The Black Stranger by Robert E. Howard (Audiobook) // Featuring Conan the Cimmerian

1:38 - audiobook start
The Black Stranger is a story by Robert E. Howard featuring the character Conan the Cimmerian.
Howard did not managed to sell this story, and eventually rewrote the story as Swords of the Red Brotherhood (which was also did sold during his lifetime). In the 1950's this story was finally published. Due to the later date of publication, this story is not yet in the public domain in many countries. Luckily it is in the public domain in Australia. So, with great pleasure, I invite you to listen to this audiobook of The Black Stranger.
Artwork by William Blake.
To listen to this audiobook on an exclusive podcast feed or download this audiobook, support the channel by becoming a subscriber on Patreon: / theeldritcharchives
To buy the audiobook for this and other stories, go to: eldritcharchives.bandcamp.com
Twitter: / connork_au

[@RolandWieffering1]

The work of REH is so hard to get. Especially the Steve Harrison and similar detective stories. But luckily Australia has a large public domain. Found many stories no where else available. So, thumbs up for you guys down under. And all the best from Holland.

[@jacktheleper4468]

Roland I've listened to some rare ish CAS works on your channel! What fortuitous happenstance

[@RolandWieffering1]

@@jacktheleper4468 Glad you liked them. I wish I could access the complete works of Robert E. Howard. He wrote so much different genres it's unbelievable. Here in Holland I can't get the Steve Harrison stories, except for two or three stories. "The Black Hound of death" being one of them, and the one with the severed head on the mantle piece and the 🐀 rat trying to get to the head. 😂😂 I know they're more stories he wrote. Thanks for your reaction and all the best from Holland 🍻

[@ezo4]

This is awesome. I have been a REH reader since I was a kid. I never read this one. Thanks!!!!

[@michaelmcneely6143]

I'm with you, more please.

[@deltabravo2678]

Neat story! Suspect Howard read Burroughs growing up.

[@jackadams3968]

I was very excited to see that you had posted a new REH audiobook "The Black Stranger", but found myself totally in shock to hear my name mentioned among others in your intro. I don't know what to say but thank you, very much appreciated. Very curious about what other works of Howard are available in New Zealand? On an other note, are you all settled in your new surroundings? Keep up the excellent work!! Stay Safe! 🙂

[@terralimburg9979]

Truly awesome to hear a story by this author that I wouldn't normally get to hear. Thank you!😁😍

[@phantomb8832]

Listened with girlish glee to this one, a personal favourite! As always you've brought the story to life superbly. Thank you, and thanks for the shoutout, too 😊

[@TheEldritchArchives]

Glad you enjoyed it! And you're welcome! 🙂

[@gusess5743]

Oh wow! What a gem Thanks mate, good to finally see some benefit from our Aussie licensing/IP

[@hazylogic]

Loving this; the opening paragraphs are so suspenseful and brutal.

[@priscillalapierre8087]

Awwwnnnn ❤❤❤ thank you so so so much Conan is my childhood hero 🦋🫶🏻 Amazingness!! Your voice and accent is marvelous 💘

[@crushthyflowerss]

You should look into gothic horror novels from the 18th and 19th century, most of them are in the public domain. Your narration of Matthew Lewis' "The Monk" would be amazing!

[@TheEldritchArchives]

Thanks! I have a few novels on my list of things to record :)

[@spiralrose]

YES! PLEASE do!

[@DannyPoet]

would be cool

[@cruebob1371]

Great story and Better narration Thanks 😅

[@Eduardo_Ventura]

Thanks for mentioning me! I love your REH stories. Pitty you won't be making more for now.

[@TheEldritchArchives]

Thanks for your support! Hope you enjoyed the book :)

[@keithosborne6585]

Great story. So much intrigue in the plot and characters. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@tobypack6328]

Hey Eldritch 👋 simply Fantastic work , by Crom! 👏 Have you seen the movie from ‘96 called “The Whole Wide World” with Vincent D’onofrio as Robert E Howard & Renee Zelwiger as his girlfriend Novalyne Price? It is soooo good 👍

[@TheEldritchArchives]

Hey Toby, thanks for the kind words! Yep, I have seen The Whole Wide World, overall I thought it was pretty good. I'm actually amazed that the movie got made at all and was as faithful to REH's life as it was. They did get a few minor things wrong, like REH's relationship with his father (apparently they were actually pretty good buddies and liked to yarn together), but I thought D'Onofrio played REH well and captured both the good and dark parts of his personality. Also it's pretty cool seeing REH portrayed on film!

[@tobypack6328]

@@TheEldritchArchives yessir! So tragic! I’ve been to his house many times. I’m from Abilene, which is about 50 miles from Cross Plains.

