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Valley of the Worm
The fifth collection of Robert E. Howard's fantasy work from the legendary pulp magazine Weird Tales (and several of its rivals) features another lineup filled with classic fiction and poetry from Howard's greatest writing years. Included in this volume are four stories with Howard's most famous character, Conan ("Black Colossus," "The Slithering Shadow," "The Pool of the Black One," and "Rogues in the House"), as well as several historical and contemporary fantasies. Introduction by James Reasoner.
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First published February 1, 1934
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About the author
Robert E. Howard
2,996 books2,651 followersRobert Ervin Howard was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. Howard wrote "over three-hundred stories and seven-hundred poems of raw power and unbridled emotion" and is especially noted for his memorable depictions of "a sombre universe of swashbuckling adventure and darkling horror."
He is well known for having created—in the pages of the legendary Depression-era pulp magazine Weird Tales—the character Conan the Cimmerian, a.k.a. Conan the Barbarian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can only be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond.
—Wikipedia
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
He is well known for having created—in the pages of the legendary Depression-era pulp magazine Weird Tales—the character Conan the Cimmerian, a.k.a. Conan the Barbarian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can only be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond.
—Wikipedia
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 24, 2014
Robert E. Howard, conocido en el mundo de la literatura por la creación del personaje de Conan, fue un buen escritor. La mayor parte de su obra está incluida en la corriente pulp de la época, años 20 y 30 del pasado siglo, y fue uno de los precursores de la moderna fantasía, algo que le deben muchos de los escritores actuales. Igualmente, escribió relatos de terror, tanto clásico como cósmico (no olvidemos que fue gran amigo y colega de H.P. Lovecraft). La tan desprestigiada literatura pulp tenía como aliciente el divertir a sus lectores, creando todo tipo de mundos exóticos e increíbles. Me vienen a la memoria esas películas de sábado por la tarde, llenas de aventuras, que estimulaban la imaginación, con esas islas perdidas en el océano, o esas selvas inescrutables.
Las historias de Howard son así, ágiles y llenas de acción, sin pararse en descripciones inútiles, sólo las necesarias. La presente novela, 'El Valle del Gusano y otros relatos de horror sobrenatural', incluye dos tipos de cuentos, los dedicados a la fantasía, tanto clásica como épica, y los relativos al terror más puro. Si los primeros son salvajes, y divertidos por esto mismo, los últimos son los mejores, y yo diría que imprescindibles para cualquier aficionado.
Estos dos los diez relatos incluidos en el libro:
- En el bosque de Villefère. (**) Un caminante se encuentra perdido por unos bosques de mala fama en la comarca. Pero no ha de preocuparse, porque siempre hay un buen samaritano cuando hace falta. El relato más flojo de la antología. Demasiado predecible.
- La voz de El-Lil. (***) En un maloliente bazar de un transitado puerto, Bill Kirby le cuenta a un compañero de barra una increíble historia que le acaeció a él y a su amigo Conrad durante un viaje por Somalia. Quien le iba a decir a él que el sonido de un gong podía convertirse en una pesadilla.
- Los dioses de Bal-Sagoth. (****) Historia protagonizada por el gaélico Turlogh O'Brien, en la que él como su compañero de fatigas Athelstane, un inefable sajón, tendrán que hacer frente a mil y un peligros, tanto en mar como en tierra. Lo mejor, las escenas en la isla de Brunilda. Combates a muerte, dioses malignos, magia negra, en un cuento muy bien construido.
- El hombre oscuro. (***) De nuevo nos encontramos como el salvaje Turlogh, esta vez con la misión de salvar a una joven de su clan, secuestrada por Thorfel. En su persecución se encontrará con extraños aliados, y una no menos extraña estatua.
- El pueblo de la oscuridad. (***) Típica historia de Howard, en la que el protagonista recuerda sus vidas pasadas y las personas que fue. En este caso, Richard Brent, celoso de su contrincante por el amor de una mujer, decide asesinarle cuando pasee por la Cueva de Dagón. Pero sus planes se vendrán abajo por un extraño ¿sueño? Buen relato, donde asistimos a la aparición de Conan.
- El hombre del suelo. (****) Cal Reynolds y Esau Brill se odian a muerte. Sin saber por qué, a la mínima se intentan asesinar el uno al otro, y no habría mayor felicidad en el mundo que ser el primero en asesinar al otro. Muy buen relato, con final sorprendente.
- El Valle del Gusano. (****) De nuevo leemos sobre un personaje que recuerda una de sus vidas pasadas. James Allison recuerda cuando fue Niord y dio muerte al mítico Gusano. Buena historia.
- Los muertos recuerdan. (****) Mediante una serie de cartas, sabremos de la seguridad de Jim Gordon sobre su muerte inminente, de sus miedos, provenientes de un fatal error. Gran relato de terror.
- No me cavéis una tumba. (*****) El viejo John Grimlan ha muerto dejando unas exactas instrucciones sobre lo que hacer con su cuerpo al morir. Imprescindible.
- Las palomas del infierno. (*****) Griswell y John Branner, cansados de viajar en su coche, deciden parar a descansar en una vieja casa. La pesadilla sólo hará que comenzar para el bueno de Griswell. Extraordinario y escalofriante cuento de terror, de lo mejor que he leído en este sentido.
Las historias de Howard son así, ágiles y llenas de acción, sin pararse en descripciones inútiles, sólo las necesarias. La presente novela, 'El Valle del Gusano y otros relatos de horror sobrenatural', incluye dos tipos de cuentos, los dedicados a la fantasía, tanto clásica como épica, y los relativos al terror más puro. Si los primeros son salvajes, y divertidos por esto mismo, los últimos son los mejores, y yo diría que imprescindibles para cualquier aficionado.
