Book Review - “The Savage Tales Of Solomon Kane” by Robert E. Howard

March 27, 2009 by tcgames

Solomon Kane is one of Robert E. Howard’s most enigmatic characters. First appearing in 1928, there were nine short stories, three poems and four fragments written by Howard about the dour-faced Puritan avenger. All of these woks appear in “The Savage Tales Of Solomon Kane” by Robert E. Howard. This edition contains all of Howard’s published work on Kane, as well as the known fragments that were never completed. Also included is a dedication to Robert E. Howard by H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft admired Howard as a writer and as a man. Through their correspondence, they shared their ideas and experiences with each other, forming a friendship that lasted until Howard’s death in 1936.

Some of the Kane stories are much darker than others, but they all share the same dark mood, symbolic of Kane’s time. Taking place sometime during the late 16th, early 17th centuries, the stories follow the Puritan avenger all over the globe. From England, Africa, Cathay, and beyond, Kane travels the world and goes where fate leads him, one day at a time.

In all of the stories, Kane’s personality is set in stone and does not alter. His path is never certain but his mission is: to right wrongs, help the helpless and avenge the fallen. All else is secondary in life for Solomon Kane.

In “Skulls In The Stars”, where we first meet Kane, he investigates a strange horror haunting a moor near a frightened village. In “Red Shadows”, Kane finds a dying girl in the forest, swearing to avenge her death, and years later, meeting the murderer in a final showdown. Here we see that Kane’s ability with the sword is truly amazing and Howard’s descriptions of battle come to vivid life on the page. This story is also where we meet N’Longa, a powerful African Shaman, who becomes a recurring character in the Kane stories.

In “The Hills Of The Dead”, N’Longa gives Kane a mysterious wooden staff. In “Hawk Of Basti”, Howard describes the strange artifact: “It was as long as a sword, hard as iron and sharpened at the smaller end. The other end was carved in the shape of a cat’s head, and all up and down the stave were strange wavering lines and curious carvings.”

The Kane stories give us a wide range of genre styles. From ghost stories, jungle adventures, swashbuckling duels, and even a somewhat loosely disguised Cthulhu Mythos tale is included. With all of these settings and styles, the mood is still that of a somber Puritan whose sole responsibility is to serve others and help in whatever capacity is needed.

The book itself is arranged nicely. It is a large 9X6 paperback with interior artwork by Gary Gianni. In the back of the book, there are notes on the original Howard text, and a short biography on Robert E. Howard. I recommend getting this book if you like Howard’s other work, if you like high adventure, and if you like tales that span a myriad of genres, landscapes, and adversaries. “The Savage Tales Of Solomon Kane” provides all of that in a complete, spine tingling package.

The Savage Tales Of Solomon Kane
A Del Rey Book
Paperback, 9X6, 414 pages
July 2004 edition
Review by JR Todd

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