Robert Ervin Howard (1906 – 1936) was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He is well known for his character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre.
Although a Conan novel was nearly published in 1934, Howard’s stories were never collected during his lifetime. The main outlet for his stories was Weird Tales, where Howard created Conan the Barbarian. With Conan and his other heroes, Howard helped fashion the genre now known as sword and sorcery, spawning many imitators and giving him a large influence in the fantasy field. Howard remains a highly read author, with his best works still reprinted, and is one of the best-selling fantasy writers of all time.
Howard’s suicide and the circumstances surrounding it have led to speculation about his mental health. His mother had been ill with tuberculosis her entire life, and upon learning she had entered a coma from which she was not expected to wake, he walked out to his car and shot himself in the head.
Howard was both influenced by and an influence on his friend H. P Lovecraft. Many ideas that he discussed in his letters to Lovecraft were repeated in his fiction and the discussion with a fellow professional writer was useful to him. For his part, Lovecraft began to include Howardian action sequences in his own work, for example in “The Shadow Over Innsmouth“. Much of 1931 was spent by Howard attempting to mimic Lovecraft’s style. After that year, he had absorbed the parts of it that worked best for him and made them his own.
Howard influenced and inspired later writers including Samuel R. Delany, David Gemmell, Michael Moorcock, Matthew Woodring Stover, Charles R. Saunders, Karl Edward Wagner, Paul Kearney, Steven Erikson, Joe R. Lansdale, and William King. He also has an influence on the field of fantasy fiction rivaled only by J. R. R. Tolkien and Tolkien’s similarly inspired creation of the modern genre of high fantasy.
Robert E. Howard’s legacy extended after his death in 1936. Howard’s most famous character, Conan the Barbarian, has a pop-culture imprint that has been compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond. Howard’s critical reputation suffered at first but over the decades works of Howard scholarship have been published. The first professionally published example of this was L. Sprague de Camp’s Dark Valley Destiny (1983) which was followed by other works, including Don Herron’s The Dark Barbarian (1984) and Mark Finn’s Blood & Thunder (2006). Also in 2006, a charity, Robert E. Howard Foundation, was created to promote further scholarship.
Robert E. Howard – First Edition Identification Guide
Note: This list only includes works published prior to 1977.
| Year | Title | Publisher | First edition/printing identification points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | ALMURIC | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1964] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book F-305 (40c). ALSO: West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1975. First published in this form-1975 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1976 | BLACK VULMEA'S VENGEANCE & OTHER TALES OF PIRATES | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1976 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1975 | BLADES FOR FRANCE | Yorba Linda, California: George T. Hamilton, Publisher, 1975 | Wrappers. First edition so stated on © page. 300 copies printed. |
| 1976 | BLOODSTAR | Leawood/New York: The Morning Star Press, [1976] | First Printing, 1976 on © page. 5000 numbered copies of which the first 1500 are signed by artist Richard Corben. Note: A comic strip adaptation of Robert E. Howard's "Valley of the Worm'1' by Corben with additional material by John Jakes. |
| 1976 | THE BOOK OF ROBERT E. HOWARD | New York: Zebra Books, [1976] | Wrappers. First Printing: February, 1976 on © page. Zebra 163 ($1.95). Some material appears for the first time in book form. |
| 1969 | BRAN MAK MORN | [New York]: A Dell Book, [1969] | Wrappers. First printing-September 1969 on © page. Dell 0774 (60c). |