Estos dos los diez relatos incluidos en el libro:
- En el bosque de Villefère. (**) Un caminante se encuentra perdido por unos bosques de mala fama en la comarca. Pero no ha de preocuparse, porque siempre hay un buen samaritano cuando hace falta. El relato más flojo de la antología. Demasiado predecible.
- La voz de El-Lil. (***) En un maloliente bazar de un transitado puerto, Bill Kirby le cuenta a un compañero de barra una increíble historia que le acaeció a él y a su amigo Conrad durante un viaje por Somalia. Quien le iba a decir a él que el sonido de un gong podía convertirse en una pesadilla.
- Los dioses de Bal-Sagoth. (****) Historia protagonizada por el gaélico Turlogh O'Brien, en la que él como su compañero de fatigas Athelstane, un inefable sajón, tendrán que hacer frente a mil y un peligros, tanto en mar como en tierra. Lo mejor, las escenas en la isla de Brunilda. Combates a muerte, dioses malignos, magia negra, en un cuento muy bien construido.
- El hombre oscuro. (***) De nuevo nos encontramos como el salvaje Turlogh, esta vez con la misión de salvar a una joven de su clan, secuestrada por Thorfel. En su persecución se encontrará con extraños aliados, y una no menos extraña estatua.
- El pueblo de la oscuridad. (***) Típica historia de Howard, en la que el protagonista recuerda sus vidas pasadas y las personas que fue. En este caso, Richard Brent, celoso de su contrincante por el amor de una mujer, decide asesinarle cuando pasee por la Cueva de Dagón. Pero sus planes se vendrán abajo por un extraño ¿sueño? Buen relato, donde asistimos a la aparición de Conan.
- El hombre del suelo. (****) Cal Reynolds y Esau Brill se odian a muerte. Sin saber por qué, a la mínima se intentan asesinar el uno al otro, y no habría mayor felicidad en el mundo que ser el primero en asesinar al otro. Muy buen relato, con final sorprendente.
- El Valle del Gusano. (****) De nuevo leemos sobre un personaje que recuerda una de sus vidas pasadas. James Allison recuerda cuando fue Niord y dio muerte al mítico Gusano. Buena historia.
- Los muertos recuerdan. (****) Mediante una serie de cartas, sabremos de la seguridad de Jim Gordon sobre su muerte inminente, de sus miedos, provenientes de un fatal error. Gran relato de terror.
- No me cavéis una tumba. (*****) El viejo John Grimlan ha muerto dejando unas exactas instrucciones sobre lo que hacer con su cuerpo al morir. Imprescindible.
- Las palomas del infierno. (*****) Griswell y John Branner, cansados de viajar en su coche, deciden parar a descansar en una vieja casa. La pesadilla sólo hará que comenzar para el bueno de Griswell. Extraordinario y escalofriante cuento de terror, de lo mejor que he leído en este sentido.
November 13, 2023
4,5/5
Leer a Robert E. Howard es siempre un placer. Tocó muchos géneros y en todos lo hizo con maestría. En esta recopilación se incluyen diez relatos de horror sobrenatural, aunque en algunos el terror solo aparece en el desenlace o en pocas páginas. La mayoría de historias no son esencialmente terroríficas, como con Lovecraft, pero sí contienen más de un momento escalofriante.
Las dos historias de Turlogh O'Brien me han parecido de las mejores; debo leer el ciclo completo. Los últimos relatos del libro sí se acercan más al terror de su amigo Lovecraft, aunque lo hacen con un estilo propio. Debo destacar el cuento final, «Las palomas del infierno», del que había leído siempre maravillas, las cuales, tras su lectura, puedo confirmar. Es el mejor de la antología, es un cierre perfecto, aunque desalentador, pues uno siempre acaba un libro de este autor con ganas de más.
Leer a Robert E. Howard es siempre un placer. Tocó muchos géneros y en todos lo hizo con maestría. En esta recopilación se incluyen diez relatos de horror sobrenatural, aunque en algunos el terror solo aparece en el desenlace o en pocas páginas. La mayoría de historias no son esencialmente terroríficas, como con Lovecraft, pero sí contienen más de un momento escalofriante.
Las dos historias de Turlogh O'Brien me han parecido de las mejores; debo leer el ciclo completo. Los últimos relatos del libro sí se acercan más al terror de su amigo Lovecraft, aunque lo hacen con un estilo propio. Debo destacar el cuento final, «Las palomas del infierno», del que había leído siempre maravillas, las cuales, tras su lectura, puedo confirmar. Es el mejor de la antología, es un cierre perfecto, aunque desalentador, pues uno siempre acaba un libro de este autor con ganas de más.
October 5, 2024
[Short story read in The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 1: Crimson Shadows]
This is a clever retelling of a man vs mystical beast story like Jason or Beowulf. A man at the end of his life gets access to memory's of his other existences, one from before recorded history where he helped a village defeats a giant serpent and a Cthulhu-esque monster. It's pretty good!
Comics Adaptations:
Gil Kane - 1972 - Supernatural Thrillers 3. I would have read this with new coloring in REH's Savage Sword 2 (2010). By the numbers adaptation.
Richard Corben - Bloodstar (1976), quite a different version written by John Jakes. Not sure why it's so different but has the same actions in the climax.
