red Nails - The Jewels of Gwahlur - Beyond the Black River - The Black Stranger - The Phoenix on the Sword - The Scarlet Citadel - The Hour of the Dragon

[@antonmassopust568]

Pretty awesome I noticed the Sherlock Holmes book behind you. That's pretty cool, too. I've never read any of the aconamic books. I've read some of the comics especially the black & white. 11 I really love was

[@russworks2882]

The Howard/Lovecraft correspondence looks really interesting. The wonderful and terrible thing about this channel is that almost every video I watch here has me searching for and bookmarking things I'd never seen before.

[@stevengentry9396]

It sounds like an interesting event you'll have going in September. King Conan (later, I think, retitled Conan the King) was another Marvel comic I enjoyed through the 80's.

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

I love the idea of discussing the Howard-Lovecraft correspondence.

[@disshelvedwithadamwhite8731]

The Del Rey set is definitely the best. And your extensive collection and knowledge of Robert E. Howard never ceases to impress me. Great video.

[@MagusMarquillin]

The only diapointment I've noticed with the Del Rays is the lack of a good Hyboria map, they have some rough early sketches that are hard to find, where the Conan Chronicles has a good one right in the inner cover.

[@disshelvedwithadamwhite8731]

@@MagusMarquillin a good map is always a welcome addition.

[@MagusMarquillin]

@@disshelvedwithadamwhite8731 I suppose I'll print one out and stick it inside. The Del Rays perks otherwise (the weight, the art, the extras) far outshine the others.

[@occultdetective]

Very excited for Cimmerian September!

[@occultdetective]

I'll be reading Howard's Occult Detective fiction in October, or as I like to call it, Occultober.

[@thekeywitness]

Love the El Borak and historical adventures. I have the same editions with me in Korea and I'm meaning to get back to reading them. Look forward to your future comments on those.

[@paulforder591]

I have a copy of the Del Rey edition of Sword Woman, published in 2011, and the Fawcett Books paperback, edited by Leigh Brackett (1915--1978--cancer) which appeared in 1977. Boy, does she write a gutsy overview of women's capabilities despite historical repression. And yet she left us an insightful introduction & assessment of Howard's writing style. Will the Dark Agnes stories be adapted to the big screen? That would be a great idea, but a capable director would be needed. ☺🗡🗡🗡🗡

[@athenassigil5820]

I watch your channel all the time and occasionally comment. Well, I'm thanking you for your persistent love of REH and because of this video I ordered the HC version of the Complete Chronicles of Conan..I'd also add that I do have many of the comics, magazines, books, dvds, blu-ray etc.....but I do have a kindle version, specifically the Delphi Classics version...which is quite good and a comprehensive E Book edition of all Howard stories. Anyways, keep on doing what you do....greatly appreciated! Cimmerian September is coming.....

[@joelsilvey9046]

I seriously can't wait for September, I knew I was missing one of the del Rey conan books, just ordered it and I'm so ready, I did June on the range and I'm doing KZbin at war. Your videos gave me the reading athon bug 😂

[@LiterateTexan]

I'm looking forward to this! I, of course, have the three coming of the del Rey editions, because I have all their editions of Robert E. Howard. This will be a fun event!

[@BookBlather]

This sounds like fun. I saw one of those Del Rey volumes when I was at the Brattle and regret not picking it up.

[@ComicBookBlackBelt]

Found this channel whilst doing research - I'm in the process of producing a properly faithful graphic novel adaptation of the Shadow Kingdom. Great video - subbed to the channel

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Wow! I look forward to that!

[@thomasr7292]

Hah, finished the El Borak Del Rey collection earlier this year and making my way through the Sword Woman one now. Excellent stuff, E Borak is a fantastic character of Howard’s.

[@asdfasdf5695]

Yes, I'm working my way through that exact volume as well. REH was a gem who left this world way too soon.

[@thomasr7292]

@@asdfasdf5695 Yeah, a very unfortunate end. We're lucky to have been left with so much from him.

[@jonathanwalker4937]

One of my favorite things Marvel did when they had the rights to Howard's works was having Solomon Kane battle Dracula

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yes!

[@sergiolopez6505]

I'll be reading along with my Spanish edition of the Conan stories! I can't wait! 🙂👍

[@Krypton_Ken]

I recently completed collecting the 10 volume omnibus set of those Marvel Conan comics. Beautiful books. I've only read a handful of the old comics over the years, looking forward to reading through them.

[@fordprefect80]

I'm about a third of the way through The Complete Chronicles Of Conan and took a break. But once I'm finished Crime and Punishment I'll dive right back into Conan. I promise.

[@knittymama570]

Yay! So excited. I have the 3 Del Rey books. I've never read Conan before. I only know him from the movie.