| 1954 | THE CHALLENGE FROM BEYOND | N.p.: [A Weltschmerz Publication/Bill Evans /Franklin Kerkhof, Printer/The Pennsylvania Dutch Cheese Press/February 1954] | Self wrappers. No statement of printing. Mimeographed, stapled. Cover title. With C.L. MOORE, A. MERRITT, H.P. LOVECRAFT, and FRANK BELKNAP LONG. Notes: (1) Published by William H. Evans for distribution through the Fantasy Amateur Press Association (FAPA). (2) Not to be confused with a booklet of identical title and format with a different round-robin story by Stanley G. Weinbaum and others. |
| 1953 | THE COMING OF CONAN | New York: Gnome Press, Inc., [1953] | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1967 | CONAN | New York: Lancer Books , [1967] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1967 on © page. Lancer Books 73-685 (60c). With LIN CARTER and L. SPRAGUE DE CAMP. |
| 1969 | CONAN OF CIMMERIA | New York: Lancer Books, [1969] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1969 on © page. Lancer Books 75-072 (950). With LIN CARTER and L. SPRAGUE DE CAMP. |
| 1966 | CONAN THE ADVENTURER | New York: Lancer Books, [1966] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1966 on © page. Lancer Books 73-526 (60c). With L. SPRAGUE DE CAMP. |
| 1954 | CONAN THE BARBARIAN | New York: Gnome Press, Inc., Publishers, [1954] | Boards. First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1950 | CONAN THE CONQUEROR | New York: Gnome Press, Inc., Publishers, [1950] | First printing so stated on © page. Reissued as THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON. ALSO: New York: Lancer Books, [1967]. Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1967 on © page. Lancer Books 73-572 (60c). Editorial changes and introduction by L. Sprague de Camp. |
| 1965 | CONAN THE FREEBOOTER | New York: Lancer Books, [196S] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1968 on © page. Lancer Books 74-963 (75c). With L. SPRAGUE DE CAMP. |
| 1967 | CONAN THE USURPER | New York: Lancer Books, [1967] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1967 on © page. Lancer Books 73-599 (60c). One story appears for the first time. With L. SPRAGUE DE CAMP. |
| 1968 | CONAN THE WANDERER | New York: Lancer Books, [1968] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1968 on © page. Lancer Books 74-976 (95c). With LIN CARTER and L. SPRAGUE DE CAMP. Note: Ad on page [223] lists six Conan titles.. A later printing with the same stock number has been noted with the statements Lancer Book but no date following on the © page and the ad on page [223] listing ten Conan titles. |
| 1967 | CONAN THE WARRIOR | New York: Lancer Books., [1967] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1967 on © page. Lancer Books 73-549 (60c) |
| 1963 | THE DARK MAN AND OTHERS | Sauk City: Arkham House: Publishers, 1963 | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1976 | THE DEVIL IN IRON | West Kingston, Rhode Island:. Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1976 | First published 1976 on © page. Reprint. Collects "Shadows in Zamboula" and "The Devil in Iron." |
| 1968 | ETCHINGS IN IVORY | Pasadena, Texas: Glenn Lord, 1968 | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. 268 copies printed. Note: This printing differs from a look-alike reprint in the following ways. Original is printed on laid paper watermarked "Tweedweave" and ROBERT E. HOWARD is printed on the front wrapper in 18-point Bodoni Modern in capital letters, |
| 1937 | A GENT FROM BEAR CREEK | London: Herbert Jenkins Limited, [1937] | First printed ... 1937 on © page. |
| 1975 | THE GREY GOD PASSES | [Columbia, Pennsylvania: Charles Miller, [1975] | Wrappers. First edition so stated On © page. |
| 1976 | THE GRIM LAND AND OTHERS | [Lamoni, Iowa: Stygian Isle Press, 1976] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. 450 numbered copies only. Note: Poetry, save for a prose fragment completed by Tevis Clyde Smith. |
| 1970 | THE HAND OF KANE | New York: Centaur Press, [1970] | Wrappers. October 1970 on © page. Time-Lost Series (75c). Reprint. Collects four stories from RED SHADOWS. |
| 1977 | THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON | New York: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation. [1977] | Wrappers. August, 1977 on © page. A Berkley Medallion Book 0-425-03608-1 ($1.95). Conan at head of title. Note: Revision of CONAN THE CONQUEROR. Follows the text of the five-part serial appearing in Weird Tales, December 1935 through April 1936. ALSO: New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1977]. No statement of printing on © page. Conan at head of title. First hardcover edition. |