This is a clever retelling of a man vs mystical beast story like Jason or Beowulf. A man at the end of his life gets access to memory's of his other existences, one from before recorded history where he helped a village defeats a giant serpent and a Cthulhu-esque monster. It's pretty good!
Comics Adaptations:
Gil Kane - 1972 - Supernatural Thrillers 3. I would have read this with new coloring in REH's Savage Sword 2 (2010). By the numbers adaptation.
Richard Corben - Bloodstar (1976), quite a different version written by John Jakes. Not sure why it's so different but has the same actions in the climax.
February 25, 2024
Valley of the Worm is the fifth volume of a series that collects the fiction and poetry of Robert E. Howard as it originally appeared in Weird Tales magazine. This volume (Kindle version) has nine short stories, as well as two poems. Most of the short stories are Conan the Barbarian stories. The poems first appeared in Modern American Poetry as Howard had stopped submitting poetry to Weird Tales at this point.
Black Colossus (Conan) (5/5)
(Weird Tales, June 1933)
In this story Conan is a mercenary captain and gets put in command of an army by princess Yasmela, whose kingdom is in danger from a sorcerer. Howard packs a lot into this tale, an ancient evil, complex characters including a princess who makes quick decisions, and an epic battle between two large armies.
The Man on the Ground (3/5)
(Weird Tales, July 1933)
A weird western about a shootout between two lifelong enemies with a twist ending. Short and sweet.
The Slithering Shadow (Conan) (4/5)
Howard’s original title title: Xuthal of the Dusk
(Weird Tales, September 1933)
On the run from enemies after a large battle, Conan and a young woman named Natalia enter a mysterious city in the desert. There they encounter a Stygian woman named Thalis who explains that the people of the city spend all their time dreaming while Thog the Ancient wanders the city taking human sacrifices when it grows hungry. I liked the Lovecraftian aspect of Thog, how the story highlights one of Howard’s favorite themes of civilization vs. barbarism, and the intense final battle.
The Pool of the Black One (Conan) (3/5)
(Weird Tales, October 1933)
Conan joins a pirate crew and after they stop at an island, he goes from fighting their captain to fighting strange creatures among mysterious ruins. Fast paced with lots of action. Not bad but not a favorite.
One Who Comes at Eventide (Poem) (3/5)
(Modern American Poetry, 1933)
To a Woman (Though fathoms…) (Poem) (3/5)
(Modern American Poetry, 1933)
I enjoyed the two poems but not nearly as much as Howard’s poetry in the previous volumes.
Old Garfield’s Heart (4/5)
(Weird Tales, December 1933)
After he is injured breaking in a horse, delirious Old Jim Garfield tells the story of how a Lipan Indian chief saved his life many years ago. A weird western with some interesting references to Texas history and geography.
Rogues in the House (Conan) (4/5)
(Weird Tales, January 1934)
A tale from a time when Conan was a thief. After the corrupt aristocrat Murilo is threatened by Nabonidis, known as the Red Priest and actually the shadow ruler of the city, Murilo turns to Conan for help. Things don’t go as planned. Not only do all three wind up in the Red Priest’s dungeon, they have to deal with a creature that the Red Priest trained but is now on the loose. Intriguing adventure ensues.
The Valley of the Worm (James Allison) (4/5)
(Weird Tales, February 1934)
James Allison narrates a tale of one his past lives. After fighting with a group of Picts, he hunts a mysterious creature, a god of The Old Ones, that wiped out a group of his people. The battles and the Lovecraftian creature make for an exciting read.
Gods of the North (5/5)
(The Fantasy Fan fanzine, March 1934)
Originally an early Conan story titled “The Frost Giant’s Daughter,” it was rejected by Weird Tales editor Farnsworth Wright. After a battle on a frozen tundra, Amra of Akbitana encounters the beautiful Atali. After she taunts him, Amra pursues her and she lures him into an ambush. Possibly inspired by the myths of Atalanta and Daphne and Apollo, the story has a very mythological feel with some beautiful descriptions and poetic language.
Shadows in the Moonlight (Conan) (5/5)
Howard’s original title: Iron Shadows in the Moon
(Weird Tales, April 1943)
Conan winds up protecting Olivia, the daughter of a king, encounters mysterious ruins on an island, and then has to deal with pirates. The story starts with a bang and keeps going until the end. I loved Conan’s entrance, how we observe Conan from Olivia’s perspective, and how civilization vs. barbarism comes up again. While this story has similarities to “The Pool of the Black One” (beautiful woman, pirates, mysterious island), I liked the characters, action, and obstacles in this one much more.
As with the previous volumes, it was interesting reading Robert E. Howard’s Weird Tales work in publication order. Looking forward to the next volume.
Black Colossus (Conan) (5/5)
(Weird Tales, June 1933)
In this story Conan is a mercenary captain and gets put in command of an army by princess Yasmela, whose kingdom is in danger from a sorcerer. Howard packs a lot into this tale, an ancient evil, complex characters including a princess who makes quick decisions, and an epic battle between two large armies.
The Man on the Ground (3/5)
(Weird Tales, July 1933)
A weird western about a shootout between two lifelong enemies with a twist ending. Short and sweet.
The Slithering Shadow (Conan) (4/5)
Howard’s original title title: Xuthal of the Dusk
(Weird Tales, September 1933)
On the run from enemies after a large battle, Conan and a young woman named Natalia enter a mysterious city in the desert. There they encounter a Stygian woman named Thalis who explains that the people of the city spend all their time dreaming while Thog the Ancient wanders the city taking human sacrifices when it grows hungry. I liked the Lovecraftian aspect of Thog, how the story highlights one of Howard’s favorite themes of civilization vs. barbarism, and the intense final battle.
