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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A promise of things to come..., January 28, 2002
As the title proclaims, this book contains the Kull stories, including the fragments, by Robert E. Howard. No DeCamp, Carter, or Drake; just pure Robert E. Howard! Out of the 9 Kull stories in this book, only two appeared in print during Howard's lifetime. The Shadow Kingdom and The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune were both published in Weird Tales in 1929. The Shadow Kingdom is a lively, fast-moving tale, foreshadowing numerous Conan stories, on Kull's battle against the Serpent Men of Valusia. In contrast, The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune is a moody tale, much more akin to some of Lovecraft's horror stories. The other 7 stories are of variable quality. The Exile of Atlantis,reads more as a fragment than a complete story. Kull is only a bystander in the The Altar and the Scorpion. While some what predictable, Delcarde's Cat is a readable story. The appearance of Thulsa Doom in the story is done quite awkwardly though. Howard presents him in as a continual rival of Kull, but this was his first and only appearance in the Kull series. By This Axe I Rule, is quite readable compared to much of the sword and sorcery fiction published today, but is not Howard's best. The Striking of the Gong,is reminiscent of The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune, but instead of creating a sense of mystery, Howard only details and explains Kull's experiences. Swords of the Purple KingdomEis similar to The Shadow Kingdom and By This Axe I Rule. While enjoyable, this volume is not Howard at his best. It is clear why some of these stories didn't get published in WEIRD TALES while REH was alive, particularly when you compare them to the Conan or Solomon Kane stories. Compared to a lot of the fantasy written today though, this is great stuff! So while I may only give it 3 stars out of 5, it is still worth the cover price.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Foundational reading for the sword-and sorcery fan, April 2, 2001
* If you're not--or not looking to become--a reader of sword-and-sorcery or fantasy tales, then you can probably skip the rest of this review and move on . . . unless you might acquire a taste for stories of a philosophical barbarian-king, whose axe or sword slays oncomers as easily as you might mosquitoes . . . * OK, now that _they're_ gone: this intriguing compilation probably merits 3-1/2 stars, but I'll give one of the genre's cornerstones the benefit of the doubt. Be warned, though, REH's writing can be quite different from that of modern writers: sometimes brooding, sometimes utterly pulp-ish in its almost garish vividness. Nonetheless, it's that very quality that makes it so fascinating and, at times, as strong and elegant as the axe of the protagonist. Speaking of whom, he is like Rodin's "Thinker" with larger muscles and longer hair. An Atlantian usurper of the throne of Valusia, he finds himself perpetually assailed by conspirators (whether domestic, foreign or, for something completely different, possessed of human bodies and serpent heads). One could thus group the stories here into a couple of categories: (1) The Conspiracies (The Shadow Kingdom, By This Axe I Rule, and Swords of the Purple Kingdom--the latter two being quite similar); (2) The Oddities (e.g. Delcardes' Cat, The Striking of the Gong and The Skull of Silence); and (3) The Unfinished (which are obvious). (So yes, be forewarned, especially if you need closure in your tales.) REH's genius shows through most clearly in the Conspiracies, where one marvels at the power of his imagination--he seems to have created this pre-Flood world out of whole cloth! As noted, the writing is often fine, and from the viewpoint of the fantasy fan, this is foundational reading. From here, it's logical to read _The Hour of the Dragon_, REH's only novel and a tale of that legendary king who evolves from Kull of Atlantis: Conan of Cimmeria.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A barbarian just as mighty, March 29, 2007
If I could describe Kull in a nutshell, it would be as a more philosophical, brooding barbarian than Conan, though just as interesting. And though Kull never gained the popularity that Conan did, I find Howard's Kull stories equally as good, especially if you are a Howard fan or a lover of old school sword and sorcery. The setting of the Kull stories is the fictional land of Valusia. Kull is an Atlantean savage who has usurped the Valusian throne, and though he rules with compassion and fairness he is often secretly hated by the Valusians who see him as a red-handed foreigner not fit to wear the crown. The Kull stories contained within this volume involve various court intrigues and the perilous adventures Kull is often forced to undertake. Most are good, some excellent, and only a couple would I rate as sub-par. The setting is dark and mysterious (and made more so by the gorgeous illustrations of Justin Sweet that fill this book), and Howard's lush, vibrant writing style is present as usual. If you are a Howard and/or Conan fan, you need to get this book, especially if you've never read Kull before. For the price you'll pay here, its worth every cent.
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