Black Canaan [Mass Market Paperback]

Robert E. Howard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1978

From the creator of Conan comes this classic tale that first appeared in WEIRD TALES, June 1936.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 181 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Pre-Publication 1st edition, Uncorrected. edition (May 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425037118
• ISBN-13: 978-0425037119
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,964,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Horror in the Swamps and Bayous, October 4, 2004

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Canaan (Mass Market Paperback)

Although Robert E. Howard was an inspired writer when working on his most famous creation, Conan of Cimmeria, he never quite managed the same magic with his other characters, a host of prize fighters, detectives, sword-swinging Irish and Scots heroes, and a horde of other hot-blooded men of adventure. Inspired by his friend HP Lovecraft, he tried his hand at horror more than once with limited success. "Black Canaan" collects a few of the best of these efforts, and some mediocre.

Despite the mis-leading cover, where the word "Conan" appears just as large as the title, and a shirtless, black-haired barbarian swings a club at an approaching monster, this book contains almost no fantasy stories. Instead, we encounter folk such as Dermod O' Conner, John Conrad and John Kirowan. They are all cut from the same Conan mold, strong, thick-hewed men who are quick to act and bold in intention. The theme of buried racial memories, and an ancestral strain slowing climbing its way back to the present are frequent spring boards for stories. Settings for adventure are places such as Zimbabwe, Arabia and any place sounding exotic to Howard's Texan ears.

By far the two most successful stories in the collection are "Black Canaan" and "Moon of Zambabwe (sic)," both of which transport Lovecraftian tribal horror to the bayous of the South, where the African slaves brought their own dark gods with them, and unholy rituals. By the very nature of the tales, they appear somewhat racists in modern eyes, so it is important to see them in their proper historical context. However, both are great adventure/horror stories, and two of the best non-Conan stories Howard wrote. If you haven't read them, it is worth getting "Black Canaan" for these two alone.

Other successful tales include the almost Sherlock Holmesian "The Noseless Horror," another Lovecraft inspired swamp adventure, "The House in the Oaks" featuring Howard's Mythos addition, Justin Geoffrey, and the raw adventure "People of the Black Coast."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Howard Collection, December 19, 2003

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Black Canaan (Mass Market Paperback)

In the 1970's, several collections of Howards short stories came out and Black Canaan was one of those. The stories are primarily horror and dark fantasy as opposed to the more heroic fantasy that he is known for.

Among the better stories are the Moon over Zembabwei about a man trying to rescue the woman he loves from a zombie cult, and "People of the Black Coast" where survivors of a ship wreck discover strange creatures on an island.

Some of these stories, Particularly the title story are very racist and Howard uses the "N" word liberally when talking about black people. some may find it offensive so be warned.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some lesser, some vintage Howard, April 6, 2003

By 

Matthew S. Spencer "horror/fantasy author" (Overland Park, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Canaan (Mass Market Paperback)

True, while not a collection of Howard's very best, there's good stuff in here. ... And there are some good, but flawed pieces.

Black Canaan - A story of back-woods blacks being led to rise up and kill a lot of back-woods whites, by an evil conjure man who seeks to make himself "king," and his supernatural femme fatal assistant. Howard's racist streak is nowhere more apparent than here, which is ashame, since this is a truly well-crafted horror-adventure yarn. Lots of great atmosphere and creepy imagery.

... And no one writes about "the horrors of the pine-lands" quite like Howard!