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Robert Jordan's Conan Novels #2
Conan the Defender
Conan must save the weak kingdom of Nemedia against the incredible magic of Contaro Albanus
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
15 people are currently reading
874 people want to read
About the author
Robert Jordan
680 books17.2k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.
Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. After returning from Vietnam he attended The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. After graduating he was employed by the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer. He began writing in 1977. He was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting.
He described himself as a "High Church" Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week. He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books; she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797.
Responding to queries on the similarity of some of the concepts in his Wheel of Time books with Freemasonry concepts, Jordan admitted that he was a Freemason. However, "like his father and grandfather," he preferred not to advertise, possibly because of the negative propaganda against Freemasonry. In his own words, "no man in this country should feel in danger because of his beliefs."
On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and that with treatment, his median life expectancy was four years, though he said he intended to beat the statistics. He later posted on his Dragonmount blog to encourage his fans not to worry about him and that he intended to have a long and fully creative life.
He began chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in early April 2006. Jordan was enrolled in a study using the drug Revlimid just approved for multiple myeloma but not yet tested on primary amyloidosis.
Jordan died at approximately 2:45 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2007, and a funeral service was held for him on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Jordan was cremated and his ashes buried in the churchyard of St. James Church in Goose Creek, outside Charleston.
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.
Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. After returning from Vietnam he attended The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. After graduating he was employed by the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer. He began writing in 1977. He was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting.
He described himself as a "High Church" Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week. He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books; she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797.
Responding to queries on the similarity of some of the concepts in his Wheel of Time books with Freemasonry concepts, Jordan admitted that he was a Freemason. However, "like his father and grandfather," he preferred not to advertise, possibly because of the negative propaganda against Freemasonry. In his own words, "no man in this country should feel in danger because of his beliefs."
On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and that with treatment, his median life expectancy was four years, though he said he intended to beat the statistics. He later posted on his Dragonmount blog to encourage his fans not to worry about him and that he intended to have a long and fully creative life.
He began chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in early April 2006. Jordan was enrolled in a study using the drug Revlimid just approved for multiple myeloma but not yet tested on primary amyloidosis.
Jordan died at approximately 2:45 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2007, and a funeral service was held for him on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Jordan was cremated and his ashes buried in the churchyard of St. James Church in Goose Creek, outside Charleston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 17, 2019
Step right up and see the adventures of Conan the Boring!
MARVEL as Conan hangs out with beatniks and risks his life for them for no real reason!
STAND IN AWE as Conan gets the crap kicked out of him on several occasions, and has to have the city guards save his life!
BE AMAZED as you read chapter after chapter of people standing around and talking, with Conan almost relegated to a side character while other boring characters spend the book doing boring things that we are forced to watch!
BE THRILLED as Jordan shoehorns his own much less interesting characters into volume after volume of his Conan novels! Hey, it's "The guy with the beard and eye-patch"!!! And look over there, it's "Angry Lady"!!!
You haven't had this much fun since the last time you stood in line at the DMV! That's right, folks, it's Conan the Boring!
MARVEL as Conan hangs out with beatniks and risks his life for them for no real reason!
STAND IN AWE as Conan gets the crap kicked out of him on several occasions, and has to have the city guards save his life!
BE AMAZED as you read chapter after chapter of people standing around and talking, with Conan almost relegated to a side character while other boring characters spend the book doing boring things that we are forced to watch!
BE THRILLED as Jordan shoehorns his own much less interesting characters into volume after volume of his Conan novels! Hey, it's "The guy with the beard and eye-patch"!!! And look over there, it's "Angry Lady"!!!
You haven't had this much fun since the last time you stood in line at the DMV! That's right, folks, it's Conan the Boring!
July 15, 2023
Pues me ha gustado pero un poco menos que otros.
Cronológicamente se sitúa justo después del anterior.
