Howard, Robert E.: - Robert E. Howard (1906-1936) spent his formative years in the thriving towns of early 20th-century Texas, eventually making Cross Plains his permanent residence. Choosing to pursue a career in literature, he dedicated his time to developing stories and poems for the flourishing pulp fiction scene, contributing to publications like Weird Tales, Action Stories, Fight Stories, and Argosy. Howard's literary acclaim was solidified with the release of "The Shadow Kingdom" in 1928, which showcased a distinctive fusion of fantasy and adventure, now known as Heroic Fantasy. The enduring legacy of his iconic characters-Conan the Cimmerian, Kull the Conqueror, Solomon Kane, and others-continues to earn him widespread recognition.