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old_odd_biscuit's review against another edition
2.0
Robert E. Howard didn't write enough about his hero Bran Mak Morn, King of the Pics, to establish a running series like he did with Conan, or even Solomon Kane. This collection brings together just three stories in which he appears, and two that are set centuries later which only describe him. Making up the volume for length is miscellanea about Howard's take on Picts. There is another story, 'The Lost Race', which is presumably included only because it involves Picts and is set approximately in Bran's time period.
The stories are a mixture of genres and viewpoints, and we don't get any consistent view of Bran such as you'd expect in an ongoing series. He is the point of view character in only one of the stories, 'Worms of the Earth', which in my opinion is the best. In the other two stories he appears in, he comes across very differently each time, seen from the perspective of others - a Roman prisoner at his mercy and a Gael commander who fights alongside him.
Genre also seems unsettled. The stand-out 'Worms of the Earth' is a horror and supernatural story, while 'Kings of the Night' is a historical war story with a fantasy element. The others fall at various places in between.
There are some lines of good writing. I was taken by some of the writing in small atmospheric moments in 'Worms of the Earth', such as when Bran walks outside in a bleak landscape: "he walked like the last man on the day after the end of the world." In 'The Dark Man', there is this similarly striking line that acts as punctuation between scenes: "The day was sad and leaden. The wind moaned and the everlasting monotone of the sea was like the sorrow that is born in the heart of man." Moments like these lifted the experience above the usual working competence of the writing.
I personally don't have patience for long, detailed fight scenes, and still less for big battle scenes, so whenever they occur, my engagement dropped. But what really lets this down for me is how clumsily Howard integrates his reflections on race into a narrative. He seems to like this topic and brings it up often.
'Men of Shadows' begins with the effective hook of our point of view character, a Roman soldier, surviving a Pict attack that kills all his comrades. He is taken prisoner and marched off to see the Pict chief. But in a curious storytelling decision, Howard has an old man take up the rest of the story speaking aloud a fantasy history of the Pictish race. We never come back to the soldier.
'Children of the Night' similarly shoehorns in an imagination-fuelled anthropology rant. It was here I realised that Howard is being a literary romantic about the subject, in the sense of 'passion and imagination is more true than academic learning'. I have noted a few instances in Howard's writing where a character says civilisation's science is inferior to what the savage knows instinctively. Howard seems more personally involved in his race narrative than his other fantasies and I wonder if he doesn't really believe it because it 'feels' true to him.
Other aspects of history make it to the page seemingly intact. Howard was a voracious reader and some of what he consumed was clearly history. The stories collected here seem proud to detail what kind of clothing Gaels, Norsemen and Picts wore. But I would like to know what history books he read before I put much weight on the history aspect of his stories. I'm worried about him having a wild panther in a forest and a shield made of buffalo hide in Roman Britain. I admit I don't know if these were possible, that's why I'm curious.
If you want to delve into Robert E. Howard's fantasy anthropology then this book will be good. But if you are just looking for a good story, it will disappoint.
The stories are a mixture of genres and viewpoints, and we don't get any consistent view of Bran such as you'd expect in an ongoing series. He is the point of view character in only one of the stories, 'Worms of the Earth', which in my opinion is the best. In the other two stories he appears in, he comes across very differently each time, seen from the perspective of others - a Roman prisoner at his mercy and a Gael commander who fights alongside him.
Genre also seems unsettled. The stand-out 'Worms of the Earth' is a horror and supernatural story, while 'Kings of the Night' is a historical war story with a fantasy element. The others fall at various places in between.
There are some lines of good writing. I was taken by some of the writing in small atmospheric moments in 'Worms of the Earth', such as when Bran walks outside in a bleak landscape: "he walked like the last man on the day after the end of the world." In 'The Dark Man', there is this similarly striking line that acts as punctuation between scenes: "The day was sad and leaden. The wind moaned and the everlasting monotone of the sea was like the sorrow that is born in the heart of man." Moments like these lifted the experience above the usual working competence of the writing.
I personally don't have patience for long, detailed fight scenes, and still less for big battle scenes, so whenever they occur, my engagement dropped. But what really lets this down for me is how clumsily Howard integrates his reflections on race into a narrative. He seems to like this topic and brings it up often.
'Men of Shadows' begins with the effective hook of our point of view character, a Roman soldier, surviving a Pict attack that kills all his comrades. He is taken prisoner and marched off to see the Pict chief. But in a curious storytelling decision, Howard has an old man take up the rest of the story speaking aloud a fantasy history of the Pictish race. We never come back to the soldier.