[@rainbowhiker]

Interesting. Thank you for this enlightenment. Good to hear about the backgrounds.

[@sylvaindurand1817]

Maybe you could talk about how the visuals we have of Conan and his world that we see in pop culture is completely different from the original stories (ie he never wore a fur loincloth).

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

I'm preparing for Cimmerian September by going through my HP Lovecraft Complete Omnibus Edition in August. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

[@ellesse3862]

It has a name .. Cimmerian September. I await thee with a rapacious hunger, no quarter given .. glory awaits! (and a riveting good read)

[@austinmorris981]

My memories of Conan are from the Lancer paperback editions in the period 1970-'71. These books had the beautiful artwork on the cover by Frank Frazetta. I believe the additional short stories by Carter & DeCamp were commissioned by the publisher to fill in the chronological gaps in the narrative. I believe the publisher did that to try to make this series more competitive with The Lord of the Rings trilogy. You could argue that Conan is an iconic pulp-fiction hero who does not need a contrived linear timeline, but I think that's how the publisher had perceived this series of stories: a product to sell to Tolkien fans.

[@Wabin22]

Wow, not only Conan but El Borak too? Awesome man!

[@DavidWiley7]

I'm all-in on this my friend! I'm looking to pick up a few more Conan comics to delve into in September as well! I'm always happy to take recommendations from the resident expert. I'll be stalking eBay for some trade paperback lots on the cheap, perhaps... That volume of Sword Woman is the next Del Rey one I want to pick up! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it when you go through it.

[@charliedogg7683]

I find Savage Sword Of Conan to be even closer to Howard's Conan than Marvel's colour comics despite Roy Thomas writing a lot of both titles (maybe he was hamstrung somewhat in the colour comics by the Comics Code Authority). After the cancellation of Conan The Barbarian, Marvel released a small number of miniseries, at least one of which was written by Roy Thomas; all I remember about them is that it wasn't Roy's finest work, and the others were not an enjoyable experience at all. As for the other post-Conan The Barbarian and post-Savage Sword series, they were very hit (few) and miss (many). It wasn't until Dark Horse picked up the licence that Conan was returned to comics glory. A very ambitious programme Michael but we your fans have complete faith that you will fulfil your reading intentions for Cimmerian September.

[@teetoo3790]

First time. Liked the video and subscribed.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@arekkrolak6320]

I read Robert Howard book last month already :)

[@austinmorris981]

The Lancer paperbacks had one serious flaw. The binding was so poor that the physical book would just fall apart in your hands. And the Cover Artwork was so wonderful! I found that very frustrating.

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

I'm trying to stir up interest in Cimmerian September among non BookTube watchers. I have talked about it (and linked to here) on a coughcantmentionthesitecough page dedicated to the Age of Conan - Unchained MMORPG. At least one person is up for it.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks! I appreciate you spreading the word.

[@freelivefree7221]

The El Borak stories are great!

[@ralfxephon1]

I just suscribed, Greetings from México

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Greetings! Thanks for watching!

[@mizukarate]

I read REH stories randomly.

[@mizukarate]

There is so much great stuff....hard to stick to one topic or character. His mind was interesting.

[@briteskin]

The third volume of the Del Ray set is definitely up for consideration in September. I feel bad has taken me so many years. Bought those books when they first came out. Finally read vol 2 earlier this year finally. Part of the reason was wanting to pick up copies of the Lancer/Ace stuff, which finally did, and ended up not reread any of those edits. Silly me. I need to make time one these days to return to reading Marvel's Conan output. Even though have all the Savage reprints from Dark Horse pretty sure only read the first 60 issues of that. I am in a similar boat with the color comic where have read the first three of the omnibus printings so think I am around issue 75 or 80. Have too many loose piles of collectible cards in front of my books to see for sure.

[@jacquesrodier52]

Hello Michael I have the Robert E Howard Ultimate Collection and I checked to see if it had The God and the Bowl, and it did. I paid 1.47 Canadian Dollars. Take Care. Jack

[@johna6291]

The only disappointing aspect of the Del Rey editions is their binding. I noticed the glued binding was somewhat shallow for the heavy paper of the books, so, I’ve been careful while reading them. Nonetheless, the pages have come loose from the binding- right at my favorite Conan story, “Beyond The Black River”. Boo! Still, I prize any and all of the Howards in my library. I’m enjoying your wonderful channel! Thank you!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That’s true about the spines. Another reason we need a brand new hardcover set!

[@revenantreads]

I wish I could afford the Conan comic collections. Maybe by September I’ll have the disposable income to join in on that read too.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

All those omnibus volumes are being reprinted so they should be available.

[@fletch44]

I can confirm that the latest ebook version of the Del Rey Conan books, or at least the first one (The Coming of Conan), does indeed have the illustrations in them. The illustrations look great still, just smaller obviously than what you’re seeing in that larger paperback book.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m really glad that issue was fixed.

