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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.52
EAN num: 9780345490179
ISBN number: 0345490177
Label: Del Rey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 352
Printing Date: October 31, 2006
Publishing house: Del Rey
Release Date: October 31, 2006
Sale Popularity Level: 80843
Studio: Del Rey
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“Howard’s writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks.”
–Stephen King
“Robert E. Howard had a gritty, vibrant style–broadsword writing that cut its way to the heart, with heroes who are truly larger than life.”
–David Gemmell
In a meteoric career that spanned a mere twelve years, Robert E. Howard single-handedly invented the genre that came to be called sword and sorcery. From his fertile imagination sprang some of fiction’s most enduring heroes. Yet while Conan is indisputably Howard’s greatest creation, it was in his earlier sequence of tales featuring Kull, a fearless warrior with the brooding intellect of a philosopher, that Howard began to develop the distinctive themes, and the richly evocative blend of history and mythology, that would distinguish his later tales of the Hyborian Age.
Much more than simply the prototype for Conan, Kull is a fascinating character in his own right: an exile from fabled Atlantis who wins the crown of Valusia, only to find it as much a burden as a prize.
This groundbreaking collection, lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Justin Sweet, gathers together all Howard’s stories featuring Kull, from Kull’s very first published appearance, in “The Shadow Kingdom,” to “Kings of the Night,” Howard’s last tale featuring the cerebral swordsman. The stories are presented just as Howard wrote them, with all subsequent editorial emendations removed. Also included are previously unpublished stories, drafts, and fragments, plus extensive notes on the texts, an introduction by Howard authority Steve Tompkins, and an essay by noted editor Patrice Louinet.
“Howard was a true storyteller–one of the first, and certainly among the best, you’ll find in heroic fantasy. If you’ve never read him before, you’re in for a real treat.”
–Charles de Lint
“For stark, living fear . . . what other writer is even in the running with Robert E. Howard?”
–H. P. Lovecraft
Amazon.com:
As some cover blurbs so rightly state, 'Before Conan--there was Kull!' The warrior Kull was yet another popular creation of pulp writer Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), generally credited as the originator of the subgenre heroic fantasy. Yet Kull should not be dismissed as second-rate Conan. (Although Howard did transform a few unsold Kull adventures into those of Conan the Cimmerian when the later series took off with the public.) Set in ancient, lost Atlantis, the Kull stories take place mostly after the barbarian has already come to power as King Kull of Valusia. What makes these scant dozen stories most memorable is Howard's heightened style of mystical decadence, similar here to his Weird Tales contemporary, Clark Ashton Smith. Rest assured there's enough gruesome bloodletting and wanton savagery to satisfy the most ardent Howard reader. (Variant editions of this collection have been published over the years, with the uncompleted stories finished posthumously by Lin Carter. Other editions have simply presented the few story fragments as untouched--and unadulterated--Robert E. Howard.) --Stanley Wiater
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Rated by buyers 
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Sorry about that, but Robert E. Howard is a bit infectious, which is interesting because I made it to the ripe old age of 48 before getting around to giving him a try, starting just a few weeks ago....
OK, you can stop staring openmouthed with horror any time now.
I couldn't really tell you why, but one advantage to coming to him so late is that I got to start out with the real Howard, the raw and unadulterated Howard, thanks to these marvelous and authoritative Del Rey editions. I didn't have to suffer through Bowdlerized editions or attempted completions by somebody else. Because it was the earliest by internal chronology, I decided to start with Kull.
Introduction by Steve Tompkins: Interesting and useful, especially to a newbie like me. Points out that while Kull was not the very first sword and sorcery hero, Kull WAS the very first sword and sorcery series and the very first American sword and sorcery.
Untitled Story (previously published as "Exile of Atlantis"): Unfinished fragment? Discarded beginning of the subsequent story? There's no way to know, but this one and only tale of the pre-king Kull is vital to understanding the character. Kull dreams The Noodle Dream and then commits the "crime" for which he was exiled from Atlantis.