'Children of the Night' similarly shoehorns in an imagination-fuelled anthropology rant. It was here I realised that Howard is being a literary romantic about the subject, in the sense of 'passion and imagination is more true than academic learning'. I have noted a few instances in Howard's writing where a character says civilisation's science is inferior to what the savage knows instinctively. Howard seems more personally involved in his race narrative than his other fantasies and I wonder if he doesn't really believe it because it 'feels' true to him.
Other aspects of history make it to the page seemingly intact. Howard was a voracious reader and some of what he consumed was clearly history. The stories collected here seem proud to detail what kind of clothing Gaels, Norsemen and Picts wore. But I would like to know what history books he read before I put much weight on the history aspect of his stories. I'm worried about him having a wild panther in a forest and a shield made of buffalo hide in Roman Britain. I admit I don't know if these were possible, that's why I'm curious.
If you want to delve into Robert E. Howard's fantasy anthropology then this book will be good. But if you are just looking for a good story, it will disappoint.
kirkreads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
Before Conan, before Solomon Kane, and even before Kull of Atlantis, there was Bran Mak Morn, King of the Picts. In fact, Bran was the second main character ever developed by Robert E. Howard, second only to Francis X. Gordon (El Borak). This book contains several stories about Bran as well as numerous fragments, untitled/unsold stories, essays, letters (most notably to and from Weird Tales magazine and Howard’s buddy, H.P. Lovecraft), etc. that help to define REH’s life-long interest in the Picts.
The more pulp fiction that I read, the more I have come to appreciate Howard’s work. His historical research and in-depth understanding of history, its peoples and cultures, all led to stories that have a genuine ring of actual historical texture to them, even for those stories that are part of his imaginary history. The Picts are a perfect example, described in this book in an authentic manner while also appearing in Conan’s Hyborian age stories. Often, they are the enemy race and easily maligned so for Howard to create a character such as Bran Mak Morn that will lead such a people, was perhaps risky but also admirable.
These stories were written early in Howard’s career and as such there is inconsistency among them. I wish Howard had developed Bran more thoroughly through additional stories but alas, Conan came along and that market drove Howard’s output for several years and put an end to Bran. A couple of the stories in this volume have very small roles for Bran himself and tend to concentrate on co-characters or take a wide-angle lens approach to the history of the era. It seems as if Howard’s penchant for research was translating itself directly into the story, rather than developing a typical plot structure that we might expect. This book includes those stories for the sake of completeness, even though the pulp magazines didn’t buy them. As such, while I heartily recommend this book to Howard readers (indeed, necessary reading), for others who are simply looking for another Conan-style character, I would still encourage diving into these stories simply on their own merits…just expect a different experience.
The more pulp fiction that I read, the more I have come to appreciate Howard’s work. His historical research and in-depth understanding of history, its peoples and cultures, all led to stories that have a genuine ring of actual historical texture to them, even for those stories that are part of his imaginary history. The Picts are a perfect example, described in this book in an authentic manner while also appearing in Conan’s Hyborian age stories. Often, they are the enemy race and easily maligned so for Howard to create a character such as Bran Mak Morn that will lead such a people, was perhaps risky but also admirable.
These stories were written early in Howard’s career and as such there is inconsistency among them. I wish Howard had developed Bran more thoroughly through additional stories but alas, Conan came along and that market drove Howard’s output for several years and put an end to Bran. A couple of the stories in this volume have very small roles for Bran himself and tend to concentrate on co-characters or take a wide-angle lens approach to the history of the era. It seems as if Howard’s penchant for research was translating itself directly into the story, rather than developing a typical plot structure that we might expect. This book includes those stories for the sake of completeness, even though the pulp magazines didn’t buy them. As such, while I heartily recommend this book to Howard readers (indeed, necessary reading), for others who are simply looking for another Conan-style character, I would still encourage diving into these stories simply on their own merits…just expect a different experience.
elimiles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.25
lakserk's review against another edition
4.0
The first part, consisting of the published Pictish stories of Howard (plus 2 poems), is (almost) pure gold. Apart from the first story (Men of the Shadows) which offers a lot of background (somewhat clumsily), the rest are top specimens of historical Sword & Sorcery with a horror edge. Worms of the Earth and Kings of the Night are flawless, with The Dark Man and The Lost Race following close behind.
The second part consists of miscellaneous writings (stories, fragments, a play, an essay, etc) concerning Bran Mak Morn and the Picts, some of them written by an adolescent Howard. They are of lesser quality but of interest to the avid aficionado.
Finally, there are 3 exhaustive appendices, concerning Howard and the Picts (a chronology, an essay and notes on the texts).
The art of Gary Gianni is amazing and plentiful (though, understandably, only present in the first half) making the book a work of art. Definitely recommended, if just for the first part.
