Shadow Kingdoms: The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, Volume 1

 “Weird Tales was the anvil on which Howard forged the sword of his literary legacy. These stories are that legacy.” - Mark Finn, from his introduction to Shadow Kingdoms: The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, Volume 1.

This is the first volume of a series that collects the fiction and poetry of Robert E. Howard as it originally appeared in Weird Tales magazine. The Kindle edition includes twelve short stories and twelve poems.

“While not strictly in the order that Howard wrote them, they are valuable in that it gives us a picture of how quickly he improved. Each story builds on the last one, bringing with it whatever worked from the previous endeavor.” Mark Finn, from his introduction 

I completely agree. I enjoyed reading this collection as there is some variety and I really could see Howard’s progression as a writer. It’s hard to believe that he sold his first short story, “Spear and Fang,” at the age of eighteen. He starts out quite good and just gets better. Howard is a master of action and as he writes more stories, he starts adding more characterization. 

In these stories you’ll meet cavemen, werewolves, Picts, ghosts, Solomon Kane and King Kull. Werewolves feature in the second, third, and fourth stories. Howard’s take on werewolves was interesting, I had not come across his version before. I enjoyed the Solomon Kane and King Kull stories the most. These stories felt more fleshed out and there is more characterization than in the earlier stories. The Kane stories also had creepy creatures and brutal fights. The Kull stories include some interesting world building and a character that wonders about his place in that world. I could also see the beginnings of Conan in Kull. 

On the negative side, Howard  brings up race and racial purity in some stories and it does come across as racist. Sometimes it’s just a few lines and sometimes it’s more. It definitely pulled me out of the story whenever it came up. Something to be aware of when reading Howard. 

I’ve read some Conan before but I never got around to reading anything else of his. After reading these stories I'm really looking forward to reading more of his work.

“Many readers overlook Howard’s poetry and they do so at their own peril.” - Mark Finn, from his introduction 

I agree! I didn’t realize that REH had written so much poetry. I enjoyed the poems quite a bit. 

“Weird Tales was Howard’s literary home. He felt comfortable enough within its hallowed pages to break new ground and try new things.” Mark Finn again, from his introduction. 

I’m looking forward to the next volume.

Contents of the Kindle edition:

Spear and Fang (3/5)

In the Forest of Villefore (3.5/5)

Wolfshead (3.5/5)

The Lost Race (3/5)

The Song of the Bats (poem)

The Ride of Falume (poem)

The Riders of Babylon (poem)

The Dream Snake (2.5/5)

The Hyena (1/5)

Remembrance (poem)

Sea Curse (4/5)

The Gates of Nineveh (poem)

Red Shadows (Solomon Kane) (4/5)

The Harp of Alfred (poem)

Easter Island (poem)

Skulls in the Stars (Solomon Kane) (4.5/5)

Crete (poem)

Moon Mockery (poem)

Rattle of Bones (Solomon Kane) (4/5)

Forbidden Magic (poem)

The Shadow Kingdom (King Kull) (4/5)

The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune (King Kull) (4/5)

The Moor Ghost (poem)

Red Thunder (poem)

Overall (4/5)