Customer Reviews

Robert E. Howard's Weird Works Volume 2: Moon Of Skulls (Weird Works of Robert E. Howard)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Contents

The Gothic Orient (introduction) by Mark Finn
Skull-Face
Dead Man's Hate
The Fearsome Touch of Death
A Song out of Midian
Shadows on the Road
The Moon of Skulls
The Hills of the Dead
Black Chant Imperial
The Voice of El-Lil

Robert E. Howard's writing career began in 1924, and by 1929, he was selling steadily to different markets. However, Weird Tales continued to be his most dependable, if not financially reliable, market. In the pages of "the unique magazine," Howard had plenty of room to explore ideas and cross genre barriers that he may not have been able to with other pulp fiction magazines.

Continuing the collection of Howard's fiction and poetry in order of publication, Volume Two of The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard picks up where Volume One left off-at one of the most startling and controversial Howard stories of all: "Skull-Face!" A potent combination of gothic themes and oriental mystique, "Skull-Face" was the first novella Howard sold, and in many ways, is a key to understanding the rest of Howard's canon. A detailed, complicated plot, a compelling cast of characters, and a collision of themes and ideas make "Skull-Face" required reading for Howard fans.

The Moon of Skulls collects Robert E. Howard's fiction and prose published in Weird Tales Magazine from October 1929 to November 1930, plus one from Oriental Stories. These works represent literary stepping-stones to Howard's infamous Cthulhu mythos stories and his most famous character of all -- Conan the Cimmerian -- and ably demonstrate that each of Howard's stories improved and added to his formidable skills as a master of fantasy and adventure.

This, the second volume in the series, is an excellent book. Every story is good, and three of them-- "Skull-Face", "The Moon of Skulls", and "The Hills of the Dead"-- are superb. Howard is just as fine a story-teller when he writes of something other than Conan. The _Weird Works_ series is shaping up to be an essential collection of his most entertaining and thrilling stories.

This, the second volume in the Weird Works editions, is another fine addition to the body of Howard's works. Containing 9 stories and poems, it continues the marvelous printing of REH's work in the order of origional publication. Most have appeared elsewhere but some, such as"The Fearsome Touch of Death" have not appeared in print since its publication in Weird Tales. And the poems show that Howard was not only a master of action/adventure tales but also a very accomplished poet. As with other publications in this series, this volume should be in the library of not only the hardcore long time Howard fan (43 years for myself) but the new fan as well.Do yourself a favor...pickup these volumes.

I am a big fan of Howard and this book has some fine stories. One thing that is a little strange is that the stories in this book overlap somewhat with "Shadow Kingdoms (The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard)" Shadow Kingdom's was not listed as a Volume 1, but I sort of assumed that it was coordinated with these books (vol 2, 3, etc.). because of the "Weird works" tag in both. Looks like a different publisher - just thought I would point out a quirk if you were planning to buy more than one of these books.

Just a general note that these stories were written in the 1920s - some of the depictions of certain non-white racial groups might be offensive to some people.

Some longer stories, and some Solomon Kane.

Weird Works 2 : Skull-Face - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 2 : The Fearsome Touch of Death - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 2 : The Moon of Skulls - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 2 : The Hills of the Dead - Robert E. Howard
Weird Works 2 : The Voice of El-Lil - Robert E. Howard


Chinese master villains, Egyptian sorcerers, Atlantean myths, Afghan killers, voodoo, magic elixirs, no wonder Steve Costigan is bewildered. Holey crapadoley.

3.5 out of 5


Dead dude's digits dancing.

3 out of 5


After winning a duel, Kane hears the loser confess to selling a girl into slavery. He sets out to track her down. The problem is that she is a prisoner of Nakari, the vampire queen of Negari, and due to be sacrified on the Black Altar in the Tower of Death because she is one of those useful pesky virgins.

4 out of 5


This involves Kane's relationship with N'Longa, and how he came to possess his staff. Also, Kane, Zunna and N'Longa are involved in some vampire hunting and slaying.

3.5 out of 5


Heroic girl saves blokes from savage lost Sumerian bunch and their scary sound ritual.

3 out of 5

I bought Shadow Kingdoms: The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, Volume 1, but Cosmos Books, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since this looked like volume 2, I bought it, but it's not quite what I had in mind. There are two series called The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard/Robert E. Howard's Weird Works. This book is number two in the series by Wildside Press, and each volume is about two hundred pages; the series by Cosmos Books (a division of Wildside Press), is a newer collection of the original series, combining more than one of the original books into each. For example, the Shadow Kingdoms (The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard) by Cosmos Books reproduces Shadow Kingdoms by Wildside Press AND half of Moon of Skulls, and it's cheaper than either of the original collections.

Since Cosmos Books decided to give some of their collections the same name as existing collections, make sure you buy the Cosmos Books collections, since they're larger AND cheaper.

I read alot of period fiction Robert Howard being among my favourites. I was waiting some small time for this second volume in the series.

I could've saved my money! 1. The two copies I ordered (in hardcover) were in awfull shape and 2. One of the two copies had an additional signature of blank paper half way through the book. A very amateurish package for a series giving it self such great airs as this one is. I'll be sticking to purchasing the electronic PDF versions from now on (not that these do not have there own short comings) but at least it isn't a mangled ill printed
hardcover which wasn't cheap either!