Today (or, arguably, Tuesday) would have been the 100th birthday of Robert E. Howard. As the creator of Conan, King Kull, and Solomon Kane, he invented the sword-and-sorcery fantasy and wrote in more than a half-dozen other genres for pulp magazines of all types. He cut his own life short at the age of 30. We can only guess what other works of genius he would have wrought had he held on with us a little longer.
I’m honored to be able to work on the Age of Conan novels for Ace Books. Recently Del Rey released The Conquering Sword of Conan, the third and final volume collecting Howard’s Conan work. This completes the Howard canon that we go by when working on the new novels. Be sure to check it out, and raise a glass toward Cross Plains, Texas, when you can.
January 23rd, 2006 at 8:12 am
The Cross Plains, Texas home page does right by listing themselves as home to Robert E. Howard. They also hold a Barbarian Festival every June.
http://www.crossplains.com/
Might have to check that out.
Brian
January 23rd, 2006 at 9:51 am
Thanks, Brian. Another cool thing is that the World Fantasy Convention is being held in Austin, Texas, this year and will focus on Howard’s work.
January 23rd, 2006 at 11:32 am
Sweet!!! Nuff said.