The Pool of the Black One (Conan) (3/5)
(Weird Tales, October 1933)
Conan joins a pirate crew and after they stop at an island, he goes from fighting their captain to fighting strange creatures among mysterious ruins. Fast paced with lots of action. Not bad but not a favorite.
One Who Comes at Eventide (Poem) (3/5)
(Modern American Poetry, 1933)
To a Woman (Though fathoms…) (Poem) (3/5)
(Modern American Poetry, 1933)
I enjoyed the two poems but not nearly as much as Howard’s poetry in the previous volumes.
Old Garfield’s Heart (4/5)
(Weird Tales, December 1933)
After he is injured breaking in a horse, delirious Old Jim Garfield tells the story of how a Lipan Indian chief saved his life many years ago. A weird western with some interesting references to Texas history and geography.
Rogues in the House (Conan) (4/5)
(Weird Tales, January 1934)
A tale from a time when Conan was a thief. After the corrupt aristocrat Murilo is threatened by Nabonidis, known as the Red Priest and actually the shadow ruler of the city, Murilo turns to Conan for help. Things don’t go as planned. Not only do all three wind up in the Red Priest’s dungeon, they have to deal with a creature that the Red Priest trained but is now on the loose. Intriguing adventure ensues.
The Valley of the Worm (James Allison) (4/5)
(Weird Tales, February 1934)
James Allison narrates a tale of one his past lives. After fighting with a group of Picts, he hunts a mysterious creature, a god of The Old Ones, that wiped out a group of his people. The battles and the Lovecraftian creature make for an exciting read.
Gods of the North (5/5)
(The Fantasy Fan fanzine, March 1934)
Originally an early Conan story titled “The Frost Giant’s Daughter,” it was rejected by Weird Tales editor Farnsworth Wright. After a battle on a frozen tundra, Amra of Akbitana encounters the beautiful Atali. After she taunts him, Amra pursues her and she lures him into an ambush. Possibly inspired by the myths of Atalanta and Daphne and Apollo, the story has a very mythological feel with some beautiful descriptions and poetic language.
Shadows in the Moonlight (Conan) (5/5)
Howard’s original title: Iron Shadows in the Moon
(Weird Tales, April 1943)
Conan winds up protecting Olivia, the daughter of a king, encounters mysterious ruins on an island, and then has to deal with pirates. The story starts with a bang and keeps going until the end. I loved Conan’s entrance, how we observe Conan from Olivia’s perspective, and how civilization vs. barbarism comes up again. While this story has similarities to “The Pool of the Black One” (beautiful woman, pirates, mysterious island), I liked the characters, action, and obstacles in this one much more.
As with the previous volumes, it was interesting reading Robert E. Howard’s Weird Tales work in publication order. Looking forward to the next volume.
January 23, 2016
Volume five of the Weird tales collected Howard is an almost all Conan Volume. Also included is one of my personal favorites, "Valley Of The Worm". These stories are presented unedited as they originally appeared in the magazine. Highly recommended
June 15, 2019
Black Colossus - 3/5
Not quite as adventurous or horrific as the best works in the series, but a clean and fun ride with a creepy villain nonetheless. It was also nice seeing Conan show off in front of prudish nobles that looked down on him as a brutish savage unworthy of their attention or respect.
***
The Man on the Ground - 3/5
A gunslinger seeks vengeance from beyond the grave, his ghost putting a bullet in his mortal enemy only to find his own body next to him. He only realizes he’s dead once his hatred is unleashed.
***
The Slithering Shadow - 4/5
Driven by the intense heat of the desert, Conan and his lovely companion seek water and food in a nearby city. The city is full of haunting imagery, as all of its inhabitants are frozen in a state of constant dreaming. Any that dare to wake them will be shown no mercy. A chilling premise with a surprisingly humorous ending that left me with a smile on my face after finishing the tale.
***
The Pool of the Black One - 3/5
The violence, action and excitement were all on point as usual, but the elements of racism in this particular tale was pretty uncomfortable to read. I prefer watching Conan wage epic battles against horrifying demons and armies of mad soldiers, not engage in racist drivel.
***
Old Garfield’s Heart - 3/5
An old man gains flimsy immortality by having his heart removed and replaced with the heart of something a bit more...otherworldly. Straightforward, but still pretty cool.
***
Rogues in the House - 4/5
Very simplistic in comparison to many other tales in the series, which is not a bad thing by any means. Instead of focusing on expanding the lore and the development of Conan, we have a straightforward plot about taking down a brutal baddie. Lots of horrific imagery and badass action scenes. No more, no less. Pure and simple fun.
The Valley of the Worm - 3/5
Another reincarnation story where a man vividly recalls his fearsome battles against men, a saber-tooth, and a massive worm of Lovecraftian origins, something that existed since before history was documented. The battles are great, but the build-up leading to them dragged on way too long.
***
Shadows in the Moonlight 3/5
A fairly fun voyage, but no exciting conclusion happens as the story cuts off very abruptly and sets itself up for the next volume. I feel like both volumes should have just been included in the same story since this is literally just one half of something with no conclusion. Other than that big gripe, the writing and pacing is still superb and I hope the next volume does this one justice for all it has set up. Conan becomes the leader of a pirate crew which could prove to be a fun little escapade.
