Robert Ervin Howard (1906–1936) was an American author of pulp fiction, renowned for his seminal contributions to the sword-and-sorcery genre. Born in Peaster, Texas, Howard spent most of his life in the town of Cross Plains, with only some time spent in nearby Brownwood. A bookish and imaginative child plagued by ill health, Howard was very close to his mother and grew up immersed in a world of stories, ranging from the classics to the popular adventure tales of his time. His literary career began in earnest during the 1920s, and he quickly gained acclaim for creating the character Conan the Barbarian, presented in a series of stories published in the pulp magazine 'Weird Tales'. Howard's creation of Conan, set in the mythical Hyborian Age, is often hailed as the touchstone for the sword-and-sorcery genre and has deeply influenced fantasy literature and entertainment. 'Almuric', a novel by Howard, published posthumously in 1964, is a vivid testament to his penchant for blending robust action, otherworldly settings, and muscular prose. Unlike his Hyborian tales, 'Almuric' is pure science fantasy, exploring the bizarre landscapes and savage inhabitants of a savage planet. Howard's narrative style is direct and powerful, marked by an undercurrent of the fatalism that colored much of his short life. Struggling with depression, Howard's life ended tragically by his own hand at the age of thirty. Despite his brief career, Howard left an indelible mark on speculative fiction, with his pioneering works continuing to be read and cherished in the canon of American literature.