"The Shadow Kingdom": Slam bang beginning! Kull acquires his Pictish allies and friends in time to defeat a Hellish plot to assassinate him. While telling a creepy, disturbing tale, Howard gives a marvelous word picture of a kingdom dripping with unimaginable age. Also reprinted here: The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 1: Crimson Shadows.
"The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune": Creepy little horror story. Kull encounters the eponymous peculiarly entrancing mirrors. Also reprinted here: The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 2: Grim Lands.
Untitled Draft: Intriguing fragment that has Kull and the Red Slayers chase a man who has insulted Kull (quite literally) to the ends of the Earth and beyond. Presumably left unfinished because Howard couldn't come up with the "topper" of a climax such a beginning required.
"The Cat and the Skull": Disliked by many Howard fans, I rather enjoyed it. A somewhat silly beginning is saved IMHO by a marvelous adventure in and beyond the Forbidden Lake. Interesting villain's only appearance unfortunately.
"The Screaming Skull of Silence": Fascinating little story. "In the grip of a wayward perverseness, a common fault of kings," Kull sets out to do something Really Stupid. Fortunately, bull-headed courage manages to save the day and, wonder of wonders, improve the situation.
"The Striking of the Gong": Kull's version of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" didn't really appeal to me because it is mostly a philosophical discusion (yawn).
"The Altar and the Scorpion": Interesting little story in which Kull is only an offstage influence.
"The Curse of the Golden Skull": Time annihilating horror tale in which Kull is again only an offstage influence. Also reprinted here: The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 1: Crimson Shadows.
"The Black City" (unfinished fragment): Intriguing concept that unfortunately gets no further than the creepy beginning.
Untitled Fragment: Unfinished tale by Brule, interesting because of its picture of Pictish government.
"By This Axe I Rule!": Later rewritten as the Conan story "The Phoenix on the Sword", rousing tale of Kull versus well planned assassination plot; the title is Kull's (and every executive's dream) response to entrenched, brain-dead bureaucracy. Also reprinted here: The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 2: Grim Lands.
"Swords of the Purple Kingdom": Another rousing Kull versus assassins story; a lot of fun despite obvious similarities to the previous.
"The King and the Oak": Short poem about Kull also reprinted here: The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 2: Grim Lands.
"Kings of the Night": Thrilling crossover with Bran Mak Morn that is really the latter's story guest starring Kull. Also reprinted here: Bran Mak Morn: The Last King and here: The Best of Robert E. Howard Volume 1: Crimson Shadows.
The "Am-ra of the Ta-an" Fragments: Two poems and three fragments about what is in effect Conan 1.0 as Kull is Conan 2.0, and three earlier drafts of Kull items, useful to the Howard scholar.
"Atlantean Genesis" by Patrice Louinet: An informative essay that among other things delineates the importance of the "Am-ra" fragments and postulates the literary sources Howard borrowed from or was inspired by.
Notes on the Original Howard Texts: Thorough (IMHO TOO thorough) notes on the decisions made to assemble these definitive texts. Do we really need a notation every time a spelling or punctuation mistake is corrected? Mostly of use to the Howard scholar
Besides ... Read More
Rated by buyers -
I, like many readers, started my reading in Robert E. Howards' world with his House-hold-name character, Conan. After reading those, I wanted to read more of his works (and the 'completed' stories, as well as new ones, by lesser writers, was not going to suffice).
If you are like me, then KULL:EXILE OF ATLANTIS is a great place to start. I had seen the poor film version in the 90's, and let me just say that the REAL Kull is nothing like him. Many might assume that Kull was merely a 'work in progress' of Fantasy for Howard; honing his skills in preparation to Conan. That would be selling these stories short. Kull and Conan are very similar in physical appearance (save eye color), however philisophically, they are very different. Conan did end up as King of Aquilonia, but Kull begins his story as the new Usurper, and it goes on form there, not culminating in it. And with this 'barbarian King' perspective at the forefront, there is many different avenues explored. Aside from the usual attempts at Coups by resentful noblemen, Kull has philisophical discussions with many learned court attendants, about the nature of space and time. This leads to very unique stories not found in Conan including Time Travel, and Astral Plaining. Weird, wonderful stuff to 'Cosmic' fiction fans.
