[deuce]

Robert E. Howard loved boxing. From all indications, he loved writing about it as well. Howard wrote more Sailor Steve Costigan stories than he ever did about Conan. He wrote more Kid Allison tales than he did about Bran Mak Morn. Up 'til now, we haven't had a thread that dealt with all of his boxing stories. We've got topics on Costigan and Dorgan. We also have threads dedicated to Waterfront Fists (Wildside) and Boxing Stories (Bison Books). This thread is for general discussions about Howard's boxing yarns and the boxers in them, as well as any little "orphan" posts that don't really go in the other threads. I'm sure Mark Finn, Chris Gruber and Paul Herman will stop by at some point. Here's a link to Bill Thom and Paul Herman's "Boxing" category on their Howard Works site:


http://howardworks.c...ject.htm#boxing

Get in the ring, Howard fans.

[Axerules]

deuce, on 30 October 2009 - 06:16 AM, said:

This thread is for general discussions about Howard's boxing yarns and the boxers in them, as well as any little "orphan" posts that don't really go in the other threads.

You mean, messages like:

Axerules, on Jun 16 2009, 04:23 AM, said:

I haven't found a "generic" topic on REH's boxing yarns, so I post this link here:
http://www.reindeerm...3-1_boxing.html

Charles R. Saunders, creator of Imaro and REH fan, has found an old article that he wrote thirty years ago about REH's boxing stories, it's now on his blog.

[Axerules]

Or these links?

Quote

There's another article by CR Saunders on REH's boxing yarns free online: http://www.rehtwogun.../Articles5.html
Very funny!

And one by Dennis McHaney here: http://www.rehtwogun.../Articles3.html

[deuce]

Axerules, on 30 October 2009 - 12:50 PM, said:

Or these links?

Quote

There's another article by CR Saunders on REH's boxing yarns free online: http://www.rehtwogun.../Articles5.html
Very funny!

And one by Dennis McHaney here: http://www.rehtwogun.../Articles3.html

Exactly, Axerules.

[Mikey_C]

What I want to know is what are the prospects for more of the boxing yarns to be republished, either by Del Rey or else by REHF? They are sadly under-recognised. I was looking at an anthology of classic boxing tales the other day; Jack London etc, but no REH. Something needs to be done about this. With the popularity of movies like Million Dollar Baby and The Wrestler, I'm sure now there is a market.

[bleno]

I have the book "History and Bibliography of Boxing Books" by R. A. Hartley--it's a very comprehensive listing of boxing books, real and fictional, through the years. Of course none of Howard's boxing books are in it, which shows how little attention Howard's yarns of fights have received, which is now hopefully changing. While I didn't expect to see the newer editions of REH's books in this huge book, I did hope to see Grant's "The Iron Man" and Fax's "Dennis Dorgan" but didn't. By my own preference I'm a bigger fan of the history of boxing than the fictional aspect, but I love both and I can tell you Howard's fistic fantasies stand with the best of them.

Brian

[El Borak's Li'l Brother]

It is obvious Robert E. Howard had much more success in his lifetime with boxing stories as well as his humorous Elkins tales. It is also obvious that he created one character that overshadowed all his creations: Conan. And how could the Cimmerian not. So rich, imaginative, original and just the type of character to catch a young lad's eye with its pulse pounding action and breathtaking women. Not to say most of that is not true about his boxing tales, as that is the topic, but sadly there is no question, in my mind, why they were overshadowed, as well as what publishers at the time were looking for. And there was L. Sprague de Camp. But let's let that pass, hm.

While not a boxing fan myself, a good boxing yarn can be enjoyable. Add to that the lighthearted humor, as I see it, of Howard's Costigan yarns and you have quite a treat. But I must admit I can see why post their time, with the changing attitudes toward the boxing sport, they might not go over so well. Boxing then was a gentleman's sport, popular with a majority of people. Not so much today. And you have the problem of history in the minds of the youth, or at least those I deal with. "Was it before my birth?" they ask. "Then why should I know about it? Why should I care?" Absolutely no interesting in learning... They are missing so much.

Anyway, I think I may have drifted off topic a bit, but hope there is enough on topic to be worthwhile.

[Mark Finn]

The boxing stories WILL be reprinted in the deluxe, annotated Hoops and Bells and Whistles treatment, but it will be done by the Foundation. The current plans are for FOUR books. Patrice, Grub, and myself are working on the project. So, it's coming. I've waited this long, and I'm really happy to have Howard's entire boxing output in a handsome matched set. Nice, eh?

[Richard]

Mark Finn, on 30 October 2009 - 06:01 PM, said:

The boxing stories WILL be reprinted in the deluxe, annotated Hoops and Bells and Whistles treatment, but it will be done by the Foundation. The current plans are for FOUR books. Patrice, Grub, and myself are working on the project. So, it's coming. I've waited this long, and I'm really happy to have Howard's entire boxing output in a handsome matched set. Nice, eh?

