Robert E. Howard was an American author famous for his fantasy and adventure stories. He created iconic character Conan the Barbarian featured in The Hour of the Dragon.
If you enjoy reading books by Robert E. Howard then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy Robert E. Howard's stories of sword and sorcery, you'll probably appreciate Fritz Leiber. He created adventurous tales featuring the memorable duo Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, combining vivid world-building with humor and dark fantasy.
A great place to start is Swords and Deviltry, the first book that introduces readers to these lively adventures.
Michael Moorcock offers readers exciting fantasy adventures full of intriguing characters, moral complexity, and quirky worlds. He is best known for the Elric series, about an albino warrior and his cursed, soul-stealing sword Stormbringer.
Check out the first book in the series, Elric of Melniboné, for a unique take on dark heroic fantasy.
Clark Ashton Smith weaves richly imaginative stories filled with strange worlds, poetic prose, and dreamlike fantasy. Like Howard, Smith created unique lands populated by monsters, ancient secrets, and heroes facing cosmic dangers and occult mysteries.
His best-known collection, The Dark Eidolon and Other Fantasies, will transport readers into his surreal creations.
For those who like the dark, mysterious themes beneath Howard's action, try the weird supernatural fiction of H.P. Lovecraft. His tales often deal with the insignificance of humanity in the face of ancient and cosmic horrors lurking beyond everyday life.
One of his signature stories, The Call of Cthulhu, is an excellent introduction to his eerie universe.
L. Sprague de Camp was instrumental in keeping Robert E. Howard's legacy alive, editing and completing some Conan stories himself. His own original fantasy writing is witty, lively, and filled with clever humor alongside adventurous plots.
Try The Tritonian Ring for a fun and engaging fantasy adventure recalling Howard's imaginative world-building.
Lin Carter is known for adventurous fantasy and sword-and-sorcery stories heavily inspired by classic writers like Robert E. Howard. He creates vivid and imaginative worlds filled with daring heroes, strange creatures, and exciting quests.
Readers who enjoy Conan will probably appreciate Thongor and the Wizard of Lemuria, a tale full of swordplay, magic, and ancient kingdoms, perfect for fans looking for that classic pulp fantasy feel.
C. L. Moore crafted vivid tales of wonder, danger, and exotic imagination. Her characters are complex and memorable, often set against mysterious landscapes and supernatural foes.
If you love Howard’s moody and atmospheric fantasy, you'll likely enjoy Jirel of Joiry, in which Moore introduces readers to Jirel, a formidable warrior-woman who ventures into dark and eerie worlds.
Leigh Brackett blended fantasy and science fiction into exciting stories of adventure and struggle. Her style combines sharp dialogue with fast-paced plots and vibrant, rough-around-the-edges heroes facing exotic dangers.
Fans of Howard might find a satisfying adventure in her novel The Sword of Rhiannon. It offers readers a mix of ancient civilizations, fierce battles, and compelling quests set on a fascinating, mysterious version of Mars.
Karl Edward Wagner writes dark and gritty sword-and-sorcery stories filled with antiheroes, vivid violence, and supernatural horror. Fans of the darker and more haunting elements of Robert E. Howard's fantasy will appreciate Wagner's Kane series, starting with Darkness Weaves.
Kane, the brutal yet charismatic protagonist, roams a hostile world, confronting ancient evils and sinister sorcery.
David Gemmell's stories are packed with heroic figures, brutal battles, and powerful themes of courage, sacrifice, and honor. Gemmell creates strong, flawed characters who face enormous odds with resilience and determination, much like Howard's Conan.
A great starting point is his iconic novel Legend, where an aging warrior fights heroically in a desperate siege against overwhelming odds.
Poul Anderson is known for adventurous storytelling and heroic quests that often blend fantasy with rich historical inspiration. His writing mixes action, mythology, and imaginative worlds, much like Robert E. Howard's bold and adventurous tales.
Anderson's novel The Broken Sword offers readers a vivid fantasy of Viking lore filled with warriors, gods, and gripping conflicts.
Joe Abercrombie crafts dark fantasy filled with gritty realism, morally ambiguous characters, and thrilling battles. If you enjoy Robert E. Howard's tales of grim adventure, Abercrombie might be exactly what you're looking for.
His novel The Blade Itself, the start of his First Law trilogy, offers intense action, complex characters, and plenty of twists and turns.
Jack Vance brings colorful imagination, inventive settings, and a clever approach to fantasy that appeals to readers who appreciate Robert E. Howard's vivid worlds. His writing often features charismatic heroes exploring exotic lands.
Vance's The Dying Earth is set far in the future, full of eccentric characters, compelling magic, and intriguing tales of danger and discovery.
Glen Cook's fantasy is sharp, practical, and focused on gritty combat and camaraderie among hardened fighters. He creates compelling, morally gray characters in violent worlds that Robert E. Howard fans will appreciate.
His book The Black Company follows a mercenary company facing dark magic, brutal enemies, and hard choices, offering gripping, realistic fantasy storytelling.
Steven Erikson immerses readers in vast, epic fantasy, known for powerful world-building and complex storylines involving war, magic, and empires. Like Robert E. Howard's stories, Erikson's novels contain thrilling conflicts and exploration of humanity's darker sides.
His notable work, Gardens of the Moon, begins the sprawling Malazan Book of the Fallen series, drawing readers into a diverse and deeply realized world that feels both gritty and grand.