| Author | Message | ||
     John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.203.130.211 |
I've just finished reading the Wordsworth Edition of The Right Hand of Doom & Other Stories by Robert E Howard and I have to say I don't think I have ever read a better book of pulp adventures. Usually when I get to action sequences in books I skim read them but I found Howard's writing absolutely riveting. Mix in a generous dollop of witchcraft, ghosts, pirates and good old fashioned monsters like giant harpies and what more could you want? The introduction notes that Ramsay(sic) wrote some Solomon Kane stories of his own - anyone know where those ended up? | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.5.6.23 |
There were plans to develop the Solomon Kane stories into a movie at one point, not too long ago... I wonder what happened to that?... | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.163.140 |
Three of the Solomon Kane stories were left unfinished by Howard and completed by Ramsey in 1976: 'Hawk of Basti', 'The Children of Asshur' and 'The Castle of the Devil'. I don't know whether the Wordsworth volume has the completed versions or the unfinished fragments, which have also been published. The Solomon Kane volume of the Baen Books Robert E. Howard Library (1995) has an intro by Ramsey that explains how this happened. Craig, the Solomon Kane film has been advertised recently and I think will be out early next year. The advance publicity poster has Kane bearing a relatively modern firearm. Rumours that he also has an iPhone may, however, prove unfounded. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.163.140 |
I share John's enthusiasm for the SK stories. They, the Bran Mak Morn stories and a handful of pure supernatural horror stories show Howard to be a much darker writer than the Conan cycle alone would suggest. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 206.53.144.83 |
It's a movie?!?... That's sad news to me, joel - only because I was hoping it dead, a chance for me to someday develop.... Oh well, a film will make up for it. I hope. | ||
| Jamie Rosen (Jamie) Username: Jamie Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 192.26.212.72 |
There's also a Solomon Kane tabletop role-playing game using the Savage Worlds system. No idea if it's any good or not. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.47.10.77 |
Great news! Really looking forward to this. James Purefoy in the lead. http://www.solomonkane.com/ | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I take it you've got a thing for James Purefoy, Ally?  I'm dubious as hell about this one chiefly because it is impossible to film Howard accurately in the modern era - "improvements" in special effects notwithstanding. The "anything goes" era of the 1970s-early 80s was the time for an accurate (i.e. unfettered by political correctness) Howard adaptation and by that I mean something that looked like John Boorman's 'Excalibur' rather than Arnie camping it up in 'Conan The Barbarian' (I really hate that bloody film). | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
On the whole I liked the film a good deal, and I saw no problematical political correctness in it. | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Are you talking about the new Solomon Kane movie. Ramsey? I wasn't aware it was out yet. If you meant 'Conan The Barbarian' it certainly wasn't PC but was just very, very bad imho. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.72 |
Ramsey's seen it early because he's doing the novelisation. And I'm really looking forward to the book. | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I'm glad to see it's a British-Euro co-production rather than some crappy Hollywood job. This and Ramsey's involvement bodes well... here's hoping! | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
"Are you talking about the new Solomon Kane movie. Ramsey?" I am indeed! | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.47.10.77 |
Three things/reasons....Steve. Robert E. Howard. Ramsey Campbell. James Purefoy. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
I love 'Conan The Barbarian'. Great film - quite gritty and incredibly violent in its uncut form. The sequal was terrible, though. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
sequel, even... | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.156.233.165 |
http://uk.mg.bt.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.partner=bt-1&.gx=1&.rand=1509065014&ac tion=showLetter&umid=1_1026664_AJC8ktkAACODS2sFxguX2nw7jPk&box=Inbox | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.5.7.2 |
Uh... I think that's a bad link, Tony.... | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.156.233.165 |
Here we are! http://forbiddenplanet.com/events/2010/02/20/james-purefoy/?utm_source=newslette r&utm_medium=email&utm_content=(1)%20meet-solomon-kane-star-james-purefoy&utm_campaign=20100204_meet-james-pure foy A chance to have a Ramsey book signed by, um, an actor in the film. | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
I'd say get one signed by him if you can - it's a fine performance. | ||
| Ramsey Campbell (Ramsey) Username: Ramsey Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
Sorry, John! I overlooked your original question. I didn't actually write any short Kane tales, but completed those that Howard left unfinished. The posthumous collaborations are in the Bantam paperbacks. | ||
| Colin Leslie (Blackabyss) Username: Blackabyss Registered: 02-2010 Posted From: 86.164.67.73 |
Really looking forward to both Ramsey's book and the film next week. It's about time someone did something worthwhile with a Robert E. Howard character. |