Season 4 Episode 3: The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune

Look closely at your screen. Do you see a dim reflection of yourself staring back? That person seems so near, yet so far away do they not? They weren't even there until you deigned to notice them. But... maybe you have it wrong. How do you know that you aren't the reflection and the reflection is actually a truer you? How can you ever truly know which is the shade and which is the person?

Now you understand the mindset of our hero Kull as he sits in the House of 1,000 Mirrors with Tuzun Thune! Will Kull find enlightenment in the realm of forms or has he been duped into a mirror prison?! Tune in and find out!

Art by Mike Ploog

Season 4 Episode 2: The Shadow Kingdom!

Welcome back, Cromrades! Apologies for our delays, but won't you please join us as we delve into the "Canonical Kull?" Our discussion this episode focuses on "The Shadow Kingdom," first published in Weird Tales in August of 1929. Is Kull just proto-Conan? WE SAY NAY!

Original story art for "The Shadow Kingdom" by Hugh Rankin.

One Things
Jon - Harmontown (and Community!)
Josh - The Sword's new album, High Country!
Luke - Ghost's new album, Meliora!

Remember, you can get Brian Keene and Steven Shrewsbury's barbaric new book "King of the Bastards" from Apex Publications for 50% off if you use promo code CROMCAST at checkout. If you take advantage of the promo, be sure and let us know what you think of the book!

Questions? Comments? Curses? Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com)
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Subscribe to our feed on FeedBurner! Or, check us out on iTunes!
Finally.... Call us! (859) 429-CROM!

Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning theme: "Sudden Defeat" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Closing theme: "Majesty" by Ghost. All music was obtained legally; we hope our discussion of this content makes you want to go out and purchase the work!

Season 4 Episode 1: Howard and Atlantis (with special guests Jeffrey Shanks, Mark Finn, and Rusty Burke!)

Welcome back, Cromrades! Do we have a doozy of an episode for you! Joining us for the first half of the episode are three huge contributors to Robert E. Howard studies and pulp scholarship, Jeffrey Shanks, Mark Finn, and Rusty Burke! These three literary barbarians are in Providence, RI attending NecronomiCon representing the Robert E. Howard Foundation! If you're there, stop by and say hello! (Also take a selfie with them and tweet it at us! We'd like to make "REH Scholar Selfies" a thing.)

Consummate professionals at work!

Rusty says get your ass over to the Robert E. Howard Foundation website and sign up for a membership! There are different pay tiers that net you various benefits, as well as the regular membership which is free! It's a great way to support REH research and history, and to get familiar with current foundation activity!

Jeffrey co-edited a book forthcoming from Rowman & Littlefield alongside Justin Everett titled The Unique Legacy of Weird Tales: The Evolution of Modern Fantasy and Horror. It's pricy, but will be a great addition to anyone's pulp research library!

Mark has been productive as well! Check out his contributions to the anthologies Barbarian Crowns, HEROIKA Vol. 1: Dragon Eaters, and Asian Pulp!

Plus, these guys are part of a dynamic team collaborating on the new CONAN RPG from Modiphius Entertainment! If you haven't looked this thing over by now, by Crom's beard, what are you waiting for?

Check out Rob P's Lovecraftian music project, Innsmouth Gold! (Many thanks for the One Thing intros!)

One Things
Jon - The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Josh - Documentary, "The Imposter"
Luke - Advanced Demonology podcast, a straight up rock 'n roll podcast - good times, no hassle!

You can get Brian Keene's barbaric new book "King of the Bastards" from Apex Publications for 50% off if you use promo code CROMCAST at checkout. We get nothing, but YOU get a deal! If you take advantage of the promo, be sure and let us know what you think of the book!

This episode was based on REH's Hyborian Age and L. Sprague de Camp's Atlantis essay. You can find his book, "Lost Continents" from Dover Press! You should also check out Jeffrey Shanks' recent essay about Howard's world building on Black Gate!

Be sure to check out the reading list for this season! Let us know what you think, and we'll see you on down the road!

Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Beginning theme: "Sudden Defeat" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: "From Shores Forsaken" by Atlantean Kodex.

Questions? Comments? Curses? Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com)

Leave us a voice mail! (859) 429-CROM! (That's 859-429-2766)

Follow us on Twitter! Or on Facebook! Subscribe to us on iTunes!

SEASON FOUR: THE LOST ROAD

Greetings, travelers! We have a mysterious path before us... Season Four of The Cromcast will cover stories within the Lost World genre. Will you join us on the journey?

