Book Review: The Right Hand of Doom and Other Stories by Robert Howard

The Right Hand of Doom and Other Tales of Solomon Kane by Robert Howard

Solomon Kane is a 1500s man of action. His description in one of this book's stories sums him up well:

He never sought to analyse his motives and he never wavered, once his mind was made up. Though he always acted on impulse, he firmly believed that all his actions were governed by cold and logical reasonings. He was a man born out of his time - a strange blending of Puritan and Cavalier, with a touch of the ancient philosopher, and more than a touch of the pagan, though the last assertion would have shocked him unspeakably. An atavist of the days of blind chivalry he was, a knight errant in the sombre clothes of a fanatic. A hunger in his soul drove him on and on, an urge to right all wrongs, protect all weaker things, avenge all crimes against right and justice. Wayward and restless as the wind, he was consistent in only one respect - he was true to his ideals of justice and right. Such was Solomon Kane. [pp. 79-80]

He pursues his righteous course across seas and continents, though most of his chronicled adventures happen in Africa. He fights both mystical and material opponents with an implacable drive that overwhelms his foes. The action is exciting whether he is fighting winged terrors, pirates, or ancient and cruel civilizations.

The stories are marred a bit by Howard's racism. He describes Africa as "the Dark Continent, land of shadows and horror, of bewitchment and sorcery, into which all evil things had been banished before the growing light of the western world!" [p. 155] Kane gains a black magic weapon from a shaman which he uses all the time despite his Puritanical sensibilities. It's a convenient way to give him some supernatural abilities to complement his hardened will, muscles, and steel (both blades and pistols). The stories also show prejudice against Germans and Russians, which is hardly a comfort to modern readers.

Howard does have a gift for vivid descriptions. The adventures are never boring and often strike the reader as ready material for a fun action movie series. Howard is famous for the Conan the Barbarian stories which have made it to the big screen more than once. In the right hands, these stories could be morphed into a successful franchise. Righteous fury is always popular.

Slightly recommended.