The Sowers of the Thunder

Four Short Stories by Robert E. Howard set in the "Orient" of the 13th-16th century. Each story pits a Western, Christian, former-Crusader against a leader of an Eastern Empire/Kingdom. No magic or sorcery, rather, inhuman strength and determination of the protagonists (much like we see in the Conan Character) as he or she fights for what they deem to be right. The stories do not give clear-cut "good" and "bad" designations to the main characters, I guess you could say there are definite anti-heroes in each.

The descriptions are rich and fully developed. Howard had a way of translating the battles and the people involved in those battles so the reader was/is transported to those places and situations. He does not over write his stories. show more Although the stories are often brutal, they are not overly graphic. When he writes of the Janizaries burning captives alive, he leaves it at that- he does not give grisly descriptions of what is happening. He allows the intelligence of the reader to fill in the gaps as they need to be.

Each story pits an Eastern leader (often part of or leader of the Ottoman Empire) against a Western (usually) former Christian Crusader. Often the Christian (infidel dog) works with the Eastern leader through part or all of the story, although the ending is generally a physical or psychological end for the Eastern leader. The Christian does not always come out on top as "the winner". The lives and stories of the characters as chronicled by Howard are complex.

Although the settings and many of the characters come from actual historical knowledge, the stories and the inclusion of the Christian into the lives of these characters are not.

An interesting point: in the story The Shadow of the Vulture, the character of Red Sonya is introduced and her backstory is described. The Red Sonja of the modern era is adapted from this character. show less

I picked up this edition as my other one was falling apart. The same 4 excellent historical, sword swinging stories as other editions & some excellent pen & ink artwork that was very distracting. I almost took off a star for it. I LIKE it, but I don't like where it was placed. All too often it's in the middle of sentences so that there is a word or two on either side. Other pictures were big enough that one margin would have a single word per line running down the side. Yuck!!!

The four stories are:
"The Lion of Tiberias"
"The Sowers of the Thunder"
"Lord of Samarcand"
"The Shadow of the Vulture" has Red Sonya in it. It's the only original Howard story I've read featuring her that I can think of.

All the stories feature famous figures in show more turbulent historical times & feature heroic deeds. No sorcery or fantastic elements, unless you count their prowess & endurance. Some of his best stories ever. show less

This is the first edition I bought new & it is now falling apart. The same 4 excellent historical, sword swinging stories as other editions & some excellent pen & ink artwork that was very distracting. I almost took off a star for it. I LIKE it, but I don't like where it was placed. All too often it's in the middle of sentences so that there is a word or two on either side. Other pictures were big enough that one margin would have a single word per line running down the side. Yuck!!!

The four stories are:
"The Lion of Tiberias"
"The Sowers of the Thunder"
"Lord of Samarcand"
"The Shadow of the Vulture" has Red Sonya in it. It's the only original Howard story I've read featuring her that I can think of.

All the stories feature famous show more figures in turbulent historical times & feature heroic deeds. No sorcery or fantastic elements, unless you count their prowess & endurance. Some of his best stories ever. show less

4 great stories in this one. Fictional historical heroic fantasy.

Some good epic fantasy from the Father of Sword & Sorcery!!!

Some good epic fantasy from the Father of Sword & Sorcery!!!

Another of my favorite Howard collections