Marvel Comics' Map of the Thurian Age

Our reading (and viewing) list for this season will be as follows:

The Hyborian Age (Robert E. Howard)

The Shadow Kingdom (Robert E. Howard)

The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune (Robert E. Howard)

The Temple (H.P. Lovecraft)

The Doom that Came to Sarnath (H.P. Lovecraft)

A Vintage of Atlantis (Clark Ashton Smith)

Thongor of Lemuria (Lin Carter)

The Lost World (1925 film)

King Kong (1933 film)

Tigers of the Sea (Robert E. Howard)

The Temple of Abomination (Robert E. Howard)

King Solomon’s Mines (H. Rider Haggard)

She (1965 film)

Men of the Shadows (Robert E. Howard)

Kings of the Night (Robert E. Howard)

The Dark Man (Robert E. Howard)

Worms of the Earth (Robert E. Howard)

Season 3, Episode 13: Season Finale - Solomon Kane in Review

In the final episode of Season 3, we discuss Solomon Kane in the context of other popular fantasy and science fiction characters. Using Kane and Conan the Cimmerian as our guides, we ponder the philosophical journey of Robert E. Howard and attempt to understand the author's religious views through the lens of two of his most popular and enduring characters. We discuss our favorite Solomon Kane poems and tales, and whether or not you could just hand someone a copy of Wings in the Night before they read the other Kane stories. We do our best to give Solomon Kane the send-off the character deserves, and we thank you for all of your insight as we attempted to dissect these tales over the past several months!

You might have noticed our awesome brand new One Thing music lead-in! Listener and friend of The Cromcast, Rob Poyton, sent it our way! Rob, thank you so much for spending your time putting this together, it turned out great! Everyone should go check out Rob's music project Innsmouth Gold, Lovecraftian music to bend your mind and warp your soul! You'll dig it! Tell him The Cromcast sent you!

As you reflect on the Solomon Kane cycle of stories you might want to check out the Solomon Kane timeline over by Keith Taylor over on Two Gun Raconteur - an excellent companion to place the stories in a historical context!

One Things:
Jon recommends Marvel Comics' Weirdworld by Jason Aaron.
Josh did not have a One Thing this week, but did gripe about the overwhelmingly dark tone of DC Comics films, including the upcoming Suicide Squad and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movies. Once you've watched these trailers, cleanse your palate with an episode of the Fleischer Superman cartoon from the 1940s.
Luke would like for everyone to check out Khemmis' album Absolution. Here it is on Bandcamp and Amazon! Sludgy riffs of doom!

We now bid good-bye to Solomon Kane and leave the Road of Vengeance behind, though it has not left us unscathed. We now stand at yet another crossroad, and must choose our path carefully. Next: Season 4 - The Lost Road! We will devote the next set of episodes to exploring tales of forgotten worlds and lost civilizations! The road map will be posted soon, we are putting the finishing touches on now! Until next time, Cromrades, safe travels!

...A wild moon rode the wild white clouds, the waves in white crests flowed,
When Solomon Kane went forth again and no man knew his road.
They glimpsed him etched against the moon, where clouds on hilltop thinned;
They heard an eery echoed call that whistled down the wind...

Season 3, Episode 12: The Poems of Solomon Kane (or, The Rhyming Scheme of Revenge!)

Greetings Cromrades! Today we will be dissecting and enjoying the poetry featuring Solomon Kane. Howard was a poet in the Byronic tradition, so each of these verses is action packed with adventure!

Poems
The One Black Stain
The Return of Sir Richard Grenville
Solomon Kane's Homecoming


Do you have a favorite Howard poem? Sound off in the comments!

Also don't forget to send us your thoughts and innermost feelings regarding Solomon Kane in the form of an email, voicemail, or MP3! If you do, we will feature your "letter" on the season 3 wrap up episode!

One things:
Jon: Twin Peaks
Luke: The Sisters Brothers
Josh: Christopher Lee's filmography

This episode was recorded on the anniversary of Howard's death. So raise a glass or observe a moment of silence out of respect for the man whose imagination has brought us all together.

Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Beginning theme: "Sudden Defeat" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.

Closing theme: "The Wanderer" By Johnny Cash and U2.

Questions? Comments? Curses? Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com)

Leave us a voice mail! (859) 429-CROM! (That's 859-429-2766)

Follow us on Twitter! Or on Facebook! Subscribe to us on iTunes!