Featured Publisher -- The Wandering Star Press

The Ultimate Triumph, illustrated by Frank Frazetta
The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane, illustrated by Gary Gianni
Bran Mak Morn: The Last King, illustrated by Gary Gianni
Conan of Cimmeria Volume I (1932-1933), illustrated by Mark Schultz
Conan of Cimmeria Volume II (1934), illustrated by Gary Gianni

Robert E. Howard (REH) was born in 1906 and died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head in 1936. He lived most of his life in Cross Plains, Texas. He created Conan, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, Red Sonja, Breckinridge Elkins and numerous other memmorable characters. Who knows what truly leads a person to take his/her own life . . . the subjective nature of existence is too unmanageable to judge others. But whatever the motivation, the result is always tragic.

"Barbarism is the natural state of mankind... And barbarism must always ultimately triumph," wrote REH. From this statement The Wandering Star Press began their excursion into reprinting Howard's incredible works. Many people don't really know the depth to which Howard's fiction has been stretched by authors who took it into their own hands the task of completing unfinished stories or who created new fiction based on Howard's characters. Like the great publishing house of Donald M. Grant, The Wandering Star Press has taken up the noble goal of gathering works created solely by REH.

The Ultimate Triumph, illustrated by Frank Frazetta

Description: "This book collects a core set of stories illustrating what the author meant by "barbarism," and propels the reader through a series of powerful and savage tales that leaves one's heart pounding! Presented here are seven of Howard's best stories illuminated by legendary artist Frank Frazetta, whose powerful sketches and drawings examine this theme of barbaric life."

I own both the classic edition and the special collector's edition made available only at the Frazetta gallery website. Not only does the collector's edition contain the 120 black and white illustrations found in the classic edition, it has four previously unpublished color water-color plates, gilt-edged paper, a golden foil stamped cover, durable stitch binding, an embossed slipcase cover, and it's signed and numbered by Frank Frazetta (17/125). This is the REH book to have if you want to read classic barbaric fantasy--the very stuff that brought us the mightiest warrior of fantasy: Conan.

The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane, illustrated by Gary Gianni

"Savage tales of high adventure! An extraordinary hero who blazed a trail in the 1500's through primordial jungles and lost cities, pitting his strength and righteousness against vampire queens, savage pirates, and ancient horrors." This volume also comes with color prints and a CD containing a reading of three REH poems--great stuff!

Like my copy of the collector's edition of The Ultimate Triumph, this book has gilt-edged paper, a golden foil stamped cover, durable stitch binding, an embossed slipcase cover, and it is also signed and numbered by Gary Gianni (850/1050). I also have a copy of the chapbook entitled: The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane, a Sketchbook by Gary Gianni.

Below the next two illustrations is also a scan of the sculpture I have that is a companion to the Solomon Kane book. The sculpture was produced by Bowen Designs. The Solomon Kane statue is a cold-cast, limited edition, bronze resin Statue. This hand painted, 14 inch tall statue is limited. Mine is 355/550 pieces.

Bran Mak Morn: The Last King, illustrated by Gary Gianni

"The complete tales of Howard's doomed lost race and it's tragic warrior king. Illuminated with 12 new colour oils and over 45 pen and ink illustrations by Savage Tales of Solomon Kane artist, Gary Gianni. Featuring fully restored, unexpurgated text, and accompanied by essays from noted Howard scholars Rusty Burke and Patrice Louinet; timelines, and letters between Howard and Lovecraft detailing Howard's vision and passion for the ancient Picts."

Like my copy of the collector's edition of Solomon Kane, this book has gilt-edged paper, a golden foil stamped cover, durable stitch binding, an embossed slipcase cover, and it is also signed and numbered by Gary Gianni (481/850). This volume also comes with a CD containing a reading of Worms of the Earth (a 78 minute composition of vocal acting and music). I also have a copy of the chapbook entitled: Bran Mak Morn, a Sketchbook by Gary Gianni.

Conan of Cimmeria Volume I (1932-1933), illustrated by Mark Schultz

Those of you true REH fans know that the paperback series of Conan books is a bunch of . . . not pure REH. You might know the names of L. Sprague De Camp, Lin Carter, Andrew J. Offutt, etc. And it's fine to collect the old Ace, Berkleys (etc.), but you need to know the difference between "The Tower of the Elephant" and "The Thing in the Crypt." One is REH: One is not.

Of course, the truth was most poignantly made clear by the late Karl Edward Wagner, who edited a trilogy of REH books known as "Hour of the Dragon," "People of the Black Circle," and "Red Nails." Also, credit must be given to Gnome and Donald M. Grant

But now with The Wandering Star Press editions everything else must be set aside -- these are definitive. The first volume, representing REH Conan work during 1932-1933, gives us in chronological order -- the way they were written -- the true Conan. Howard never set out to tell the story of Conan from a beginning to an end, rather the exploits of Conan are meant to be appreciated as stories told at a tavern, over a campfire, during a long voyage. This is true adventure! My copy is number 481/1950.

Conan of Cimmeria Volume II (1934), illustrated by Gary Giani

Volume two represents the year 1934, the time in which Howard penned: "People of the Black Circle," THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON, and "A Whitch Shall be Born." If you're not familiar with REH then you might not know he only ever wrote one novel, THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON.

Also included in this volume are (all from original typescripts): "a synopsis for 'People of the Black Circle', synopsis for The Hour of the Dragon, notes for The Hour of the Dragon synopsis for 'A Witch Shall Be Born', plus notes on the typescripts and Hyborian Genesis, part 2 by editor Patrice Louinet".

Like the first volume, this one is also housed in an embossed slipcase and contains all the features we've come to expect from The Wandering Star Press. My copy is number 795/1950.

FYI, these volumes are expensive. Some aren't even available anymore. But you can still find trade hardback editions of THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH and BRAN MAK MORN. Dell Rey has also published SOLOMON KANE and CONAN OF CIMMERIA I in trade paperback form. I assume that all three Conan volumes will be available in paperback eventually.