| 1977 | THE ILLUSTRATED GODS OF THE NORTH | [West Warwick, Rhode Island]: Necronomicon Press, [1977] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. 750 numbered copies printed. |
| 1974 | THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF DENNIS DORGAN | [West Linn, Oregon]: FAX Collector's Editions, [1974] | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1976 | THE IRON MAN | [New York]: Zebra Books, [1976] | Wrappers. First Printing: March, 1976 on © page. Zebra 171 ($1.50). ALSO: THE IRON MAN & OTHER TALES OF THE RING. West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1976. First edition so stated on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1975 | ISLE OF PIRATE'S DOOM | Yorba Linda, California: George T. Hamilton, Publisher, 1975 | Wrappers. First edition so stated on © page. 302 copies printed,. |
| 1953 | KING CONAN | New York: Gnome Press, Inc. Publishers., [1953] | First printing so stated On © page. |
| 1967 | KING KULL | New York: Lancer Books, [1967] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1967 on © page. Lancer Books 73-650 (60c). With UN CARTER. |
| 1976 | THE KING'S SERVICE | Yorba Linda, California: George T. Hamilton, 1976 | Wrappers. First edition so stated on © page. 310 copies printed. |
| 1974 | THE LOST VALLEY OF ISKANDER | [West Linn, Oregon]: FAX Collector's Editions, 1974 | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1972 | MARCHERS OF VALHALLA | West Kingston, R.I. : Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1972 | First edition so stated on © page. London: Sphere Books Limited-, [1977]. Wrappers. First published in Great Britain ... 1977 on © page.Sphere 0 7221 4728 7 (65p). Enlarged edition. Adds six stories. ALSO: West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1977. Abridged reprint. "The Grey God Passes" appears for the first time in hardcover. |
| 1969 | THE MOON OF SKULLS | New York: Centaur Press, [1969] | Wrappers. November 1969 on © page. Time-Lost Series (60c). Reprint. Three stories collected from RED SHADOWS. |
| 1974 | THE PEOPLE OF THE BLACK CIRCLE | West Kingston, Rhode island: Donald M. Grant, Pub-lisher, 1974 | Boards with cloth shelf back. First published 1974 on © page. |
| 1977 | THE PEOPLE OF THE BLACK CIRCLE | [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1977] | Wrappers. September. 1977 on © page. A Berkley Medallion Book 0-425-03609-X ($1.95). Conan at head of title. Reprint collection. Prints four stories using original Weird Tales texts. |
| 1976 | PIGEONS FROM HELL | [New York]: Kensington Publishing Corp., [1976] | Wrappers. First Printing: June, 1976 on © page. Zebra Books 189 ($1.95). Reprint. Includes thirteen of the fifteen stories collected in THE DARK MAN AND OTHERS. |
| 1966 | THE PRIDE OF BEARCREEK | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1966 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1971 | RED BLADES OF BLACK CATHAY | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1971 | First edition so stated on © page. With TEVIS CLYDE SMITH. |
| 1975 | RED NAILS | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1975 | Boards with cloth shelf back. Reprint, Originally collected in THE SWORD OF CONAN. |
| 1977 | RED NAILS | [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1977] | Wrappers. October, 1977 on © page.z4 Berkley Medallion Book 0-425-036110-3 ($1.95). Conan at head of title. Reprint collection. Prints three stories using original Weird Takes texts and "The Hyborian Age." |
| 1968 | RED SHADOWS | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1968 | First edition so stated on © page. This short story collection was reprinted in three volumes: THE MOON OF SKULLS, THE HAND OF KANE, and SOLOMON KANE. |
| 1977 | THE RETURN OF SKULL-FACE | [West Linn, Oregon]: FAX Collector's Editions, [1977] | Two issues, no priority:
|
| 1977 | THE ROBERT E. HOWARD OMNIBUS | [London]: Futura Publications Limited, [1977] | Wrappers. First published in Great Britain ... 1977 on © page. Orbit 0 8600 7955 4 (90p). |