Not quite as adventurous or horrific as the best works in the series, but a clean and fun ride with a creepy villain nonetheless. It was also nice seeing Conan show off in front of prudish nobles that looked down on him as a brutish savage unworthy of their attention or respect.
***
The Man on the Ground - 3/5
A gunslinger seeks vengeance from beyond the grave, his ghost putting a bullet in his mortal enemy only to find his own body next to him. He only realizes he’s dead once his hatred is unleashed.
***
The Slithering Shadow - 4/5
Driven by the intense heat of the desert, Conan and his lovely companion seek water and food in a nearby city. The city is full of haunting imagery, as all of its inhabitants are frozen in a state of constant dreaming. Any that dare to wake them will be shown no mercy. A chilling premise with a surprisingly humorous ending that left me with a smile on my face after finishing the tale.
***
The Pool of the Black One - 3/5
The violence, action and excitement were all on point as usual, but the elements of racism in this particular tale was pretty uncomfortable to read. I prefer watching Conan wage epic battles against horrifying demons and armies of mad soldiers, not engage in racist drivel.
***
Old Garfield’s Heart - 3/5
An old man gains flimsy immortality by having his heart removed and replaced with the heart of something a bit more...otherworldly. Straightforward, but still pretty cool.
***
Rogues in the House - 4/5
Very simplistic in comparison to many other tales in the series, which is not a bad thing by any means. Instead of focusing on expanding the lore and the development of Conan, we have a straightforward plot about taking down a brutal baddie. Lots of horrific imagery and badass action scenes. No more, no less. Pure and simple fun.
The Valley of the Worm - 3/5
Another reincarnation story where a man vividly recalls his fearsome battles against men, a saber-tooth, and a massive worm of Lovecraftian origins, something that existed since before history was documented. The battles are great, but the build-up leading to them dragged on way too long.
***
Shadows in the Moonlight 3/5
A fairly fun voyage, but no exciting conclusion happens as the story cuts off very abruptly and sets itself up for the next volume. I feel like both volumes should have just been included in the same story since this is literally just one half of something with no conclusion. Other than that big gripe, the writing and pacing is still superb and I hope the next volume does this one justice for all it has set up. Conan becomes the leader of a pirate crew which could prove to be a fun little escapade.
March 12, 2019
Ииии стигнах до том 5 от "Странните произведения" на Робърт Хауърд. Отне ми доста време да го прочета, не задруго, ами защото почти всички разкази съм ги чел многократно и вече не са ми толкова интригуващи.
Black Colossus - Поредното приключение на Конан. Яко атмосферично начало, но краят винаги ми се е струвал прекалено банален. - 4/5.
The Man on the Ground - Простичък мистичен разказ с предвидима развръзка, който не ме грабна особено. - 3.5/5
The Slithering Shadow - Един от по-добрите разкази за Конан, но нещо не му достига да е шедьовър. - 4.5/5
The Pool of the Black One - Първата пиратска история на Конан. Приятна като цяло, но прилича по-скоро на чернова за "Кралицата на Черния бряг". - 4/5
Old Garfield's Heart - Любопитен мистичен хорър, с интересна идея и добре написан. - 4.5/5
Rogues in the House - Кефи ме как Хауърд разнообразява приключенията на Кимериеца. Този разказ напомня с нещо за "Кулата на слона", но на места стои някак театрално и неправдоподобно. - 4/5
The Valley of the Worm - Общо взето рециклиране на идеята от "Плъзгащата се сянка". Все пак е добре написан и се чете с удоволствие. - 4/5
Gods of the North - Един от отхвърлените разкази за Конан, публикуван за първи път във фензин със сменени имена. Тук е именно в тази си версия. - 4/5
Shadows in the Moonlight - И отново Конан в пиратско-приключенска история, в която са наблъскани прекалено много неща накуп и това малко разваля впечатлението. - 4/5
Средна оценка... хм, доста се колебах, защото отива над 4 звезди, но не мога с чиста съвест да му дам 5, понеже няма нито един безпрекословен шедьовър. Да кажем, 4 и половина.
Black Colossus - Поредното приключение на Конан. Яко атмосферично начало, но краят винаги ми се е струвал прекалено банален. - 4/5.
The Man on the Ground - Простичък мистичен разказ с предвидима развръзка, който не ме грабна особено. - 3.5/5
The Slithering Shadow - Един от по-добрите разкази за Конан, но нещо не му достига да е шедьовър. - 4.5/5
The Pool of the Black One - Първата пиратска история на Конан. Приятна като цяло, но прилича по-скоро на чернова за "Кралицата на Черния бряг". - 4/5
Old Garfield's Heart - Любопитен мистичен хорър, с интересна идея и добре написан. - 4.5/5
Rogues in the House - Кефи ме как Хауърд разнообразява приключенията на Кимериеца. Този разказ напомня с нещо за "Кулата на слона", но на места стои някак театрално и неправдоподобно. - 4/5
The Valley of the Worm - Общо взето рециклиране на идеята от "Плъзгащата се сянка". Все пак е добре написан и се чете с удоволствие. - 4/5
Gods of the North - Един от отхвърлените разкази за Конан, публикуван за първи път във фензин със сменени имена. Тук е именно в тази си версия. - 4/5
Shadows in the Moonlight - И отново Конан в пиратско-приключенска история, в която са наблъскани прекалено много неща накуп и това малко разваля впечатлението. - 4/5
Средна оценка... хм, доста се колебах, защото отива над 4 звезди, но не мога с чиста съвест да му дам 5, понеже няма нито един безпрекословен шедьовър. Да кажем, 4 и половина.
