REH fan Kent Matthewson recently alerted me to the fact that, since Australia’s copyright protection equals the author’s death date plus fifty years, many of Howard’s stories are in the public domain there. Browsing over to Project Gutenberg Australia nets you the following list:

Robert Ervin HOWARD (1906-1936)

• Pigeons from Hell (1938)–Text—HTML
• The Valley of the Worm (1934)–Text—HTML
• The Purple Heart of Erlik (Nothing to Lose) (1936)–Text—HTML
• Black Canaan —Text—HTML
• Black Talons–Text—HTML
• Black Vulmea’s Vengeance–Text—HTML
• Fangs of Gold–Text—HTML
• Graveyard Rats–Text—HTML
• Moon of Zambebwei–Text—HTML
• Names in The Black Book–Text—HTML
• The Black Stone–Text—HTML
• The Cairn on the Headland–Text—HTML
• Sea Curse–Text—HTML
• The Fire of Asshurbanipal–Text—HTML
• The Haunter of the Ring–Text—HTML
• The Horror From The Mound–Text—HTML
• The House of Arabu–Text—HTML
• The Tomb’s Secret–Text—HTML
• The Valley of the Worm–Text—HTML
• Wolfshead–Text—HTML

THE ‘SOLOMON KANE’ STORIES:–

• Skulls in the Stars (1929)–Text—HTML
• The Footfalls Within (1931)–Text—HTML
• The Moon of Skulls (1930)–Text—HTML
• The Hills of the Dead (1930)–Text—HTML
• Wings in the Night (1932)–Text—HTML

THE ‘EL BORAK’ STORIES:–

• The Daughter of Erlik Khan (1934)–Text—HTML
• Hawk of the Hills (1935)–Text—HTML
• Blood of the Gods (1935)–Text—HTML
• Son Of The White Wolf (1936)–Text—HTML
• The Country of The Knife (1937)–Text—HTML

THE ‘CONAN’ STORIES:–

• The Phoenix on the Sword (1932)–Text—HTML
• The Scarlet Citadel (1933)–Text—HTML
• The Tower of the Elephant (1933)–Text—HTML
• Black Colossus (1933)–Text—HTML
• The Slithering Shadow (1933)–Text—HTML
• The Pool of the Black One (1933)–Text—HTML
• Rogues in the House (1934)–Text—HTML
• Shadows in the Moonlight (1934)–Text—HTML
• Queen of the Black Coast (1934)–Text—HTML
• The Devil in Iron (1934)–Text—HTML
• The People of the Black Circle (1934)–Text—HTML
• A Witch Shall be Born(1934)–Text—HTML
• Jewels of Gwahlur (1935)–Text—HTML
• Beyond the Black River (1935)–Text—HTML
• Shadows in Zamboula (1935)–Text—HTML
• The Hour of the Dragon (1936)–Text—HTML
• Red Nails (1936)–Text—HTML
• Gods of the North (1934)–Text—HTML

Doubtless more will be added as time goes on. One problem with Project Gutenberg over Wikipedia is that the general reader can’t easily edit the text as they find typos and errors. Still, it is a valuable resource for when you need to search a text for scholarly purposes, or when your trusty book collection isn’t handy.

For a while now editor/publisher John Betancourt has been quietly preparing his company Wildside Press to move from the online world of print-on-demand into a more traditional business model that will put his books in every major bookstore. As anyone who has published knows, the hurdles in building the proper distribution channels for this are immense.

Well, it looks as if — after some test runs and months of nudging forward — the time has come for the Big Push. Paul Herman, editor of the Wildside Press series of Howard books entitled The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, delivered the scoop on Dennis McHaney’s REH Inner Circle Yahoo! group (hat tip: Don Herron):

I’ve been informed by the gang at Wildside, as they are going to more nationwide distribution of the Weird Works set, they are changing the covers to better fit a “more modern” look…Its my understanding that this is just for the mass distribution paperbacks, so [there will be] changes in size, font, page count, etc.

