|
|
Post by deuce on Sept 11, 2016 16:24:23 GMT -5
REH set quite a few of his tales during the long period where Islam faced off against the West. These tales constitute some of his best work and led directly into his Conan yarns. One of his earliest attempts was a collaboration with his friend, Tevis Clyde Smith, called Red Blades of Black Cathay. Here's a blog post about it: blog-sototh.blogspot.com/2016/09/godric-and-genghis-kahn.htmlThe one volume collecting the most stories in this category is Lord of Samarcand from Bison Books. I recommend it. howardworks.com/lordofsamarcand.html |
|
|
|
Post by hawkbrother on Sept 11, 2016 17:36:54 GMT -5
Does have stories that are not includedi in the Sword Woman Del Rey collection? That one has Red Blades of Black Cathay too, and several others from Oriental Stories/Magic Carpet.
|
|
|
|
Post by deuce on Sept 11, 2016 18:20:31 GMT -5
Does have stories that are not includedi in the Sword Woman Del Rey collection? That one has Red Blades of Black Cathay too, and several others from Oriental Stories/Magic Carpet. The contents are in the link. |
|
|
|
Post by hawkbrother on Sept 11, 2016 20:09:52 GMT -5
Looks like this mostly duplicates the Sword Woman.as far as completed stories go, does have some fragments not in that volume as well as Two Against Tyre. And Sword Woman has some not included in it. Could not go wrong acquiring either volume.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2016 10:31:40 GMT -5
REH set quite a few of his tales during the long period where Islam faced off against the West. These tales constitute some of his best work and led directly into his Conan yarns. One of his earliest attempts was a collaboration with his friend, Tevis Clyde Smith, called Red Blades of Black Cathay. Here's a blog post about it: blog-sototh.blogspot.com/2016/09/godric-and-genghis-kahn.htmlThese stories are great. I love the fight between Godric and Subotai in Red Blades of Black Cathay, I reckon these historical adventures are some of Howard's best stories.
Subotai vs Godric from 'Red Blades of Black Cathay'
Godric took in the height of the man, the mighty sweep of chest and shoulder, and the massive arms which wielded the sword that had more than once, during the fight, sheared clear through the torso of a mailed Jahaduran.
"Back!" roared Subotai, his fierce eyes alight—those eyes were blue, Godric noted, and the Mongol's hair red; surely somewhere in that frozen land of tundras a wandering Aryan strain had mingled with the Turanian blood of Subotai's tribe -" Back, and give us room! None shall slay this chief but Subotai!"
Somewhere down the deep defile there sounded a rally of kettledrums and the tramp of many hoofs, but Godric was hardly aware he heard. He saw the Mongols fall back, leaving a space clear. He heard Chepe Noyon, still slightly groggy, and with a new helmet, shouting orders at the men who surged about the wall. Fighting ceased altogether and all eyes turned on the chiefs, who swung up their blades and rushed together like two maddened bulls.
Godric knew that his armor would never stand against the full sweep of the great sword Subotai was swinging in his right hand. The Norman leaped and struck as a tiger strikes, throwing every ounce of his body behind the blow and nerving himself to superhuman quickness. His heavy, straight blade sheared through the lacquered buckler Subotai flung above his head, and crashing full on the peaked helmet, bit through to the scalp beneath. Subotai staggered, a jet of blood trickling down his dark face, but almost instantly swung a decapitating stroke that whistled harmlessly through the air as Godric bent his knees quickly.
The Frank thrust viciously but Subotai evaded the lunging point with a twist of his huge frame and hacked in savagely. Godric sprang away but could not entirely avoid the blow. The great blade struck under his armpit, crunched through the mail and bit deep into his ribs. The impact numbed his whole left side, and in an instant his hauberk was full of blood.
Stung to renewed madness, Godric sprang in, parrying the scimitar, then dropped his sword and grappled Subotai. The Mongol returned the fierce embrace, drawing a dagger. Close-locked they wrestled and strained, staggering on hard-braced legs, each seeking to break the other's spine or to drive home his own blade. Both weapons were reddened in an instant as they girded through the crevices in the armor or were driven straight through solid mail, but neither could free his hand enough to drive in a death thrust.
Godric was gasping for breath; he felt that the pressure of the Mongol's huge arms was crushing him. But Subotai was in no better way. The Norman saw sweat thickly beading the Mongol's brow, heard his breath coming in heavy pants, and a savage joy shook him.
Subotai lifted his foe bodily to dash him headlong, but Godric's grip held them together so firmly this was impossible. With both feet braced on the blood-soaked earth again, Godric suddenly ceased trying to free his dirk wrist from Subotai's iron grip, and releasing the Mongol's dagger arm, drove his left fist into Subotai's face.
With the full power of mighty arm and broad shoulders behind it, the blow was like that of a club. Blood spattered and Subotai's head snapped back as if on hinges—but at that instant he drove his dagger deep in Godric's breast muscles.
The Norman gasped, staggered, and then in a last burst of strength he flung the Mongol from him. Subotai fell his full length and rose slowly, dazedly, like a man who has fought out the last red ounce of his endurance. His mighty frame sagged back on the arms of the ringing warriors and he shook his head like a bull, striving to nerve himself again for the combat.