November 24, 2024
Amazing. Lleno de masculinidad barbarica asesina sanguilonienta, creaturas horriblemente miticas y ancestrales...
July 29, 2020
Apasionante colección de historias. He estado ralentizando la lectura por todo lo que estaba disfrutando y es que estoy convencido me va a acompañar durante mucho tiempo. Civilizaciones perdidas, islas remotas, mundos perdidos, héroes y sus historias violentas, el salvaje Oeste y terror. Todo ello regado de mucha sangre y vísceras.
Creo que me estoy enamorando.
Creo que me estoy enamorando.
August 15, 2020
Empieza siendo un relato sobre una venganza en pleno oeste, y la verdad es que empieza genial, con una tensión que se puede incluso visualizar, y poco a poco va derivando en un relato de terror. El final me ha parecido imprevisible y totalmente sorprendente. Estupendo cuento.
"El Valle de lo Perdido" se puede encontrar en la antologia Felices pesadillas: Los mejores relatos de terror aparecidos en Valdemar
"El Valle de lo Perdido" se puede encontrar en la antologia Felices pesadillas: Los mejores relatos de terror aparecidos en Valdemar
July 31, 2024
I really think that Robert H. is the one of the best fantasy writers in terms of crafting beautiful sentences. In all of his tales he manages to paint a beautiful or gruesome picture of the world .
However, his blatant racism really spoils a lot of the fun in my opinion. And its not just his choice of words for people with different ethnicities. Nor is it even his mention of the race of any non-white character at every chance he gets. If that were all, it would be like listening to a really good story told by your racist uncle.
My main issue is with the fact that in this (and plenty of others) story, his main character is so racist, making them kind of hard to like. The mc of the valley of the worm must at all times compare his race to the other races he encounters, with his race being superior in every aspect. I understand that he is primitive, but the story makes it seem like he is completely in the right and also correct (he is “aryan”, ofcourse). This really makes it hard for me to sympathise with the mc or Robert H for that matter. I also fully understand that some people choose not to read his work because of this
All that said, there are lots of good parts to this story. And though I feel conflicted about enjoying this work, I think its worth trying more of his stories.
However, his blatant racism really spoils a lot of the fun in my opinion. And its not just his choice of words for people with different ethnicities. Nor is it even his mention of the race of any non-white character at every chance he gets. If that were all, it would be like listening to a really good story told by your racist uncle.
My main issue is with the fact that in this (and plenty of others) story, his main character is so racist, making them kind of hard to like. The mc of the valley of the worm must at all times compare his race to the other races he encounters, with his race being superior in every aspect. I understand that he is primitive, but the story makes it seem like he is completely in the right and also correct (he is “aryan”, ofcourse). This really makes it hard for me to sympathise with the mc or Robert H for that matter. I also fully understand that some people choose not to read his work because of this
All that said, there are lots of good parts to this story. And though I feel conflicted about enjoying this work, I think its worth trying more of his stories.
March 2, 2022
Que la calidad narrativa de Robert Ervin Howard no se reduce a sus relatos de espada y brujería es fácil de comprobar para quien va más allá en su producción. Concretamente, sus relatos de horror sobrenatural - aunque no siempre dejan su veta aventurera - ofrecen matices siniestros tan logrados como diversos sus giros para el tradicional cuento de miedo.
La excelente selección de Valdemar es pareja en entretener y ser representativa sobre los mundos del escritor, destacando en varios el protagonismo (o mención) de varios héroes que imaginó - El hombre lobo DeMontour, James Allison, el irlandés Turlogh O'Brien -. Un surtido coronado por la inclusión de clásicos en su biografía: Los Dioses de Bal-Sagoth, El Valle del Gusano y Palomas del Infierno, referencia obligada entre los mejores cuentos de horror del siglo XX.
La excelente selección de Valdemar es pareja en entretener y ser representativa sobre los mundos del escritor, destacando en varios el protagonismo (o mención) de varios héroes que imaginó - El hombre lobo DeMontour, James Allison, el irlandés Turlogh O'Brien -. Un surtido coronado por la inclusión de clásicos en su biografía: Los Dioses de Bal-Sagoth, El Valle del Gusano y Palomas del Infierno, referencia obligada entre los mejores cuentos de horror del siglo XX.
