I think each and every Conan story tells us a little bit about a certain side of Robert E Howard’s mind, almost like he was writing the stories to explain what he couldn’t without them. I think Tower Of The Elephant is probably his clearest expression of loneliness in a Conan story.
I remember reading this for the first time in the summer of 1978, I was 10 years old and I got one of the cheap paperbacks at a store at the beach. This story was in it and I was blown away by it. I read it again immediately after I finished it and have read it numerous times since then. Howard could really put mood in a story.
That was a great passage to read, because it shows Conan in a very different light than he is often seen reinterpreted outside of Howard’s stories. I love the first Schwarzenegger film, and I’m a huge fan of Savage Sword, but it’s always surprising to read Howard’s stories. He has a lot of other elements that get filtered out in adaptations.
My favorite line (end of Chapter 1): "The barbarian was gone; the center of the room was deserted except for the gashed body of the Kothian. The Cimmerian, with the unerring instinct of the barbarian, had killed his man in the darkness and confusion."
Love Tower of The Elephant. Obviously a classic. Scarlet Citadel is a fave too - mostly because it features what is one of the only "funhouse dungeons" you really find in classic fantasy stories. As a fan of old-school D&D I like that lol - SC is actually pretty close to being a classic D&D dungeon crawl. I'm looking forward to your discussion of People of The Black Circle...which I think is an absolutely monumental pulp adventure classic.
FYI Michael, your vids are getting better and better all the time. You seem more comfortable in front of the camera and your humor really comes through
I'm glad you got to this one. Nostalgia plays a part of course because, way back when, this was the first of Howard's Conan stories that I read, but it is truly an exceptional piece of writing, and my favorite Conan story (and that's up against a pretty tough field). I really enjoyed your discussion.
There's at least 3 different readings of it, I usually enjoy the creations of the channel "the Cybrarian" - good voice acting and use of sounds & music.
Tower of the Elephant was included in the first book of Lancer's Conan series. I first read it back in the early 70s. It was also one of the first stories done in comic book form by Marvel back when Barry Windsor-Smith was doing the art. I don't remember seeing it done in later comics. The Lovecraft influence is quite obvious. You mentioned my favorite Howard quote. There's a wisdom there for modern society. Just look at all the UA-cam vids of people going off verbally on complete strangers with little or no provocation. If folks thought their tirades would bring a violent reprisal they would be a lot more polite.
Good point, I suppose UA-cam is the next tier of "civilized security". I sometimes think we're better then that, but Booktube usually tries a bit harder with strangers and has coloured my experience - at least it can be used both for those with the will.
One of My favorite Conan stories. I'm going 2 reread this tonight. I'm getting Tarzaned out(I'm almost done with the 3 book The Beast of Tarzan. ...I need a break. Like most of Burroughs books the 1st couple books are Super, but then after that... they start having holes left, and right in the stories....I didn't recognize when I first read them as a kid...., but on My rereads....🤷♂️LoL.....Somehow I never seen any Conan cartoons. 🤷♂️ Great Video Michael 👍😁👍
I can see how that tower would set up expectations - I suppose in that version could only afford the God in the Bowl instead - which fits that movie's serpent motif.
I read this story in the original, from marvel and from darkhorse. Iff ppl aske me were to start in conan I always recommend "the tower of the elephant" or "the frost giants daughter". In the tower you can see howe much world culture and religion (Hindu religion in this part) he put into his work. Also the scene in the 82 movie at the snake tower always make me think of this story.
Love this story. I think i first encountered it in the Roy Thomas Barry Windsor-Smith comic, and since then have read the original at least i half-dozen times.
I have always been a little suspicious of Taurus' intensions regarding his "partnership" with Conan. He proposes cooperation because he does not want to risk the danger (nor the noise) of a sword fight within hearing of possible guards. He also shrewdly sized up Conan as being an asset if a confrontation occurred. This proved wise on the part of Taurus when the final lion had to be dispatched. But once they had scaled the tower, Taurus tells Conan to take a look around from their elevated position. While Conan's attention is elsewhere, Taurus slips into the treasure-strewn room with the octagonal design on the ceiling. Was he planning to ditch the Cimmerian to grab the heart for himself? Would he have used Conan to distract any guards on duty within the tower, or perhaps slip a blade into the youth from behind as he came through the door? I may be slandering Taurus terribly - then again in the Hyborian Age, as now, there was little honor amongst thieves.