The new books for brick and mortar stores such as Barnes & Noble will be mass market paperbacks and sport covers by Ken Kelly, while the hardbacks sold off the Wildside website will continue to appear with Fabian covers.

I like the new look. One of the major faults with Wildside Press titles to my mind has always been the design. The worst have been plagued with garish or gaudy colors — shit brown, piss yellow — combined with sans serif fonts that scream out amateur outfit.

They have made strides in correcting this over the past year or two (I especially liked the layout for Gates of Empire), but even then the fonts on the side of the book have been bright yellow or white and sans serif, Arial or some similar font. With this new mass market design, we are finally seeing a look as professional as they come, one that can compete against any other book in the store.

I will say that I see nothing wrong with the Fabian covers. The Kelly one to my mind doesn’t look substantially more polished, especially at that smaller cropped size, and if the Fabian art had been surrounded by a similarly revamped design I think it would look almost as modern.

Incidentally, there are some nice Stephen Fabian Conan prints available here.

With more and more people reading, referencing, and linking to pages on this blog, it’s a good time to go over the proper way to link and point people to various articles.

A blog is kind of like a running newspaper or journal, with new entries constantly usurping the old and pushing them farther down (and eventually off) the page. Doing various searches in the archives will allow you to find the item again, but the archives are constantly in flux too, as new posts are created for each category.

So how best to hyperlink to the article you want to reference or tell others about? The answer is what’s called a “permalink.” This is a place where the article is presented all by itself, using a link that will never change no matter how other entries disrupt the various archive searches.

To find the permalink for a particular entry, simply click on the entry’s title:

This will take you to the permalink page, and the hyperlink you see there will never change:

Note where it says “p=130.” The “p” stands for “post #,” an individual number that doesn’t change, regardless of where the post travels in the archives.

So remember, to link to a post, first click on the title of the post to go to the permalink page, then use the link in the address bar of your browser window. If your link doesn’t say “p=” at the end, it’s not a good link and will change the next time we post.

Just when you thought it was safe to dip back into fantasy and literary journals…dumdumdumdumdum…..

This time the joke is on Wormwood, an English journal published by Tartarus Press, one offering “writings about fantasy, supernatural, and decadent literature.” Laudable writers such as Brian Stableford and Doug Anderson regularly grace its pages, so you would think the journal possessed a minimal standard high enough to exclude the Abrasive Aussie. Apparently not.

Ben Szumskyj managed to squeak in with an essay that was previously foisted on REHupa several years back, one now titled “Sally Sells Seashells On The Seash–“…er, I mean “Savage Songs from a Sinful Sea: Robert E. Howard’s Faring Town Trilogy.” Looking back on the REHupa in question, this wasn’t the worst thing Ben ever wrote, but it still featured enough typical abuses of English and grammar to satisfy those who read him for perverse entertainment. So if you collect Ben for that reason snap it up.

I doubt I’ll ever get to see a copy in person, but anyone who scores one be sure to let me know whether the essay still has things like:

It is seen that when Howard was deeply affected by a particular tale, genre, author or theme for an individual month or so, he would convey it into his own words and through his typewriter, create an original piece of fiction (or in some cases, homage).

This tale is a perfect example of how in the face of possible evidence, a crime does not always have had to been committed by the most likely subject. In fact, this story proves that what is considered to be an atrocious crime, can in fact, be saintly compared to an alternative action.

As stated before, the sea is one not to be used unless is has a graver agenda in mind.

Sailors, mariners and pirates may ride her waves and successfully live a life in its domain, but has also consumed many souls, innocent and bloody, for it obeys no laws and resides both in the darkness of night and the light of day.

This poetical quote gives us the clear understanding that, all underwater life both natural and mythical disfavour the mainland’s creatures, as they are the sole dominant king of the world, for in a supernatural sense, he is correct as two third’s of the world is in fact, under the seas.

Perhaps, through studying the geographies and cultures of Howard’s worlds, can those characters we so adore, fit into the puzzle of Howard’s inspirations, sources and influences, so much easier.

