D&D General No One Reads Conan Now -- So What Are They Reading?

[TiQuinn]

Clearly “no-one” is an exaggeration and not literally intended as not a single person anywhere reads Conan anymore.

It’s a statement of cultural relevancy.

 

[Enaknomolos]

Clearly “no-one” is an exaggeration and not literally intended as not a single person anywhere reads Conan anymore.

It’s a statement of cultural relevancy.

If your hyperbole inadvertently sidelines black and female writers that drew on Howard like Saunders or CL Moore, get better hyperbole

This and 'well I don't see it much on Reddit', at the same time as Monolith's widely-discussed Conan RPG Kickstarter raised almost half a million dollars, says nothing about the 'cultural relevancy' (what does that even mean?) of Howard. It just says what internet circles you move in.

 

[TiQuinn]

If your hyperbole inadvertently sidelines black and female writers that drew on Howard like Saunders or CL Moore, get better hyperbole

This and 'well I don't see it much on Reddit', at the same time as Monolith's widely-discussed Conan RPG Kickstarter raised almost half a million dollars, says nothing about the 'cultural relevancy' (what does that even mean?) of Howard. It just says what internet circles you move in.

C.L. Moore died nearly 40 years ago.

When at least I talk about relevancy, I’m not talking about what a hobbyist writes back out onto the Internet. I can clearly see how you don’t understand the problem with Google books and ngrams now. I’m looking for multiple examples of the character and the genre in other forms of media from other contemporary creators. From my vantage point, REH is likely on a decline — not nil — but also not a major factor in fantasy writing at the present.

 

[Enaknomolos]

C.L. Moore died nearly 40 years ago.

When at least I talk about relevancy, I’m not talking about what a hobbyist writes back out onto the Internet. I can clearly see how you don’t understand the problem with Google books and ngrams now. I’m looking for multiple examples of the character and the genre in other forms of media from other contemporary creators. From my vantage point, REH is likely on a decline — not nil — but also not a major factor in fantasy writing at the present.

You mean like Conan comics (at the highest peak since the 70's) and games (Monolith) or a bustling literary scene - actually money-making, albeit modestly so, and startlingly innovative in places (check out the newest Old Moon, for example). Have you engaged with that or do you throw out 'relevant' and 'hobbyist' like the words mean anything?

 

[GobHag]

You mean like Conan comics (at the highest peak since the 70's) and games (Monolith) or a bustling literary scene - actually money-making, albeit modestly so, and startlingly innovative in places (check out the newest Old Moon, for example). Have you engaged with that or do you throw out 'relevant' and 'hobbyist' like the words mean anything?

This is like me saying that Beatles is what all the kids are listening now because they have 32.2M spotify listeners

 

[Enaknomolos]

So 'relevant' just means 'cool with the kids' in a vague undefined way?

By the way, your total disinterest in evidence is showing again

 

[Mannahnin]

as though brilliant black writers haven't been inspired by him while challenging his racism for decades at this point (no mention of Charles R Saunders or Milton Davis, really?).

Just a quick side note, there were several posts discussing Saunders and Imaro earlier in the thread (between posts 181 and 248, for example).

 

[TiQuinn]

You mean like Conan comics (at the highest peak since the 70's) and games (Monolith) or a bustling literary scene - actually money-making, albeit modestly so, and startlingly innovative in places (check out the newest Old Moon, for example). Have you engaged with that or do you throw out 'relevant' and 'hobbyist' like the words mean anything?

Is this all just because someone challenged the validity of your Google Books post?

 

[GobHag]

So 'relevant' just means 'cool with the kids' in a vague undefined way?

By the way, your total disinterest in evidence is showing again

Yeah I know they're popular--they're the beatles--but are they hip with the kids(also that's literally for 6 years ago now)? I'm glad that Sword and Sorcery survives, but it's just another genre right now.

It's like suggesting that the hot new thing that's all the rage with the kids is "Yesterday"

That is in fact, what I'm asking yes. I honestly think most of this discussion about Conan is a waste and wanted to know more what is the recent kind of works that inspire campaigns and homebrew.

 

[Enaknomolos]

Is this all just because someone challenged the validity of your Google Books post?

No, that response was, I thought, a really good. It marshaled good evidence instead of just saying 'relevant' in a vague undefined way. Obviously, I disagree with Clint_L there; but he properly engaged with the question.