Sinopsis: Tras haber decidido abandonar el oficio de ladrón, Conan llega a Nemedia para labrarse una fortuna y busca trabajo como guardaespaldas. La situación en la capital, sometida a una escasez generalizada de todo tipo de bienes y a impuestos exagerados, parece particularmente propicia, ya que nobles y mercaderes contratan sin cesar guardias privados ante el miedo a una revuelta popular que parece inevitable. Y sin haber decidido todavía que curso de acción tomar, Conan se ve envuelto en una conspiración cuyo objetivo no es otro que el propio de Nemedia.
Una única historia, que ha parecido mas de intrigas palaciegas que de acción y brujería, que también la hay pero en menor medida y de una revolución en marcha.
Aparecen personajes del anterior libro.
Valoración: 6.5/10
Cronológicamente se sitúa justo después del anterior.
Sinopsis: Tras haber decidido abandonar el oficio de ladrón, Conan llega a Nemedia para labrarse una fortuna y busca trabajo como guardaespaldas. La situación en la capital, sometida a una escasez generalizada de todo tipo de bienes y a impuestos exagerados, parece particularmente propicia, ya que nobles y mercaderes contratan sin cesar guardias privados ante el miedo a una revuelta popular que parece inevitable. Y sin haber decidido todavía que curso de acción tomar, Conan se ve envuelto en una conspiración cuyo objetivo no es otro que el propio de Nemedia.
Una única historia, que ha parecido mas de intrigas palaciegas que de acción y brujería, que también la hay pero en menor medida y de una revolución en marcha.
Aparecen personajes del anterior libro.
Valoración: 6.5/10
December 5, 2023
Quick paced, solidly plotted Conan tale. Jordan doesn't reinvent the genre here, but there is a bit more nuance in this installment.
January 22, 2024
In his second Conan book, the author continues his different path, always within the framework imposed by the nature of the work he undertook. In this, our hero is called upon to use not only his muscles and his fighting abilities but also his mind as he engages in the political struggles of a powerful city that is in a turmoil not unusual in the supposed civilized world, trying to understand what is happening and the way he has to act. On his side, he has brave warriors, moral ideologists and again the necessary strong female presence, against the mighty magicians, ambitious nobles and in general all possibilities. The result is again a fascinating story, especially entertaining and absolutely satisfying to the fans of our beloved barbarian.
Beyond that, I dare to point out that the language of the great author we come across later in his great work begins to appear more in this book. It's, of course, still something invisible, but I think it's something that makes this book a bit stand out, offering the reader more than just a highly hedonistic adventure. Of course, the main points remain unchanged, and the book certainly belongs to guilty and painless pleasures we always look for in every book that writes Conan on its bad cover.
Στο δεύτερο βιβλίο για τον Conan ο συγγραφέας συνεχίζει να διαχωρίζει τη θέση του, πάντα μέσα στα πλαίσια που επιβάλλονταν από τη φύση του έργου που είχε αναλάβει. Σε αυτό ο ήρωας μας καλείται να χρησιμοποιήσει όχι μόνο τους μυς του και τις μαχητικές του ικανότητες αλλά και το μυαλό του καθώς μπλέκεται μέσα στις πολιτικές διαμάχες μιας ισχυρής πόλης που βρίσκεται σε μια αναταραχή όχι ασυνήθιστη στον υποτιθέμενο πολιτισμένο κόσμο, προσπαθώντας να καταλάβει τι συμβαίνει και τον τρόπο που πρέπει να δράσει. Στο πλευρό του έχει γενναίους πολεμιστές, ηθικούς ιδεολόγους και ξανά τις απαραίτητες ισχυρές γυναικείες παρουσίες, απέναντι του πανίσχυρους μάγους, φιλόδοξους ευγενείς και γενικότερα όλες τις πιθανότητες. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι ξανά μία ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία, ιδιαίτερα διασκεδαστική και απόλυτα ικανοποιητική για τους θαυμαστές του αγαπητού μας βάρβαρου.
