The Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard

This book compiles three of Robert E. Howard's longer Conan works, including the only full length Conan novel that he ever wrote, "The Hour of the Dragon."  It also contains "The People of the Black Circle" as well as "A Witch Shall Be Born" which contains probably the most famous scene in all of Conan literature: the one where he gets nailed to a tree, crucified really, and left to the mercy of the hungry vultures and the elements.  As the title implies, all three stories are from Conan's later days, when he is king.  

As in all of these Del Rey editions of Howard's work, the book also contains several untitled synopsis (synopses? synopsizes?), fragments, etc. as well as a thought-provoking essay on Howard and his life and times as it pertains to the included stories.

I think the noble nature of Conan really comes out in these stories, particularly in "The Hour of the Dragon".  When Conan has the opportunity to conquer a neighboring kingdom he says, "Let others dream imperial dreams. I but wish to hold what is mine.  I have no desire to rule an empire welded together by blood and fire.  It's one thing to seize a throne with the aid of its subjects and rule them with their consent.  It's another to subjugate a foreign realm and rule it by fear."  As Patrice Louinet says in the essay, "Whoever had the idea of retitling Howard's novel, 'Conan the Conqueror' had evidently not understood its theme: Conan is anything but a conqueror by nature."

Enjoyable reading and, of course, absolutely required reading for Conan enthusiasts.

Pulp Apocalypse by Justin Marriott

Once again, the Justin Marriott team has produced an in-depth look at a specific sub-genre of men’s adventure fiction, this time with an edition devoted entirely to post-apocalyptic fiction. There is a wonderful mix of topics in here, covering the full gamut and will serve as a must-have companion volume for those readers who dig this stuff. 

Features include articles covering entire series such as Traveler, Roadmaster, Endworld, Deathlands, Wasteworld, Phoenix, Swampmaster and many more. There are in depth interviews with leading authors such as Laurence James (the original James Axler who launched Deathlands), Jan Stacy (author behind The Last Ranger series and co-author of The Doomsday Warrior series), David Robbins (author of the Endworld series and Blade series not to mention the lengthy Wilderness western series). I could go on and on. Rounding things out are a look at the Prepper movement, several apocalyptic comics, and a number of single novel reviews. 

Fans will want to snatch this up but I think one of the major benefits of these kind of publications are the way they can entice those readers who are unfamiliar with the sub-genre or perhaps have been flirting with diving in but are not sure where to start. There are plenty of opinions offered within these pages by knowledgeable readers and authors, and of course opinions may differ. But just to read through them provides a nice education in the subject matter.

Full disclosure: I have a few reviews included in this volume but a tiny percentage of the overall content.

The Insidious Doctor Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer

The first Fu-Manchu novel, originally published in 1913 by Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Ward) does an excellent job of introducing readers to the “most diabolical evil genius of all time”. Published in the UK under the name, “The Mysterious Fu-Manchu”, the story is told from the first person perspective of Dr. Petrie who acts as a sort of Watson to the more adventuresome Nayland Smith, a colonial police commissioner in Burma who has been granted a roving commission that allows him to utilize any group that can help him in his mission. When this book was written the western world was in the midst of the “Yellow Peril” and thus a diabolical mastermind intent on subjugating the West was a well-received idea.

The book is filled with idealized adventure much as one would find in the pulps and it never lets up on the accelerator. I like the way Dr.  Fu-Manchu scorns the use of guns or explosives in favor of thugs with knives, members of secret societies, or using "pythons and cobras ... fungi and my tiny allies, the bacilli ... my black spiders" and other natural chemical weapons. Perilous adventure for Dr. Petrie and square-jawed Nayland Smith to be sure.

Many readers today are unable to cope with the racism inherent in such a book, but I can take it as it was written and consider the times in which it takes place. I may cringe now and again but there is always a poisonous spider or deadly mold trap coming to take my mind away.

I’ve been reading similar pulp-era books for years but lately have made a plan to introduce myself to a new character each year. Last year was The Shadow and this year it’s Dr. Fu-Manchu. It’s a great way to expand my universe. Based on this first novel, it’s going to be a good year.

Bran Mak Morn - The Last King by Robert E. Howard

Before Conan, before Solomon Kane, and even before Kull of Atlantis, there was Bran Mak Morn, King of the Picts.  In fact, Bran was the second main character ever developed by Robert E. Howard, second only to Francis X. Gordon (El Borak).  This book contains several stories about Bran as well as numerous fragments, untitled/unsold stories, essays, letters (most notably to and from Weird Tales magazine and Howard’s buddy, H.P. Lovecraft), etc. that help to define REH’s life-long interest in the Picts.

