The Robert E. Howard Reader
Encyclopedia
The Robert E. Howard Reader is a collection of essays on fantasy
writer Robert E. Howard
and his works, edited by Darrell Schweitzer
. Originally scheduled for publication in 2007, it was ultimately published in September 2010 by Wildside Press
.
The book consists of seventeen essays by various authors, together with an introduction by the editor. A few of the pieces were previously published as articles in George H. Scithers
's fanzine
Amra, the anthologies The Conan Swordbook
(1969), The Conan Grimoire
(1972), and Exploring Fantasy Worlds (1985), and the magazines The New York Review of Science Fiction
and Weird Tales
The remainder are original to the collection.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
writer Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
and his works, edited by Darrell Schweitzer
Darrell Schweitzer
Darrell Charles Schweitzer is an American writer, editor, and essayist in the field of speculative fiction. Much of his focus has been on dark fantasy and horror, although he does also work in science fiction and fantasy...
. Originally scheduled for publication in 2007, it was ultimately published in September 2010 by Wildside Press
Wildside Press
Wildside Press is an independent publishing company located in Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1989 by John Gregory and Kim Betancourt. While the press was originally conceived as a publisher of speculative fiction in both trade and limited editions, it has broadened out somewhat since then, both...
.
The book consists of seventeen essays by various authors, together with an introduction by the editor. A few of the pieces were previously published as articles in George H. Scithers
George H. Scithers
George H. Scithers was a science fiction fan, author, and Hugo Award winning editor.A long-time member of the World Science Fiction Society, he published a fanzine starting in the '50s, wrote short stories, and moved on to edit several prominent science fiction magazines, as well as a number of...
's fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
Amra, the anthologies The Conan Swordbook
The Conan Swordbook
The Conan Swordbook is a 1969 collection of essays edited by L. Sprague de Camp and George H. Scithers, published in hardcover by Mirage Press. The essays were originally published as articles in Scithers' fanzine Amra. The book is a companion to Mirage’s other two volumes of material from Amra,...
(1969), The Conan Grimoire
The Conan Grimoire
The Conan Grimoire is a 1972 collection of essays, poetry and fiction edited by L. Sprague de Camp and George H. Scithers, published in hardcover by Mirage Press. The essays were originally published as articles in Scithers' fanzine Amra...
(1972), and Exploring Fantasy Worlds (1985), and the magazines The New York Review of Science Fiction
The New York Review of Science Fiction
The New York Review of Science Fiction is a monthly literary journal of science fiction that was established in 1988. It includes works of science fiction criticism, essays, and in-depth critical reviews of new works of fiction and scholarship. It is published by Dragon Press and the managing...
and Weird Tales
Weird Tales
Weird Tales is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine first published in March 1923. It ceased its original run in September 1954, after 279 issues, but has since been revived. The magazine was set up in Chicago by J. C. Henneberger, an ex-journalist with a taste for the macabre....
The remainder are original to the collection.
Contents
- “Introduction” (Darrell SchweitzerDarrell SchweitzerDarrell Charles Schweitzer is an American writer, editor, and essayist in the field of speculative fiction. Much of his focus has been on dark fantasy and horror, although he does also work in science fiction and fantasy...
) - “Robert E. Howard: A Texan Master” (Michael MoorcockMichael MoorcockMichael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
) - “The Everlasting Barbarian” (Leo Grin)
- “Robert E. Howard’s Fiction” (L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
) - “The Art of Robert Ervin Howard” (Poul AndersonPoul AndersonPoul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories...
) - “Howard’s Style” (Fritz LeiberFritz LeiberFritz Reuter Leiber, Jr. was an American writer of fantasy, horror and science fiction. He was also a poet, actor in theatre and films, playwright, expert chess player and a champion fencer. Possibly his greatest chess accomplishment was winning clear first in the 1958 Santa Monica Open.. With...
) - “What He Wrote and How They Said It” (Robert WeinbergRobert WeinbergRobert Allan Weinberg is a Daniel K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research at MIT and American Cancer Society Research Professor; his research is in the area of oncogenes and the genetic basis of human cancer. Weinberg is also affiliated with the Broad Institute and is a founding member of the...
) - “Barbarism vs. Civilization” (S.T. Joshi)
- “Crash Go the Civilizations” (Mark HallMark HallMark Hall may refer to:Persons*Mark Hall , Casting Crowns member*Mark Hall , producer of animated features*Mark Hall , NFL player*Mark David Hall, American Scholar*Mark Hall , Performed SongsBuilding...
) - “Return to Xuthal” (Charles HoffmanCharles HoffmanCharles Hoffman was a film and television writer and film producer. His writing credits include The Blue Gardenia and the 1960s television series Batman and The Green Hornet ....
) - “Howard’s Oriental Stories” (Don D’Ammassa)
- “King Kull as a Prototype of Conan” (Darrell SchweitzerDarrell SchweitzerDarrell Charles Schweitzer is an American writer, editor, and essayist in the field of speculative fiction. Much of his focus has been on dark fantasy and horror, although he does also work in science fiction and fantasy...
) - “How Pure a Puritan Was Solomon Kane?” (Robert M. PriceRobert M. PriceRobert McNair Price is an American theologian and writer. He teaches philosophy and religion at the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary, is professor of biblical criticism at the Center for Inquiry Institute, and the author of a number of books on theology and the historicity of Jesus, including...
) - “Balthus of Cross Plains” (George H. ScithersGeorge H. ScithersGeorge H. Scithers was a science fiction fan, author, and Hugo Award winning editor.A long-time member of the World Science Fiction Society, he published a fanzine starting in the '50s, wrote short stories, and moved on to edit several prominent science fiction magazines, as well as a number of...
) - “Fictionalizing Howard” (Gary Romeo)
- “A Journey to Cross Plains” (Howard WaldropHoward WaldropHoward Waldrop is a science fiction author who works primarily in short fiction.Waldrop's stories combine elements such as alternate history, American popular culture, the American South, old movies , classical mythology, and rock 'n' roll music. His style is sometimes obscure or elliptical...
) - “Weird Tales and the Great Depression” (Scott Connors)
- “After Aquilonia and Having Left Lankhmar: Sword & Sorcery Since the 1980s” (Steve TompkinsSteve TompkinsSteve Tompkins is an American television writer. He attended Harvard University and wrote for the Harvard Lampoon; he graduated in 1988. He has worked on such television shows such as The Critic, In Living Color, Entourage, Bernie Mac and The Knights of Prosperity...
)