      
"The
Hyborian Age" by Robert E. Howard (Circa 1930s) Illustrated
version Originally
appeared in The Phantagraph, February - November 1936. Plot:
Howard outlines his pseudo-history from the fall of Atlantis to the end of Hyboria
and the beginning of modern history. Monsters:
mentions ape-men and apes. History:
This pseudo-history was the key to Howard's background. He wrote: (Nothing
in this article is to be considered as an attempt to advance any theory in opposition
to accepted history. It is simply a fictional
background for a series of fiction-stories.
When I began writing the Conan stories a few years ago, I prepared this 'history'
of his age and the peoples of that age, in order to lend him and his sagas a greater
aspect of realness. And I found that by adhering to the 'facts' and spirit of
that history, in writing the stories, it was easier to visualize (and therefore
to present) him as a real flesh-and-blood character rather than a ready-made product.
In writing about him and his adventures in the various kingdoms of his Age, I
have never violated the 'facts' or spirit of the 'history' here set down, but
have followed the lines of that history as closely as the writer of actual historical-fiction
follows the lines of actual history. I have used this 'history' as a guide in
all the stories in this series that I have written.) Not as thorough as Tolkien's
mountains of languages, etc, it was still one of the first Fantasy worlds planned
out before the author created his stories. Only Dunsany's Pegana predates Hyboria,
and probably inspired it. Lovecraft's Dreamlands and Clark Ashton Smiths worlds
were contemporary to Howard's world history (and joined by Lovecraft's inclusion
of references in his Mythos fiction).    
"The
Hyborian Age " was adapted by Roy Thomas and drawn by Walt Simonson in Savage
Sword of Conan #7-8 (August-October 1975)/16-17 (October-December 1976). 
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