The more pulp fiction that I read, the more I have come to appreciate Howard’s work.  His historical research and in-depth understanding of history, its peoples and cultures, all led to stories that have a genuine ring of actual historical texture to them, even for those stories that are part of his imaginary history.  The Picts are a perfect example, described in this book in an authentic manner while also appearing in Conan’s Hyborian age stories.  Often, they are the enemy race and easily maligned so for Howard to create a character such as Bran Mak Morn that will lead such a people, was perhaps risky but also admirable. 

These stories were written early in Howard’s career and as such there is inconsistency among them.  I wish Howard had developed Bran more thoroughly through additional stories but alas, Conan came along and that market drove Howard’s output for several years and put an end to Bran.  A couple of the stories in this volume have very small roles for Bran himself and tend to concentrate on co-characters or take a wide-angle lens approach to the history of the era.  It seems as if Howard’s penchant for research was translating itself directly into the story, rather than developing a typical plot structure that we might expect.  This book includes those stories for the sake of completeness, even though the pulp magazines didn’t buy them. As such, while I heartily recommend this book to Howard readers (indeed, necessary reading), for others who are simply looking for another Conan-style character, I would still encourage diving into these stories simply on their own merits…just expect a different experience.

The Black Master (The Shadow) by Maxwell Grant

Even though this is the second “Shadow” novel in the order published by Pyramid, it is actually the eighth one as originally published in the March 1932 issue of The Shadow Magazine.

The story opens with a bombing on Wall Street, leading to the deaths of five men. One hour later a similar bombing takes place at Grand Central Station, followed by a third explosion at the subway entrance at Columbus Circle. What is going on? Sounds like a case for The Shadow…

The Shadow, as usual, needs help gathering all the evidence and clues necessary to expose the entire plan and who’s behind it. Several of his regular agents contribute to this adventure, including Harry Vincent who has been in all seven of the novels before this one. Also, contact man Burbank is here, as well as reporter Clyde Burke. Detective Joe Cardona plays a large part in this story and I understand he appears in over 200 of the pulp novels. The Shadow, himself, appears in disguise as Henry Arnaud for the very first time although not quite the same Arnaud that will appear in later stories. The Arnaud disguise reportedly appears in twenty-eight of The Shadow's adventures, but usually Arnaud was a solemn businessman. This time around, he is an eccentric multi-millionaire.

This was a fast-paced adventure with a lot of moving parts. The identity of “The Black Master”, the one behind the bombings is fairly evident from near the beginning but it is still fun to watch how The Shadow and his agents figure it out.

The Mystic Mullah (Doc Savage) by Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent)

First published in 1935, the 23rd Doc Savage novel (as originally published – number 9 in the Bantam paperback order) opens with two mysterious strangers from the fabled Asian Kingdom of Tanan arriving in New York City, seeking Doc Savage's aid. They are being hunted by some sort of supernatural “soul slaves” on behalf of an entity known as the Mystic Mullah. They need Doc’s help to save their country.

The Mystic Mullah itself seems to be a mysterious and monstrous floating face which can speak and warn of dire threats. It uses strange ghostly “soul slaves” that look like floating snakes to attack, causing horrible burns or snapping necks. It’s a creepy foe to be sure but we readers know Doc will get to the bottom of it and discover who is behind the mysterious moniker of the Mystic Mullah. Lots of action permeates the novel. We have Doc’s machine pistols, Russian spies, Doc’s skin-bleaching trick, Doc in disguise, and plenty of fisticuffs. All five of Doc’s aides are present for this one, and all of them get captured at one point or another. We also get to see the team travel to Asia and the Kingdom of Tanan. It's always a treat to see them in action in an exotic locale.

Interestingly, pulp writer Richard Sale started ghost writing this novel based on an outline by Lester Dent but removed himself from the project after receiving criticism from Dent. So Lester Dent wrote it himself. Many fans believe, consequently, that Dent worked extra hard on it to make sure it was a good one. Could be. I certainly enjoyed it and would rank it among the top 20 Doc Savage novels.

The Awful Egg (Doc Savage) by Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent)

The 88th novel in the Doc Savage series (#92 by Bantam publication order) is representative of the later Doc stories, published during the WW2 years. This one was the second published in 1940 and features a plot that hints at the kind of fantastic elements from earlier novels but reveals itself to have a much more mundane plot. Perhaps the publisher wanted more realism by this time in the face of the growing war as well as to better match up to the competition.

But no matter, this book has most of the “Doc’isms” I hope for including appearances by all of Doc’s five aides. (But no Pat Savage in this one, alas). The plot features what appears to be the discovery of a dinosaur egg, with a Little one still alive inside and about to chip its way out. Even Johnny, master archeologist and geologist is convinced of its authenticity. But when the egg is stolen Doc and his crew must chase down the mystery before it eats its way through man and beast. 

The plot quickly turns from a dinosaur hunt to a murder and stolen gold plot but it was another fun read. It’s written by the creator, Lester Dent and not one of the handful of ghost writers working on the series in the 1940s.

The Thousand-Headed Man (Doc Savage) by Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent)

The 17th Doc Savage novel, (as originally published, and 2nd in the Bantam publishing order) has long been a fan favorite, frequently listed among the top 10 and even on top 5 lists. And it's no surprise considering the avalanche of pulp adventure that lies within. 

The plot revolves around an explorer who’s gone missing somewhere in the jungle forest of Indochina while searching for a strange cult. Originally published in 1934, the novel takes full advantage of “Yellow Peril” themes that had become popular with the Fu Manchu novels, making use of a mysterious Chinaman character named Sen Gat who prides himself on his incredibly long fingernails. Ultimately, it’s a race between Sen Gat and Doc Savage to see who can discover the secrets behind what appears to be an all-too-real Thousand-Headed Man.  The novel has all you could ask for in a pulp adventure story including a lost civilization in a mysterious land, perilous plane rides, river boat adventure among crocodile infested waters, an attractive yet desperate girl who needs help rescuing her father, and plenty of twists and turns. All five of Doc’s aides participate and are actually useful this time out with their individual skills, especially Monk and his chemistry expertise.

For me, this was a nostalgic re-read. I can remember the summer after the sixth grade when my family moved to a new town. I was filled with trepidation. My older brother and I had no friends yet so when we discovered the first dozen or so Doc Savage paperbacks in the local bookstore, we bought them all. It turned out to be a pretty good summer after all.

South of Sulu by George F. Worts

This collection of five short stories revolves around the character of Samuel Larkin Shay, otherwise known as “Singapore Sammy”.  Sammy is an American who has spent the last six years (1920’s) roaming around the Asiatic tropics, (the South Seas), trying to catch up to his no-good scoundrel of a father.  See, Sammy’s grandfather has left him a fortune in his will, but his father has absconded with the document, preventing the estate from passing on to Sammy.

Each of these five stories was a wonderful adventure yarn, packed full of exciting pulpy shenanigans.  An adventure in every port, you might say. Sammy isn’t afraid to let his fists do the talking when he spots an injustice.  Interestingly, each story is subtly different from one another.  For example, one is a heist story while one is a revenge story, and another is more of a mystery with supernatural elements.  But they all tie together in Sammy’s unending quest to catch his father and gain the upper hand.

George F. Worts was a prolific pulp writer, probably most famous for his character, Peter the Brazen. During the first World War, Worts was a wireless operator throughout the Pacific and later worked for Collier’s, visiting and writing articles on China, India, the Philippines, and Malaya.  The vivid landscapes he describes in these stories are evidence of his knowledge of the locations, the people and their culture.

These Singapore Sammy stories first appeared in "Short Stories" but the character eventually made his way into "Argosy" with another handful of stories, all of which were highly regarded at the time according to the Letters to the Editor.  I need to track those down now too, both for the sheer fun of reading them but also to find out if Sammy can ever wrestle away that only copy of the will from his father.

Robert E. Howard - The Complete Action Stories

“I weren’t to blame for what happened. Breaking Joel Gordon’s laig was a mistake, and Erath Elkins is a liar when he says I caved in them five ribs of his’n plumb on purpose. And I don’t take no blame for Jim Gordon’s ear which Jack Grimes shot off, neither.  I figger everybody was more to blame than I was, and I stand ready to wipe up the earth with anybody which disagrees with me.”  -- Brekinridge Elkins

Robert E. Howard is, of course, well known for creating the epic characters of Conan the Barbarian, Bran Mak Morn, Solomon Kane, El Borak, and many more.  His fantasy worlds are legendary.  But far fewer people are aware of his other creations and perhaps may not appreciate his versatility as a writer.  

This volume reprints all 23 of Robert E. Howard’s stories ever printed in “Action Stories” pulp magazine.  They are presented in order of publication from the original dates of 1931 to 1937, including the original accompanying artwork.  Five stories feature his boxing hero Sailor Steve Costigan while the remaining 18 are about western mountain man, Brekinridge Elkins.  These yarns are filled with humorous situations and packed with glorious fights that tend toward tickling the funny bone rather than brutal violence.  

Howard should get credit for inventing a whole new type of story, especially with the Brekinridge Elkins stories. They can probably best be described as “Tall Tales”, with  characters displaying extremely over-the-top abilities (like Brekinridge getting shot directly in the chest with a shotgun blast but with skin so tough it serves only to make him think the gun-wielder must have been sore at him).  Both Brekinridge and Steve Costigan are far from the brightest bulbs but their lack of intellect is more than balanced with skill with their fists.  Best of all, these tales are pure fun to read.  More than once I laughed out loud and I had to stop and read aloud so my wife could be in on what was so funny.

Robert E. Howard certainly knew how to tell a tale and these are no exception.  Fans of his more famous works will want to be sure to give these a go as well.

The Living Shadow by Maxwell Grant (Walter B. Gibson)

I’ve read a number of pulp adventures with a wide variety of main characters but have never sampled one of the greatest of all time.  The Shadow. High time I corrected that. 

First published in 1931, “The Living Shadow” is the very first pulp novel in The Shadow series. It was written by Walter B. Gibson, the creator and main writer of the series under the name "Maxwell Grant." The character would evolve considerably over the years, branching out into all forms of media entertainment but many of the character’s traits are already found in this first story, including the red-lined black cloak and slouch hat, and of course his uncanny ability to hide by blending into shadows.

Throughout the book The Shadow remains an extremely nebulous character.  We tend to learn about him through other characters and their reactions to what they encounter but never The Shadow himself.  Certainly not his name or who he actually is.  Instead, the story’s main character is Harry Vincent, a man down on his luck who has decided to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge in New York.  A mysterious man prevents this and extracts a loyal promise that Harry will work for him from now on. The Shadow, of course.

Harry becomes the foil for the reader, accepting circumstances as they are no matter how strange.  We follow along in his shoes as he assists his mysterious benefactor in solving a case involving a Chinatown mastermind, a murdered millionaire, and missing jewels.  Harry knows no more about The Shadow than we do.

There are a number of “firsts” in this book; characteristics that would become hallmarks of the series.  These include The Shadow as a master of disguise, messages written in disappearing blue ink, verbal messages with emphasized words, and The Shadow’s Fritz the janitor identity.  Harry is the first of an entire network of recruited agents that work for The Shadow and we also meet Claude Fellows who is more of an administrative desk man.

All in all, I was fairly well impressed with the quality of the writing and the complexity of the mystery tale that unfolded. I’ll be reading many more of these books to be sure.

Devil Take Her by Fan Nichols

Fay Adams is a lounge singer, and a pretty good one.  She has the looks, a nice singing voice and the kind of sweet personality that keeps her fans and admirers coming back for encore performances.  The only problem is, she’s got a secret.  She didn’t choose the backwater town of Bayport Florida as a way to jump-start her career, but rather as an out-of-the-way locale that would keep her hidden from her former life in New York, one step away from a role on Broadway, and a double-murder rap.  She didn’t commit the murders but she was there and the evidence all points to her…so she ran.

This sounds like a set-up for a movie-of-the-week melodrama but it was far better than I expected it to be.  The character of Fay Adams is certainly a flawed one, allowing herself to be ruled by greed for fame and fortune and not at all leery of using other people for her own ends. Her choices grow riskier as she tries to make fast money and she grows more and more desperate as she gets in over her head.  But as the protagonist of the story you can’t help but root for her to overcome it all, and turn herself around.  

Several years ago I acquired a huge box of beat-up old paperbacks from the 1940s-1960s and occasionally I pull one out at random and give it a whirl.  I had never heard of this one before (or the author) so it was very surprising when I found myself completely absorbed after the first few pages.  My research indicates that the author, Fan Nichols, began her career as a mainstream novelist but then dabbled in romance and then moved towards crime fiction.  She evidently enjoyed writing career driven female characters and thus most of her work was sold to genre paperback original publishers like Popular Library.  I don’t know that this one was ever picked up for re-publication but it should be.  Hard Case Crime or Stark House Publishing should take a look.

ll need to be on the lookout for more Fan Nichols stories.

Gone North by Charles Alden Seltzer

We have largely forgotten the name Charles Alden Seltzer these days outside of pulp fiction aficionados, but back in the 1920s and 30s, he was one of the better-known authors who contributed to serial publications, magazines, and quite a few movie scripts. Known mostly for his westerns, he did deviate once in a while, such as with this novel, originally serialized in 6 parts in "Argosy" pulp magazine during March and April of 1930. It was his 30th published book.

This novel takes place in the Hudson Bay country and features Jim Fallon, an adventurer recently come from the Klondike where he made a fortune in gold. And it’s pure adventure.  Fallon is on the trail of a missing man who happens to know the location of a valuable gold mine. Just imagine a plot that includes things like a huge stone castle in the middle of the forest with secret tunnels and housing a nest of high-seas pirates. Add in a beautiful young girl, a formidable Indian who acts as a sidekick, a group of Europeans who are also looking for this gold mine, sword fights, massive fist fights, and much more.  One can certainly tell this was originally published as a serial, with cliff-hangers spaced evenly throughout, always coaxing a reader to come back for the next installment.

Thankfully, Altus Press (now Steeger Books) has reprinted this story as part of its "Argosy Library", rescuing it from obscurity. Readers looking for a good old-fashioned adventure yarn are sure to love this one.  I certainly did.