The most beautiful Conan books there is! The first volume was published in 2002, first in the United Kingdom by Wandering Star Books under the title Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932–1933), and the following year in the United States by Ballantine/Del Rey under the present title. The Science Fiction Book Club subsequently reprinted the complete set in hardcover; the set is noted for presenting the original, unedited versions of Howard’s Conan tales. This volume includes thirteen short stories as well as miscellanea for Howard fans and enthusiasts (e.g., drafts, notes, maps, etc.), and is illustrated by noted comic book artist Mark Schultz.

The texts for this edition were based on Howard’s original typescripts or the first published appearance if a typescript was unavailable.

Read my article about Wandering Star.

My own copies. Picture from 2016. I was just starting collecting again.

Contents

• A1 • Hyborian Genesis: Notes on the Creation of the Conan Stories • essay by Patrice Louinet
• A25 • Notes on the Conan Typescripts and the Chronology (Robert E. Howard’s Complete Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-33)) • essay by Patrice Louinet
• A31 • Notes on the Original Howard Texts (Robert E. Howard’s Complete Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-33)) • essay by uncredited
•  Robert E. Howard’s Complete Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-33) • (2002) • interior artwork by Mark Schultz
• i • Foreword (Robert E. Howard’s Complete Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-33)) • essay by Mark Schultz
• v • Introduction (Robert E. Howard’s Complete Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-33)) • essay by Patrice Louinet
• 1 • Cimmeria • (1965) • poem by Robert E. Howard
• 5 • The Phoenix on the Sword • [Conan] • (1932) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 29 • The Frost-Giant’s Daughter • [Conan] • (1976) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 39 • The God in the Bowl • [Conan] • (1952) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 59 • The Tower of the Elephant • [Conan] • (1933) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 83 • The Scarlet Citadel • [Conan] • (1931) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 119 • Queen of the Black Coast • [Conan] • (1934) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 151 • Black Colossus • [Conan] • (1933) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 185 • Iron Shadows in the Moon • [Conan] • (1934) • novelette by Robert E. Howard (variant of Shadows in the Moonlight)
• 217 • Xuthal of the Dusk • [Conan] • (1933) • novelette by Robert E. Howard (variant of The Slithering Shadow)
• 249 • The Pool of the Black One • [Conan] • (1933) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 277 • Rogues in the House • [Conan] • (1934) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 301 • The Vale of Lost Women • [Conan] • (1967) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 319 • The Devil in Iron • [Conan] • (1934) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 351 • The Phoenix on the Sword (first submitted draft) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 375 • Notes on Various Peoples of the Hyborian Age • essay by uncredited
• 379 • The Hyborian Age • [Conan] • (1938) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 399 • Untitled Synopsis (“A squad of Zamorian soldiers…”) • (1974) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 401 • The Scarlet Citadel (synopsis) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 403 • Black Colossus (synopsis) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 405 • Untitled Fragment (“The battlefield stretched silent…”) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard (also called “Hand of Nergal“)
• 407 • Untitled Synopsis (“The setting: The city of Shumballa…”) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 409 • Untitled Draft (“Amboola awakened slowly…”) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 417 • Hyborian Names and Countries • essay by Robert E. Howard
• 421 • Hyborian Age Maps • interior artwork by Robert E. Howard

Notes

Edited by Patrice Louinet
Series Editor Rusty Burke
Design by Marcelo Anciano
Typography by Stuart Williams
The texts for this edition were based on Howard’s original typescripts or the first published appearance if a typescript was unavailable.
Limited Edition: Signed and numbered by the artist, this book comes complete with gilt edging, a gorgeous slipcase cover with embossed plate, dust jacket, full color paintings, and hordes of astounding illustrations. Limited to 1950 copies.
Ultra Limited Edition: Also known as the Artists Edition, it includes everything found in the Limited Edition, plus eight additional preliminary sketches. This Ultra Limited Edition offers the reader greater insight into the artistic process that created the wonderful illustrations and artwork. Limited to only 100 copies.
Leatherbound Edition: Includes everything found in the Limited and Artists Editions plus an extra color plate of the dust jacket painting from the Limited Edition. Also included are character studies and an eight page artist’s sketchbook. Both the book and slipcase are bound in exquisite leather. This ultra deluxe edition is only for the true Howard collector. Limited to only 100 copies.