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Study 002 - Shadows in Zamboula (Patreon)

Published:
2022-07-15 14:14:43
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Conan fights his way onto the new show with Robert E. Howard's Shadows in Zamboula. It's THEW-LY! Peep the original Weird Tales issue.

Special thanks to reader Levi Nunez. Check out Skate Wizards from Loot the Body!

Next up: The Chestnut Beads by Jane Roberts

Comments

Ricardo Madrid

I like how Conan was playing Nafertari the whole time. He knew a noble like her would assume he was a sex-crazed barbarian too stupid and savage to know the value of the Star of Khorala. Using her prejudiced judgment of him, he shows her what she expects to see, an ignorant sex-crazed savage, but that was a front to get the highest value treasure in the city and get his revenge on the tavern-keeper on the way out. I think Howard was also playing his audience in this by having Conan appear to be motivated by sex which his audience would easily believe, but then he reveals Conan was aiming for a greater prize. A nice subversion of audience expectations.

Michael Clark

Ok, so I'm a little behind but striving to catch up. I felt a little too shamed to comment on something this old... .but Conan compels me now! What I have to ask.... Was Nefartari buck naked thru the entire story? They mention she's naked when he rescues her but then they never actually mention her getting even a Frazetta style covering. I assumed either I missed that or it was assumed but they they mention her naked again with the wizard. ...... These questions I need to know

Hula Noob

I've listened to your podcast for more than 10 years and can I just say how delighted I am that we're now entering the new phase of Strange Studies and that they are just as fun, interesting and spooky as the early Lovecraft stuff? The fact that you never got into the "tired show host just going through the motions"-phase is absolutely amazing and your show is a treasure trove for the big pile of books in my room that I swear, I will read as soon as I have time for it.

KeeperAnthony

One of my favorite Conan stories because it is so over the top and fun. And I believe it was one of the last Conan stories that Howard wrote, so you can tell he is having fun. And if you look at the story as an early in the life of Conan story, him having the ring could explain why all those women in the later in life stories fall instantly for him. Just a little something I thought was funny.

Jeffrey Kahrs

If Howard would stay, He would only get in the way, so he'll go, but we know, he laid the foundation for what we have to day. And IIIIIIIIIIIII will always love Thews, I will always love Thews

Jeremy Impson

Haven't listened yet, so I apologize if this is discussed, but what's the etymology of the word Thews, and what brought it's attention to Howard? (I assume he is why it's popular with the DnD crowd.)

Jeremy Saz

Chad and Chris thank you for another great show. Your podcast has been a lifesaver as I try and catch up on two bootcamp classes. A while ago, I came across one of the Imaro books by African American writer Charles R. Saunders. It is an awesome sword and sorcery story set in a mythical Africa. In high school, I devoured the Tomoe Gozen series by Jessica Amanda Salmonson. The protagonist is based on a real woman samurai. Both authors distill the best of sword and sorcery while expanding the genre. It's been a few years but I remember the books as being entertaining and well written.

Robert Curtin

Air...D&D? I don't know. Goofy story, but fantastic episode lol

Ryan Thomas

Conan went to bed fully clothed, so the story reads. What is that? He went to sleep wearing his furry loin cloth? Why mention it? Does it show he's prepared to pounce? It's not as though he wears a sweater and chinos for his day job.

Z.A. Kahan

Was sort of hoping you’d surprise everybody and rebrand as the Robert E. Howard Animal-Adjective Punching Podcast. Alas. Still a good listen.

Thunk

Enthewsed for this!

Mooncubus

All I can think about after listening to this is imagine if Indiana Jones finds himself surrounded by snakes yet again and is forced to belly dance in order to escape them. Maybe he's afraid of snakes because he knows he can't dance. Also, at around 9:00 you have a creepy sound play in the background. I was listening while walking through a dark school hallway and it made me jump and spin around looking for the sound. About made me jump right out of my skin lol Great show as always guys!