I would figure if you talk about the condition and temperment Yag-Kosha, there's a lot of cool reveal right there and you might as well talk about the whole story and all spoilers within - or have a different section for that at the end if you prefer. *(BTW, here be Spoilers)* It's true though, that ending was really cool and imaginative and awesome - he's like some guardian angel, but _maybe_ with a vengeful side, we're not entirely what went down inside the gem. I also want to know what was happening to the tower in that last sentence, did it collapse or just dissolve? If the former, maybe Conan can snag a few precious gems from the rubble for his trouble/service - if they were even real. I loved the story though, Mytery, Adventure, Sword and Sorcery and Yag-Kosha was a real old one presence with a twist of pity. I don't know if Lovecraft would allow a mortal to be able to ensnare such a being, but from reading "Beyond the Wall of Sleep, I think he can sometimes dip into pity, or beneficence, though it is probably the exceotion.
Have you covered Howard's horror stories yet? Specifically Black Caanan. That is one of my altimeter favorite Howard stories in spite of the terrible racial depictions.
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 It was from a time of the Rambo, Chuck Norris Karate Kamandos and Police Academy cartoons. How can you not enjoy a point of view like that.
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
I think each and every Conan story tells us a little bit about a certain side of Robert E Howard’s mind, almost like he was writing the stories to explain what he couldn’t without them.
I think Tower Of The Elephant is probably his clearest expression of loneliness in a Conan story.
Probably true.
I loved The Tower of the Elephant! I love that quote on civilized men. Everything you said about this story and Howard's writing was on point!
Thanks Johanna!
I remember reading this for the first time in the summer of 1978, I was 10 years old and I got one of the cheap paperbacks at a store at the beach.
This story was in it and I was blown away by it. I read it again immediately after I finished it and have read it numerous times since then.
Howard could really put mood in a story.
He really could.
Good to see that the Robert E Howard show is back on track, and with one of the best stories ever.
Thanks Tony!
That was a great passage to read, because it shows Conan in a very different light than he is often seen reinterpreted outside of Howard’s stories. I love the first Schwarzenegger film, and I’m a huge fan of Savage Sword, but it’s always surprising to read Howard’s stories. He has a lot of other elements that get filtered out in adaptations.
The visceral descriptions of the first paragraph of The Tower of the Elephant immediately draws you into the story.
Yes!
My favorite line (end of Chapter 1): "The barbarian was gone; the center of the room was deserted except for the gashed body of the Kothian. The Cimmerian, with the unerring instinct of the barbarian, had killed his man in the darkness and confusion."
Yes! An excellent moment!
Roy Thomas said many times that this was the pinnacle of Howard's writtings prowess. Perfectly written.
i was enthralled. Spinner of tales from the master.
The greatest of all Conan stories!
It is pretty damned good.
Love Tower of The Elephant. Obviously a classic. Scarlet Citadel is a fave too - mostly because it features what is one of the only "funhouse dungeons" you really find in classic fantasy stories. As a fan of old-school D&D I like that lol - SC is actually pretty close to being a classic D&D dungeon crawl. I'm looking forward to your discussion of People of The Black Circle...which I think is an absolutely monumental pulp adventure classic.
Yeah, that was some dungeon!
Still my favorite Conan Story.
FYI Michael, your vids are getting better and better all the time. You seem more comfortable in front of the camera and your humor really comes through
Thanks!
🎵It’s the Robert E. Howard Show!🎵 Great story! ❤️ Looking forward to the next discussion of the world’s greatest pulp writer!
You need to send me a recording of you singing this!
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Ha ha, I'm not sure you'd want to hear my voice!
I'm pretty sure The Tower of the Elephant is my favorite Conan story. Nice reading and discussion, as usual.
Thanks!
I'm glad you got to this one. Nostalgia plays a part of course because, way back when, this was the first of Howard's Conan stories that I read, but it is truly an exceptional piece of writing, and my favorite Conan story (and that's up against a pretty tough field). I really enjoyed your discussion.
Thanks Steven!
Howard is great. This story should also be available on audio on UA-cam etc.
There's at least 3 different readings of it, I usually enjoy the creations of the channel "the Cybrarian" - good voice acting and use of sounds & music.
Tower of the Elephant was included in the first book of Lancer's Conan series. I first read it back in the early 70s. It was also one of the first stories done in comic book form by Marvel back when Barry Windsor-Smith was doing the art. I don't remember seeing it done in later comics. The Lovecraft influence is quite obvious.
You mentioned my favorite Howard quote. There's a wisdom there for modern society. Just look at all the UA-cam vids of people going off verbally on complete strangers with little or no provocation. If folks thought their tirades would bring a violent reprisal they would be a lot more polite.
Good point, I suppose UA-cam is the next tier of "civilized security". I sometimes think we're better then that, but Booktube usually tries a bit harder with strangers and has coloured my experience - at least it can be used both for those with the will.
Fantastic - like many others this is my favourite Conan (and REH) story. God knows how many times I've read it. In fact will read it again now 👍
Awesome. It’s really cool to see you here. Your channel is fantastic.
