Red Nails

By Robert E. Howard and Robert Ervin Howard

Book Overview

"Red Nails" is a classic sword and sorcery novella written via Robert E. Howard, the prolific American writer exceptional recognised for creating the long-lasting character Conan the Barbarian. "Red Nails" is one in all Howard's remaining and most celebrated works in the Conan series. The tale is set in the legendary land of Xuchotl, wherein the ultimate surviving population of warring cities, Xuchotl and Commoria, find themselves dwelling in a single fort called the "Red Nails." Conan, the Cimmerian warrior, encounters Valeria, a fierce pirate, and collectively, they come to be embroiled within the lethal politics and conflicts of this remoted community. Within the partitions of Red Nails, the characters face treacherous sorcery, savage beasts, and the ever-present chance of betrayal as they navigate a society steeped in bloodlust and intrigue. Howard's vivid descriptions and skillful global-building carry this dangerous and darkly atmospheric placing to existence. "Red Nails" is extremely good for its exploration of subject matters which includes barbarism, civilization's decline, and the destructive nature of unrelenting battle. It also showcases Howard's signature writing style, characterized by means of motion-packed sequences, shiny characters, and a penchant for exploring the primal aspects of humanity.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9359323454
• ISBN13: 9789359323459
• Release Date: December 2023
• Publisher: Double 9 Books
• Length: 86 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Super Reader

Conan is travelling, finds a dead woman, and then encounters Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. After trading some insults, they have the misfortune to stumble across a dragon. Then they have fun in an abandoned city full of crazed warriors, two evil, leering royals, and a third undead type one. Capture, bondage, slayage, all the great stuff in this tale of a fantastic partnership.

A great introduction to Howard's "Conan" character

Take a trip into our barbaric past, when the white race did not question the necessity of manifest destiny or the need to subdue non- whites by violence, and women existed as chattel and threat to male dominance. This collection of stories is not politically correct, and hopefully readers' enjoyment will contend with their discomfort at Howard's obvious racism and sexism. Readers should know that Howard was destroyed by the very system he so faithfully represents in his stories; he committed suicide during the Great Depression due to his distressed economic situation. For a blunt representation of the mind set that led to the internment camps, the Tuskegee medical experiments, and Hiroshima/ Nagasaki, this anthology is unsurpassed. Sword and sorcery/fantasy fans may wish that these stories are "simple, escapist fun", but there never is such a thing.

A very good read !!

One the very first fantasy novels I read, I am interested in finding an available copy. Am also searching for a copy of "The Hour of the Dragon", by Howard as well.