The second part consists of miscellaneous writings (stories, fragments, a play, an essay, etc) concerning Bran Mak Morn and the Picts, some of them written by an adolescent Howard. They are of lesser quality but of interest to the avid aficionado.
Finally, there are 3 exhaustive appendices, concerning Howard and the Picts (a chronology, an essay and notes on the texts).
The art of Gary Gianni is amazing and plentiful (though, understandably, only present in the first half) making the book a work of art. Definitely recommended, if just for the first part.
aoc's review against another edition
4.0
I've always found it challenging how to approach collection reviews if only because they're inherently uneven. Even if there is a tinge of that here in Bran Mak Morn: The Last King I walked away tremendously satisfied with how Howard ties all the material together as far as tone and mood are concerned. Included in the book are also his musings, research and correspondence with various parties as to where he was going with his stories that make for quite the insight regarding an author with a number now cult classic characters to his name.
Of the actual published works there are no weak entries here. It helps the book starts out strong with Men of the Shadows and that foreboding poem absolutely sets the stage with verses speaking of stone men's doom as we witness Bran Mak Morn for the first time through a captured soldier's eyes. Much time is spent on divulging his history and plights of the race of Picts he's trying so desperately to save almost despite their nature. This is then followed up by Kings of the Night which is a longer story involving our eponymous protagonist as he's mustering final forces before the big confrontation against the Romans with Cormac of Connacht joining his lot... and audience discovering old Gonar might be more than just crazy with his talks of wizardry. Where some others would summarize a battle Howard goes into exquisite detail on how all these different people would partake. You might even recognize a certain mythical king from ages long past if you've read the man's other works. And lastly, Worms of the Earth. This one concerns Bran Mak Morn personally, or under a pseudonym for narrative reasons, as he agrees to an unspeakable alliance to strike at forces of Rome. This is the one where mystical forces are brought to the stage and are definitely regarded as making a deal with the devil that will come for payment.
There are more stories, but seeing as they do not involve our doomed king directly I'll leave for you to dig into them. I would say they concern a matter possibly more important than our hero, as much as Howard saw some of himself in Bran Mak Morn according to personal notes - race of Picts. He hadn't immediately settled on what they were beyond "a stunted, dark-skinned remnants of once glorious people" and he toys with their origins in at least two stories. Interestingly, they're set later in the timeline and you see "doomed" was apt description. If anything author seems to have an unhealthy obsession with races even if his extrapolations and theories go so far back to employ creative freedoms regarding historical migrations and such. He repeats these facts overbearingly enough that you buy into them with ease as this grand goal of their last living king. If I had to risk it I'd say there's a degree of repetitiveness involved because I'm not reading these stories as they were originally penned for singular magazine releases. Read back-to-back their shared themes can become grating. Howard's at times lecture-style narrations of their backstory doesn't help and is salvaged by otherwise evocative, rich scene setting immediately transporting you to savage Britain and brutal wards of his.
Worth noting is the Untitled story later discovered that had plans to include Bran Mak Morn had Howard gotten around to completing it. This never happened and it's a shame because what we got, story spanning multiple characters and ages, was a great appetizer. I wonder how last of the pure Picts would've fit in. There is something engaging in reading a long lost typescript with errors and all.
Lastly there are correspondences I brought up in the opening. This is where you're either glued to the text as you WANT to find out more about author's inner thoughts and process or you'll just skim over as they summarize the stories you read. Of peculiar note were his letters to H.P. Lovecraft and discourse on nature of Picts. In fact, I was astonished to find out just how many of Howard's ideas ended up in the stories themselves. Which might explain the long-winded nature of explanations at times - he really wanted to cram it all in.
Of the actual published works there are no weak entries here. It helps the book starts out strong with Men of the Shadows and that foreboding poem absolutely sets the stage with verses speaking of stone men's doom as we witness Bran Mak Morn for the first time through a captured soldier's eyes. Much time is spent on divulging his history and plights of the race of Picts he's trying so desperately to save almost despite their nature. This is then followed up by Kings of the Night which is a longer story involving our eponymous protagonist as he's mustering final forces before the big confrontation against the Romans with Cormac of Connacht joining his lot... and audience discovering old Gonar might be more than just crazy with his talks of wizardry. Where some others would summarize a battle Howard goes into exquisite detail on how all these different people would partake. You might even recognize a certain mythical king from ages long past if you've read the man's other works. And lastly, Worms of the Earth. This one concerns Bran Mak Morn personally, or under a pseudonym for narrative reasons, as he agrees to an unspeakable alliance to strike at forces of Rome. This is the one where mystical forces are brought to the stage and are definitely regarded as making a deal with the devil that will come for payment.
