What do you think?
Rate this book
The Chronicles of Conan
The Chronicles of Conan, Volume 7: The Dweller in the Pool and Other Stories
Throughout his adventures across the mythic Hyperborean world, the barbarian called Conan crosses swords with many colorful and dangerous characters, somehow always finding himself on the wrong end of a wizard's wrath, or staring down the hungry jaws of a nightmarish beast. Proving himself more than a match for whatever came his way, Conan has become one of the most enduring and strangely endearing characters in all of popular culture. The stories in this edition feature more tales of thrilling adventure and chilling betrayal as only writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema could deliver.
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2005
2 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,479 books270 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 1, 2020
Volume 7 of Conan contains a hefty 9 story package opening with a nifty two-parter teaming Conan with Red Sonja from a story by David English "freely adapted" by Thomas called "Tower of Blood". This story and the next are the gems of this volume with Sonja, two horrific vampire villains, and a call back to some former monstrosities that Conan has fought prior with Sonja again clobbering our Cimmerian hero in the back of the head and leaving him in the dust at the end of the adventure.
Thomas' lone original story in this collection "The Last Ballad of Laz=Lanti" uses some Howard verse in it for the bard of the piece along with a rather lude behemoth as the monster of the story.
The rest of the volume is taken up with a lengthy tale freely adapted from the Gardner F. Fox novel "Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse" and though the meandering tale does have Conan in it he felt more shoe horned into the piece as opposed the front and center hero he should be. I was more fascinated by the character of Lupilina, the bewitching beauty known as the Wolf Mistress. She also is one of the few striking women that Conan meets that he doesn't bed. I wasn't too taken with Unos, the nemesis of the story with the red laser beam eyes, but for a change it isn't Conan who takes out some of the evil wizards in the piece but some evil higher powers that Lupilina is able to manipulate to take them out.
Though these stories are pretty good and above average the book still hasn't hit its peak yet.
Thomas' lone original story in this collection "The Last Ballad of Laz=Lanti" uses some Howard verse in it for the bard of the piece along with a rather lude behemoth as the monster of the story.
The rest of the volume is taken up with a lengthy tale freely adapted from the Gardner F. Fox novel "Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse" and though the meandering tale does have Conan in it he felt more shoe horned into the piece as opposed the front and center hero he should be. I was more fascinated by the character of Lupilina, the bewitching beauty known as the Wolf Mistress. She also is one of the few striking women that Conan meets that he doesn't bed. I wasn't too taken with Unos, the nemesis of the story with the red laser beam eyes, but for a change it isn't Conan who takes out some of the evil wizards in the piece but some evil higher powers that Lupilina is able to manipulate to take them out.
Though these stories are pretty good and above average the book still hasn't hit its peak yet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2018
I enjoyed most of these stories quite a bit, all of them some. The return of Red Sonja was entertaining, and I particularly enjoyed the dialogue between Conan and Sonja regarding her philosophy of life - something I believe can only endure in fiction.
The middle single issue story was also entertaining, but it fell apart a bit for me near the end.
The last story, which encompasses multiple issues was the most enjoyable to me. It has both a quest built in, with several side stories that happen. The last issue is the weakest in my opinion, as the story seems to veer from the material established, and also the character of Conan to some extent. Roy explains this a bit in the essay in the back (not directly, just that the whole story was adapted from a non-Conan story, and was held to quite well, hence the character diverges a bit near the end).
Overall, good art and an entertaining set of stories.
The middle single issue story was also entertaining, but it fell apart a bit for me near the end.
The last story, which encompasses multiple issues was the most enjoyable to me. It has both a quest built in, with several side stories that happen. The last issue is the weakest in my opinion, as the story seems to veer from the material established, and also the character of Conan to some extent. Roy explains this a bit in the essay in the back (not directly, just that the whole story was adapted from a non-Conan story, and was held to quite well, hence the character diverges a bit near the end).
Overall, good art and an entertaining set of stories.