[@fletch44]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617me too, good to see they’re there. I’m a huge fan of ebooks, easier for storage since I just have a one bedroom condo, and as a long standing software engineer who suffers from mild repetitive stress issues on my hands, I find ebook readers easier to hold and read. Plus, ebook checkout from your local library with Libby is awesome.

[@brianjauch9958]

Dark Horse Comics did a pretty good Conan run.

[@Krypton_Ken]

I enjoyed the Busiek Conans, never got to Tim Truman's run, someday I'll have to do that.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Most of the Dark Horse run was really good.

[@centy64]

Still gutted the event isn't called September E. Howard. But I've got that same volume of Conan and will be diving into that.

[@asdfasdf5695]

You should do one of these retrospectives for Clark Ashton Smith. You can't leave the Weird Tales Triumvirate only 2/3 complete!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

True.

[@patricktilton5377]

When DARK HORSE republished the Marvel run of CONAN, they did NOT include the stories which included Red Sonja, because the rights to that character had since gone to some other company that was making comics about her. I remember being FURIOUS that one of the greatest Barry Smith issues was thus missing -- not to mention the later appearances when Buscema became the artist. I'm betting I wasn't the only Conan fan who was royally pissed off about that. Do the more recent Marvel omnibus collections of the CONAN comic include those Red Sonja issues? I have the original comics, so I haven't checked out the big-ass omnibus versions; the only reason I picked up the Dark Horse reprints is because they re-colored the Marvel issues -- modern printing techniques can provide for more impressive coloring than was available back in the '70s, though I must say that the best color-Conan issue I ever saw was the Marvel Super Special #2 (MSS#1 featured the rock band KISS), in which a pirate story REH had written was re-purposed as a Conan story, illustrated by Buscema, inked by Alfredo Alcala, and then gloriously perfected with 'Marvelcolor', I think they called it. It came out soon after it had been announced that the first Conan movie was green-lighted, as there was an added article about Conan's jump from comics to the Big Screen, including a head-shot of Schwarzenegger. God, but I wish all the Conan issues Marvel ever made -- from the CONAN comic through all the B&W SAVAGE SWORD magazine, etc. -- could be reprinted with that 'Marvelcolor' technique, even though Alcala's heavy inks in the B&W format might militate against the addition of color: he went somewhat easy on the inks for that Marvelcolor issue, knowing that color would be added to his inked pages.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Red Sonja is included in the Omnibus editions.

[@MrRourk]

I might have to run the Old D&D 0e of Conan this September

[@ULYSSESFACEPLANT-v4d]

I fuckin love this channel 👍

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@stewartmiddleton4527]

Am looking forward to this 😏

[@davidsigler9690]

I do like the Del Rey Version, I do like however his Horror stories more than the other stuff.

[@dwightschweigert2334]

I have the Delray ebook versions and they do have the illustrations.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m very glad to hear that.

[@jerr3d]

I think it was the Zebra illustrated paperback where I first read of El Borak. I was expecting more of a sword and sorcery story like Conan but this was still a great read.

[@timmeyer9191]

I purchased Robert E Howard's Conan the Cimmerian Barbarian: The Complete Weird Tale Omnibus. Content wise, it has Solomon Kane, Kull, and Conan along with many Weird Tales cover illustrations and annotations. However, the publisher of this omnibus (Pulp-Lit Productions) elected not to go with a sewn binding, which makes it not as durable.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

It also doesn’t have “The Black Stranger”, unfortunately making it incomplete.

[@timmeyer9191]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 that I didn't know. Thanks.

[@DDB168]

I'll tag along. I'll read the Del Rey's, as I already have volume 1. Did REH do any war fiction ? I assume not. Imagine him as a war correspondent? He woulda been great. I look forward to hearing about those letters.

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

REH wrote a lot of historical fiction, some (a lot?) of which involved war/battles.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

REH was actually pretty great at describing battle scenes.

[@chrismarcks5571]

Count me in! I have my copy

[@raskolnikov2112]

I only have the Solomon Kane stories. I am not sure about Conan. Any thought if I should read Conan. I feel like the tv show from when I was a kid, made me dislike the character and I can’t get passed it. I hate to say that because I know how TV and movies can destroy books. Some of my faves are Gogol, Dostoevsky, Murakami, Rimbaud, Knut Hamsun, Camus, Celine, and Lovecraft. That is just to give an idea of my taste. I love being turned on to new writers. I don’t know many who read. I loved Ray Russell and Arthur Machen. Thank you for all you do Mike.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Robert E. Howard’s Conan is the real deal. Nothing at all like the TV show.

[@lastedain450]

Illustrations notwithstanding, always buy physical versions. In this day and age you can't trust publishers not to censor for a sensitive modern audience.

