How did Robert E Howard influence the genre with his short stories?

Answer 1

Howard's characters were also very influential. His heroes, such as Conan, were not just strong physically but also had complex personalities. They had their own code of ethics and desires, which added depth to the genre. His stories often had a sense of moral ambiguity, which was different from the more straightforward good - vs - evil stories of the time. This made his works more thought - provoking and influenced how future writers in the genre crafted their characters and plots.