Swords of the Steppes

By Howard Andrew Jones and Harold Lamb

A master of driving pace, exotic setting, and complex plotting, Harold Lamb was one of Robert E. Howard's favorite writers. Here at last is every pulse-pounding, action-packed story of Lamb's greatest hero, Khlit the Cossack, the "wolf of the steppes." Journey with the unsung grandfather of sword and sorcery in search of ancient tombs, gleaming treasure, and thrilling landscapes. Match wits with deadly swordsmen, scheming priests, and evil cults. Rescue lovely damsels, ride with bold comrades, and hazard everything on your brains, skill, and a little luck. This four-volume set collects for the first time the complete Cossack stories of Harold Lamb: every adventure of Khlit the Cossack and those of his friends, allies, and fellow Cossacks, many of which have never appeared between book covers. Compiled and edited by the Harold Lamb scholar Howard Andrew Jones, each volume features essays Lamb wrote about his stories, an informative introduction by a popular author, and a wealth of rare, exciting swashbuckling fiction. In the concluding volume, gallop into adventure with Khlit and Kirdy for their final challenge in The Wolf Master, out of print since 1933. Then, delve into a treasure trove of stories gleaned from rare magazines: an account of a desperate mission for Khlit's old friend Ayub; three tales of the valorous Koum and the champion swordsman Gurka; two daring ventures by Stenka Razin, the Robin Hood of the steppes; five short stories of Uncle Yarak, a Cossack fighting in World War II; and more than a half dozen other swashbuckling tales from the steppes.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803280513
• ISBN13: 9780803280519
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Bison
• Length: 638 Pages
• Weight: 2.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

More Cossack goodness.

Harold Lamb's stories just do not get old. After reading the first three Cossack collections in a row, I thought I'd leave the fourth one for a little later... but somehow I just had to start reading at least the first story. And then the second. And then the third... all the way to the end. I don't know how he did it. Lamb had a great gift for setting up a scene and defining characters in a few words (something that is probably easier since his Cossack heroes are pretty much all cut from the same cloth), and then proceeding with a fast-paced adventure. He also seems never to repeat himself overmuch even though the basics of his tales usually differ very little. No need to fear Cossack fatigue... If you loved the first three books, this final volume will be just as enjoyable.

The concluding volume of Lamb's incomparable Cossack stories

Well worth getting even though Khlit only appears in one story in this final collection of Lamb's remaining Cossack stories. They might not be among Lamb's prime material but he still manages to write an exciting tale that not only entertains the reader but educates him as well. It's no wonder that Lamb was Robert E. Howard's favorite writer.