[@austinmorris981]

Does "every bit of it" mean also the Lin Carter & L Sprague De Camp Conan stories?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

No! That’s not real Conan. That’s pastiche Conan. Only the Robert E. Howard stories.

[@bizarrebraincomics7819]

Don't forget the newspaper strip too.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I wish I had gotten the collection when it came out. It’s pretty expensive to get now.

[@stretmediq]

I have a few of the old Del Rey books

[@psikeyhackr6914]

1. The Frost-Giant’s Daughter[Gods of the North] ** @ 02. The God in the Bowl @ 03. The Tower of the Elephant @ 04. Rogues in the House @ 05. Shadows in the Moonlight ** @ 06. Black Colossus @ 07. Queen of the Black Coast ** @ 08. The Slithering Shadow @ 09. A Witch Shall Be Born ** @ 10. The Devil in Iron ** @ 11. The People of the Black Circle ** @ 12. Shadows in Zamboula ** @ 13. The Pool of the Black One @ 14. Beyond the Black River ** @ 15. Red Nails ** @ 16. Jewels of Gwahlur ** @ 16.5? The Black Stranger @ 17. The Phoenix on the Sword @ 18. The Scarlet Citadel @ 19. The Hour of the Dragon ** @

[@psikeyhackr6914]

** in Project Gutenberg @ in PG Australia

[@markcampbell8622]

Funny you should mention the illustrations; I was just wondering what was the first illustrations of Conan? Did Weird Tales have any illustrations of Conan?

[@markcampbell8622]

Weird Tales did; he's skinny.

[@russworks2882]

@@markcampbell8622 Some of the cover paintings/pastel drawings by Margaret Brundage are wonderfully eerie. I think a lot of the Marvel and post-Marvel stuff neglects the exotic alien atmosphere of Conan's world and just follows a Sword and Sandal template. I agree that the interior art on the Weird Tales stories could be on the weak side.

[@MagusMarquillin]

Wait, you want to read _all_ the Conan stories in September? And comics on top of that? That might be hard to keep up with, I'm not sure, but It's not as good a venue for discussion as I was hoping (compared with one a week for instance). Do you mean to structure it as one story per day, or every two days? There being 21 by REH in all, it doesn't fit so nicely into 30 days. We could do 10 per month for 3 months. You don't always have to have alliterative themed months you know. 8P

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Well, I’ll be reading every REH Conan story in September because I want to. That’s a good enough reason for me.

[@MagusMarquillin]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 That's fair enough! 🙂 I just had expectations after the announcement. I'll try to participate, but I'm not sure I'll be into rushing it - I'm doing a chapter-a-day readalong (for Lies of Locke Lamora) now that people are barely participating in anymore...but maybe there's other reasons. I need to find the right groups for the deep dives, and Conan groups are a rarity.

[@jessewickland4938]

e-book delray has all the illustrations. they are great albeit a little pricey

[@david124cherrington5]

I have the 12 volume Lancer series. Would this work for Cimmerian September?

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

I would have to say "NO". The series contains a lot of non-Howard work mixed with true Conan stories. That's not to say they aren't fun and entertaining reads, but it goes against the concept of Cimmerian September (imnsho): experiencing the Conan that Howard intended.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I wouldn’t recommend those books for this event. It’s cool you still have them though. They are pretty valuable nowadays.

[@phillip_rogersjr]

I have the Del Rey set for Conan and for Kull and Solomon Kane. They’re all great. I disagree with you about the Conan cartoon. It was one of my favorite childhood sword and sorcery cartoons along with The Pirates of Dark Water. Now, the tv show was bad. I saw a few episodes on KZbin to refresh my memory. Yikes.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Yikes indeed!

[@jordanthomas4379]

Here is a question, what’s the Darkest Conan story?

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

Probably Red Nails or Hour of the Dragon.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I’m going to say Red Nails.

[@swampgas76]

Elric October?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

That’s a tall order.

[@psikeyhackr6914]

Publishing order sucks! Why don't you anounce a reading order by the chronology of Conan's life.

[@ULYSSESFACEPLANT-v4d]

Michael has covered that before and he is completely correct on which order to start reading conan and that is in order when wrote/published best way to start

[@psikeyhackr6914]

@@ULYSSESFACEPLANT-v4d Really? Where/when was that?

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

Short answer is that if Howard had intended the stories read as a chronological biography, he would have written the stories that way.

[@psikeyhackr6914]

@@TheEricthefruitbat How do you know? You assume that he had some kind of conscious control of when he got good story ideas?

[@AngryPict]

@@psikeyhackr6914 I think Howard said somewhere that the tales were deliberately in that order to reflect an old king reflecting on his life. More a rambling mead or wine fueled recollection, or the nostalgic stories of an old man, than a structured biography.