In the Frazetta Museum in Pennsylvania, I saw the original Lancer painting hanging on the wall. The snowy mountain peak is overlayed so many times with paint that it actually sticks out from the canvas, giving it a 3D effect. The whole work is wonderful to see.
A lot of people just know Conan from the movies and comics. Which is fine, since the Roy Thomas comics were a blast and the movies were fun. But the actual Robert E. Howard stories are so much deeper than just some dude boozing it up in a bar, saving a maiden to hook up with later, and killing some monster with a conveniently places magical sword. This story IS a great introduction, since it kind of follows that formula, so the new reader won't be TOO out of place. But it also shows that Howard had a great grasp on writing. And as the stories go along and we get to see Conan's philosophy develop, he really does become a hero for today. His disdain for politics and bureaucrats is something that most people could fully get behind. Great stories that are happily pretty easy to get in this day and age! The Howard estate has been doing a great job of getting REH's stories out to the public again!
This story was adapted in the recent "The Cimmerian" series by Ablaze comics. It was pretty good, though nothing can touch Barry Windsor Smith's adaptation.
I read it in 1976, I believe, in my Lancer Conan of Cimmeria. Yes, I must visit the Frazetta Museum, Great stuff. Thank you for the re-introduction. Such great writing.
Basically, this story is the Vanishing Hitch-hiker urban legend, but with Conan. And that is pretty cool, in my opinion. One of these days, I want to go out to the Robert E. Howard Museum, assuming it is still open.
I used this short story in an essay, comparing it to Ovid/Bullfinch’s Myth of Daphne and Apollo/Phoebus. They both involve young men chasing beautiful women, both stories have tones of sexual assault, and the woman in both stories call upon their divine fathers to save them through supernatural means.
This is probably the Conan story I read the most often, partly because it is short, and partly because I've always found the Aesir and the Vanir so fascinating. More so when I got around to reading REH's essay on the Hyborian Age. ⚔
Whenever I suggest reading Howard's Conan stories to anyone, I tell them to start with this story. The magical quality of Howard's writing really shines bright in this story, and also, it's a sexy story. Blood, lust, mythos, and the purity of the blood -stained snow and downy skin all short and succinct. I loved how Barry Smith drew it in the Marvel comic version keeping it very magical, and of course, Frazetta's incredible cover painting for the Lancer Books' "Conan of Cimmeria" which you put in the thumbnail. Those are the two first-rank Conan artists, in my opinion. The others don't capture the super-colorful, unique, well-carved Howard gestalt.
A favourite of mine as well. Loved the Marvel version (colour and b&w version) as well as the Dark Horse version and also the recent French one (no holds barred in that one) and the Ablaze version, and of course, the classic RE Howard one.
This was a great, dreamy, exotic, stranger in a strange land story. The frightening thing is not just the alluring, primal, naked Frost Giants - who in a wonderful twist are the gods of the northern people who bear the names of the Norse Gods of 1000 years ago, in who's myth the giants were bitter foes - but more frightening is the bestial lust that was triggered so easily in our hero (who is inspired by Ginghis Khan after all). It ensnares him in Ymir's trap, but it also saves his life, not just here but living by primitive survival instinct every day of this world. Luckily we don't have to see the ugly results of that lust, Daddy saves Alia and we don't have to witness the graphic details or suffer debates over if she had it coming by luring men to their deaths - as it was I hope this scare made her think twice before doing that again ("NO Dad! you have enough smoking hearts!") Too bad this story just tantalizes these giants, I want to hear more about them and their views of humanity who pray to them, but I fear this may be all we get from Howard. Sometimes less is more.
I'm not sure I concur that this is chronologically the first Conan story. I think that would be "The Tower of the Elephant," where Conan is about 17. I believe he revisited his homeland and neighboring areas now and then. He may have been in his early 20s here.
I like to think that Conan's brain was a bit addled after the battle, as Howard's other works portray him to be quite chivalrous. This is a story that would never be published in today's climate of course. This is a remarkable short story and I rank it 2nd only after 'Red Nails' as far as 'Conan yarns' go.