Mark - That's awesome! I've got all of REH Foundation books and will get these too. Will they be in limited editions 150 each. Thanks for this information because I was just about to start collecting all of these boxing stories and now will get these! I did get The Complete Action Stories and REH had a superb sense of humor!

Your book, Blood & Thunder, The Life and Art of Robert E. Howard is one of my favorites and got me hooked! I've read it numerous times. Thanks! After Blood & Thunder I started getting more books on and about REH. Great job!

I would like to say to all REH Forum folks who have not read Blood & Thunder you've got to go to your local book store and get it as soon as possible. It's the most accurate and informative book about REH I've ever read. There are some other good ones like Two-Gun Bob, The Barbaric Triumph and The Dark Barbarian by Don Herron but Blood & Thunder is the one you've got to get and read first! Thanks for listening. After you read it why not start a new post on it??

This post has been edited by Richard: 31 October 2009 - 12:40 AM

[Libaax]

Are all the boxning stories collected in print and out of print books ?



I have always enjoyed boxning,its history is much finer than what the top level boxning is today.

So of course reading stories by someone who loved boxning as REH is something i look forward to.

[deuce]

Libaax, on 31 October 2009 - 02:51 AM, said:

Are all the boxning stories collected in print and out of print books ?

Hey Libaax! Did you even check out my link to Howard Works in the first post? Short answer: Yeah. BUT, a lot of those yarns are in some very hard to find places. My suggestion is to check out this link (OR, check the Howard Works link):


http://www.thecimmerian.com/?cat=58


Scroll down and read every post by Rob Roehm. Rob's an REH collectin' MACHINE. You'll get the low-down on the question. Hope that helps.

[Libaax]

Ah my bad i thought the links was to articles,other threads in these forums.

[Strom]

Great idea for a topic deuce.

Sorry but my entire question is a spoiler so if you have never read The Iron Man then do not hit the Show button:

Spoiler

I know there are plenty of fans/scholars who have read more Howard then I have, however, I am hard pressed to come up with a REH story with a happier ending then the ending in The Iron Man. We're talking Hallmark sweetness here. An unsuspecting ending IMO, in just how sweet it is. Strange for Howard. Anyway that ending has always stuck with me as an uniquely happy ending for a REH story. Perhaps he wrote it when he was in love with Novalyne?

[Mikey_C]

Mark Finn, on 30 October 2009 - 11:01 PM, said:

The boxing stories WILL be reprinted in the deluxe, annotated Hoops and Bells and Whistles treatment, but it will be done by the Foundation. The current plans are for FOUR books. Patrice, Grub, and myself are working on the project. So, it's coming. I've waited this long, and I'm really happy to have Howard's entire boxing output in a handsome matched set. Nice, eh?

Fantastic news!

[Libaax]

That sounds good about the matched set of Boxning books but whats the avreage price for a single REH foundation book ?

This post has been edited by Libaax: 01 November 2009 - 11:11 PM

[deuce]

Libaax, on 01 November 2009 - 11:11 PM, said:

That sounds good about the matched set of Boxning books but whats the avreage price for a single REH foundation book ?

Check here. Then, click on the individual books. That will give you a very good idea of the average range. Also, there is a pinned topic here covering the Foundation. You might check it out.

http://www.conan.com...?showtopic=6493

[Libaax]

Jesus the shipping to europe only is 33 dollars....

If a single set will cost something like 53 like The Last of the Trunk sadly the price is too much for me.

The boxning books in print will have ti be enough for me.

I'm not rich enough to be a collector of limited books.

[deuce]

Mikey_C, on 01 November 2009 - 06:18 PM, said:

Mark Finn, on 30 October 2009 - 11:01 PM, said:

The boxing stories WILL be reprinted in the deluxe, annotated Hoops and Bells and Whistles treatment, but it will be done by the Foundation. The current plans are for FOUR books. Patrice, Grub, and myself are working on the project. So, it's coming. I've waited this long, and I'm really happy to have Howard's entire boxing output in a handsome matched set. Nice, eh?

Fantastic news!

Indeed. Check out my write-up over on the TC blog, especially Mark's pic.


http://www.thecimmerian.com/?p=6973

[Patrice Louinet]

Before everyone gets too excited, no official decision has been taken yet. We are still waiting to hear from Paradox on that project.

Patrice

[Richard]

Patrice Louinet, on 03 November 2009 - 01:18 PM, said:

Before everyone gets too excited, no official decision has been taken yet. We are still waiting to hear from Paradox on that project.

Patrice

Bummer