For the Donald M. Grant collectors - 

A BINDING VARIATION IN

ECHOES FROM AN IRON HARP

The original binding is shown on the left, the variant on the right.

In  May,1972, Donald M. Grant published his sixth Robert E. Howard book, Echoes From An Iron Harp. It was typeset and printed by Ink Printing Co., Charleston, Rhode Island, and bound by Arnold's Book Binding in Reading, Pennsylvania. 1079 copies were delivered from the bindery and approximately 1,000 copies were sold. The rest of the copies were given to Glenn Lord, Alicia Austin, who illustrated the book, and various reviewers and other involved parties.

The initial copies shipped out to dealers were bound in the cloth pictured above on the left.  There was no mention of different bindings in any of Grant's correspondence, but in the decades since the book was published, a few copies have surfaced with a darker red cloth. I recently wrote the late publisher's partners and asked if they knew anything about this variation in binding, and got no response, so I assume they do not have that information. As far as can be determined, there is no specific data about this variant binding, other than copies with the variant binding are extremely rare.

The value of Grant's Howard volumes has not increased as most other Howard volumes have, the value likely affected by the fact that most of Grant's Howard books have questionable texts, but the poetry collections are an exception to that rule.  No difference in the value of these two bindings for Echoes From An Iron Harp has been established. 

Grant was not known for doing this sort of thing with his stock, and variations in his binding materials have rarely been documented.  This probably matters to a few collectors.

Dennis McHaney

 

 

Gnome Press Conan titles

Blog Coma

I haven't posted to this blog in years, and I am surprised it is still here.  This blog is on a free hosting site. I always used the template that came with the blog tools, and never really learned how to have more control over that.  I was a lazy blogger.
My last Robert E. Howard project appeared more than six years ago.  I have started several projects, but life has been slowing me down a bit lately and I have drifted to other interests.  I have a new periodical coming out soon, called ILLUSTRATING ROBERT E. HOWARD.  The first issue will be available in black and white and color editions. There are two issues planned.
I am also doing the tedious production chores for TARZAN THE GERMAN EATER, which I hope to have out by Christmas, from Old Tiger Press.

This post is just to test to see if I can figure out which buttons to push.  If this works, maybe I'll bring this blog back to life for a while and learn how to use blog software as a social weapon.

More photos from Glenn's 80th birthday. Top, with Rusty and Lou Anne, Bottom, with Rusty and Barbara Barrett.

Glenn Lord - 1931-2011

Shortly before the beginning of the New Year, I found out that a long-time, Glenn Lord, had passed away earlier in the day.  I was with Glenn just a few weeks ago, at his 80th birthday party.  I will miss Glenn like he was a member of my own family.  The photo with Rusty Burke was taken at Glenn's party in November.  I wish I had more information to share at this time, but that is all I know so far.

 

 

MOMOA NAILS CONAN

A brief review by Dennis McHaney

For the first time in the film history of Conan, an actor has come along who actually studied Robert E. Howard’s Conan for  guidance, and that comes across in one of the most exuberant portrayals of a fictional character that we have seen in quite some time.  Jason Momoa has nailed Conan, with a performance that is energetic, enthusiastic, and inspired.  

No, the story is not taken directly from the pages of Robert E. Howard, though there are subtle spoken and visual references to Conan’s literary history.
After watching this film, it is apparent that the producers set out with at least three goals:

1. Reintroduce the character to a new generation of film goers.
2. Get it right this time!
3.  Make an exciting and entertaining action film that would make the audiences crave more!

They have succeeded splendidly on all points, and then some.  The most important thing about this film is that they chose the right man to get the job done.  Momoa is a demanding, charismatic presence, and you would almost believe he was born to play Conan.  His physical performance in the movie is flawless.  His sword work is precise and deadly, his speed and co-ordination are not lumbering and slow like his predecessors,  and for the first time in the history of the character, Conan is portrayed by someone that can actually act!

The plot is minimalistic, but sufficient for a film that was designed to tell a non-stop action packed adventure.  In fact, the film moves along at such an accelerated pace that many people in the audience couldn’t believe 102 minutes had gone by when the credits started to roll.

In addition to Momoa, the rest the cast all deliver the goods.  Ron Perlman is always a joy to watch.  Rose McGowen still made me want to drool in spite of the hideous makeup.  Rachel Nichols, as Conan’s love interest, is a natural beauty who can also fight like a Cimmerian wildcat.  Stephen Lang  again proves that he is one of the best bad guys in Hollywood.

The film opens up with a voice over by Morgan Freeman.  It never hurts to start a film with such a class act.

I’m not going to reveal any details of the story, or the very rare and minor budget limitations that aren’t really that apparent (or important).  The film succeeds to entertain if the viewer wants to be entertained.  If you go to the movie wanting to dislike it, why are you wasting your time?

I’d have to give Conan the Barbarian both my thumbs up.

There are bound to be comparisons to other Howard based films, and that is sad.  The original Conan movie, of which this is not a remake, was so far off base on every level that it was laughable.  It has even been parodied (Master Pancake Theater’s Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Musical) and with good reason.  John Milius had some sort of ridiculous vision of what Conan should be, and he tried to throw in everything but the kitchen sink.  Arnold Schwarzenegger's Conan is a lumbering dumb ass, whose swordplay is slow and posing.  While he’s showing off, swinging that big ole eighty pound sword around in circles, any real swordsman could kill him five times.  And the acting?  What acting?  The follow-ups to the 1982 film, Conan the Destroyer and the almost Conan, Red Sonja, are in a class of pure garbage all by themselves.  The 1982 film inspired dozens of imitations.  Many of those were light years better than Destroyer or Sonja.
The film is also, for silly reasons, being compared to Solomon Kane.  Why?  Director Bassett stated that he wanted to introduce the character in his own way, then if the public bought it, he’d toss in some actual Robert E. Howard the next time around.  The producers of the new Conan made basically the same statement, but what they did that Michael Bassett apparently couldn’t do was to give us a decent film.  Solomon Kane plods along, like a bus making too many stops to get to a destination, and every single little detail must be explained in excruciating detail.  No wonder no distributor in the United States was interested in the film.  It is a bore.  Cut 30 minutes out of its overlong running time, and it might have sold over here.  James Purefoy comes across well as Solomon Kane, he just wasn’t given great material to work with.

Those who are actually silly enough to worry about the new Conan picture probably shouldn’t go to it.  Expect a fun two hour romp, and you’ll love this picture.  The action is fast, the women are beautiful, and the violence and gore are top notch.  If you love blood and guts film, you’ll love Conan the Barbarian 3D.  It is pure ear and eye candy for the demented, and a joy ride to everyone else.  

I saw this film at a special advance screening at The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas.  Jason Momoa was in attendance.  I will cover that event in a separate post.

A GENT FROM BEAR CREEK

A GENT FROM BEAR CREEK IS NOW AVAILABLE IN A TRADE PAPERBACK.  INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE BY CLICKING THE LINK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS BLOG PAGE.