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 Thanks man! Delighted that you like it 😀
One of my favorite Conan stories! Read it for the first time when I was 13 in that same Del Rey edition and it changed me forever. 😊
Hard to believe the Del Rey has been around so long. It still feels new to me! But then, I’m old.
Great! One of the best Conan stories!
While not my favorite Conan story, it's in my top 3.
One of My favorite Conan stories. I'm going 2 reread this tonight. I'm getting Tarzaned out(I'm almost done with the 3 book The Beast of Tarzan. ...I need a break. Like most of Burroughs books the 1st couple books are Super, but then after that... they start having holes left, and right in the stories....I didn't recognize when I first read them as a kid...., but on My rereads....🤷♂️LoL.....Somehow I never seen any Conan cartoons. 🤷♂️
Great Video Michael 👍😁👍
I can’t believe you could find any holes in the Tarzan series! A work of staggering genius!
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 LoL. Still awesome stories.
I remember the first time seeing the 1982 movie and being kind of disappointed the tower scene didn't lead to an elephant like creature.
I can see how that tower would set up expectations - I suppose in that version could only afford the God in the Bowl instead - which fits that movie's serpent motif.
This sounds like a wonderful story! I love to read the comic version of things, so I’ll probably pick up the comic too when I get this. Thanks!
Thank you for watching! You really would like this one.
I read this story in the original, from marvel and from darkhorse.
Iff ppl aske me were to start in conan I always recommend "the tower of the elephant" or "the frost giants daughter". In the tower you can see howe much world culture and religion (Hindu religion in this part) he put into his work. Also the scene in the 82 movie at the snake tower always make me think of this story.
Love this story. I think i first encountered it in the Roy Thomas Barry Windsor-Smith comic, and since then have read the original at least i half-dozen times.
In many ways a quintessential yarn, by Crom!
Btw The Cybrarian made a wonderful audio presentation of this story, among others. ⚔
Yeah, great audio!
I have always been a little suspicious of Taurus' intensions regarding his "partnership" with Conan. He proposes cooperation because he does not want to risk the danger (nor the noise) of a sword fight within hearing of possible guards. He also shrewdly sized up Conan as being an asset if a confrontation occurred. This proved wise on the part of Taurus when the final lion had to be dispatched. But once they had scaled the tower, Taurus tells Conan to take a look around from their elevated position. While Conan's attention is elsewhere, Taurus slips into the treasure-strewn room with the octagonal design on the ceiling. Was he planning to ditch the Cimmerian to grab the heart for himself? Would he have used Conan to distract any guards on duty within the tower, or perhaps slip a blade into the youth from behind as he came through the door? I may be slandering Taurus terribly - then again in the Hyborian Age, as now, there was little honor amongst thieves.
This is a great story, definitely a highlight of that volume. That cartoon sounds like a train wreck ! You know how I like to look at those 😉
Don’t look! Some things you can’t unsee!
And there was a live action adaptation too in an equally bad television series!
Can't wait for "The Scarlet Citadel!"
Oh no! How did I miss that!
I think in the one of the comics, the City of Thieves is known as Arenjun.
L. Sprague de Camp invented the name when he edited the story. Howard left it unnamed.
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 I'm siding with de Camp on this one; being in an unnamed fantasy city is like an unscatchable itch.
I would figure if you talk about the condition and temperment Yag-Kosha, there's a lot of cool reveal right there and you might as well talk about the whole story and all spoilers within - or have a different section for that at the end if you prefer. *(BTW, here be Spoilers)* It's true though, that ending was really cool and imaginative and awesome - he's like some guardian angel, but _maybe_ with a vengeful side, we're not entirely what went down inside the gem. I also want to know what was happening to the tower in that last sentence, did it collapse or just dissolve? If the former, maybe Conan can snag a few precious gems from the rubble for his trouble/service - if they were even real.
I loved the story though, Mytery, Adventure, Sword and Sorcery and Yag-Kosha was a real old one presence with a twist of pity.
I don't know if Lovecraft would allow a mortal to be able to ensnare such a being, but from reading "Beyond the Wall of Sleep, I think he can sometimes dip into pity, or beneficence, though it is probably the exceotion.
That’s true. Certainly by At the Mountains of Madness, Lovecraft was definitely sympathizing with his monsters.
Have you covered Howard's horror stories yet? Specifically Black Caanan. That is one of my altimeter favorite Howard stories in spite of the terrible racial depictions.
I will be talking about his horror after Conan.
Conan cartoon was so bad it was good
Well, I remember the so bad part.
@@michaelk.vaughan8617 It was from a time of the Rambo, Chuck Norris Karate Kamandos and Police Academy cartoons. How can you not enjoy a point of view like that.