Don Herron's The Dark Barbarian was one of the things that truly made an impact on my leap into Howard studies, and I'd wager it did the same for many. Here, finally, was a critical anthology that put forth the idea of Howard's work being more than Puerile Adolescent Wish Fulfillment, that there was more to Conan than Juvenile Gordian-Knot Escapism, and more to the Man from Cross Plains than Maladjusted To The Point of Psychosis (ok, that's enough of those).
One of Herron's other seminal works, "Conan vs Conantics," was one of the first shots fired in the movement against including other authors' work on the same level as Howard's original tales. It's never really been surpassed. There are many other great Herron contributions to Howardom, so much that he can be safely considered one of the Great Howard Scholars. So why haven't we heard from him in such a long time?
Mostly he's occupied with his first, greatest love, Dashiel Hammett, continuing his tours and expanding his horizons on that front. However, just so we can keep up on his adventures, he's started a blog (thanks to James Reasoner for the link.) I'd love to see him return, as well as Leo Grin and other Howardists who've taken leaves of absence from Howardom. I doubt Howard, once experienced, ever truly leaves a reader.
The Dark Barbarian was a major step into Howard studies for me as well, particularly Fritz Leiber's chapter and the chapter, Robert E. Howard, Hard-boiled Heroic Fantasist,(which I've heard was written by Herron under the pseudonym George Knight) because having long been a reader of hard-boiled private eye books, I'd begun to see some parallels between the works of Hammett and Raymond Chandler, and Robert E. Howard's writings. That chapter helped crystallize my own thoughts on the concept. A 'well thumbed' book, as Holmes might say.
ReplyDeleteDon Herron wrote Conan vs the conantics in the mid 70's isn't it? and Dark barbarian in 1984 or so, I'm right?
ReplyDeleteplease let me more information about Howard scholars, Mark Finn, has he some interesting books or articles? he is younger than Don Herron I think, and what about Rusty Burke and Damon Sasser? they are veterans too just like Bill Indy Cavalier
the late Steve Tompkins worked mainly for the cimmerian print publication and the blog
Patrice Louinet and Miguel Martins being the french connection
I consider Morgan Holmes more pulp in general oriented and Jason M Waltz tends to a more modern sword and sorcery
Brian Murphy is very interesting to read too and he covers in his blog much more than Howard, historical and horror fiction for instance
you Al could be a young turk, a young howardian orthodox... jejeje... I'm exaggerating a bit but you're clearly a purist...
sure I have forget a lot, Scott Oden for instance, could you remind me some of them?
could be a good idea for a post some links to essential howardian articles online, isn't it?
in Spain Javier Martin Lalanda is our howardian scholar but although he loves the author and the genre his prose is not very interesting, comparing it with the american ones I mean, also he considered as canon DeCamp
people in Spain looks more interested in the comics adaptations than in Howard, there is some books covering the life of Conan in all of his comics
Francisco
Don Herron published Conan vs the conantics in the mid 70's isn't it? and The dark barbarian in 1984 or so, am I right?
ReplyDeleteplease give me some information about the Howard scholars
Mark Finn has some interesting articles or books? he is younger than Don Herron I think, being Rusty Burke and Damon Sasser more veterans, just like Bill Indy Cavalier
Morgan Holmes is more oriented to pulps in general and Jason M Waltz prefer more modern sword and sorcery
Brian Murphy is very interesting to read too and in his blog he covers more than Howard, historical and horror fiction for instance
Patrice Louinet and Miguel Martins are the french connection
and you Al a kind of young turk, a young orthodox
jejeje I'm exagerating a bit but you're clearly a purist
sure I forget a lot of scholars like Scott Oden, could you remind me some of them?
could be a good idea for a post links to essential howardian articles on line?
in Spain our Howard scholar is Javier Martin Lalanda, but, although he loves the author and the genre, his prose isn't as interesting as that of the american scholars, also he considers De Camp to be canon
people in Spain look to be more interested in the comic adaptations than in Howard, there is some books about the life of Conan in all his comics...
Francisco
A 'well thumbed' book, as Holmes might say.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is.
please give me some information about the Howard scholars
Oh, man, there's a mountain to climb... Well, I'll be doing a list of "further reading" for the Newcomer's Guide, where I list a fairly comprehensive guide to Howard scholarship, what's out there, what's highly regarded among Howard scholars, and whatnot. Watch this space!
"Conan vs Conantics" was a true revelation to me. You wrote once that you owed your interest in REH studies to Dale Rippke's writings, I owe mine to Don Herron.
ReplyDeleteFrancisco: it is very nice to mention my name among a list of "scholars," but I'm not worthy. I'm an enthusiastic fan/promoter, that's all.
The "French connection": Patrice (of course), but also people like Simon Sanahujas, Fabrice Tortey and François Truchaud have done much more than me.
François Truchaud has translated REH 'en Français' for NéO during the '80s/early '90s. I think that NéO has published more REH stories than Grant and all this thanks to Truchaud's efforts and enthusiasm. French REH fans are so indebted to him.
Fabrice is the editor of an (awarded) book in homage to REH, "Échos de Cimmérie." He authored an 80-pages bio of Two-Gun-Bob therein.
Last but not least, Simon Sanahujas has several articles published in magazines, has set up a website and authored/edited several books on REH, like "Les Nombreuses Vies de Conan." Several members of REHupa have a long way to go before equalling his output.
By the way, any list of scholars should start by a mention of the Godfather of REH studies, the "Keeper of the Idol," Glenn Lord.
Miguel