Robert E. Howard

Robert E. Howard was a groundbreaking American author, best known for creating the iconic character Conan the Barbarian and pioneering the sword and sorcery sub-genre of fantasy. Born in Peaster, Texas in 1906, Howard spent his formative years in Cross Plains, where he developed his love for writing and boxing. His diverse works spanned various genres, including fantasy, historical adventure, detective fiction, boxing, horror, and western. \n \nHoward's dream of becoming an adventure novelist began at the age of nine, and by 23, his stories started appearing in numerous publications. He gained significant fame through his contributions to the pulp magazine Weird Tales, where he introduced Conan the Cimmerian, a character whose cultural impact has been likened to that of Tarzan, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond. Apart from Conan, Howard's Solomon Kane series also gained considerable popularity. \n \nDuring his short but prolific career, Howard wrote over three hundred stories and seven hundred poems, showcasing his unique ability to depict a universe of adventure and dark horror. Although the first Conan book was published in 1934, he did not live to see his work in novel format, as his stories primarily appeared in pulp magazines. Sadly, in 1936, Howard took his own life at the age of 30, following his mother's turn for the worse after a long battle with tuberculosis. Despite his untimely death, Howard remains a revered figure in the literary world, with his works inspiring many imitators and solidifying his status as an influential and enduring author.