Anyone got any thoughts on how REH might have presented the ‘New World’ if he’d ever written stories set in it during the Hyboream Age (by which I mean at the time of)? Of come across any fiction that resembles that?
For example, I found this, which is a pretty cool tale set in some kind of Mayanesqe world.Kamazotz
I wouldn’t mind creating a campaign in such a world…
As far as I know these stories are no Conan tales but take place in medieval times.
No Howard scholar here, but I have to think either “Beyond the Black River” and “Red Nails” fit your description.
Picts sacking Fort Tuscelan would fit in any American Western and the names and cultural trappings of the inhabitants of Xuchotl are pretty clearly Mesoamerican.
But these are still on the Hyborian continent. REH never described the state of the ‘New World’ during both the Thurian and the Hyborian ages.
L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter took a stab (pun intended) at a story set in the “New World” during the Hyborian Age:
It’s been decades since I read this novel so I can’t speak to its quality. It’s not REH, of course, so there’s that too. Judging by the names in the Wikipedia synopsis, it seems to have a Meso-American vibe. If you’re looking for something more in tune with native North American cultures, it may not prove very inspirational.
Last year I read a novel set in the “early” Americas. It is a bit of an alternate history in which Middle Ages Northern Europeans have colonized the Americas. It was quite good. Reminded me of Conan. Then I realized that Roberts has written a number of (fairly well regarded) Conan pastiches.
Thanks for the feedback! King of the Wood looks like aplace to start. I heartliy recommend reading Kamazotz, by the way, Written by a medieval martial arts researcher/teacher, I believe.
Winter of the Worlds series, by Michael Scott Rohan. Time wise could be said as spot on - some time around a earth ice age. Refugees fleeing a European based culture. Even an rpg you can get on DriveThruRPG. Not really S&S.
Wolves Beyond the Border is a story that uses Gault Hagar’s son to tell a tale when Conan is king about the goings-on in the Westermarck.
it is very descriptive if you plan on being a gm.
for instance, Fort Kwanyara is only a rough hewn blockhouse, whereas according to a d20 book, it is a full-on fort with many stationed there and farms. Conan the Scout keeps it very close to REH’s description.
The OP, I think, was looking specifically for material for use in the “New World,” or the actual landmass that would become the Americas, but I think this remains a useful observation for this topic.
The article I link is in this line of inquiry. I am ashamed that I haven’t read it yet, but it could be of interest here.
For Americana Conan, I also think of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales. I read them all a few years ago, I really enjoyed them, and I can see their influence on REH’s work, particularly on “Beyond the Black River.”
I would just totally rip off…(not the time setting, just the magic/tech and the gods of the Inca’s etc)
Looks fascinating! Can’t wait to read that.
I just thought of more texts that may be of use. These histories of the early Americas are tinged with legend. I read them years ago without enough attention. Now I think they would be good to pillage for Conan gaming.
https://www.loa.org/books/204-three-western-narratives
Cheers. I read that article BTW and it was really interesting so thanks for the tip. I’ve now got Adventurer though, which I have to say it impressive and inspirational. I think I’m going to have to exhaust that before I send my players further afield!
Continental drift hasn’t shaped the world yet as it is today. The Americas may be mostly underwater at this time even…
Well, when REH wrote his Conan stories the continental drift theory was still a theory without many proponents. A quarter of a century after REH’s death (and nearly fifty years after Alfred Wegener proposed the continental drift theory) it became clear that it was correct. During this radical paradigma shift all other theories vanished, including the ‘cataclysm theory’ REH used.
Both interesting points. I like the idea of the Americas (which will need to be called something else, obviously) being geographically dramatically different. Partly sunken definitely sounds good, by whatever means…
Well, first I would research how the Americas were during the last ice age. Then I would change the geography slightly, adding a huge inland sea for example. Do not forget to alter the coastal lines. The result should look like the Americas but should be different (similiar to the difference between the Hyborian continent and Eurasia & Africa).
The people of the Americas should mostly be primitive or barbarian tribes. The might even be some ancient civilizations founded by survivors of the Thurian Age. And do not forget to add strange beasts which are extinct on the other side of the ocean (but no dinosaurs!).
Don’t forget the aliens 
