There is a very nice single hardcover volume of every Conan story but it is significantly more expensive. The Del Rey editions were published in different sized hardcover editions but only as Book Club printings.
@@thejohnbeck the single hardcover is nice but it seems to usually go for about $75-$80. It’s also much thicker so it’s not quite as easy to handle as the individual volumes. I guess it depends on what your preferences are, but I think the Del Rey volumes are so well done and so affordable that the hardcover is really only for diehard fans. Plus you’d have to get the paperback volumes if you’re going to collect the whole Del Rey series and want them to match.
An excellent overview and appraisal of Robert E.Howard's Conan stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of them. Personally, I think The Hour Of The Dragon is overall his best story, and even his best writing. He was at the top of his game with that story.
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 they’re absolutely incredible! If only we could get similar kinds of exquisite well produced volumes that don’t cost an arm and a leg for every great writer. I found the first volume in my local bookstore as I had started watching your Howard videos. That was me taking the plunge and now I can’t stop. 😂
Spence, I would say that The Tower of the Elephant is the most famous Conan story. It is a riveting masterpiece! The Marvel comic book version is a classic!
Love seeing you review REH's work, I got all 3 volumes a while ago! If you're interested in reading more from this era, one short story I recommend is The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by the very underrated Clark Ashton Smith. He was part of the same literary circle as Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, and wrote many varied SF and fantasy stories for Weird Tales. I highlight Yoh-Vombis in particular because it's about archaeologists exploring alien ruins on Mars, where you can especially see how it influenced what later inspired the first Alien film.
"Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. Let teachers and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content." Thanks for highlighting these great books Crusader. I hope you get into the Solomon Kane editon of the Del Rey Books. I think Kane surpassed my love of Conan and REH's writing. They are fantastic stories as well. My fav Kane is story is The Moon of Skulls. On a side note I had the pleasure of meeting Gary Gianni at Comic Con way back when. He was super nice. Im glad you are enjoying REH! He's one of my favs for sure!
I know there's a great deal of visual display in your videos but these would also be great as podcast if you are able to covert the audio to spotify or anything other platform.
I grew up with the Marvel Conan comics and the paperbacks with the Frazetta covers. Those were great but the Del Rey versions are superior to everything else. Unaltered, pure Howard writing. I need to pick some of the other works.Solomon Kane, Kull, etc.
There is a very nice single hardcover volume of every Conan story but it is significantly more expensive. The Del Rey editions were published in different sized hardcover editions but only as Book Club printings.
I have these 3 books like the ones on your top shelf in hardcover, plus I bought the audiobook versions from audible. All great stuff!
would you recommend the single hardcover over these 3 paperback?
@@thejohnbeck the single hardcover is nice but it seems to usually go for about $75-$80. It’s also much thicker so it’s not quite as easy to handle as the individual volumes. I guess it depends on what your preferences are, but I think the Del Rey volumes are so well done and so affordable that the hardcover is really only for diehard fans. Plus you’d have to get the paperback volumes if you’re going to collect the whole Del Rey series and want them to match.
An excellent overview and appraisal of Robert E.Howard's Conan stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of them. Personally, I think The Hour Of The Dragon is overall his best story, and even his best writing. He was at the top of his game with that story.
The best set of Robert E. Howard stories ever. I love these editions.
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 they’re absolutely incredible! If only we could get similar kinds of exquisite well produced volumes that don’t cost an arm and a leg for every great writer.
I found the first volume in my local bookstore as I had started watching your Howard videos. That was me taking the plunge and now I can’t stop. 😂
I collect Conan paperbacks and I wish I could like this video more than once!
Wonderful assessment od Howard's mastery.
Spence, I would say that The Tower of the Elephant is the most famous Conan story. It is a riveting masterpiece! The Marvel comic book version is a classic!
Love seeing you review REH's work, I got all 3 volumes a while ago! If you're interested in reading more from this era, one short story I recommend is The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by the very underrated Clark Ashton Smith. He was part of the same literary circle as Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, and wrote many varied SF and fantasy stories for Weird Tales. I highlight Yoh-Vombis in particular because it's about archaeologists exploring alien ruins on Mars, where you can especially see how it influenced what later inspired the first Alien film.
Thanks for the answer about the single volume vs 3 books
@@thejohnbeck Wow, thank you so much!!
"Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. Let teachers and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content."
Thanks for highlighting these great books Crusader. I hope you get into the Solomon Kane editon of the Del Rey Books. I think Kane surpassed my love of Conan and REH's writing. They are fantastic stories as well. My fav Kane is story is The Moon of Skulls. On a side note I had the pleasure of meeting Gary Gianni at Comic Con way back when. He was super nice. Im glad you are enjoying REH! He's one of my favs for sure!
I know there's a great deal of visual display in your videos but these would also be great as podcast if you are able to covert the audio to spotify or anything other platform.
I grew up with the Marvel Conan comics and the paperbacks with the Frazetta covers. Those were great but the Del Rey versions are superior to everything else. Unaltered, pure Howard writing. I need to pick some of the other works.Solomon Kane, Kull, etc.