Godric recovered the sword he had dropped and now he faced his foes, feet braced wide against his sick dizziness. He groped a moment for support and felt firm stones at his back. The fight had carried them almost to the last barricades. There he faced the Mongols like a wounded lion at bay, head lowered on his mighty, mailed breast, terrible eyes glittering through the bars of his vizor, both hands gripping his red sword.
"Come on," he challenged as he felt his life waning in thick red surges. "Mayhap I die—but I will slay seven of you before I die. Come in and make an ending, you pagan swine!"
Great stuff. Of course, Subotai would have beaten Godric in a more convincing manner in a real fight.
|
|
|
|
Post by deuce on Sept 17, 2016 13:26:21 GMT -5
Yep. I've always loved "last stand" battles and "Red Blades" has a great one. BTW, it would appear that Bob (or Tevis) got about all of the info for that tale from either Harold Lamb's Genghis Khan: Emperor of All Men or this story...  My guess, for several reasons, is the latter. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 5:25:54 GMT -5
Yep. I've always loved "last stand" battles and "Red Blades" has a great one. BTW, it would appear that Bob (or Tevis) got about all of the info for that tale from either Harold Lamb's Genghis Khan: Emperor of All Men or this story... My guess, for several reasons, is the latter. Not read this one yet, I'm still looking for the Grant Edition. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 9:54:58 GMT -5
Baibars from 'The Sowers of the Thunder' is one of my favourite REH characters. This is an excerpt from a letter by REH to HP Lovecraft (c. April 1932)
'By the way, Wright thought well enough of my yarn, 'The Sowers of the Thunder' published in the current Oriental Stories, to advertise it in 'Asia'. It deals with Baibars the Panther, and the overthrow of the last Christian army in Outreamer: a magnificently dramatic historical episode which I fear I have failed by a long way to do justice. I'll swear, I've written of Christian armies being defeated by Moslems until my blood fairly seethes with rage. Some day I must write of the success of the earlier Crusades to satisfy my racial vanity.'
Means to Freedom, p.281
|
|
|
|
Post by deuce on Sept 22, 2016 17:41:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by deuce on Sept 30, 2016 7:28:38 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by deuce on Oct 18, 2016 14:37:48 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 16:39:16 GMT -5
Thanks for the links, Deuce. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2016 8:48:21 GMT -5
Robert E. Howard's passion for writing historical fiction in a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith (August of 1931)  Oriental Stories, Vol 1, No. 4 (Spring 1931)This is after Wright hinted that REH should write a story about Tamerlane. 'hinting Tamerlane as a fit subject for an Oriental Story story.... Now I've got to get hold of something on the Big Tatar and try to pound out a novelet; I've been thinking of writing a tale about him for a long time. And Babur the Tiger who established the Mogul rule in India - and the imperial phase in the life of Baibars the Panther, the subject of my last story - and the rise of the Ottomans - and the conquest of Constantinople by the Fifth Crusade - the subjugation of the Turks by the Arabs in the days of Abu Bekr - and the gradual supplanting of the Arab masters by their Turkish slaves which culminated in the conquest of Asia Minor and Palestine by the Seljuks - and the rise of Saladin - and the final destruction of Christian Outreamer by Al Kalawun - and the First Crusade - Godfrey of Boullion, Baldwin of Boulogne, Bohemund - Sigurd the Jorsala-farer - Barbarossa - Cour de Lion. Ye gods, I could write a century and still have only tapped the reservoir of dramatic possibilities. I wish to Hell I had a dozen markets for historical fiction - I'd never write anything else.'Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures, p.524 |
|
|
|
Post by deuce on Jan 5, 2017 23:01:18 GMT -5
This is a very short fragment that can be found in Lord of Samarcand:
He knew de Bracy, they having fought against the Saracens together.
“Lord Valdez,” spoke de Bracy, “my friend, Angus Gordon. A free lance he is; new to Palestine and desirous of taking service with some strong lord—such as thou, Diego.”
For de Bracy stood not on formality with his friends.
The baron looked on me narrowly.
“A Scot, thou sayest? A Highlander?” quoth he.
“A Highlander,” I answered.
“Then little need to ask if you can use that,” indicating the claymore that hung at my side. “All Highlanders are swordsmen. But how of the bow? And the spear?”
“With the long bow I can strike a wand at fifty paces,” I answered. “With the spear I am not accomplished. However, I will venture to run a course with any man you may wish.”
“High words,” he murmured.
“High words for high deeds,” I made answer. “I boast not. You asked me my accomplishments and I have told you. I am not soAs you can see, it starts in the middle of a scene and ends in the middle of a sentence. My guess is that this is set during the Ninth Crusade. The clues are the presence of a Highlander and a Spanish lord in Palestine. The Ninth Crusade would make for some great storytelling. Baibars was growing in power and the Mongols threatened Frank and Saracen alike. Edward Longshanks achieved his greatest glory and acclaim fighting in that crusade. The elements were there to create a powerful tale. infogalactic.com/info/Ninth_Crusade |
|
|
|
Post by thedarkman on Jan 14, 2017 21:02:22 GMT -5
Just spent a week in Cuba on vacation, and while enjoying the beach and warm sea breezes, I read a bunch of Howard's crusader adventures. I read Red Blades of Black Cathay for the first time and really enjoyed it, but Shadow of the Vulture really rocked for me. I need to learn more about the time period and the Turkish Empire's attempt to overcome the West...
|
|
