BLACK CONAN is back!
BLACK CONAN is back!
I'm talking about IMARO, a black CONAN created by Charles R. Saunders back in the 70s.
For the guys who never read the short stories: the setting is an alternate Africa, Nyumbani, where the hero IMARO battles hostile tribes, beasts and demons, where he wins angel-like women and leads huge bandit gangs in sacking rich cities - sounds as you have read something like this before?
Sure, but maybe not from a BLACK perspective. Not only that IMARO is a black tribesman, the author C.R. Saunders is black, too, and was a strong sympathisant of the black emancipation movement of the 70s. He wrote IMARO as his contribution to a black F / SF -scene. And he did a lot of research: you'll notice this when reading. All the myths and stories and landscapes and even the language feel real. He e.g. doesn't say "black magic", but "mchawi", not "lion", but "Ngatun" etc.
Until now his wonderful stories were only available via used book stores, but from February 2006 on Nightshade Books will republish the three novels / short story collections PLUS the volumes 4 & 5 which were always planned, but never published before.
Having read the first (old) volume I strongly recommend these books to every CONAN fan and especially for every GM planning adventures in the Black Kingdoms. You not only get real good ideas and scenarios, but a lot of atmosphere and suggestions to portray your NPCs in a way which makes them feel real!
The links below give some info about the new edition and an interview with the author.
Have fun!
http://www.mail-archive.com/scifinoir_l ... 00584.html
http://www.zone-sf.com/crsaunders.html
For the guys who never read the short stories: the setting is an alternate Africa, Nyumbani, where the hero IMARO battles hostile tribes, beasts and demons, where he wins angel-like women and leads huge bandit gangs in sacking rich cities - sounds as you have read something like this before?
Sure, but maybe not from a BLACK perspective. Not only that IMARO is a black tribesman, the author C.R. Saunders is black, too, and was a strong sympathisant of the black emancipation movement of the 70s. He wrote IMARO as his contribution to a black F / SF -scene. And he did a lot of research: you'll notice this when reading. All the myths and stories and landscapes and even the language feel real. He e.g. doesn't say "black magic", but "mchawi", not "lion", but "Ngatun" etc.
Until now his wonderful stories were only available via used book stores, but from February 2006 on Nightshade Books will republish the three novels / short story collections PLUS the volumes 4 & 5 which were always planned, but never published before.
Having read the first (old) volume I strongly recommend these books to every CONAN fan and especially for every GM planning adventures in the Black Kingdoms. You not only get real good ideas and scenarios, but a lot of atmosphere and suggestions to portray your NPCs in a way which makes them feel real!
The links below give some info about the new edition and an interview with the author.
Have fun!
http://www.mail-archive.com/scifinoir_l ... 00584.html
http://www.zone-sf.com/crsaunders.html
The ancient empires fall, the dark-skinned peoples fade and even the demons of antiquity gasp their last, but over all stands the Aryan barbarian, white-skinned, cold-eyed, dominant, the supreme figthing man of the earth. (REH, Wings in the night)
-
- Lesser Spotted Mongoose
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2003 10:45 am
- Location: Columbus, OH. USA
Glad to hear that these are going to back in print!
Since I first found out about these stories I've been looking for them in a complete collection. Without any luck.
Now I can get them and read through the entire series.
BTW, anyone wanting additional info on the character and setting can get the material at the following;
http://www.dodgenet.com/~moonblossom/imaro.htm

Since I first found out about these stories I've been looking for them in a complete collection. Without any luck.
Now I can get them and read through the entire series.
BTW, anyone wanting additional info on the character and setting can get the material at the following;
http://www.dodgenet.com/~moonblossom/imaro.htm
For deep in my soul the old gods brood-
And I come of a restless breed-
And my heart is blown in each drifting mood
As clouds blow over the mead.
And I come of a restless breed-
And my heart is blown in each drifting mood
As clouds blow over the mead.
-
- Lesser Spotted Mongoose
- Posts: 537
- Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 4:45 pm
- Location: Austin, TX
- Contact:
-
- Warlord Mongoose
- Posts: 7584
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:31 am
- Location: SWINDON
-
- Chief Mongoose
- Posts: 5003
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:41 pm
- Location: City of Wonders, Valusia (before the major cataclysm)
You can already gather some info there, thanks to Dale Rippke (once again): http://www.dodgenet.com/~moonblossom/imaro.htm
An American-style kitchen is a kitchen in the living room.
A French-style toilet has toilet in the living room.
My neighbours combine both styles.
A French-style toilet has toilet in the living room.
My neighbours combine both styles.
Just for thesake of completeness: the new IMARO books will not only be reprints, but will get rewritten in some major parts, e.g. in vol. 1 C. R. Saunders dislikes the Giant Kings story, because the place of the slaughter is Ruanda, which was in 1994 the place of a real genocide. This will have impacts on the overall course of the epic according to Mr. Saunders.