[@winstonmiller9649]

Your narration of TBS by Howard is breathtaking!! *hold on let me catch a breath before going on* I first read this tale in the mid 70s as a lad of17. You put as much passion in your reading as I would have read it back then, because as you know youth is full on passion, and I would have been captivated by Howard's fast paced action and read it accordingly; like a rollercoaster ride. Please keep up your great readings of Howard's works, because as we appreciate, there's nothing like a Howard tale to take our breath away in a good way.🎶😮 👏🏾😊❤📚🖤😊👏🏾

[@OQuinlan-nz1md]

Hey fellow pict..I read Howard as well during that time..just a bit younger..13..I would mow yards and my bicycle for miles to buy the ace paperbacks ..

[@AkAkAkNeil]

that was excellent, a great story really well read, thanks

[@ichbifeuertrunk]

Just finished it! You did a great job, as always. REH rules!

[@3PercentNeanderhal]

Thanks to the Aussie narrator. Well read and immensely enjoyed.

[@adrianglennbionat]

damn son, you outdid yourself with this one.

[@tiffanyclark-grove1989]

Love the original Conan stories❤️

[@mattthescreamer177]

Amazing narration, keep up the great work

[@ichbifeuertrunk]

Thank you! Keep up the great work!

[@TheEldritchArchives]

Thank! :)

[@user-dj3gw6ie3n]

Excellent reading Thank You!

[@tooladdict85]

Thanks for your work. I really appreciate it

[@kevinspectro9177]

Just started but I can already tell I’m going to love this. Not sure if you’re familiar with the Weird Studies podcast, but your academic approach to strange fiction/topics reminds me a lot of them. They would love your video on Picnic at Hanging Rock.

[@jasonz7788]

You work is outstanding thank you for the great work Sir 👍

[@paulbrown-bear1936]

Thank u broski, love your page. Truly, separately I did chuckle a lil when I read the title 😂

[@Wombats555]

Thanks a heap! Moon of Skulls is a Solomon Kane story that may be available, too.

[@TheEldritchArchives]

I have looked into doing Moon of Skulls as well. It's on my list of stories to do :)

[@phantomxof3269]

Like your channel!! Keep up the great work!!🙏

[@robertboyle2573]

Great choice!

[@mickdipiano8768]

Wow this is awesome

[@jeremykern7806]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!REH!!!!

[@CyberChud2077]

Thanks for this, it’s hard to find

[@seanmurphy6480]

NICE ONE MR 🎯👍

[@elissalabellelabelle4819]

Make as many as you can! 😊

[@thedativecase9733]

I subscribed only a day or two ago but I have watched quite a few of your videos already- Eldritch has always been one of my favourite words so you had me at that and i have loved the stuff you deal with my whole life.. The art work you use appeals to me a lot too. One thing surprised me that in your folk horror videos (my favourites among your work so far) you didn't mention "Ancient Sorceries" by Algernon Blackwood. This would seem to have most of the elements your required. A modern (at the time) man encounters a seemingly idyllic French village but realises in time that it is is entirely populated by witches, and he finally gets drawn in to a wild pagan celebration by his attraction to a mysterious young woman.

[@BenSHammonds]

a very favorite story

[@mediamogul6643]

Brilliant story, brilliantly read, many thanks x

[@jl8485]

Very good production. I don't know if you've heard of The Cybrarian on YT. He has about 15-20 REH Conan and Kull audiobooks with SFX and voice actors for the females.

[@alswann2702]

One of my favorite Two Gun Bob yarns! So much better than De Camp's Treasure of Tranicos bastardization. Thanks, Eldritch!

[@mzeewatk846]

I’m sure this in in fact a reading of De Camp’s adaptation of Howard’s Black Volema story, called “The Black Stranger”. Please give me feedback if I’m wrong. : )

[@mzeewatk846]

Ps. I looked it up, and it was in fact Howard that adapted his own Black Vulema story. What changes did de camp make?

[@TheEldritchArchives]

Hope you liked it mate! And thanks for your support! I'm a big fan of this story too. We see a different side to Conan that we dont usually see. In this yarn he is a real cutthroat and we see how smart he really is as he pits the pirates and noblemen against one other.

[@mzeewatk846]

So my memory is that de Camp wrote Conan the Conqueror, as a novel. Later on, In Savage Sword, The Treasure of Tranicos was adapted to be a prequel to C the C, which is the only part of the Savage Sword rendition this version that doesn’t match with my recollections. Did de Camp adapt the story specifically for Savage Sword? Was it a separate publication? If you can fill in the gaps, I’d be obliged.

[@jahnwarnermedia]

It’s the same story

[@judestevenson4943]

New to your channel, & have been loving your REH reads, particularly like listening to the lesser known stories & characters. Can I suggest (if you can find it) a grey god passes! In my opinion 1 of REH best works. Keep up the good work 👍

[@TheEldritchArchives]

Thanks Jude!! I have looked into Grey God Passes because I also really like the story, but unfortunately its not in the public domain so I am not legally allowed to make an audiobook. But I agree its one of REHs best!