This article, of course, will be on the ballot for next year’s Cimmerian Awards.

PREVIOUS

Ben Zoom Strikes Again

In an effort to improve the experience of Cimmerian readers and to further Howard studies on the Net in general, I am making some changes at the website for The Cimmerian that I hope will make a difference.

As you can see from the blog posts below, I have invited well-known Howard scholars [redacted], [redacted], and Steve Tompkins to blog at thecimmerian.com along with me. Each brings a new set of opinions and skill sets to the discussion, and as a result this blog should finally grow wings and become a place for Howard fans to check each morning.

In addition, I will begin the process of converting all of the old Cimmerian website into this new blog format, with the blog page eventually becoming the main Cimmerian homepage. This should allow for a much more content-rich browsing experience, with everything searchable and indexed for readers.

One of the fun new things I’ve included on this new blog homepage is a Robert E. Howard random quote generator. Each time you visit or refresh, a new Howard quote appears at the top of the screen. Right now there are only a few dozen in the database, but I will be gradually adding more until they represent swaths of inspirational and electric writing spanning the whole of Howard’s career. If you have any favorites you want to see there, email me with the quote and the name of the story or letter it came from, and I’ll add it to the database.

Now that this blog is officially on-line, stay tuned for regular updates containing news, reviews, scholarship, and opinions about REH and related genres and writers. Welcome to The Cimmerian Online.

E. Hoffmann Price, that is. From last December, writer Mike Price (an ancestor of EHP) comments on Howard for the Fort Worth Business Press. He calls Howard “one of Texas’ grandest contributors to popular literature.”

Cimmerian contributor David A. Hardy has created his own website at http://www.fireandsword.com, and filled it with with a plethora of original book reviews and fiction, along with information on his personal appearances and contributing to the Cross Plains Relief Fund.

Dave is up for two Hyrkanian Awards this year, one for V2n1’s “Conquistadors of Doom” and the other for V2n5’s “Trail of the Veiled Prophet.” He also has been nominated for the Venarium Award, given to the most impressive new scholar to hit the scene in 2005. If you haven’t voted yet, do so here. Meanwhile, look for an excellent new Hardy essay, his longest yet, coming up in the April 2006 issue of TC.

Howard documentarian Ethan Nahté, who has been working on a professional video about REH for the last few years, has sent out his latest press release, which contains some Howard information that might be of interest to readers of this blog. Here it is:

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and to let you know about some of the REH stuff going on here in Texas.

1st of all, there is a 100th birthday celebration going on in Fort Worth on Jan. 21 to honor Howard. The cost is only $5/person and all of the proceeds go to Cross Plains, TX (home of the REH Museum) where the recent wildfires did the most damage. I have attached a press release with all of the info on the event.

We are also accepting monetary donations, clothing or small household goods at Titan Comics (http://www.titancomics.com) until the end of January. Then I will drive out to Cross Plains to deliver all of the donated money and goods. So far we’ve got 4 or 5 boxes of items and some money. Any help is appreciated.

In REH News in regards to the documentary, we did a fun interview with James O’Barr (http://www.jamesobarr.net/) creator of the movie/comic book character The Crow. He has done some Conan art in the past and is a big fan of REH. He had some interesting thoughts on REH’s characters and how vivid Howard’s writing is when an artist reads his work.

I won’t be at the birthday celebration but LIVE’N’LOUD will be setting up as well as presenting REH panels at All-Con (http://www.all-con.org), St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Dallas.

We’ll also be at the REH Days event June 9th & 10th in Cross Plains. Hope to see everyone there.

Sincerely,

Ethan Nahté

Paul Herman is hosting a blowout centennial bash on January 21, 2006 in a Dallas, Texas pub. There will be readings, things for sale, and lots of other things to see and do. Many popular Howard scholars from around the country will be in attendance, including Rusty Burke, Bill Cavalier, [redacted], Gary Romeo, and your truly. If you are in the area or can make the trip, it would be well worth attending. REH’s centennial only will come once, and any self-respecting Howard fan should be loathe to miss out on it.

