Die hard Robert E. Howard fan here. Greatest, most important, and most iconic fantasy writer to ever walk this planet. I said what I said.

I respectfully disagree. Tolkien is overrated, dont get me wrong, I respect the guy. But Robert E. Howard is a much much better fantasy writer. 

dude, get this.... i like to visualization sometimes instead of meditating, basically playing a movie in your mind, and the other day i was doing Conan with his atlantean sword during a battle.  Yeah i guess we'll have to disagree over who is better but REH still has the respect in my heart since he made such a great universe and story. 

It's crazy too, Conan was created in the late 20s. lots of people don't even REH, or the fact he died at 30 years old in 1936 to a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Dude wrote some of the earliest fantasy universes we have. Well beyond Conan. REH is such an interesting person to read on. Hell, I drove 22 hours earlier this year to go to the Robert E. Howard Days, an event held at his childhood home in Cross Plains, Texas. I'm a mega diehard fanboy of REH, plan on going back next year.

Not sure why this posted twice, idk wtf im doing i guess 

Yes. I am also a fiction writer, if that counts lol.

I read lots of fiction, mainly fantasy. Currently reading the last book in "The Faithless and the Fallen" by John Gwynne - the man can write action scenes! After that, I'm finishing the Thorns trilogy by Mark Lawrence. In September, I've also read books 2 and 3 in FatF series, as well as "The Dragonbone Chair" by Tad Williams. I really had no idea about the latter, but remembered George R.R. Martin stating that it inspired him to write his epic "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. The influences are, in hindsight, well and truly obvious.
In addition to fiction books, I read lots of history and psychology, my colleague lent me a book on youth crime development and behavior aspects behind it, and I'm just about finishing "Against the Grain" by James C. Scott (invaluable for those of us who love world-building).

I try to read at least one book every week, I don't always succeed, especially while having three jobs, but I do try! Oh! And I'm working on a novel of my own (currently about halfway done on draft one), and I'm writing a TV-show (mockumentary style) with a colleague - loosely based on our work experiences.

I re-read the LotR trilogy and The Hobbit this summer as well, both pleasant to return to. I also started the Discworld universe, but only "The Colour of Magic" has been read so far. This year has been a terrific book year for me, both from a reading and a writing-perspective.

Would like to recommend Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames. One of the best fantasy books I've read. Bloody Rose is part 2 of the book, and the third is currently being written. Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman is a great book, if more, horror, dark fantasy is your thing.

REH is an OG. Conan is a badass character and the aesthetics of his worlds are perfect, but --IMO-- his books aren't as compelling as some others in the genre. Anyone into Brandon Sanderson's Way of Kings?

Also, some motivation for the original book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4-SwPWado4

Just going to remind people to read or listen to the studio book of Recurrsion by Blake Crouch. It is one of the best books ever.