This is another great collection from the Robert Howard foundation press albeit one that is unusual. Spicy Adventures contains the stories written at the time of his mother's worsening health. In need of quick money Howard took advice of a fellow writer and penned stories for the spicy pulp market. The tales are deliberately titillating but are of course tame by modern standards. After all they were written in 1935 and 1936! Howard admitted these stories aren't his best work but they are competent stories filled with action and scenes many may find difficult. This was the 1930's and attitudes were very different. I did enjoy this book as it features several stories I've never read. Definitely not his best fare but worthy of five stars simply as these are entertaining in there own way and beautifully presented. Howard is an author I have loved for years and the chance to read material I haven'tread before is a joy. Howard was born in Texas 1906 and died in 1936. He was, naturally, a product of his time and place so be aware of word use and attitudes of the time (obviously!) Howard wrote copiously and left behind a trove of complete stories, poems, partially complete stories, synopses and in some cases fragments which are all that remains of stories and poems. The REH foundation press releases aim to, in conjunction with the del rey collections, offer a complete as can be collection of his works. The stories in this book are good in there own way and I'm so pleased these stories have finally been released. They are joined by a collection of draft versions of the tales. A highly recommended author.