January 17 - "Untitled Story" (previously, "Exile of Atlantis")

“Untitled Story” (previously, “Exile of Atlantis”)
by Robert E. Howard
Kull: Exile of Atlantis (2006)

* * (Okay) Pulp

Kull arrives back to his adopted village to find a young girl bound to the burning stake. After a night of discussion bordering on the blasphemous with his hunting companions, Kull, strengthened by visions of future sovereignty and the incredulity of a people who would kill one of their own for such petty reasons, springs to action.

This was my introduction to Robert E. Howard. I decided to begin with Kull instead of Conan simply because Kull came first. I enjoy experiencing it as an author grows with his or her work. This very short story supposedly serves as introduction to Kull – yet was not published until well after the first tales of Kull appeared. Brief as it is, the story is somewhat confusing – almost as though the reader would already have an understanding of the character, time, and setting. It's as though a larger portion of the story is missing - maybe why this tale wasn't published until long after Howard's early death. That said, I’m interested to jump into this world and follow the exploits of the exiled king of Atlantis.