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_lit@yahoogroups.com/msg00584.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_lit@yahoogroups.com/msg00584.html
http://www.zone-sf.com/crsaunders.html