14 replies to this topic

[ZackDavisson]

Oh my, but this was bad. It is almost as if someone packed everything we hate about the popular image of Conan into a single book. And then gave it some bad illustrations just to rub a little salt in the wounds.

Barbarians: A Handbook for Aspiring Savages
http://www.comicsbul...spiring-savages

[deuce]

Oh my, but this was bad. It is almost as if someone packed everything we hate about the popular image of Conan into a single book. And then gave it some bad illustrations just to rub a little salt in the wounds.

Barbarians: A Handbook for Aspiring Savages
http://www.comicsbul...spiring-savages

Looks like another good review, Zack. Judging from your article, there are too many things wrong with this book to even begin to respond/rebut. Robert E. Howard attempted with every yarn about Kull, BMM and Conan to portray barbarians in a non-stereotypical way. Hordes of imitators/pasticheurs have, sadly, reversed that. The two nimrods you just reviewed seem to happily reinforce all of that bad art.

[Kortoso]

I would have liked to see a quote or two from the book, just to see how bad it is. And pray to Mitra that some misguided relative does not drop it into my stocking!

[Taranaich]

Jings, that looks like the sort of thing that would drive me nuts. This "barbarians = cavemen," or "barbarians = stupid" meme has to die a death. You'd think people would realise that stupid people don't tend to survive in the wild for long. Still, you can't be too mad at it, after all this sort of thing was common in the '70s...

Hmm? It was printed this year?

Oh fie.

[ZackDavisson]

Yah, I should have put some quotes in. It is really terrible. Imagine everything bad, the worst possible stereotypes about Conan that you can think of, then writen them as if you were the unpopular kid in high school who sat in the back of the class and drew weiners to make his two friends giggle, and that is about the level of the book.

His barbarians drink "Cromwang." Yep. Cromwang.

I actually wouldn't have minded so much if he hadn't made direct Howard references, and included some of Howard's maps. That really annoyed me.

[Kortoso]

Hmm? It was printed this year?

Oh fie.

Sure, to capitalize on the movie, of course.

Any of us could have done better.
Hmmm...
I got no time.

[Tex]

You do it, and I'll buy a copy!

Seriously, the steaming pile of Thak dung these two juvies hacked out is only worth the cost if it comes from a thrift store, or yard sale.



Tex
(or better yet, a Library sale, where it'll only cost four bits)

[ZackDavisson]

Hey, you found a picture! Where did you find that? I was looking for one for my article!

And honestly, I wouldn't even recommend this if you found it for free. It isn't worth the minutes of your lifespan to read it.

[Tex]

Mad skilz. I has them.

Actually I just Googled the title and poked around articles until I found one with that Cromdamned pic. A fluke, natch--I was looking for a quote from the text.

After seeing that allegedly-humorous example of what passes for "art" in the waste of trees, I herewith withdraw my recommendations for how to buy that book of bum-wipe.

Tex
(but I'd STILL buy that mythical book of Kortoso's)

[Taranaich]

I actually wouldn't have minded so much if he hadn't made direct Howard references, and included some of Howard's maps. That really annoyed me.

OK, that's too far. It's bad enough playing up to stereotypes, but dragging genuine REH into this mess to scrounge a bit of literary cred is beyond the pale.

[mario]

i cant really see this thing selling though...

[ZackDavisson]

After seeing that allegedly-humorous example of what passes for "art" in the waste of trees, I herewith withdraw my recommendations for how to buy that book of bum-wipe.

And that is one of the better pictures ...

I don't know who the audience for this book is ... really stupid people, I would imagine. The worst thing would be having the book show up as a Christmas present from some clueless relative. "Oh, that boy really loves Conan! What a hoot this book is! I am sure he will get a kick out of this!"

[SilentEnigma]

Still, you can't be too mad at it, after all this sort of thing was common in the '70s...

Hmm? It was printed this year?

Oh fie.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one fooled by the deliberately retro cover art. There's many people that are lured by a pretty cover to buy gift books, I don't think this kind of artwork will attract many people of the general public.

[princesszula]

Conan wheeled toward the gaping corsairs.
"Well, you dogs!" he roared, "I've sent your chief to hell--what says the law of the Red Brotherhood?"
--Robert E. Howard, "Iron Shadows in the Moon"--

What's up? I can do this too. I am so good at enjoying Conan's tales in books I got from the library this week!

[Kortoso]

Welcome Princess Zula!
May I ask you to introduce yourself on the following thread:
http://www.conan.com...?showtopic=9070
Thanks!