29 replies to this topic

[Boot]

Is there any stirrings, anywhere, about getting some new, fresh Conan tales published?

True, I have tons of already-published-Conan-pastiches to read, but at the same time, I'd like to see a new Conan series start.

I wouldn't mind the old 80's/90's method of having several different authors write one-off stories, but what I'd really like to see is CPI select one author to write a Conan series. This would be not unlike how James Bond has been carried on, first by John Gardner, then by Raymond Benson (not counting the one-offs).

Or...the people behind Bond seem to be doing something interesting with authors over the last some-odd years, since the Bond films have been rebooted with Daniel Craig as 007. High profile authors have been given the chance to write Bond, with no regard to continuity except that of Fleming, with the authors having a lot of creative control. First, there was Devil May Care, by Sebastian Faulks, back in 2008. Faulks set his Bond story in the 60's, continuing right after Fleming's last tale.

Then, last year, Jeffrey Deaver wrote the excellent Carte Blanche, which re-booted the literary Bond into the present age, with a new organization (not MI6), not unlike the re-booted recent films. Now, William Boyd will be writing a third new book, said to be set in the 60's along Flemings original timeline, published sometime in 2013.

Is there not enough interest to do something similar with Conan?

I'd love to see top fantasy authors write some one-off Conan tales--maybe even a trilogy, here and there. I know I'm one of the few, but I really liked Turtledove's Conan of Venarium, even if it did break a lot of previously established canon.

We'd want the canon breaks to be kept to a minimum, for sure, but I like reading new Conan yarns, even if Howard didn't write them.

Or, another idea, is to pick an author and have them begin to write a Conan series--say one per year. He would write around the various Howard tales--maybe even expanding some of the tales they way it is done in the Dark Horse comics.

Something.

Anything.

New Conan Please.

[Taranaich]

The only way I'd be interested in new Conan stories at this point is if they went the "Lovecraft Unbound" route: that is, a collection of short stories by established authors celebrating the original. No attempts to imitate Howard's prose style, no pretensions of "canon," just some of the cream of today's writers spinning some yarns inspired by Howard.

[thatericn]

A salute/homage/celebration route definitely would be the best course.

The only way I'd be interested in new Conan stories at this point is if they went the "Lovecraft Unbound" route: that is, a collection of short stories by established authors celebrating the original. No attempts to imitate Howard's prose style, no pretensions of "canon," just some of the cream of today's writers spinning some yarns inspired by Howard.

I would suggest that "no pretensions of 'canon'" would still mean trying to fit with canon... I personally would not mind if a bit of Howard's style rubs off as part of the salute.

My crazy suggestion would be to do a collection of "young Conan" tales, and another batch of "the death of Conan" takes...

[Boot]

My crazy suggestion would be to do a collection of "young Conan" tales, and another batch of "the death of Conan" takes...

"Young Conan" tales would make me think that they're for young readers, like the "Young James Bond" series.

[Thak]

I would also like new Conan stories published. Theres only so much times you can re-read a story before it gets old. I own almost every Conan book published. Years and years of hunting them down in used book stores. I'm still missing a few titles, but i finally picked up Conan the Bold, by John Roberts and it was a good read. It was about a young Conan on a quest for revenge. The timeline in his life was way off, but it didn't matter, it was Conan, it was another adventure with my favorite hero.


.

[Boot]

The timeline in his life was way off, but it didn't matter, it was Conan, it was another adventure with my favorite hero..

I liked that Conan tale as well, though I haven't read it in years. And, it didn't bother me much, either, that the tale crosses established canon.

[LagomorphRex]

I had understood that Michael Stackpole was supposedly working on a few new Conan books which would continue where his novelization of the movie had left off..

Honestly I have no problem with the idea of new Conan stories.. so long as a % of the proceeds from them goes to getting more and more REH material in print.. If it took a couple of crappy pastiches to get Del Rey editions of REH's Crusader, Celtic, or Weird menace stories out.. I'd say it's a fair enough trade. Use the marketability of Conan to get more Howard into people's hands.

I'd also want a stipulation that they all have a byline name checking Howard on the cover of every single book. "Robert E. Howard's Conan, written by *Insert Author here*"

[Boot]

I had understood that Michael Stackpole was supposedly working on a few new Conan books which would continue where his novelization of the movie had left off..

Honestly I have no problem with the idea of new Conan stories.. so long as a % of the proceeds from them goes to getting more and more REH material in print.. If it took a couple of crappy pastiches to get Del Rey editions of REH's Crusader, Celtic, or Weird menace stories out.. I'd say it's a fair enough trade.

I'm not sure if you're referring to Stackpole's book or not, but I read it, and it's a pretty good book. It's better than the movie. There are not as many questions (although there are still some) that you take with you, unanswered, after you read the book. For example, Stackpole spends a long time in the first part of the book with Conan as a child, bringing in Conan's grandfather.

Stackpole seemed to have researched Conan quite well, and he attempted to meld the story told in the film with what has been established through Howard's tales.

And, Stackpole's prose is quite good.

All, in all, it was a pretty good read.

[LagomorphRex]

I had understood that Michael Stackpole was supposedly working on a few new Conan books which would continue where his novelization of the movie had left off..

Honestly I have no problem with the idea of new Conan stories.. so long as a % of the proceeds from them goes to getting more and more REH material in print.. If it took a couple of crappy pastiches to get Del Rey editions of REH's Crusader, Celtic, or Weird menace stories out.. I'd say it's a fair enough trade.

I'm not sure if you're referring to Stackpole's book or not, but I read it, and it's a pretty good book. It's better than the movie. There are not as many questions (although there are still some) that you take with you, unanswered, after you read the book. For example, Stackpole spends a long time in the first part of the book with Conan as a child, bringing in Conan's grandfather.

Stackpole seemed to have researched Conan quite well, and he attempted to meld the story told in the film with what has been established through Howard's tales.

And, Stackpole's prose is quite good.

All, in all, it was a pretty good read.

yes I am reffering to his novelization, but I had understood he was possibly working on several more.. though with the some what dismal returns of the movie.. I don't know if they will still get done or not.

[Boot]

Stackpole reported here, iirc, that he would do more, but that was dependent on the popularity of the movie. So, I'm thinking that they won't be paying him to write any more Conan.

[LagomorphRex]

Stackpole reported here, iirc, that he would do more, but that was dependent on the popularity of the movie. So, I'm thinking that they won't be paying him to write any more Conan.

That's a shame.

[billofill]

Stackpole reported here, iirc, that he would do more, but that was dependent on the popularity of the movie. So, I'm thinking that they won't be paying him to write any more Conan.

Well according to him the Song of Bellit is already in the can. Maybe it'll get released ala the Serenity sequel novel.

[Cap'n Kidd]

The only way I'd be interested in new Conan stories at this point is if they went the "Lovecraft Unbound" route: that is, a collection of short stories by established authors celebrating the original. No attempts to imitate Howard's prose style, no pretensions of "canon," just some of the cream of today's writers spinning some yarns inspired by Howard.

I must agree. I am not fond of pastiches but wouldn't mind a book of short stories by well known authors/fans celebrating Conan,

[Libaax]

Taranich said it well, the only interesting new Conan stories for me is a collection of short stories by established authors who celebrate the original.


Many hailed,famed fantasy authors did the same for Jack Vance couple of years ago,celebrating his classic Dying Earth tales with stories set in that settings. Tanith Lee type level who grew up admiring Vance.

That kind of homage is the only new stories i want to see. No regular pastiche. I see no reason to read a copy,a pastiche when i only care for Conan because of Howard prose style,storytelling,awesome character writing. I want generic barbarian heroes i can read elsewhere stories that are not Conan pastiche.

Edited by Libaax, 04 September 2012 - 01:41 AM.

[jonanthebarbarian]

I wouldn't mind seeing a compilation book featuring several authors weaving short stories of Conan. Kinda of like the Zombie and Dragon compilations I've seen. Except they would be new material as opposed to recycled material they use in the others.

[KG Thunder]

Most of the pastiches are crap, but I still wouldn't mind them making more just so I have something to collect/waste my money on. I like hunting them down and looking at the covers. Man, Ken Kelly sure was bad at drawing guys with long hair.

[deuce]

Most of the pastiches are crap, but I still wouldn't mind them making more just so I have something to collect/waste my money on. I like hunting them down and looking at the covers.

You could always buy REH books from the Foundation or the various Del Rey volumes.

Man, Ken Kelly sure was bad at drawing guys with long hair.

Yeah, but he was great at painting a "super-roid" wielding a branch stuck through a boulder! Honestly, KK painted some great stuff in the '70s.

[set-anubis]

I wouldn't mind new tor novels.

love perry and maddox

jhandar was prety awesome

[KG Thunder]

I wouldn't mind new tor novels.

love perry and maddox

jhandar was prety awesome

Perry has a fan! I never thought I'd see the day.

[Boot]

I wouldn't mind new tor novels.

love perry and maddox

jhandar was prety awesome

Perry has a fan! I never thought I'd see the day.

I was just thinking the same thing...wow. There's somebody out there for everybody.