Mounty of Madness

While still fun to listen to, those are not for me, I have not been exposed to Conan stories in my formative years, except maybe the Schwarzenegger movie. But y'all know Kronar the Barbarian from Oglaf, right? https://www.oglaf.com/dark-miasma/

Eric Sroka

I do enjoy a good Conan story- like the usual at a restaurant, you pretty much know what you’re getting. Also, Hanuman plays a part in the excellent “Mark of the Beast” by Kipling. I don’t think you guys have covered that one yet. Definitely scratches the were-beast itch.

Carter Stepper

One of Howard’s best gifts is his worldbuilding, which is basically a riff on history. Hyrkanians are Arabic, Zuagirs (Zu-ah-geer) are Bedouin, and notably, Stygians are Egyptians but with the deepest mythological element (honestly it seems like all stygians are dark sorcerers). Howard reflects the tension of his view on race a lot. While he uses *really* problematic language (if you get the original Glenn Lord unedited editions, black people are referred to regularly as the worst possible word, yes, that word). Yet, he also really seems to love the diversity and panoply of races in many of his stories as you note. Sadly, I think this is largely an orientalism or exoticism on his part, as Conan, the quintessential Celtic warrior hero, is in a way the ultimate superior white dude. Still, I frigging love these stories 🤣

Carter Stepper

Oh, and for future Conan stories, please please please cover Red Nails and The People of the Black Circle! Loved the episode guys. Thanks.

Joe Webb

A fine, actually “weird”, weird tale by Howard - Old Garfield’s Heart. It’s practically magical realism, an otherwise two-fisted tale of the old West, with a big dollop of weird. Edit- S.T. Joshi included it in his collection “American Supernatural Tales”. And it’s free to read, or even listen to, across the InterNets.

Saint Fu

Shadows of Zamboni

Steve Meyer

For others who grew up reading Conan in the Lancer/Ace paperbacks with the awesome Frazetta covers, the Frazetta Museum (run by his estate) is selling merchandise of his paintings, including some of the art used on those paperbacks. http://frazettamuseum.com/GS.html

Tomas Rawlings

Does anyone know of an author who's sword and sorcery is as good with action as Conan but without the racism/sexism?

Doc Singles

I remember reading the adaptation of this story in Savage Sword of Conan #14! I collected these comics as a kid and my collection is still not complete. Fortunately they are not expensive!

KateSherrod

The closing credits music this week was spectacular. I'm very impressed with this methodical and well- planned transition to show 2.0 - but also that you're not taking the change so seriously that you'll still do an over the top romp like this one: Conan: Senioritis

Sweatin' to the Great Oldies

Conan just doesn't do it for me. The world building is interesting while the world view is horrendous.

Richard Haussmann

I want to second what Jeremy Saz mentioned above and suggest a non-US/UK month. Jess Nevins (who also has an excellent Twitter feed and Patreon page) has a book "Horror Needs No Passport: 20th Century Horror Literature Outside the U.S. and U.K." that is an excellent resource. He'd also make a great guest as he's an expert in the pulps/fantastic fiction genre, one I that I think deserves more of a spotlight.

Joshua

I love Conan, keep them coming!

FB

I love the world he’s created, and despite Conan’s one-dimensional awesome-at-everythingness it’s still fun. But better with your commentary.

Pete Williams

I'm not sure if you mentioned this already but with the name change will you continue the policy of only covering dead authors?

Jim Cannon

NOT the most racist of Howard's Conan stories (that would be "Vale of the Lost Women," please don't ever cover it, its atrocious) but I remember feeling really uncomfortable while reading this one. Up until reading "Vale" I believed the people who told me Howard wasn't a racist like Lovecraft, and the blatant racism in "Shadows" puzzled me. Its frustrating that the pulp horror and adventure stories we love are tainted by so many -isms, it can be difficult to enjoy them today. But my heart goes out to all the nerds of color who had to put up with this crap for decades just because they liked fantasy or horror. I'm grateful there are Victor Lavalles, Octavia Butlers, and N.K.Jemisens out there telling great stories and starting new legacies.