So if you want the original books, you should look in used book stores. I got mine via ebay at a high price (but unread all three!), but for U.S. residents it should be much cheaper.
So if you want the original books, you should look in used book stores. I got mine via ebay at a high price (but unread all three!), but for U.S. residents it should be much cheaper.
The ancient empires fall, the dark-skinned peoples fade and even the demons of antiquity gasp their last, but over all stands the Aryan barbarian, white-skinned, cold-eyed, dominant, the supreme figthing man of the earth. (REH, Wings in the night)
-
- Warlord Mongoose
- Posts: 7584
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:31 am
- Location: SWINDON
Wish you luck! The most offers I found at abebooks.com.toothill man wrote:right e-bay here we come
The ancient empires fall, the dark-skinned peoples fade and even the demons of antiquity gasp their last, but over all stands the Aryan barbarian, white-skinned, cold-eyed, dominant, the supreme figthing man of the earth. (REH, Wings in the night)
-
- Shrew
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:36 pm
Wow! Talk about synchronicity. I was just putzing around the Nyambe site and found the reference to Inaro. Sounded interesting so I looked up some more and really liked it. Tracked down some titles that I'll look for at my used book store or order it on line if they don't have it.
Then I come here and see the "Black Conan" title and I knew it had to be Inaro.
Then I come here and see the "Black Conan" title and I knew it had to be Inaro.
-
- Warlord Mongoose
- Posts: 7584
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:31 am
- Location: SWINDON
-
- Shrew
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:36 pm
-
- Warlord Mongoose
- Posts: 7584
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:31 am
- Location: SWINDON
-
- Shrew
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:36 pm
Exactly! I used to get so frustrated with the old Conan D&D modules; they just didn't do the setting justice. Since I lived in the boondocks when I was young, I wasn't able to get my hands on Gurps Conan, either.toothill man wrote:it seems to be common among conan fans that the books grabbed them when growning up and we have just been waiting for a game to come along to do it justice
I remember being ecstatic when Unearthed Arcana came out (the first one), and it contained the Barbarian class. All I could think of was that, at last, I could run Conan properly. Remember the awesome char gen? It was basically "roll a big bucket o' dice for strength, dexterity, and constitution."
-
- Warlord Mongoose
- Posts: 7584
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:31 am
- Location: SWINDON
-
- Greater Spotted Mongoose
- Posts: 1032
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2005 4:51 am
- Location: Here, not There
Re: BLACK CONAN is back!
René wrote:I'm talking about IMARO, a black CONAN created by Charles R. Saunders back in the 70s.
For the guys who never read the short stories: the setting is an alternate Africa, Nyumbani, where the hero IMARO battles hostile tribes, beasts and demons, where he wins angel-like women and leads huge bandit gangs in sacking rich cities - sounds as you have read something like this before?
Sure, but maybe not from a BLACK perspective. Not only that IMARO is a black tribesman, the author C.R. Saunders is black, too, and was a strong sympathisant of the black emancipation movement of the 70s. He wrote IMARO as his contribution to a black F / SF -scene. And he did a lot of research: you'll notice this when reading. All the myths and stories and landscapes and even the language feel real. He e.g. doesn't say "black magic", but "mchawi", not "lion", but "Ngatun" etc.
Until now his wonderful stories were only available via used book stores, but from February 2006 on Nightshade Books will republish the three novels / short story collections PLUS the volumes 4 & 5 which were always planned, but never published before.
Having read the first (old) volume I strongly recommend these books to every CONAN fan and especially for every GM planning adventures in the Black Kingdoms. You not only get real good ideas and scenarios, but a lot of atmosphere and suggestions to portray your NPCs in a way which makes them feel real!
The links below give some info about the new edition and an interview with the author.
Have fun!
http://www.mail-archive.com/scifinoir_l ... 00584.html
http://www.zone-sf.com/crsaunders.html
I had never before heard of this author nor character. It sounds thoroughly engrossing! I will definitely begin seeking out more data on this subject. Thanks for the information.
-
- Warlord Mongoose
- Posts: 7584
- Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:31 am
- Location: SWINDON
I'm currently reading the 3rd and up to now last volume - they are definitely worth the money! Some differences to REH's CONAN: it's a continuous story, there is evil and good (or at least not-evil), the hero has a purpose, he is monogamic, he is fueled by an all-consuming hatred, the battle-scenes have less weight than in REH.
The ancient empires fall, the dark-skinned peoples fade and even the demons of antiquity gasp their last, but over all stands the Aryan barbarian, white-skinned, cold-eyed, dominant, the supreme figthing man of the earth. (REH, Wings in the night)
Seems that the 1st book of the new edition is available. Enjoy the black Conan!
The ancient empires fall, the dark-skinned peoples fade and even the demons of antiquity gasp their last, but over all stands the Aryan barbarian, white-skinned, cold-eyed, dominant, the supreme figthing man of the earth. (REH, Wings in the night)
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests