I have read all of Howard's Conan stories in one form or another. I haven't actually read many of his other works until recently. I've now read some Bran Mac Morn and Kull stories. I just finished "The Shadow Kingdom" last night and something interesting happened. My blood started racing as I read it. I've re-read several of the Conan stories recently and, with an exception or two, I wasn't as impressed with them as an adult as I was as a teen. But for some reason "The Shadow Kingdom" affected me in the same way the Conan stories did in those years long ago. I don't know why. Maybe it was because I hadn't read it before? Perhaps. I didn't find it great literature or any such thing. I enjoy Howard's work but I don't worship every drop of ink his pen produced as some seem to do. But I really did enjoy the story and that was refreshing.
(On a personal note, my two favorite authors in the early '80s were Robert E. Howard and H. Beam Piper. My teenaged mind gave great weight to the fact that they both committed suicide. Oh, those long ago though processes.)
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