Just as real and absorbing as I remember.

This is just a very preliminary review. I have only immersed myself in the first couple of stories. I just wanted to mention right away how fantastic these stories are. I first met Solomon Kane when I was young by reading comic versions of some of his adventures. I also read some of the original stories, but never close to all of them. Through all these years, he has stuck in my mind as a striking, powerful and steadfast person. He made much more of an impression on me than Conan. The new movie was much, much better than I thought it would be (they really got Solomon Kane right) so I wanted to get to know him again.

So, these stories are fantastic like always. Very well written and so real that to experience them is like watching it happening. They are very supernatural, of course, but in a real way and Solomon is always looking for real solutions and not just the latest stone or cryptic potion to deal with what is going on. The morality is Christian based (he is a Puritan after all), in a universal truth way. Solomon's strength is derived from his courage, and adherence to the right as much as it is his physical strength and prowess. While there might be some talk of god, so far, no preachy stuff about salvation and so on.

I also want to mention the narrator. He is fantastic. He makes me feel like he is as excited by the stories as we are. He has a dramatic, clear way of speaking that really draws you into what is going on. He also does excellent voices, without over acting or reading like he is trying out for an award or something.

I will give more updates later, when I am done or close to it.

15 people found this helpful

Lovely to hear these great old stories read again

Would you listen to The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane again? Why?

I own them and I will listen to them again and again. The problem with some reviewers is they expect too much from golden era pulp stories. Take them as they are. So Howard had antiquated views about African people. So did William Burroughs in his Tarzan series. Richard Wagner was an anti-Semite. Is that any good reason not to listen to the Ring cycle?

What other book might you compare The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane to and why?

These stories are similar to Doc Savage, who some would say was inspired by SK. The archetype here is like that of the Wandering Jew, and of course Howard's great Conan.

Have you listened to any of Paul Boehmer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Paul Boehmer is an excellent narrator. His African dialect is spot on.

Who was the most memorable character of The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane and why?

Well, Solomon Kane of course.

Any additional comments?

As with any pulp fiction, just take it as it comes and lay back and enjoy. If you are like me, you will wish to hell Howard had written novel-length Kane stories. But alas...

5 people found this helpful

Well Done

The savage tales of Solomon Kane is, in my humble opinion, Robert E. Howards' best work. The reading by Paul Boehmer is excellent and does not diminish the work in any way.

10 people found this helpful

Pilgrim of Grim.

Would you listen to The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane again? Why?

Oh yes! These are great action tales with a twist toward the dark! It's Earl Flynn meets Cthulhu! While savage Conan was the birth of "Swords and Sorcery", grim Kane is the birth of "Swashbuckling vs Supernatural"! Leaves you wanting more!

What other book might you compare The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane to and why?

Kane smacks of Robert E. Howard's other horror tales, but with a great dashing and dark caped crusader as the leading man.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

Paul was good and clear and deep, and brought forth all the male bravado and creepy chills required.

If you could take any character from The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Wha? That's the dumbest question from an audible review yet! Who wrote this silly thing?

Any additional comments?

A great book, and a wonder flu listen. I was promoted to go out and watch the recent film of Soloman Kane, and they did a fine job, great monsters, beautiful art direction, fine acting, however, the film got a tad too grim I thought. When Robert E.Howard's hero beat evil, you felt completely validated by justice and righteousness. The movie dips a bit down the sado-masacistic scale for me, and you end up feeling like you need a good wash.

2 people found this helpful

loved it! Some of Howard's best

Loved the stories and the reading was fabulous. while some of themes are dated the adventure and character suck you in

1 person found this helpful

More incredible prose from Howard

....when i listen to these stories...i am not only captivated by his eloquent phrasing,i am stunned by the intense brutality.....Howard manages to infuse these into stories that "smarten" primeval warfare and fights and make you lust for more....Solomon Kane is one heck of an imposing yet gentlemanly and yes kindly soul...he will however not hesitate to bisect you from shoulder to groin with his Rapier if you are proven evil or have crossed him...magnificent author and truly genius storytelling............

3 people found this helpful

In VERY POOR TASTE

I did not like this book at all, it was UNBELIEVABLY RACIST and very disrespectful, in a nation were 98% of the people are BLACK, is there a need to point out that every person that Kane speaks to is BLACK OR NEGRO, what is this, the narrator was ok.

Derogatory

Verbiage and connotations can and are very derogatory to outright racist toward blacks. If you are a person of color avoid this book unless it’s for the purpose of study..

Lost Treasure

Fantastic narration and style, it suited the content. As far as the content- they don’t make stories like this anymore. The context is blunt and visceral like the protagonist, it unashamed and unbending.

The stories of Solomon Kane are true exploration and adventure- if you want Indiana Jones meets Lancelot, you’ve found your match here.

good sleeping aid

monotone, nasally performance with boring text makes for a great brown noise maker at bedtime!