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Post by KiramidHead on Feb 19, 2016 21:21:04 GMT -5
I thought it would be worth discussing the Del Rey editions, how great they generally are, as well as whatever drawbacks they may have. I for one am glad there were any editions put out that contained the stories as Howard originally wrote them, and the Del Reys started coming out around the time I fell in love with the original movie and wanted to get into Howard. They also introduced me to Solomon Kane, who is my favorite of the characters Howard created, so I'll always be grateful for that. And I think the art is just spectacular in all of them, Gary Gianni's contributions in particular.
The negatives are pretty minor in the ones I've read. For example, Justin Sweet's full color plates for the Kull volume didn't quite translate to black and white as well as the others did, IMO. And I know this is practically a non-issue, but I wish they would have fixed the chapter numbering mistake in Hour of the Dragon. It bugged me more than it should have, really, but I can't help it. Also, I've heard something about the Solomon Kane volume being somehow incomplete in the English-language edition, but I don't know all the details.
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Post by deuce on Feb 19, 2016 21:31:14 GMT -5
I thought it would be worth discussing the Del Rey editions, how great they generally are, as well as whatever drawbacks they may have. I for one am glad there were any editions put out that contained the stories as Howard originally wrote them, and the Del Reys started coming out around the time I fell in love with the original movie and wanted to get into Howard. They also introduced me to Solomon Kane, who is my favorite of the characters Howard created, so I'll always be grateful for that. And I think the art is just spectacular in all of them, Gary Gianni's contributions in particular. The negatives are pretty minor in the ones I've read. For example, Justin Sweet's full color plates for the Kull volume didn't quite translate to black and white as well as the others did, IMO. And I know this is practically a non-issue, but I wish they would have fixed the chapter numbering mistake in Hour of the Dragon. It bugged me more than it should have, really, but I can't help it. Also, I've heard something about the Solomon Kane volume being somehow incomplete in the English-language edition, but I don't know all the details. Glad you started this thread, KH. I meant to do so about a week ago. You can never please everybody. While not perfect for me, I considered the Del Reys to be very well done. All of them. No single publisher (in America) has ever put out a more complete set of authoritative REH volumes. As for SK, I think you're talking about the 2010 French edition: howardworks.com/Solomon_Kane_lintegrale-Bragelonne.htmlCompare your Del Rey to that. |
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Post by KiramidHead on Feb 19, 2016 21:39:14 GMT -5
Wow, those are some odd omissions. An entire fragment I haven't read, the rewrite of BFoV, and an essay on the stories like what was featured in the other volumes. That's insane.
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Post by deuce on Feb 19, 2016 21:55:18 GMT -5
Wow, those are some odd omissions. An entire fragment I haven't read, the rewrite of BFoV, and an essay on the stories like what was featured in the other volumes. That's insane. You have to realize that the SK edition was put together by Wandering Star way back. Louinet was a big part of choosing things. "Redflame" isn't an SK yarn. It has John Silent in it. I asked why it was left out in 2006 and never really got an answer. The Malachi Grim story was considered iffy for a long time. I think Patrice's essay isn't that old. It'd be nice if there was a 2nd edition. The Kull book should've had the "Isle of the Eons" drafts, but Patrice was working up a special issue of The Dark Man around them, so they never put it in. IotE is like a Rosetta Stone for the Thurian Age. |
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Post by Jason Aiken on Feb 19, 2016 22:51:45 GMT -5
That's interesting about the French Solomon Kane collection. I wonder if the REHF Press would be up for publishing an English version of it down the line? I'm insanely happy with the Del Rey edition, though either way. I remember counting down the hours to my work lunch breaks so I could dive into that sucker. One co-worker of mine saw I was reading it and he stopped dead in his tracks. He remembered him from the paperback days and it sounded like the Marvel stuff, too.
Thanks for pointing out "Isle of the Eons" too, deuce. I managed to find a copy of that issue of The Dark Man for sale.
I personally owe a lot to the Del Rey editions. Busiek and Nord's Conan: The Legend (#0) and the regular comic series were what got me interested in Conan, but once the first arc was over I was so into it, I knew I had to read the source material. Del Rey made it easy with all of the REH collections in book stores. I bought the three Conan books and never looked back.
I'm ashamed to admit this...but when I first saw the Solomon Kane book being advertised in the comics, I thought, "What the hell? A freaking pilgrim?"
Oh how I was wrong....Those stories are damn good and he's a very influential character.
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Post by johnnypt on Feb 20, 2016 14:58:13 GMT -5
That's actually a great idea for the French Solomon Kane volume. Del Rey's just not going to do a 2nd edition of any of these, so it would be a matter of the foundation being contractually able to do it. In any case, Redflame should get some kind of wider availability, as should Isle of the Eons
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Post by Ningauble on Feb 20, 2016 15:25:42 GMT -5
A few years ago there was a list of the planned REH Foundation books posted at the rehtwogunraconteur blog. One of the books was a "Leftovers" volume of odds and ends that didn't go into the other books. Let's hope these drafts and fragments show up there.
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Post by deuce on Apr 24, 2016 13:51:31 GMT -5
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Post by Freebooter on May 1, 2016 19:43:59 GMT -5
Hello all,
When Del Ray I think it was came out with the new REH books a few years ago I immediately got the three Conan ones, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn and King Kull. But never got any others. Can someone point me to where I can find a list of all that has come out so far, where I can find or order them from? Books a Million only has a couple and both of which I have.
Thanks,
Freebooter
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Post by Ningauble on May 5, 2016 10:16:13 GMT -5
Hello all, When Del Ray I think it was came out with the new REH books a few years ago I immediately got the three Conan ones, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn and King Kull. But never got any others. Can someone point me to where I can find a list of all that has come out so far, where I can find or order them from? Books a Million only has a couple and both of which I have. Thanks, Freebooter Here is a list www.howardworks.com/ballantine-delrey.html (2003 onwards, except Conan the Brabarian from 2011). Amazon should have them all. |
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Post by EMErdelac on May 10, 2016 15:19:35 GMT -5
I still need the Kull one. Been meaning to pick it up for years.
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Post by deuce on May 12, 2016 22:44:47 GMT -5
Wow, those are some odd omissions. An entire fragment I haven't read, the rewrite of BFoV, and an essay on the stories like what was featured in the other volumes. That's insane. Since George RR Martin is a huge fan of Solomon Kane, a new edition (maybe with a new intro from GRRM) could be a good idea. |
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Post by hawkbrother on Jul 6, 2016 16:21:52 GMT -5
The Del Rey books are essential for any Howard collection. They ,and the Bison books from University of Nebraska press.
Have the 3 Conans, Kull, Bran Mak Morn, Solomon Kane, Horror Storiies, Sword Woman, El Borak, but not the 2 Best offs. Is there much in those that is not also in the others,really don't want a lot of duplication.
What is recommended in the way of collections of Howard' s Irish/Celtic stories, weird detective stories such as Skullface, and the James Allison reincarnation cycle, i.e. Garden of Fear and Valley of the Worm? Of course some of the weird Westerns made it into Bison's Black Stranger collection.
Used to visit the old board frequently some years back but for a variety of reasons not much in recent years. Very. sorry it folded, hope it can be saved as an archive for reading purposes somehow, had some great info.
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Post by paulmc on Jul 8, 2016 11:09:58 GMT -5
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Post by johnnypt on Jul 8, 2016 12:11:01 GMT -5
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