His most famous creation is the giant barbarian warrior Conan. His other characters include the Atlantean King Kull, the Puritan adventurer Solomon Kane, the Pict Bran Mac Morn and the female warrior Red Sonja.
Howard's prose is straightforward, colorful, and exciting rather than subtle and literary, attempting to entertain rather than instruct. Howard tells of worlds where violence is usually the best solution to problems, and where gold, jewels, and beautiful women are often the hero's reward.
Howard corresponded with other pulp authors of the day, such as H. P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith.