Conan's Gnome Coming!

(Art by John Forte)

(Art by Frank Kelly Freas)

(Art by Ed Emshwiller)

(Art by Ed Emshwiller)

(Art by Wally Wood)

I've been reading up on the publishing history of Robert E. Howard's Conan and while doing so discovered all over again the lovely Gnome Press editions of the stories which appeared in the 1950's. The first appeared in 1950 and the final volume in 1957. These are the stories as reorganized and to some extent re-imagined by L. Sprague De Camp. They quit doing them for a very simple reason, they ran out of Conan stories, so the last one is a bit of fan fiction by Bjorn Nyberg with additions and adjustments by De Camp. The famous Lancer paperbacks which ignited the Conan craze in the 1960's were mostly just reprints of the material first organized in these handsome tomes.

Many folks and fans of REH decry the involvement of De Camp and his willingness to adapt and alter the original REH material. That's an argument for another day, but it's clear to me without his efforts, it's unlikely that Conan might be the recognizable character he is today. Would love to have a set of these on my shelves, but the price is prohibitive. Still, they are exceedingly nice to look at.

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No Place Like Gnome!

I've been reading up on the publishing history of Robert E. Howard's Conan and while doing so discovered all over again the lovely Gnome Press editions of the stories which appeared in the 1950's. The first appeared in 1950 and the final volume in 1957. These are the stories as reorganized and to some extent re-imagined by L. Sprague DeCamp. They quit doing them for a very simple reason, they ran out of Conan stories, so the last one is a bit of fan fiction by Bjorn Nyberg with ammendations by DeCamp. The famous Lancer paperbacks which ignited the Conan craze in the 1960's were mostly just reprints of the material first organize in these handsome tomes.

Many folks and fans of REH decry the involvement of DeCamp and his willingness to adapt and alter the original REH material. That's an argument for another day, but it's clear to me without his efforts, it's unlikely that Conan might be the recognizable character he is today. Would love to have a set of these on my shelves, but the price is prohibitive. Still they are exceedingly nice to look at.

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Red Men Of The Moon!

With all the recognition that Edgar Rice Burroughs is justly getting this year for his iconic creations John Carter of Mars and most importantly Tarzan of the Apes, there are lots of stories by ERB which garner little attention. Among these are his Moon books, a trilogy of tales collected in two volumes in their ACE versions.

With all the folderal of the political season in full gale force and politicians finding Socialist plots around every corner once again in these United States, it might be a good time to revisit this tale by Burroughs written originally in response to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and postulating a sci-fi future redolent with Commies. Later the threat was safely couched in purer sci-fi clothing and the enemy was changed to men from the Moon, Lunarians.

See this link to read more of and about The Moon Maid, The Moon Men, and Red Hawk.

Whatever, as usual Frank Frazetta could be counted on to deliver some evocative cover art to draw in the casual reader to a book he or she would otherwise give barely a sniff. Magnificent!



Much stronger I must say than the original ACE Moon Maid cover by Roy Krenkel or the painting by Ed Emswhiller for Moon Men, though obviously both represent the same scenes.



All this Moon Maid talk was prompted in part when I glommed this cover for a 90's Conan Handbook from Marvel, which if you look closely offers up a swipe of the fabulous Moon Maid in the...er...rear.

Enjoy!

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Emshwiller Alien!

Above is an intriguing image by Ed Emshwiller for a fanzine. The alien is truly weird and strange, but I envy the ability to read multiple science fiction pulps at one time.

And if weird is what you want, then check out Emshwiller's 1979 pioneer special effects film "Sunstone".



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Conan The Cover!

Ron Cobb
Ed Emshwiller
Wally Wood
Frank Kelly Freas
Tim Conrad
Here are a batch of intriguing covers by an array of artists featuring Robert E. Howard's brawny barbarian.

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