I was recently reminded that October 6, 2020, would have been the sixtieth birthday of Steve Tompkins. Steve died of a heart-attack back on March 23, 2009, at the age of 48. His untimely death was, of course, a profound tragedy to those who had the pleasure of knowing him personally. To those of us who knew him only through his words, it represented, then and now, the greatest of losses to Howard studies. I recall how I always delighted in discovering a new essay on Robert E. Howard written by Steve, diving into it as soon as I had a spare minute. Back when I heard the news of his death, I experienced something of Howard’s own rage at an unjust universe, owing to the manner in which such an intelligent, thoughtful man should perish prematurely while all manner of buffoons and malefactors just go on living.

Steve had a knack for extracting and explaining the themes and subtexts of Howard’s work that was almost uncanny. He could pinpoint the most subtle nuances with laser-like precision. His erudition was phenomenal, and his catchy way of turning a phrase always kept things lively. Oh, what additional insights he would have given us over the past eleven years! And surely, I would have met him at some point, perhaps when I was guest of honor at Howard Days in Cross Plains in 2012, to discuss Howard, fantasy, the pulps and related matters over beer and pizza. A consummation devoutly to be wished.

This October sees, at long last, the publication of Robert E. Howard: A Closer Look by myself and Marc Cerasini. This is a much revised and expanded edition of the study we contributed to the Starmont House Readers’ Guide series back in 1987. The appearance of the new edition marks the end of a sixteen-year journey, as we sought a suitable publisher. Some years back there was a promising deal with a publisher that ultimately fell through. At that time, Marc and I were interviewed by Steve, through a series of e-mails, for Leo Grin’s Cimmerian. The failure of the book deal nixed the appearance of the interview in print, although it did ultimately appear on the Cimmerian website. Steve knew just what to ask to evoke enlightening responses from Marc and myself.

Robert E. Howard: A Closer Look is dedicated to “the new breed of Howard scholar” with a tally of over a dozen notable contributors to Howard studies. Steve Tompkins, gone these many years, is of course included in their number. To do otherwise would have been unthinkable.

In addition to co-authoring Robert E. Howard: A Closer Look, Chuck Hoffman wrote the young adult biography Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee and the Dragon’s Curse for Random House, and has contributed to such diverse periodicals as S.W.A.T. and Famous Monsters of Filmland.