There are more stories, but seeing as they do not involve our doomed king directly I'll leave for you to dig into them. I would say they concern a matter possibly more important than our hero, as much as Howard saw some of himself in Bran Mak Morn according to personal notes - race of Picts. He hadn't immediately settled on what they were beyond "a stunted, dark-skinned remnants of once glorious people" and he toys with their origins in at least two stories. Interestingly, they're set later in the timeline and you see "doomed" was apt description. If anything author seems to have an unhealthy obsession with races even if his extrapolations and theories go so far back to employ creative freedoms regarding historical migrations and such. He repeats these facts overbearingly enough that you buy into them with ease as this grand goal of their last living king. If I had to risk it I'd say there's a degree of repetitiveness involved because I'm not reading these stories as they were originally penned for singular magazine releases. Read back-to-back their shared themes can become grating. Howard's at times lecture-style narrations of their backstory doesn't help and is salvaged by otherwise evocative, rich scene setting immediately transporting you to savage Britain and brutal wards of his.
Worth noting is the Untitled story later discovered that had plans to include Bran Mak Morn had Howard gotten around to completing it. This never happened and it's a shame because what we got, story spanning multiple characters and ages, was a great appetizer. I wonder how last of the pure Picts would've fit in. There is something engaging in reading a long lost typescript with errors and all.
Lastly there are correspondences I brought up in the opening. This is where you're either glued to the text as you WANT to find out more about author's inner thoughts and process or you'll just skim over as they summarize the stories you read. Of peculiar note were his letters to H.P. Lovecraft and discourse on nature of Picts. In fact, I was astonished to find out just how many of Howard's ideas ended up in the stories themselves. Which might explain the long-winded nature of explanations at times - he really wanted to cram it all in.
zare_i's review against another edition
4.0
Having never read Conan stories I decided to take a look at the works of a man considered to be a master storyteller and a writer that has triggered entire heroic-epic-fantasy concept (exaggeration perhaps but after reading this book I can say that he is very very good storyteller and writer). I took this book because everyone said that Howard was obsessed with Picts and that his stories about them were the best.[return][return]This one is a story of an ancient race, one that has ruled entire Europe during the stone age but after being driven away by more advanced (and aggressive) races is now left in state of complete savagery - they have even degraded both mentally and physically. Bran is the last king of these people, man whose ancestors have kept their bloodline pure [as author would say] (meaning they haven't mixed with other races) - he is truly the last of his/their kind. He tries to civilize his people and unite them again - but at the end when he falls in battle they return to their savage ways.[return][return]Sad story about the man giving his best to save his nation although he knows he will not succeed in that endeavor.[return][return]Great book, read it. I am aiming now to read other Howard's books :)
dantastic's review against another edition
3.0
Bran Mak Morn is the last king of the Picts and will do whatever it takes to help his people. That's all you need to know going in.
I liked this omnibus about as much as the Kull one I read at the beginning of the year but not as much as Solomon Kane and definitely not as much as Conan. My favorite story in it is Worms of the Earth, where Bran makes a deal with some Lovecraftian beasties.
I enjoyed it and I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't consider Bran an essential read for Howard fans.
I liked this omnibus about as much as the Kull one I read at the beginning of the year but not as much as Solomon Kane and definitely not as much as Conan. My favorite story in it is Worms of the Earth, where Bran makes a deal with some Lovecraftian beasties.
I enjoyed it and I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't consider Bran an essential read for Howard fans.
gamato's review against another edition
5.0
Everybody who knows Robert E Howard knows Conan. Some go on to read his Kull stories which were written earlier. But those characters are nearly the same, the difference in the works more due to Howard's maturing as a writer and giving Conan a bit more depth of character.
I like them all, but the Bran Mak Morn stories have a different feel. This character wasn't set up to be invincible like Conan and Kull. He was conceived from the beginning as a king who fought for his people's place in the world but Howard tells us from early on Bran ultimately loses this fight. That sense of loss underlying every heroic act, in my opinion, tells us a lot about what the author was feeling. This is no super human who will succeed no matter what he does, he's much more human than that.
I only wish Howard had written more of the stories of Bran Mak Morn before he died. The Conan stories are probably better for pure high adventure, but despite being an early character for Howard, I think the Bran stories might be my favorites.
I like them all, but the Bran Mak Morn stories have a different feel. This character wasn't set up to be invincible like Conan and Kull. He was conceived from the beginning as a king who fought for his people's place in the world but Howard tells us from early on Bran ultimately loses this fight. That sense of loss underlying every heroic act, in my opinion, tells us a lot about what the author was feeling. This is no super human who will succeed no matter what he does, he's much more human than that.
I only wish Howard had written more of the stories of Bran Mak Morn before he died. The Conan stories are probably better for pure high adventure, but despite being an early character for Howard, I think the Bran stories might be my favorites.