Almuric [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Almuric is one of the best fantasy stories ever written by Robert E. Howard. It is also one of the few full length fantasy novels he wrote, most of his stories were shorts for pulp magazines of his time.

The story is set on a distant world, Almuric, where a human from earth takes refuge. He braves the hardships of this new world and has many dealings with its peoples and races.

At around 250 pages, I recommend all lovers of fantasy to pick this one up!

Robert E. Howard remains one of my favorite authors and it remains one of the great tragedies in literature that he killed himself at such a young age. I've read the bulk of his work and love most of it, but even REH can produce a stinker or two. He also occasionally could be highly derivative and average, particularly when he was writing outside the area of fantasy.

Unfortunately, "Almuric" is one of those derivative, average works, even though it is essentially a sci fi-fantasy tale. It also holds the distinction of being his only true novel, even though he did produce a few other novel length works, notably "The Hour of the Dragon" (a/k/a "Conan the Conqueror").

Now, I realize I'm in the minority on this opinion, and I think if you check my other reviews of REH's work you'll find I'm definitely not a Howard-hater. I truly love most of the man's work. Heck, as a kid he inspired nearly everything I wrote and, yes, as a kid I ripped him off a lot!

But throughout this work I kept thinking of Edgar Rice Burroughs' "John Carter of Mars" series and found this book to be a rehash of a lot of Burroughs' work. To it's credit, the novel is still entertaining and interesting. And, hey, on his worst day REH was still a superior writer to 90 percent of other writers, particularly the hacks who haunt the fantasy and science fiction shelves these days.

So I do recommend it, just be forewarned that if you've read any of the "John Carter" books, there may be a slight sense of déjà vu.

My sediments are same as Joe R. Lansdale-award-winning author of "Conan and the Songs of the Dead"; "A few pages in and I was as hooked as bass on a handmade fly, right through the gills."

The person that said this story was derivative, meaning not original, is pure conjecture and inference. As far as being average I don't agree. It was outstanding! I took one break to read the 155 pages of Almuric. Joe Lansdale's introduction is fascinating with some surprises. "When Howard was writing Almuric, or the bulk of his tales, I don't doubt that he entered into a kind of trance that put him right where he was writing about. Made those worlds so real to him that they became real to us." I believe this, too. REH was a genius and his writings are etched forever endless in time accumulating vast new readers and fans each and every day.

Highly recommend The Last of the Trunk by Paul Herman of REH Foundation that published the remaining writings of REH. The Last of the trunk transcripts were furnished by Glenn Lord. A few of these untitled stories and manuscripts tell about a man going back in time and one going ahead in time to the year 2000. It's an awesome book and a must have to learn more about REH.

Recommend the following: Blood & Thunder, The Life & Art of REH by Mark Finn, One Who Walked Alone by Novalyne Price who was REH's girlfriend, The Barbaric Triumph and The Dark Barbarian by Don Herron, Two-Gun Bob, Bran Mak Morn, Solomon Kane, Kull, Steve Costigan, The Black Stranger and other american tales which has the scariest story ever called Pigeons From Hell, Dark Horse Conan comics, Marvel 60's Mag of Conan, Weird Tales and Works of REH, Lord of Samarcand, Crimson Shadows Best of REH 1 & 2, and The Star Rover by Jack London which had a huge influence on REH.

Each year around the time REH passed Jun 13 & 14 is REH days at Cross Plains, TX. REH Foundation has more info on the net. Tell others about REH and if you've never read his stories before you're in for a real treat. A few of my favorites are Rogues in the House, Red Nails, Pigeons From Hell, The People of the Black Circle, and Beyond The Black River which would be an awesome movie that I envision Mel Gibson directing. Check out the REH Foundation and Forum!