CCC is the first of a three book series that will have all of REH's Conan stories in the order that Howard wrote them. Every attempt was made to insure that the stories would be as close as original as possible. In several cases with the stories in CCC several of Howard's manuscripts were used to create the version that is presented in the book. In cases were manuscripts were not avalible, the first printing from the issue of Weird Tales, were the story first appeared, were used.
Additionally, CCC contains excerpts from letters written by REH, to other writers, dealing with his thoughts and sources for several of the stories. Also, a first draft of the story, "Phoenix on the Sword", is included in the book. This first version of the story provides us with a greater picture of what life is like in Cimmeria. a dark and gloomy land that even Conan admits to finding depressing.
Anyone who has only read the Conan stories edited by de Camp and Carter should pick up this book. It is the pure Howard in the way it was ment to be read.