January 17, 2019
El primer relato que leí de Howard fue "La piedra negra" en "Los mitos de Cthulhu" y recuerdo la agradable sorpresa que me deparó aquella lectura. Luego me compré este tomo junto a "Gusanos de la tierra" el cuál, por fortuna, aun no he leído. El valle del gusano es un libro extraordinario. Absolutamente todos sus relatos son entretenidos y rebosan de batallas violentísimas, dioses poderosos, tribus sanguinarias y pueblos repulsivos. El primer cuento, "Los caminantes de Valhalla", es el más extenso y posiblemente el mejor. Es realmente impresionante la violencia de las batallas y el poderío visual, casi cinematográfico de los golpes y las heridas. Sesos dispersados, huesos atravesados por espadas, cráneos aplastados bajo el peso de martillos, etc. Hacia el final del relato un elemento sobrenatural o fantástico (hasta antes del final, era un relato de guerra y conquista y amor) se hace presente de una forma espectacular. El segundo relato "El jardín del miedo" es una maravilla. Trata sobre el rapto de Gundrun por un abominable hombre alado y el rescate de Hunwulf. El Hombre alado vive en un increíble castillo de piedra verde translúcida, precedido por un jardín de enormes flores de color escarlata. Hunwulf deberá atravesar ese jardín siniestro, en el cuál adivina que el papel de esas flores gigantes y ominosas, no es de mera decoración. El tercer relato, “El valle del gusano”, es imponente. Un enorme, temible y antiguo ser con forma de serpiente o gusano emerge de las profundidades de la tierra precedido por un repulsivo ser informe que toca en una especie de flauta una música asquerosa y delirante. Cada vez que este monstruo sale de su agujero, provoca una verdadera masacre y parece invulnerable. Tal vez, utilizando el poderosísimo veneno de una serpiente gigantesca, “Satha”, se podría llegar a aniquilar a el gusano terrible. El final es caótico y muy visual. El cuarto relato, “El túmulo en el promontorio” es excelente también. Un túmulo esconde el terrorífico cuerpo del Dios “Odín”, quién se había corporizado para luchar en batalla en eras antiguas junto a su pueblo. Aunque los dioses son inmortales, la carne puede morir; sólo un brote de acebo, una planta mágica, puede volver a la vida al temible Dios Odín y desencadenar así un azote tremendo al mundo. Una cruz, la cruz de San Brandon, protegerá a James O´Brien del Dios furioso. El quinto cuento, “El pueblo de la oscuridad”, relata la historia de un hombre enamorado, que espera a su “rival” en la oscura y terrible cueva de Dagón, donde moran “Los hijos de la noche”. Entre esos túneles subterráneos se sucederán batallas tremendas junto a su “rival” y su mujer amada, quiénes se unido a él para luchar contra esos seres antiguos y despiadados. El final es hermoso y no carece de emoción. El último cuento, “Los hijos de la noche”, trata también sobre esta raza deforme y en este relato queda al descubierto más aun que en los anteriores el racismo común de la época. No me interesan las opiniones de Howard sobre la raza aria, ni su superioridad, sólo me dedico a disfrutar de la manera exquisita y feroz en que narra estas aventuras, repletas de sangre, peleas, cultos antiguos, amores y honor. Una verdadera maravilla, a pesar de las ideas racistas de Howard, muy comunes en aquellos tiempos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2015
En mi afán por seguir conociendo más autores del circulo de Lovecraft, inevitablemente tenía que acercarme a Robert Howard. Difícil hacerlo siendo un autor tan conocido por el mítico Conan el Cimmerio. Entonces, a la hora de conocer a Howard me topé con esta antología bellisima.
Quizás lo único que tendría para criticar es el titulo de la misma. Mas que horror, creo, la idea de los relatos es la fantasía épica y heroica que tan magníficamente creo Howard. Mientras leía los relatos donde participan los personajes de Turlogh o Conan (a través de los recuerdos de vidas pasadas) no podía dejar de pensar en que, inevitablemente, Tolkien había leído al Bob dos Pistolas. Es increíble como este señor de Texas recrea mundos antiguos de una forma tan real que avasalla. Despliega un aparato de conocimiento de mitología celta que deslumbra. Sin lugar a dudas, Howard es EL padre de la fantasía épica/heroica moderna y debería tener un reconocimiento mucho mayor.
Respecto a la parte de horror, qué decir... El valle del Gusano es un cuento excelente y todavía en mi mente veo a ese horrible monstruo reptando desde los abismos insondables de la Tierra. Los cuentos que son netamente de horror son excelentes y logran su cometido.
Mención aparte merece el cuento "Las palomas del infierno". Amo la literatura porque la lectura despierta imaginación; uno tiene un trabajo que hacer como lector a la hora de reconstruir en su cabeza lo que el autor quiere transmitir. Pienso en la escalera de aquella casa y se me pone la piel de gallina. Y debo decir que la imagen del... ¿zombie? bajando los escalones, con un hacha atravesándole la cabeza y goteando sangre fue una de las impresiones más vividas del terror que he leído en años. Soy un ávido lector de este género y si bien ya casi el miedo no aparece, este cuento me pareció fascinante justamente por lo que antes dije: tengo en mi cabeza grabada a fuego esa cabeza, esa hacha y ese reguero de sangre cayendo escalón por escalón...
Quizás lo único que tendría para criticar es el titulo de la misma. Mas que horror, creo, la idea de los relatos es la fantasía épica y heroica que tan magníficamente creo Howard. Mientras leía los relatos donde participan los personajes de Turlogh o Conan (a través de los recuerdos de vidas pasadas) no podía dejar de pensar en que, inevitablemente, Tolkien había leído al Bob dos Pistolas. Es increíble como este señor de Texas recrea mundos antiguos de una forma tan real que avasalla. Despliega un aparato de conocimiento de mitología celta que deslumbra. Sin lugar a dudas, Howard es EL padre de la fantasía épica/heroica moderna y debería tener un reconocimiento mucho mayor.
Respecto a la parte de horror, qué decir... El valle del Gusano es un cuento excelente y todavía en mi mente veo a ese horrible monstruo reptando desde los abismos insondables de la Tierra. Los cuentos que son netamente de horror son excelentes y logran su cometido.