| 1976 | ROGUES UN THE HOUSE | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1976 | Boards with cloth shelf back. Deluxe edition-First Published 1976 on © page. Reprint. Collects "Rogues in the House" arid "The Frost-Giant's Daughter." |
| 1976 | THE SECOND BOOK OF ROBERT HOWARD | [New York]: Kensington Publishing Corp., [1976] | Wrappers. First Printing: May, 1976 on © page. Zebra 183 ($1.95). |
| 1977 | THE SHADOW OF THE BEAST | Yorba Linda, California: George T. Hamilton, Publisher, 1977 | Wrappers. First edition so stated on © page. 280 copies printed. |
| 1975 | SHADOW OF THE HUN | Yorba Linda, California: George T. Hamilton, Publisher, 1975 | Wrappers. First edition so stated on © page. 318 copies printed. |
| 1946 | SKULL-FACE AND OTHERS | Sauk City: Arkham House, 1946 | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1971 | SOLOMON KANE | New York: Centaur Press, [1971] | Wrappers. February 1971 on © page. Time-Lost Series (75c). Reprint. Seven stories previously collected in RED SHADOWS. |
| 1977 | SON OF THE WHITE WOLF | [West Linn, Oregon]: Published by FAX, 1977 | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1973 | THE SOWERS OF THE THUNDER | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1973 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1952 | THE SWORD OF CONAN | New York: Gnome Press, Inc. Publishers, [1952] | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1977 | THE SWORD WOMAN | [New York]: Kensington Publishing Corp., [1977] | Wrappers. First Printing: May, 1977 on © page. Zebra 261 ($1.50). |
| 1976 | SWORDS OF SHAHRAZAR | [London]: Futura Publications Limited, [1976] | Wrappers. First published in Great Britain in 1976 On © page. Orbit Science Fiction 0 8600 7881 7 (50p). ALSO: [West Linn, Oregon]: FAX Collector's Editions, [1976]. No statement of printing on © page. Note: Story titled "Swords of Shahrazar" in the Orbit edition is here titled "The Treasure of Shaibar Khan." First hardcover edition. |
| 1955 | TALES OF CONAN | New York: Gnome Press Inc. Publishers, [1955] | Five bindings, earliest as listed, sequence for the remainder not established:
|
| 1977 | THREE-BLADED DOOM | [New York]: Kensington Publishing Corp., [1977] | Wrappers. First Printing: July, 1977 on © page. Zebra 277 ($1.50). |
| 1974 | TIGERS OF THE SEA | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1974 | First edition so stated on © page. |
| 1975 | THE TOWER OF THE ELEPHANT | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1975 | Boards with cloth shelf back. Reprint. Collects "The Tower of the Elephant" and "The God in the Bowl" (the latter collected earlier in THE COMING OF CONAN in a slightly different version edited by L. Sprague de Camp). |
| 1976 | TWO AGAINST TYRE | [Memphis, Tenn.: Dennis McHaney, 1976] | Wrappers. Two issues, no priority:
|
| 1975 | VALLEY OF THE LOST | [Columbia, Pennsylvania: Charles Miller, 1975] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page, 777 numbered copies only. |
| 1973 | THE VULTURES. SHOWDOWN AT HELL'S CANYON | Lakemont, Georgia: Fictioneer Books Ltd., [1973] | Fabrikoid. First edition so stated on © page. ALSO: THE VULTURES OF WHAPETON. [New York]: Kensington Publishing Corp., [1975]. Wrappers. First Printing: November, 1975 on © page. Zebra 144 ($1.50). Enlarged edition. Adds two stories. |
| 1975 | A WITCH SHALL BE BORN | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1975 | Boards with cloth shelf back. Reprint. Collected earlier in CONAN THE BARBARIAN. |
| 1968 | WOLFSHEAD | New York: Lancer Books, [1968] | Wrappers. A Lancer Book 1968 on © page. Lancer Books 73-721 (60c). First book publication for "The House of Arabu"; other stories collected earlier in SKULL-FACE AND OTHERS. |
| 1974 | WORMS OF THE EARTH | West Kingston, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, Publisher, 1974 | First edition so stated on © page. Reprint. All stories previously collected in BRAN MAK MORN. |
Robert E. Howard – First Printing Dust Jacket Identification Points
Gallery of First state Dust Jackets of Howard’s works. Only includes the first appearance in book form. Either the UK or US edition and does not include later printings.
Reference:
- Wikipedia
- L. W. Currey, Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction and Selected Nonfiction.