This is one of my favorite Conan stories. I think it drew me as a kid with the idea of him taking out two giants as quickly as he did. Ablaze Publishing, in the states, has also released a comic version of this story. It's available as a three issue limited series (each issue has multiple covers so can be confusing) or is collected in Vol 2 of The Cimmerian. The Cimmerian is the title they use because Conan was licensed to Marvel (Titan I think is the new licensee) though he is referred to as Conan in the comic stories. The Ablaze works are English translations of comics published in Europe so there is a lot more blood shed and nudity They also include a reprint of the prose story in a pulp like format.
A great story! Even though it's not exactly representative, if someone is interested in Conan, I usually read them this story. It's short and if they can dig Howard's style, they'll probablyb e up for more.
Interesting! In the Conan series I have read ( the Robert E Howard, Lin Carter, L Sprague de Camp series) this story is said to be later than The Tower of the Elephant. I did enjoy this story although I always thought it reminiscent of, perhaps inspired by, the poem 'The Tale of the Wandering Aengus' by W B Yeats.
Great video really enjoyed it! I like the colourized version in the the marvel comics lovely art. I think this was the second Conan story I ever read...Looking forward to the next episode!
I have a Kindle edition of Conan with 18 stories. Never read. Excluded are three : The God in the Bowl, The Black Stranger, and The Vale of Lost Women. I'm on the fence about the volume paperback from Del Rey.
In the Frazetta Museum in Pennsylvania, I saw the original Lancer painting hanging on the wall. The snowy mountain peak is overlayed so many times with paint that it actually sticks out from the canvas, giving it a 3D effect. The whole work is wonderful to see.
Wow! That must have been incredible to see.
A lot of people just know Conan from the movies and comics. Which is fine, since the Roy Thomas comics were a blast and the movies were fun. But the actual Robert E. Howard stories are so much deeper than just some dude boozing it up in a bar, saving a maiden to hook up with later, and killing some monster with a conveniently places magical sword. This story IS a great introduction, since it kind of follows that formula, so the new reader won't be TOO out of place. But it also shows that Howard had a great grasp on writing. And as the stories go along and we get to see Conan's philosophy develop, he really does become a hero for today. His disdain for politics and bureaucrats is something that most people could fully get behind. Great stories that are happily pretty easy to get in this day and age! The Howard estate has been doing a great job of getting REH's stories out to the public again!
With the original Conan tales, telling of these will merely awaken one's curiosity.
This story was adapted in the recent "The Cimmerian" series by Ablaze comics. It was pretty good, though nothing can touch Barry Windsor Smith's adaptation.
I’ll go one further and say it’s even better. And that’s no knock on BWS, whose version is fantastic. But the Glenat version is a masterpiece.
I read it in 1976, I believe, in my Lancer Conan of Cimmeria. Yes, I must visit the Frazetta Museum, Great stuff. Thank you for the re-introduction. Such great writing.
Basically, this story is the Vanishing Hitch-hiker urban legend, but with Conan. And that is pretty cool, in my opinion. One of these days, I want to go out to the Robert E. Howard Museum, assuming it is still open.
I used this short story in an essay, comparing it to Ovid/Bullfinch’s Myth of Daphne and Apollo/Phoebus.
They both involve young men chasing beautiful women, both stories have tones of sexual assault, and the woman in both stories call upon their divine fathers to save them through supernatural means.
This is probably the Conan story I read the most often, partly because it is short, and partly because I've always found the Aesir and the Vanir so fascinating. More so when I got around to reading REH's essay on the Hyborian Age. ⚔
Whenever I suggest reading Howard's Conan stories to anyone, I tell them to start with this story. The magical quality of Howard's writing really shines bright in this story, and also, it's a sexy story. Blood, lust, mythos, and the purity of the blood -stained snow and downy skin all short and succinct. I loved how Barry Smith drew it in the Marvel comic version keeping it very magical, and of course, Frazetta's incredible cover painting for the Lancer Books' "Conan of Cimmeria" which you put in the thumbnail. Those are the two first-rank Conan artists, in my opinion. The others don't capture the super-colorful, unique, well-carved Howard gestalt.
This would be a good start for Conan.
