My RPG life grew up in the shadow of Tolkein, but I never 'got round' to reading it till about 3 years ago, and god did it bore the pants of me!
I think in context of when it was written and the level of literary awareness in his audience it would have been a smash.
But in the modern context its slow, rambling and needs a good editor. Don't tell me about all the lovely trees and flowers get on with hitting stuff...amd DONT get me started on Tom Bombardil!!
The fact that a major plot lines resolve completely and then he goes back in time and resolves another was a construction error, only fixed convincingly in the movies. I couldn't forgive him for dealing with the Balrog and Gandalf in about half a page. I have this conversation regularly with people who say, no that sections enormous...nope...look it up!
Its almost "grrr went the Balrog, though shalt not pass said Gandalf, whip grrr said the balrog, flame or arnor said gandalf waving his sword, grr went the balrog slashing with his sword, bridge breaks, balrog falls, whips his foot he falls saying flee you fools"....
My problem was that he has dated badly.
I think his books stands as a testiment to the complexity that a fantasy world can contain, an alternative British Mythology was his intention (and its nothing to do with the war and the rise of the Nazis either) whilst Howard is good it is far more square jawed and gritty, not mythic and beautific.
I read the book to get more backgound to answer those nagging questions as to who, why, when...but it didn't resolve any of them and I just couldn't bear to drag myself through the academic tomes of the Silmarilion et al (Gridnol son of Agmar son of Brian cousin of gwendolin etc..)
I've played MERP and think this is a good enough game for the heroic nature of M-E! DO we really need to convert MRQ/Glorantha!
But then again I'm being unfair as you've paid your money and you're free to do whatever you like with it....
...ramble over!
CHRIS