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Post by wireman on Aug 4, 2021 12:50:33 GMT
Today we will discuss The Mirrors Of Tunzun Thune by Robert E Howard
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Post by edwardjohn on Aug 4, 2021 17:21:25 GMT
Great story from Howard, as per usual.
I really like the philosophical ideas that make up a Kull story, like his troubles with the mundanity of kingship, and this leading him to search out something else, something different. I also loved the different worlds that Kull was given a glimpse of, certain ones reminded me of Heaven, and other reminded me of Hell. But there were also those that were different that I assume were a product of Howard's imagination.
Like a lot of Kull stories, wizards are to be greatly feared; this relates to a lot of Howard's contemporaries like Lovecraft, as well as other pulp writers; the period of history that the pulp's were writing in was one of technological innovation, the period of FDR, its not surprising that the unknown, which was becoming known, was a point of fear for them. And I get a lot of this throughout the writing of the pulps: the fear of that which was, until recently, unknown.
I encourage everyone to check out other Kull stories; they're all as awesome as this.
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Post by wireman on Aug 4, 2021 18:44:57 GMT
This is a fantastic story with many layers. Kull is disillusioned and thinks no one understands him. The third mirror seems to represent all the questions he has about life that and can't answer and Kull questions his self worth.
This seems to me that it could be a very personal story from Howard disguised as a fantasy story. Was the author questioning what he was doing with his life?
I thought it was strange how Kull let the girl go. Not very king like. 
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Post by wolf on Aug 4, 2021 23:15:37 GMT
Today we will discuss The Mirrors Of Tunzun Thune by Robert E Howard
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Post by wireman on Aug 4, 2021 23:17:48 GMT
Today we will discuss The Mirrors Of Tunzun Thune by Robert E Howard
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Post by wolf on Aug 4, 2021 23:23:30 GMT
(dang...I missed you guys picking this one somehow. 😟)
Sigh...still tryin' to catch up,
it's been a little hectic lately. lol, more than usual. |
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Post by spideyman on Aug 4, 2021 23:34:45 GMT
Fabulous story.
The open line:
"There comes, even to kings, the time of great weariness. Then the gold of the throne is brass, the silk of the palace becomes drab.The gems in the diadem sparkle drearily like the ice of the white seas; the speech of men is as the empty rattle of a jester's bell, and the feel comes of things unreal; even the sun is copper in the sky, and the breath of the green ocean is no longer fresh."
brings about strong images,and feelings.
I sort of had the impressions that Kull began to wonder if the mirrors where "windows" to another world. He thinks he might be looking at an alternate of himself on the other side--- or was it rather the image looking at him?
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Post by wolf on Aug 4, 2021 23:39:32 GMT
Fabulous story.
The open line:
"There comes, even to kings, the time of great weariness. Then the gold of the throne is brass, the silk of the palace becomes drab.The gems in the diadem sparkle drearily like the ice of the white seas; the speech of men is as the empty rattle of a jester's bell, and the feel comes of things unreal; even the sun is copper in the sky, and the breath of the green ocean is no longer fresh."
brings about strong images,and feelings.
I sort of had the impressions that Kull began to wonder if the mirrors where "windows" to another world. He thinks he might be looking at an alternate of himself on the other side--- or was it rather the image looking at him? |
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Post by edwardjohn on Aug 5, 2021 14:11:05 GMT
This is a fantastic story with many layers. Kull is disillusioned and thinks no one understands him. The third mirror seems to represent all the questions he has about life that and can't answer and Kull questions his self worth.
This seems to me that it could be a very personal story from Howard disguised as a fantasy story. Was the author questioning what he was doing with his life?
I thought it was strange how Kull let the girl go. Not very king like.
Howard had numerous mental health issues throughout his life, this page is pretty interesting, if not heart-breaking:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_of_Robert_E._Howard#Possibility_of_depression
As for letting the girl go: I guess, in a roundabout way, she reminded Kull to be content with what he had.
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Post by wolf on Aug 5, 2021 16:02:49 GMT
....so many creatives/artists/writers are like that...just look at poor Vincent VanGogh, too. I love all of Robert E. Howard's work.
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Post by spideyman on Aug 6, 2021 13:34:36 GMT
Any suggestions for the next group read?
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Post by wireman on Aug 6, 2021 13:51:25 GMT
Any suggestions for the next group read? GUESTS FROM GIBBET ISLAND by Washington Irving
I made a pdf of it too
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Post by neesy on Aug 6, 2021 16:35:07 GMT
Thanks for the Pdf for the next story - I did read The Mirrors of Tuzun Thume just now - yes, I think the King was depressed; he let the girl go after she was discovered because she was just being used as a tool by his enemies.
This was a nice short story - I enjoyed it but not as much as the last one - finally read the Peter Straub story and was quite impressed - very weird, like a dream but quite horrifying in some ways - the parts about
a young boy being kept in a cage beside the giant insect, having some of his flesh chopped off which they apparently had eaten at dinner WTF Overall the whole story seemed like a nightmare but I enjoyed it (maybe I am weird)
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