Kurt Wagner's Kane

bolen · Mar 2, 2004

I just read about this at the science fiction book club. They compare it to Howard's Conan or Morcock's Elric. Is he that good?

I am not looking for literature, just something on the level of Howard.

Krieg · Mar 3, 2004

bolen said:
Is he that good?

In a word...Yes.

trancejeremy · Mar 3, 2004

bolen said:
I just read about this at the science fiction book club. They compare it to Howard's Conan or Morcock's Elric. Is he that good?

I am not looking for literature, just something on the level of Howard.

Karl Edward Wagner.

Very comparable, actually. I would say they have similar styles and "feel".

Elric was sort of the anti-Conan. But Kane is sort of an anti-Elric. He's as barbaric and savage as Conan, but at the same time, as smart as Elric (not that Conan was dumb, but Kane also is aquainted with magic and such, though he almost never uses it)

The Kane series is more like Conan, but it's more like Conan meets HPL. Conan's world uses some of the same words as HPL's, but Howards evil god was mostly "Set".

Also, bear in mind, it's quite a bit grimmer than either. Kane, while actually pretty likeable, is a pretty evil fellow. And the tone of the stories is a bit dark. There are a couple case where I thought while reading the books "Man, that's really sick".

bolen · Mar 3, 2004

Well I just ordered it so if I don't like it, can I send you the bill trancejeremy?

Teflon Billy · Mar 3, 2004

trancejeremy said:
Karl Edward Wagner.

Heh..."Nightcrawler's Kane"

Elric was sort of the anti-Conan. But Kane is sort of an anti-Elric...

That's a neat observation man

Also, bear in mind, it's quite a bit grimmer than either. Kane, while actually pretty likeable, is a pretty evil fellow...

Yeah, I mean nobody is really "pure" in the Kane books, but for the most part Kane is the bad guy in most of the stories

Hand of Evil · Mar 3, 2004

Yes - Kane is a cult read, the books were hard to come by when they were first published, they mix Conan, Elric and a little CoC.

Kane is non-typical, looks like a barbarian but is very charming and civilized, he knows power of all kinds, behind the throne, from the throne, from the shadows. He is a bad guy, he will kill by ANY means and I mean any be it bring up a demon, to poison, back stabbing you in an ally, hiring some one or just doing it in combat. He loves power and knowledge is power and he has a lot of it.

Rugger · Mar 3, 2004

I just ordered the two available compilations from the SFBC based on good word of mouth I've heard for years...fingers crossed!

-Rugger

jgbrowning · Mar 3, 2004

I also have both compilations. I'm glad Nightshade books is reprinting them. Very good work, IMHO.

joe b.

Cthulhu's Librarian · Mar 3, 2004

There is some more info on Kane in this thread, including the order of the stories. I just received my copy of the 2nd volume in the mail this afternoon from the SFBC, and I'm looking forward to reading both of them.