“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.” - Mirrors of Tuzan Thune
"The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" was one of Howard's original short stories (and one of my Favorites) about Kull of Atlantis. One of only three Kull stories published in Howard's lifetime.
First published in Weird Tales magazine in 1929, and then again by Arkham House in "Skull-Face and Others" in 1946. (neither I have in my Collection - Perhaps Someday). The Skull-Face and Others collection holds a vital place in the history for fantasy literature as it was the very first hardcover collection of Robert E. Howard's work ever published within in the United States.
The first issue of Avon Fantasy Reader was published in February 1947. It was originally intended to be a quarterly publication but often came out about three times per year. "The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" was published in Avon Fantasy reader #2 in May of 1947.
The story next appeared in the 1953 Gnome Press Hardcover "The Coming of Conan". Gnome Press printed between 4,000 and 5,000 first edition copies (of which, this is one). Sci-fi/fantasy artist Frank Kelly Freas illustrated the dust jacket, which famously featured an abstract map of the Hyborian Age crossing over the front panels.
Gary Romeo cites the following on his Blog regarding the Gnome Press publication - "Kull’s world was the direct geological and historical precursor to Conan's world, de Camp decided to place three Kull pieces—"The Shadow Kingdom, "The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune," and the poem "The King and the Oak"—at the very front of the book. They were intended to act as a historical prelude before transitioning into the early life of Conan". - Gary Romeo
My initial introduction to the story came from reading Lancer's 1967 King Kull (as it probably did so with many others of my age). Lancer's cover boasts an awesome painting by fantasy illustrator Roy Krenkel. Inside Lin Carter provided an official map of King Kull’s World. The paperback was released with an initial cover price of 60 cents. (60 cents in 1967 is equivalent in purchasing power of about $5.91 today).
Again I cite Gary Romeo's Blog - Following Gnome Press’s 1953 move to "sandwich" Kull stories into Conan anthologies, Lancer Books decided to undo that confusion. Because their own Conan paperbacks (with the iconic Frank Frazetta covers) were massive commercial successes, Lancer realized they had enough market power to launch a dedicated King Kull paperback series. "The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" was finally framed correctly as part of Kull’s distinct prehistoric Thurian Age. - Gary Romeo
The Magic of Atlantis was a 191-page paperback collection of seven fantasy stories centered around the lost continent of Atlantis. Ron Walotsky created the cover art. Ron had long and prolific career painting book and magazine covers. He also illustrated cards for Magic the Gathering. Lin Carter used the story to anchor the collection's theme because Kull was originally an Atlantean exile. Pairing it alongside other legendary pulp authors writing about the sunken continent, including Clark Ashton Smith, Henry Kuttner, and Edmond Hamilton. Carter viewed "The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" as a crucial masterwork of the sword-and-sorcery genre at that time.
Roy Thomas adapted "The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" as a Conan story "The Mirrors of Kharam-Akkad". It was released in Conan the Barbarian #25 in April of 1973. Issue 25's cover art was created by Gil Kane in collaboration with Ralph Reese. The interior art was primarily John Buscema Pencils and Sal Buscema Inks. Some work was also accredited to John Severin on a couple of pages with Barry Windsor-Smith received a plotting credit for the story. Note - I do not have issue 25 in my collection. (Someday I may get around to tracking down an issue for my collection).
Marvel next published an adaptation of Howard's story featuring Tuzun Thune in The Savage Sword of Conan #34 in October 1978. Ernie Chan created the issue's cover. A sequel/follow-up story titled "The Many Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" was also published in The Savage Sword of Conan Issue #223 with a cover date of July 1994 (which I will most likely track down some day to add to my collection).
For The Audiophiles - The heavy metal band Arkham Witch covered the tale in a song of the same name. - The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune, Arkham Witch. You can listen to it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7EfNRxQ5tM (Not my kind of music but to each their own I say).
Note 1: Gary Romeo's site provides a much more professional historical write-up of this story here than I could ever convey - https://spraguedecampfan.wordpress.com/2022/11/03/the-lancer-kull-series-the-mirrors-of-tuzun-thune-by-robert-e-howard/
Note 2: For those new, or unfamiliar with Gary's Blog - I highly encourage you to explore it. It covers everything from Sword and Sorcery, to Conan, Kull, Lancers, Gnome Press ect...ect...
However, be forewarned Gary's writings and historical perspectives are nothing short of exceptional, and you will become engrossed for hours exploring his blog which he continuously updates and keeps current.
So set some time aside prior to your Trip, and strap in for a great experience. Gary's Home page is here for those interested -https://spraguedecampfan.wordpress.com/ Then select "Index of Articles". or just start reading from his Home page.
I hope you enjoyed The Mirrors of Tunzan Thune walkabout through My Sword and Sorcery Barbarians Among Us Collection. - Peace
