Confused by Conan....

[xg4bx]

I see 50 different compilations, each claiming to have all of Howard's Conan output.

How many Conan stories did he write in total and is there a single volume (or 2) that contains all of them?

[sabredog]

Robert E Howard only wrote a few Conan stories and even fewer novels. His original works were published in Weird Tales during the 1930's.

The Phoenix on the Sword
The Scarlet Citadel
The Tower of the Elephant
Black Colossus
The Slithering Shadow
The Pool of the Black One
Rogues in the House
Shadows in the Moonlight
Queen of the Black Coast
The Devil in Iron
The People of the Black Circle
A Witch Shall be Born
Jewels of Gwahlur
Beyond the Black River
Shadows in Zamboula
The Hour of the Dragon
Red Nails

He also wrote four Conan novels during that time as well, but they were not published when he was alive having been rejected by the publishers or not presented for publication.

The Frost Giant's Daughter
The God in the Bowl
The Vale of Lost Women
The Black Stranger

There were several Conan stories that were not completed at his time of death (he committed suicide in 1936)

The Snout in the Dark, fragment
Drums of Tombalku, fragment
The Hall of the Dead, synopsis only
The Hand of Nergal, fragment

During the 1950's Gnome Press published his short stories for the first time but it was not until the 1960's that Lancer press published all his works including the uncompleted ones that were reworked by L Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter. De Camp and Carter also wrote several stand alone novels and stories featuring our favourite Cimmerian.

Other authors also wrote Conan novels. some were great and others truly awful.

Of late, there are several editions available that have published pure Howard Conan but before spending your hard earned money though, you might want to try Mobileread's superb library first

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...=robert+howard

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...=robert+howard

Hope that helps

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

How many Conan stories did he write in total and is there a single volume (or 2) that contains all of them?

Google and Wikipedia are your friends (if you believe them):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_t..._Conan_stories

According to the Wikipedia link there were 17 stories published originally through "Weird Tales". An additional 4 published after his death.

The original 17 stories are available here on MR.

epub

Mobipocket

[xg4bx]

thank you both very much.

[JeremyR]

Still, what did did write is enough to fill 3 pretty big volumes (maybe 1000 pages total, in trade paperback form?)

[ebusinesstutor]

My first exposure to Conan was though the L Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter edited series.

Nice as it provided his adventures in a chronological format.

I was so disappointed when they cast Arnold Swartzenegger as Conan for the first movie. I lam an Arnie fan, but he just did not fit my mental picture of Conan.

Well worth reading - in my mind, Conan is THE standard for a barbarian warrior that others try to emulate.

[ScalyFreak]

Aaaahhh... Conan of Cimmeria. My very first teenage crush.

Must. Download. Everything!

Anyone else here curious about the new movie they're advertising on TV now? I can't remember the name of the actor cast as Conan, but he is definitely a better choice than Arnie was. Not that that says much... but he fits my mental picture much better. Conan is supposed to be dangerous, and this new one looks the part.

[sabredog]

Jason Momoa

He played Ronin Dex in Stargate Atlantis seasons 2-5

[DiapDealer]

And recently played Khal Drogo in HBO's A Game of Thrones.

[sabredog]

Not seen that show as yet. Looks interesting though.

[sabredog]

Just stay RIGHT away from the mid 90's Conan TV series.

[Phogg]

Conan is a dangerous topic for bibliophiles.

[xg4bx]

while on the topic of sword&sorcery/conan its a disgrace that none of karl edward wagners novels look to be available, either in print or ebook, particularly his "kane" series. the only way one seems to be able to get them is "sailing the seven seas".

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by sabredog

Jason Momoa

He played Ronin Dex in Stargate Atlantis seasons 2-5

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

And recently played Khal Drogo in HBO's A Game of Thrones.

That explains why I don't recognize him, I don't have HBO. He has the kinds of shoulders I tend to remember.

[SpyderKB]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

Is there a single volume (or 2) that contains all of them?

There are 3 trade paperback volumes by Del Rey that contain the complete Conan opus as Howard wrote the stories. The top 3 found here:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...el+rey&x=0&y=0

And can be had as eBooks as well

If you want a single volume, here's the next best thing:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Chron...3388248&sr=1-5

While conveniently packaged, some of these stories aren't as authoritative as the 3 Del Reys.

The publishing story is long and complicated, and can be googled if you're interested. But the short version is: the original Conan stories suffered much posthumous editing and alterations from the 1950's - 1990's. Only recently (with the Del Rey editions) have the texts as written by Howard been restored.