[@judestevenson4943]

@@TheEldritchArchives OK thanks for the information, it's a shame it deserves more exposure & you would have done it justice 👍

[@tonyhynes1938]

Thanks for this. I'm subscribed to any channel that has R,E Howard audio books. Brilliant ✌️

[@jahnwarnermedia]

It’s called The Treasure of Tranicos in the US

[@kiltallagh1]

The treasure of Tranicos .

[@Wombats555]

Is de Camp's rewriting of this.

[@philipmatthews2107]

Eldritch I am curious what is your opinion on the newest folk horror 'Men' by Alex Garland?

[@andrewrobertson3894]

Gross and completely nuts. I liked it.

[@dwightredwood4586]

This is the " Treasure of Tranicos"...been online for ages now.

[@Cimmerian415]

This is the same story by another name called " The Treasure of Tranicos" by Robert E Howard and L. Sprague de Camp.

[@Nerokeff]

Nice voice...

[@jkb1O5]

🤙

[@TheEldritchArchives]

To help support the channel, considering buying the audiobook: eldritcharchives.bandcamp.com Or donate on Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/eldritcharchives

[@Eris123451]

All this stuff is public domain available for free read by volunteers so why would anyone ?

[@user-rh9gj9dx5j]

1:35:45

[@mzeewatk846]

This was originally a Black Volema story, and the protagonist was an 18th century piratical precursor of Conan. Savage Sword published a series where the story was adapted into a Conan story, but was it Howard that actually wrote the adaptation? Anybody know?

[@TheEldritchArchives]

It was the other way around. This was first a Conan story, but then rewritten as a pirate story in the hope that it would then sell. Yes Howard wrote both stories.

[@mzeewatk846]

Ps. I appreciate the upload, regardless. : )

[@mzeewatk846]

@@TheEldritchArchives Is that evidential? I’m not doubting you, but If you could provide me with source material, I’d be grateful. : )

[@johnwright1447]

Which story was written as a rewrite of which is not known. There is evidence supporting either side. I myself have read both stories, and the internal evidence of the plot structure and theme leads me to conclude that the pirate story was the first story, and the Conan story was the rewrite.

[@andrewanastasovski1609]

@@johnwright1447 I know he rewrote some Kull stories into Conan stories. It leads me to believe that Conan became a bit more popular with his publisher, and he probably did it with other stories as well.

[@dianecheney4141]

Conan the Barbarian found Arthur and his knights

[@Fardawg]

You might want to fix these from the description. "Howard did not managed to sell this story" and "which was also did sold during his lifetime"

[@mshistory1000]

Is it legal for people outside of Australia to listen to this reading if it is not Public domain in their countries?

[@mshistory1000]

@HuxleyVincentHitchcockPriceAlbertOrwell thank you for the information. I appreciate it

[@hamishshaw4907]

Ah! This is the Treasure of Tranicos. We have it here under a different name

[@mattrhodes3982]

👋

[@wesjones565]

This story isn’t new. It’s just the “Treasure of Tranicos” with parts of the story slightly different from the American version.

[@Self-replicating_whatnot]

I think i've read this story before, but not in this specific rendition.

[@Cimmerian415]

Same here, It's called "Treasure of Tranicos" by L. Sprague de Camp and Robert E Howard.

[@miserablecuss3744]

There is nothing worse than an echoey ejaculation! Thanks for your hard work.

[@simonwilliams9398]

Very good, but... "historical sobs" rather broke the spell cast by the master.

[@ares0wept]

Readings don't never not done nothing for not nobody Never not no one didn't about no reason, Not never, and by God, they never not ain't gonna will

[@irislenore3485]

My immersion faltered at every instance of “ejaculate”… awesome story and reading regardless!!!!

[@michaelkottler]

Why?

[@ge0metr1xx]

Thank you

[@cb3332]

Treasure of tracanous, not new at all

[@ge0metr1xx]

de Camp changed the ending drastically. The Black Stranger is the story that REH intended. The Treasure of Tranicos is de Camp's bastardization

[@harlequinems]

Robert Howard tells a fun story..... but MY GOD is he a TERRIBLE writer, constantly overusing the same words in quick succession, outright misusing words in some places, and obsession with people's bodies bordering on being weird haha.

[@Wombats555]

Can't hear you over all these Rippling Thews!

[@harlequinems]

@@Wombats555 😂😂 I would speak louder but my neck is so bronzed and muscular it constricts my vocal cords!

[@Wombats555]

@@harlequinems DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT A THEW IS?

[@Cimmerian415]

@@Wombats555 Muscle.

[@davidwestfall4121]

Terrible narrator mispronounces words and reads like a machine,

[@arthurpayne8965]

Rambling at beginning makes me not wanna listen to any of your stuff