March 9, 2019
This was a good Conan volume with a lengthier story that worked well. Also, I had forgotten just how good John Buscema was at drawing women. Red Sonja never looked better, although every female in the volume is a stunner. Actually his art overall is superb here. I'm still fascinated with how Roy Thomas adapted non-Conan stories into Conan tales during his run. I don't know if he was just too busy to create all original stories or there were other reasons, but it's still very interesting. The new coloring also brings out the best in the art in most cases. Just a great series and I'm loving every volume.
December 8, 2019
I came across this volume quite by accident. While I am a fan of modern Conan comics and graphic novels, earlier versions, particularly those from 1970's, were always a little bit .... bombast would be the word. Dont get me wrong, I appreciate comics and I dont seek for realism but in original tales Conan was frightening presence, who did not talk much but let his sword talk instead.
So all if the bombast, growling and teeth barring just was not my cup of tea.
Until this issue. Yes there are (melo)dramatic poses and growling and teeth barring but most importantly there is story. And what a story, one of the best pulp fiction sword and sorcery I read in a while. I especially liked the multi issue final story originally starring Conan-like character.
All in all excellent collection. Story is excellent. Art is magnificent - I especially like the colors. Usually black and whites are more to my liking but here coloring was done in astonishing way. All the penciling and black and whites can clearly be seen and are enriched with beautiful color palette. Just beautiful.
Highly recommended to all Conan and especially sword-and-sorcery stories.
So all if the bombast, growling and teeth barring just was not my cup of tea.
Until this issue. Yes there are (melo)dramatic poses and growling and teeth barring but most importantly there is story. And what a story, one of the best pulp fiction sword and sorcery I read in a while. I especially liked the multi issue final story originally starring Conan-like character.
All in all excellent collection. Story is excellent. Art is magnificent - I especially like the colors. Usually black and whites are more to my liking but here coloring was done in astonishing way. All the penciling and black and whites can clearly be seen and are enriched with beautiful color palette. Just beautiful.
Highly recommended to all Conan and especially sword-and-sorcery stories.
April 2, 2025
Volume 7 starts off with Conan and Red Sonja racing across the desert and that sets the tone for this volume.
This was really a fun one. We start off with a solid Red Sonja guest starring two parter, then maybe on of my favorite issues so far with a one shot about Laza-Lanti, a young minstrel with a taste for adventure. And then the bulk if this volume is an adaption of a Gardner Fox novel called "Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse"
The adaption bordered on ridiculous as Conan drags a corpse across the Border Kingdom fighting goblins and bandits and whatnot on his way to, you guessed it, save a kingdom from some evil sorcerers.
The thing is Roy Thomas and John Buscema are so locked in my this point that even a mediocre issue comes out really good.
This was really a fun one. We start off with a solid Red Sonja guest starring two parter, then maybe on of my favorite issues so far with a one shot about Laza-Lanti, a young minstrel with a taste for adventure. And then the bulk if this volume is an adaption of a Gardner Fox novel called "Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse"
The adaption bordered on ridiculous as Conan drags a corpse across the Border Kingdom fighting goblins and bandits and whatnot on his way to, you guessed it, save a kingdom from some evil sorcerers.
The thing is Roy Thomas and John Buscema are so locked in my this point that even a mediocre issue comes out really good.
October 17, 2020
This volume is worth it for the Red Sonja two-parter that kicks off. The six-part Dweller in the Pool saga, adapted from a non-Conan story by Gardner Fox, is lauded for its ambition, though one wonders, if this is Conan, how does he survive his gullibility to one day become king? Still, the story is mostly enjoyable with several interweaving plot threads, though the ending is ludicrous.
February 9, 2019
Wow ... I really did like the epic long story of Conan & Stefanya (Conan the Barbarian # 46-51
September 18, 2019
Best volume yet. Getting into the longer, multiple-issue stories.
Can't help loving this stuff.
Can't help loving this stuff.
November 11, 2023
Yet another uneven volume but at least the good stories are pretty good actually.
July 28, 2015
Roy Thomas is a genius, if for no other reason than for the sheer quantity of readable material he's generated over the coarse of his career. I much prefer John Buscema's artwork on Conan; it isn't as delicate as Barry Windsor-Smith's, and it suits the material better. As usual, the production value, especially the recoloring, is top-notch. It's hard to stop reading these!
Read
January 8, 2019Barbarian Justice! :D Brilliant Review to Come! :D
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews