It’s Robert E. Howard’s birthday.
I owe the Bard of Cross Plains, Texas, a lot. As longtime readers of Frontier Partisans know, it was my youthful reading of Howard that sparked a desire to paint vivid scenes of adventure in the hinterlands with the pen. I likely would have found this path regardless — writing seems to be my calling — but REH was an early and profound influence and, it turns out, a lasting one. His cyclical, pessimistic view of history has proven more and more resonant for me. And strangely comforting. We’ve been living in a manifestly Howardian world for a couple of decades now, and the weirder it gets, the more at home I feel.
I reckon most of you get that.
I am marking the occasion today by listening to the Age of Conan soundtrack as I write. It’s a good ’un — very evocative. I will soon adjourn to watch football, which REH loved. I will sling kettlebells, evoking the physicality that Howard esteemed so greatly. Tonight I will delve into Netflix’s Frontier — starring Jason Momoa, who once played Howard’s most famous creation — Conan of Cimmeria. It would appear that Momoa’s character in Frontier, Declan Harp, is a suitably Howardian figure, a Celtic-barbarian man of the wildlands.
Perhaps I will cap the evening by re-reading Red Nails, inspired by the fine painting by Alex Horley below. I like the “realism.” Howard did not depict his barbarian as a preening bodybuilder, and his women were only nekkid when they needed to be.
Speaking of which, contrary to stereotypes promulgated by ignorant critics, REH wrote a number of strong women characters. The one depicted in the painting is Valeria, a she-pirate who took no shit. Anybody who tried to grab her by the pussy without a clear invitation would have drawn back a bloody stump. Just sayin’.
Keith West says
Well said. (And I get it.) I read Solomon Kane last night. Will try to fit another Solomon tale in later.
JimC says
Love that mad Puritan.
Matthew says
I always thought of Kane as a religious fanatic who had better judgement on what he attack than most religious fanatics (or secular fanatics, for that matter.)
JimC says
An unusual character for REH. More “purpose” to his wanderlust. Or did his sense of mission serve to justify his wanderlust?
Matthew says
While it’s a myth that all of Howard’s characters were Conan in various disguises, he did tend to have a lot of types. Black Turlogh, Kull, and Conan had more differences in personality than people realized, but they were very similar. Bran Mak Morn and El Borak were not particularly a like but were short and bronze skinned. Dark Agnes and Red Sonya were red haired warrior women. Solomon Kane is the most unique. He has the standard features of REH hero: dark hair and blue eyes, but he’s thin. He doesn’t care for plunder and has staunch desire to seek justice. Yet, you can’t untangle that from a lust for adventure and wonderlust.
JimC says
POTBC is top three of the Conan stories for me. Of course it is… It’s a frontier yarn!
Matthew says
I think I’ll reread Red Nails. Aside from being proof that Howard could write strong heroines, Red Nails shows that Conan was not stupid. He comes across as a Hyborian age MacGuyver in his plan to defeat the dragon/dinosaur character.
JimC says
Exactly.
Matthew says
I don’t think Howard leaned on it too much, but Conan knew strategy. He often outsmarted the civilized folk.
John C. says
I have always appreciated his comment when asked if he felt he could lead the army in “The Black Colossus”.
“It’s no more than swordplay on a larger scale. You draw his guard, then… stab! Slash! And either his head is off, or yours.”
Typical barbarian fatalism, too, but he carried the day (of course), and then carried the queen (of course).
John C.
JimC says
One of my favorite REH stories…
Paul McNamee says
I’m getting my occult detective mojo working, so I went with Kirowan in “The Haunter of The Ring,” a modern story that nevertheless has reference to Thoth-Amon. But, in the same collection is “People of the Black Circle” and now I’m 25 pgs in. Ensorcelled by scribe’s talent and tale of Conan.
Breaker Morant says
Obviously, off topic and self-promotional, However, if the muse can stay away from Spider Solitaire, I hope to finish my safari blog (http://thesmokeofafrica.blogspot.com/) by the time farm work starts in the spring. Taking year long breaks every once in awhile doesn’t help. I have now finished the buffalo hunt and am moving forward. I am really happy with the 2 top posts (as of now)
“Go Easy on the Rajah” which is not a hunting story, but is more of a foodie/foodways post.
and
“Non-Typical Trophy Pictures-a Photographic Essay”-There are pictures here of a type that I have never seen anywhere else.
I like how you found writing to be your calling. For a few short years, I got to do a lot of business writing and research-mainly, very in-depth appraisal reports of attractive rural properties. We usually worked for Land Trusts and the Nature Conservancy and so forth.
I really loved doing that and I forgot how much I missed it, when the muse called me to finish my damn safari story. God, I was only gone for 2 weeks, how long can it take?-LOL.
JimC says
Get on over there, everybody.
Black Tyrone says
Always have been an REH fan. I would add that Howard was as we all know prolific and as such I would not ignore his boxing stories {himself an avid amateur boxer}. There is a fine volume published by Bison Books {University of Nebraska Press} devoted to his personal passion, Boxing. Howard’s protagonist in many of the stories, sailor Steve Costigan will given the chance, win your hearts.
Bison books has published several volumes of Howard short stories and are well worth the look. Best Black Tyrone
JimC says
Second the motion.
Matthew says
His boxing stories are interesting because he was better known during his lifetime than his Conan stories. The Costigan stories are really funny. (Though you may not want to read more than one or two at a time.)
He also wrote two stories about a black boxer named Ace Jessel. I’ve only read “The Apparition in the Ring” but it is in an interesting ghost story involving boxing. It’s also one of those stories that were fairly enlightened by the standard’s of the time, but by today’s is somewhat racist.
Black Tyrone says
Over the place the lights go out,
Except for the cluster above the ring;
The crowd begins to thunder and shout;
At the tap of the gong I whirl and spring.
And I hear the snarl of my chargin’ foe,
The Cobra Kid from Old Mexico.
In the Ring REH
a tease for all
Black Tyrone says
Great Matthew, a kindred spirit here. Civility is needed NOT PC Just a thought, Kipling was a man of his time however “left academics” feel it necessary to judge Rudy by 21st century PC, but it drives them “nuts” that in 1907 he won the Nobel Prize in Literature. I am presently finishing up a non fiction work on Sir Richard Burton in Africa, the author a university academic cannot but help himself falling into the same “trap”.
Enough of my editorializing Lets keep it light! Enjoy REH regardless of my musings Black Tyrone
Matthew says
Well, I just finished Red Nails. I’ve read before, but whoa! I think I’m going to read some P. G. Wodehouse or something now.
JimC says
Hah! Yeah it’s a grim one.
Matthew says
They tried to make it in to a CGI animated movie years ago (Ron Perlman was going to be Conan), but if fell through and was only like half completed.
Thing is you’d have to tone it down to get a R rating.
JimC says
A hard R for sure.
Eccentric Cowboy says
I believe that the greatest test of any work of art, the only test that will truly determine its value, is that of time. The works of Howard, for all the sneering and harrumphing they receive from snooty literati, have only increased in popularity over time. He tapped into a very primitive part of the human soul, a part that lies within many of us, sometimes sleeping until awoken. But that’s what keeps it going. Howard was a realist and a student of history and his work is still surprisingly relevant today. Pulp gets a bad rap, but it sometimes had nuance and ideas far ahead of their times.
Also, speaking of strong women, I recently rediscovered my love for one of the few romantic musicals I not only tolerate but actively enjoy: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! If you haven’t seen it, and I’d be shocked out of my skin, you should give it a look see! Millie is a perfect example of what true strength is. Sweet as an angel when you treat her right and as terrifying as a demon when you trespass, able to command that cabal of backwoodsmen as if they were children.
Honestly, the more I think about it, the more brilliant and fun the movie is. It just seems to keep getting better with time! 🙂
JimC says
Watched that at a girlfriend’s insistence many years ago — and enjoyed the heck out of it.
john roberts says
Russ Tamblyn dancing on a plank has to be seen to be believed.
Lane Batot says
January 22nd was Howard’s birthday? I never realized that!!!! Significant to me, because that’s MY birthday! Just a coincidence?…… And yeah, I’d like to see someone grabbing without permission, any of those Viking chicks! Or perhaps that Apache girl in the “Ghost Warrior” book!….And speaking of great TV to watch–believe it or not, I’m ’bout caught up with the rest of the planet with “Game Of Thrones”–finished Season 5 just last week(DAMN!), and have Season 6 waiting on me to start! And, thanks to the good recommendations on this blog, bought me my first season(used and fairly cheap) of “Black Sails”! Nice to have lots of comfy indoor stuff to watch on cold winter nights……
JimC says
Outstanding!
Lucas de Melo Facó says
The sailor Steve Costigan uses an original martial art probably inspired by boxing, savate, wrestling and street fighting.