Mención aparte merece el cuento "Las palomas del infierno". Amo la literatura porque la lectura despierta imaginación; uno tiene un trabajo que hacer como lector a la hora de reconstruir en su cabeza lo que el autor quiere transmitir. Pienso en la escalera de aquella casa y se me pone la piel de gallina. Y debo decir que la imagen del... ¿zombie? bajando los escalones, con un hacha atravesándole la cabeza y goteando sangre fue una de las impresiones más vividas del terror que he leído en años. Soy un ávido lector de este género y si bien ya casi el miedo no aparece, este cuento me pareció fascinante justamente por lo que antes dije: tengo en mi cabeza grabada a fuego esa cabeza, esa hacha y ese reguero de sangre cayendo escalón por escalón...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2022
Una entretenida y variopinta antología en la que se pueden encontrar historias de aventuras, de horror, de monstruos y hasta de vudú. El valle del Gusano muestra la versatilidad de la pluma de E. Howard, que se siente cómodo escribiendo tanto en la fantasía como en el terror. Disfruté mucho de las historias de aventuras, dado que no había leído algo así antes, e incluso quedé sorprendido por las historias relativas a Turlogh Dubh O' Brien, guerrero irlandés que navega y explora solo y cuyo odio a los vikingos lo lleva a peligrosos y emocionantes viajes, y a Conan el bárbaro, que no necesita presentación alguna. El cuento en específico de este último me gustó por su forma de narrar, dando espacio a dos historias separadas por la bruma de los años. Con todo, es una digna antología, llena de folklore, horrores de más allá de la comprensión y una digna pizca de épica y relato pseudo-histórico.
April 1, 2020
A continuation of REH's stories in the order in which they were published. Here REH has entered his Conan phase, and most of the stories center around his most famous creation, including "Gods of the North", which is "The Frost Giant's Daughter" with the main character's name changed from Conan to Amra. Some of the best Conan tales, where he is either a thief or a pirate, rescuing lusty wenches from certain peril and facing down whole armies and demons from the beyond. Includes a couple of his best cowboy stories, plus "The Valley of the Worm" where an Aryan barbarian avenges his tribe against a shapeless monster from the depths of hell. Some of REH's best work, and certainly Conan at his best and wildest.
April 20, 2023
No es una obra clásica, en el sentido de que hable de las verdades últimas del hombre, pero Su estilo sencillo, su prosa, lírica y recargada y un fuerte sentido de la atmósfera crean un entretenimiento atemporal.
Cualquier fan de la fantasía, la aventura o el terror, mas tarde o más temprano, acaba recalando en Howard por un buen motivo. Sus relatos son piezas de artesanía para leer y deleitarse.
No te cambia la vida, pero tienes un buen rato de escapismo de alta calidad garantizado.
Cualquier fan de la fantasía, la aventura o el terror, mas tarde o más temprano, acaba recalando en Howard por un buen motivo. Sus relatos son piezas de artesanía para leer y deleitarse.
No te cambia la vida, pero tienes un buen rato de escapismo de alta calidad garantizado.
May 8, 2025
Beautifully evocative language but I was extremely put off with Howard's constant use of the term "Aryan" and "superior race", right out of Nazi propaganda. The framing device of a sickly, disabled modern man brooding over the accomplishments of his "Aryan" ancestors is accidentally illustrative of both white supremacy as a whole and Robert E. Howard's personal hang-ups.
Which is a shame because it's a very well-written story.
Which is a shame because it's a very well-written story.
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August 4, 2024Another strong entry in Wildside Press's 10 volume Robert E. Howard anthology. Four classic Conan tales, one of the James Allison stories, two poems, and two weird westerns make this a must read for pulp fans and a great starting point for those new to the genre.
May 29, 2024
Cool freaking story! Very Lovecraftian, but with Howard's style. Can tell that this influenced many authors and game creators.
June 17, 2024
Howard mailed it in with this one
October 21, 2024
Set in 8.000-9.000BC
“I cannot paint with words the slaughter.”
“I cannot paint with words the slaughter.”
December 6, 2024
Another Robert E Howard classic, the style of story under the guise of past lives of James Allison could easily have been a Conan or Kull story with a different ending but it was ended perfectly
April 22, 2025
El Círculo de Lovecraft es el Brasil del '70 de la literatura: puros cracks
June 5, 2025
genre- racist fantasy
January 5, 2026
¡Qué cosa! Roberto Howard era sin duda, un narrador extraordinario, cuya experiencia inmersiva asombra aún a las lectoras y lectoras del siglo XXI.
June 17, 2021
"He [the saber-tooth tiger] was a freak on the road of evolution . . ."?! There are at least three errors associated with this statement. 1) If you believe in evolution how can a species be a freak? 2) If you believe in evolution you don't believe that it has any direction that warrants a road. 3) The saber-tooth tiger was an stolid, overpowering predator, not a celeritous, pursuing predator and it became extinct due to humans wantonly exterminating its phlegmatic prey i.e. the mammoth, mastodon, giant sloth, giant bison etc., not because it was a "freak". If anything is a freak, it's the human...
My perennial hope is that since STT remains are often not fossilized, DNA can be extracted and they can be cloned, gestated in Asian tiger surrogates till reproduction becomes possible, then released en masse in North America thereby restoring the balance of nature.
My perennial hope is that since STT remains are often not fossilized, DNA can be extracted and they can be cloned, gestated in Asian tiger surrogates till reproduction becomes possible, then released en masse in North America thereby restoring the balance of nature.
May 10, 2022
https://archive.org/details/Weird_Tal...
https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/060...
https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/060...
I will tell you of Niord and the Worm. You have heard the tale before in many guises wherein the hero was named Tyr, or Perseus, or Siegfried, or Beowulf, or Saint George. But it was Niord who met the loathly demoniac thing that crawled hideously up from hell, and from which meeting sprang the cycle of hero-tales that revolves down the ages until the very substance of the truth is lost and passes into the limbo of all forgotten legends. I know whereof I speak, for I was Niord.
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January 19, 2018Good tales with a charm conferred by their vintage.
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