The Dark Barbarian That Towers Over All: The Robert E. Howard LitCrit MegaPack

For the first time as eBooks — for the first time together — the landmark critical anthologies on the writings of Robert E. Howard edited by Don Herron: The Dark Barbarian and The Barbaric Triumph.

Originally published in 1984 by the academic publisher Greenwood Press, The Dark Barbarian smashed the glass ceiling that had been keeping Howard’s reputation stuck in the pulp ghetto.

• “Tops my list of all Howard studies so far. Serious, scholarly, yet entertaining throughout.” — John Jakes
• “If you have a serious interest in Robert E. Howard’s work and in Conan as Howard conceived him, then this book is not only a desirable addition to your library, but a necessary one.” — The Savage Sword of Conan
• “The Dark Barbarian is, quite simply, the finest critical anthology I have ever read. It has none of the academic fustiness usually associated with such volumes… worthy of a World Fantasy Award.” — Science Fiction Review

Twenty years later The Barbaric Triumph assembled the finest essays from a new generation of Howard critics, claiming the first ever Cimmerian Award for Best Anthology.

• “…arguably the most significant contribution to Howard studies to date.” — Charles Hoffman
• “Don Herron deserves the most credit for removing Robert E. Howard from the ranks of ‘mere’ entertainers and bringing the spotlight of serious critical attention to bear upon him.” — Richard A. Lupoff

And as lifelong fans of the creator of Conan put it on The Official Robert E. Howard Forum:

• “…excellent, a great collection on Howard and his works.”
• “…the standard by which all future critical anthologies will be judged.”
• “…both books are must-reads for any REH fan… I can also recommend the essay ‘Conan vs. Conantics’ by Don Herron.”

This MegaPack also contains the complete booklet “Yours for Faster Hippos,” (trust us, the title makes sense), celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of “Conan vs. Conantics” — originally done in an edition of only 100 copies and instantly out-of-print.

“Conan vs. Conantics” was the first major battle in the war to secure pure Robert E. Howard texts — and only Howard — for collections of his work. A war that Howard scholars and fans ultimately won.

Hippos also includes “The Shadow of the Dragon,” exploring how no less than martial arts icon Bruce Lee was subjected to much the same sort of “posthumous collaboration” action as Howard, plus essays on Karl Edward Wagner, Richard L. Tierney and more.

And in addition to all the essays found in The Dark Barbarian and The Barbaric Triumph, you’ll find a horde of MegaPack Extras:

• “Swords at the Academy Gates” — the cornerstone essay for the launch of the Howardian journal The Dark Man in 1990.
• “Conan the Expensive” — cornerstone essay for the launch of The Cimmerian in 2004.
• “On Howardian Fairyland” — a fan favorite — the best one-page litcrit statement on Robert E. Howard ever done.

And much more. In one package, the greatest litcrit on Howard yet written — as well as the complete history of literary criticism on the author of “Red Nails” and “Beyond the Black River.”

Professor Paul Shovlin once noted that “With Howard, we are working with a figure whose writing has galvanized those outside the realm of Academy to pursue critical analysis in a pro-agentative way that reclaims the purpose and role of scholarship democratically.”

Indeed, Howard critics ripped the bloody crown away from hesitant scribes holed up in the Ivory Tower, and gave the author who brought us Conan, Kull, Solomon Kane and more the thunderous coverage his work deserves.

And the best of the best lairs here in The Dark Barbarian That Towers Over All!