Paul’s press release is reprinted below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JANUARY 06, 2006
ROBERT E. HOWARD 100th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

FORT WORTH, TX – Robert E. Howard was the first great fiction author born and bred in Texas. He is now considered an inspiration to a who’s-who of modern horror and fantasy fiction writers and illustrators. On January 21 2006, from 2-p.m., the 100th anniversary of his birth will be celebrated in Fort Worth, Texas. An open mic will be available, and various people will be reading excerpts from the vast range of REH works, from Sword & Sorcery (REH was the creator of Conan the Barbarian, and generally considered the godfather of the entire genre), to horror, fantasy, boxing, westerns, humorous, pirate, and historical adventures. Excerpts from letters will also be presented, as REH tells others about his love of Texas, the creation of his characters, and his views on the times he lived in. And various poems from his extensive portfolio of over 700 works will be presented. REH was a master poet, and skilled at all the various forms in which he worked. Guests are invited to participate, reading either their own favorite excerpts and verses, or serving as a reader of material that will be provided to them there. Or just come and listen.

The event will be at The Black Dog Tavern, recently moved to 2933 Crockett, just a block east and south of the intersection of 7th and University in the city of Fort Worth.

Admittance is only $5/head with all proceeds benefiting the town of Cross Plains, TX, a small ranch and farm community in West Texas (and REH’s hometown) that was recently consumed by wildfires, with over 100 homes destroyed. Books will be on sale, there will be door prizes and various scholars and editors will be on hand to sign books. Your envoy for the afternoon will be Paul Herman, a somewhat wizened and knowledgeable character familiar with the works of he who shall be honored, toasted and commemorated. Other REH editors and scholars will be on hand as well to sign books, answer questions and discuss topics of interest.

If you are unfamiliar with Howard’s work or would like to get to know it better, this is the perfect opportunity to meet people and fans that will happily tell you everything they know about this true Texas legend. There’s a lot more to him than you think.

The Robert E. Howard 100th Birthday Celebration:
Saturday, January 21, 2006
2:00 – 5:00 PM
The Black Dog Tavern
2933 Crockett (new location)
Fort Worth, Texas
$5.00 Per Person – All Proceeds will go the Cross Plains Fire Relief Fund, to benefit the city of Cross Plains, TX, home of the Robert E. Howard Museum
For More Information – Contact Paul Herman @ 972-418-3571, or paul.herman@halliburton.com

Project Pride president Era Lee Hanke was kind enough to send me these pictures of the Robert E. Howard House and Museum, taken mere days after the devastating fire that destroyed much of the town in late December.

The above pic was taken while standing next to the pavilion built next to the Howard House, looking east. Note how badly scorched the ground is. The building on the left in the background is the Motel 36, which suffered heavy damage, but intends to be open and ready for REH Days 2006 in June.

Here is a picture of the front yard of the Howard House. The fire roared right up to the front steps before being halted by a hastily dug trench and some water sprayed on the house and ground. The big black circle in the grass is a large scorch mark. Much of the fence was damaged, but not beyond repair.

This shot was snapped while standing in the front yard of the Howard House, looking north across Highway 36. There used to be a few residential houses in this area; both burned to the ground.

The damage was severe, and donations are still very much needed. I was just reading the latest Cross Plains Review, which had many pictures and stories of the many homeless people trying to put their lives back together. Give all you can, as many times as you can, in the coming months. Send checks or money orders to:

City of Cross Plains Fire Relief Fund
c/o Texas Heritage Bank
PO Box 699
Cross Plains, TX 76443

The above bank does not accept credit cards, but Bill “Indy” Cavalier has set up a PayPal account specifically for the purpose of accepting credit card donations, every cent of which will then be mailed to the bank fund. To send a credit card donation, use your PayPal account and email the payment to 2cavaliers@sbcglobal.net.