The Sowers of the Thunder in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Jul 18, 2008 Charles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction

In my opinion, the single best collection of Howard's work. These are all historical fiction stories, primarily set during the Crusades. Some of Howard's absolutely best writing. The illustrations by Roy Krenkel aren't bad either. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 07, 2014 Derek rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: pulp, historical-adventure

This wears Harold Lamb's influence proudly, to the point of borrowing the idea that "Haroun of Bagdad" from the Arabian Nights (view spoiler), as opined by Lamb in The Crusades (view spoiler).

All the stories are set in Crusades-era Middle East, or slightly later, and Howard's obsessions are on display as each story shows a tipping point of history, as the Crusades States edge towards collapse to the Tur ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2015 Frankie Roxx rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: robert-e-howard

An excellent four story collection of historical fiction that takes place during the bloody and turbulent two hundred year struggle known as the Crusades. This particular era of history has always fascinated me—man at it's darkest whilst fighting for religion, power etc. and it's clear that Howard was more than a little captivated by this era as well. The four stories contained herein are as follows.

1. The Lion of Tiberias--a powerful tale that explores matters such as love, treachery and the l An excellent four story collection of historical fiction that takes place during the bloody and turbulent two hundred year struggle known as the Crusades. This particular era of history has always fascinated me—man at it's darkest whilst fighting for religion, power etc. and it's clear that Howard was more than a little captivated by this era as well. The four stories contained herein are as follows.

1. The Lion of Tiberias--a powerful tale that explores matters such as love, treachery and the lengths and bounds that sheer hatred and a promise of revenge can go to. I immediately lost myself in this particular story; greedily devouring it and finding myself nodding along in appreciation with the stories end. It's tragic and moving in it's own way. I felt for the character of John Norwald and found myself both marveling at as well as pitying the man. Revenge is a powerful motivator and this story deftly reminds us of that.

2. The Sowers of Thunder--A darkly tragic tale that draws the reader in and allows us to glimpse at the carnage and suffering that ran rampant during the Crusades. Cahal Ruadh O'Donnell steals the show in this story in my opinion, his strength, madness and drive mark him as a classic character as only Howard can deliver. Without giving spoilers I found this tale's ending to be somberly fitting and I enjoyed this one quite a lot.

3. Lord of Samarcand --A depressing and somber tale. Though I enjoyed this one the least of the four stories that doesn't mean it wasn't still a well written story in it's own right. The problem for me at least with this story was that it was so somber and tragic that it lacked a certain zeal to hype me up as the other stories did. Still a story I'd recommend to any Howard fans that haven't read it though hardly his best work in my humble opinion.

4. The Shadow of the Vulture –The last tale contained in the book and, in my opinion, the gem of this already incredible collection. This tale is brought to life by the drunken knight Gottfried von Kalmbach and, even more so, by Red Sonya of Rogatino who later became the inspiration for Red Sonja. It's a shame that this was the only Howard penned tale that Red Sonya ever appeared in as I quickly found myself enraptured by the character and her devilish “charms”. The end of this tale had an especially enjoyable twist and served to really make this collection of four stories all the more remarkable.

In closing this review I cannot stress enough how much I loved this book and recommend it to fans of Howard's other works or fans of well written historical adventure. ...more

Like · see review