In this collection you will find many of Howard's best stories, including 'THE SHADOW KINGDOM', "BY THIS AXE I RULE", SWORDS OF THE PURPLE KINGDOM", and his out-of-time tale, "KINGS OF THE NIGHT". These stories are not only as thrilling as the Conan stories, but also help fill-in the Pre-Hyborian age to anyone wondering what the world was like before the sinking of Atlantis and the rise of the Stygian Kingdom and onward. In addition, stories like "THE SCREAMING SKULL OF SILENCE", and "THE STRIKING OF THE GONG" tie in neatly to H.P. Lovecraft's 'cosmic horror' ideas.
Finally to those familiar with Michael Moorcock's ELRIC series, The obvious influence should be testament alone to the influence these stories have had. This DEL REY edition of the KULL stories is a welcome edition, with stories completed by HOWARD ONLY making the cut. This means there are several fragments, which may be a turn off to casual readers. But to Howard completists, this is the real deal. That makes this collection a challenge, but at the same time don't let that detract you from some true gems in short fantasy fiction. Howards is, by today's standards of Epic Fantasy, very accesible. If you are at all serious about visiting the ancestors of modern Fantasy, you will not be let down by this collection.
Rated by buyers -
By this Axe I Rule is the best and it was changed by Robert E. Howard for Conan as The Phoenix on the Sword. This is an excellent book and a must have to add to any collection. The Curse of The Golden Skull was pretty creepy and The Striking of The Gong was excellent! There's terrific artwork and every story is captivating! There is some excellent poetry, story fragments, and more! Kings of the Night which finally turns Kull loose on a battlefield. Some ways this is the best story he ever wrote. Robert E. Howard was an extra-ordindary creative writer who in my opinion was the best! His vision, talent, creative writing, and action packed stories can and will never be replicated! To learn more about this unique man read Blood & Thunder, The Life and Art of Robert E. Howard by Mark Finn. Must Reads: Crimson Shadows-The Best of Robert E. Howard 1 & 2 with number two which has my favorites Red Nails, Beyond The Black River, and the scariest story EVER Pigeons From Hell! Be sure to read it at night with plenty of light. You'll never be the same when you hear someone or something whistling.
Also recommended: Stories I've enjoyed by Robert E. Howard are The Last of the Trunk, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, Savage Sword of Conan, Bloody Sword of Conan, All of the Weird Works REH, Selected Letters of REH, One Who Walked Alone, and my favorite about Cats Titled The Beast From The Abyss, Two Gun Bob, Cormac Mac Art, Steve Costigan, etc.!
Rated by buyers 
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I just didn't find Kull as entertaining as Conan, or even as Solomon Kane, for that matter. I was also angry that what was advertised as a book of Kull stories turned out to be something like 40% stories and 60% fragments in various states of incompleteness.
I really, really wanted to like the book. The plentiful drawings were very atmospheric, and the language--particularly in description of place and mood (for my money, Howard competes with the titanic Henry James)--was so stirring that it took your breath away in anticipation of stunning action. But such action simply never materialized--or, if and when it did, it had little to do with our putative protagonist.
Btw you can really see how Howard was just beginning to get into the flow, even having difficulty summoning up names of characters: in one story, we have a Thulsa Doom and a Kulun Kroom (or some such quite close), while another story features a Ka, a Kaa-u, and a Ka-nu. Please, now, how are we supposed to keep track of such characters? One is reminded of 1970s Saturday morning cartoons like "Korg: 70,000 BC," wherein everyone was named Ug.
"Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" could be favorably compared to Dostoyevsky's "A Strange Man's Dream." I wonder if I'm the very first to notice.
Rated by buyers -
This is an excellent book to read if you like Conan like books. A reader has to pay close attention as the story line changes rather quickly at times. I wish the publishers would publish this book in larger print.
I give this book 5 thumbs up.
D. Eckart
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