A favourite of mine as well. Loved the Marvel version (colour and b&w version) as well as the Dark Horse version and also the recent French one (no holds barred in that one) and the Ablaze version, and of course, the classic RE Howard one.
🎶It's the Robert E. Howard Show!🎶 Nice tie!
It is a very nice tie!
The frost giant's daughter is a good story.
Yes it is!
That was the last story I recently read from that book. Really enjoyed it
Yes it is short (I love short) and great and a bit different to his other stories.
Great story, red nails is probably still my favourite
This was a great, dreamy, exotic, stranger in a strange land story. The frightening thing is not just the alluring, primal, naked Frost Giants - who in a wonderful twist are the gods of the northern people who bear the names of the Norse Gods of 1000 years ago, in who's myth the giants were bitter foes - but more frightening is the bestial lust that was triggered so easily in our hero (who is inspired by Ginghis Khan after all). It ensnares him in Ymir's trap, but it also saves his life, not just here but living by primitive survival instinct every day of this world. Luckily we don't have to see the ugly results of that lust, Daddy saves Alia and we don't have to witness the graphic details or suffer debates over if she had it coming by luring men to their deaths - as it was I hope this scare made her think twice before doing that again ("NO Dad! you have enough smoking hearts!")
Too bad this story just tantalizes these giants, I want to hear more about them and their views of humanity who pray to them, but I fear this may be all we get from Howard. Sometimes less is more.
Better late than never! Well done, I have enjoyed watching your talks regarding Conan. Looking forward to the next.
I'm not sure I concur that this is chronologically the first Conan story. I think that would be "The Tower of the Elephant," where Conan is about 17. I believe he revisited his homeland and neighboring areas now and then. He may have been in his early 20s here.
I like to think that Conan's brain was a bit addled after the battle, as Howard's other works portray him to be quite chivalrous. This is a story that would never be published in today's climate of course. This is a remarkable short story and I rank it 2nd only after 'Red Nails' as far as 'Conan yarns' go.
I remember reading the story in Ovid and seeing the similarities. Do some more REH shows please. Really good stuff.
This is one of my favorite Conan stories. I think it drew me as a kid with the idea of him taking out two giants as quickly as he did.
Ablaze Publishing, in the states, has also released a comic version of this story. It's available as a three issue limited series (each issue has multiple covers so can be confusing) or is collected in Vol 2 of The Cimmerian.
The Cimmerian is the title they use because Conan was licensed to Marvel (Titan I think is the new licensee) though he is referred to as Conan in the comic stories.
The Ablaze works are English translations of comics published in Europe so there is a lot more blood shed and nudity They also include a reprint of the prose story in a pulp like format.
This sounds like a fun one. Interesting history… it’s cool they were able to obtain the original for this volume.
It is cool. They were very careful with the texts in this Conan set.
A great story!
Even though it's not exactly representative, if someone is interested in Conan, I usually read them this story. It's short and if they can dig Howard's style, they'll probablyb e up for more.
Nice, but they may need reassurance that Conan doesn't try to rape people in most of his stories. 😅
Farnsworth Wright rejected a lot of really good stories. Just goes to show you editors aren't perfect.
That’s for sure!
Interesting! In the Conan series I have read ( the Robert E Howard, Lin Carter, L Sprague de Camp series) this story is said to be later than The Tower of the Elephant. I did enjoy this story although I always thought it reminiscent of, perhaps inspired by, the poem 'The Tale of the Wandering Aengus' by W B Yeats.
Great video really enjoyed it! I like the colourized version in the the marvel comics lovely art. I think this was the second Conan story I ever read...Looking forward to the next episode!
Thanks! Hope to have it up by Friday….I hope.
Great video, Michael. Loved this story as a boy.
I have a Kindle edition of Conan with 18 stories. Never read. Excluded are three : The God in the Bowl, The Black Stranger, and The Vale of Lost Women. I'm on the fence about the volume paperback from Del Rey.
Well, of course I would advise getting the Del Rey. Conan deserves the best!
I concur with Michael. I have two of the three Del Rey books, and they are phenomenally well put together. Cannot recommend them enough