Πέρα από αυτά, τολμώ να κάνω τη διαπίστωση ότι σε αυτό το βιβλίο αρχίζει να κάνει την εμφάνισή της περισσότερο η γλώσσα του σπουδαίου συγγραφέα που συναντάμε αργότερα στο σπουδαίο του έργο. Είναι, φυσικά, κάτι ακόμα αδιόρατο αλλά νομίζω ότι είναι κάτι που κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο λίγο να ξεχωρίζει, προσφέροντας στον αναγνώστη κάτι παραπάνω από από μία άκρως ηδονιστική περιπέτεια. Φυσικά τα κύρια στοιχεία παραμένουν αμετάβλητα και σίγουρα το βιβλίο κατατάσσεται στις ένοχες και ανώδυνες απολαύσεις που πάντα αναζητούμε σε κάθε βιβλίο που γράφει Conan στο κακό του εξώφυλλο.
Beyond that, I dare to point out that the language of the great author we come across later in his great work begins to appear more in this book. It's, of course, still something invisible, but I think it's something that makes this book a bit stand out, offering the reader more than just a highly hedonistic adventure. Of course, the main points remain unchanged, and the book certainly belongs to guilty and painless pleasures we always look for in every book that writes Conan on its bad cover.
Στο δεύτερο βιβλίο για τον Conan ο συγγραφέας συνεχίζει να διαχωρίζει τη θέση του, πάντα μέσα στα πλαίσια που επιβάλλονταν από τη φύση του έργου που είχε αναλάβει. Σε αυτό ο ήρωας μας καλείται να χρησιμοποιήσει όχι μόνο τους μυς του και τις μαχητικές του ικανότητες αλλά και το μυαλό του καθώς μπλέκεται μέσα στις πολιτικές διαμάχες μιας ισχυρής πόλης που βρίσκεται σε μια αναταραχή όχι ασυνήθιστη στον υποτιθέμενο πολιτισμένο κόσμο, προσπαθώντας να καταλάβει τι συμβαίνει και τον τρόπο που πρέπει να δράσει. Στο πλευρό του έχει γενναίους πολεμιστές, ηθικούς ιδεολόγους και ξανά τις απαραίτητες ισχυρές γυναικείες παρουσίες, απέναντι του πανίσχυρους μάγους, φιλόδοξους ευγενείς και γενικότερα όλες τις πιθανότητες. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι ξανά μία ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία, ιδιαίτερα διασκεδαστική και απόλυτα ικανοποιητική για τους θαυμαστές του αγαπητού μας βάρβαρου.
Πέρα από αυτά, τολμώ να κάνω τη διαπίστωση ότι σε αυτό το βιβλίο αρχίζει να κάνει την εμφάνισή της περισσότερο η γλώσσα του σπουδαίου συγγραφέα που συναντάμε αργότερα στο σπουδαίο του έργο. Είναι, φυσικά, κάτι ακόμα αδιόρατο αλλά νομίζω ότι είναι κάτι που κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο λίγο να ξεχωρίζει, προσφέροντας στον αναγνώστη κάτι παραπάνω από από μία άκρως ηδονιστική περιπέτεια. Φυσικά τα κύρια στοιχεία παραμένουν αμετάβλητα και σίγουρα το βιβλίο κατατάσσεται στις ένοχες και ανώδυνες απολαύσεις που πάντα αναζητούμε σε κάθε βιβλίο που γράφει Conan στο κακό του εξώφυλλο.
May 3, 2018
He was called Conan, he was from Cimmeria and was a Barbarian, sadly that's where the the similarities ended.
An imposter- as fake as the golem King Of Nemedia.
I've travelled with the genuine Conan, through icy wastes, and dusty dungeons mazes, trekked through steaming jungles and cried as love was ripped from his pirate hands.
Conan the defender is not him ...
It may be me and not Robert Jordan (who I Love). It maybe that it's been a very busy few weeks and I'm tired, but I didn't enjoy it. I barely finished it. And couldn't it read at night because it sent me to sleep. Faster than the nectar of the black lotus and with out the psychedelic dreams!
Sorry Mr Jordan, sorry Conan ...
An imposter- as fake as the golem King Of Nemedia.
I've travelled with the genuine Conan, through icy wastes, and dusty dungeons mazes, trekked through steaming jungles and cried as love was ripped from his pirate hands.
Conan the defender is not him ...
It may be me and not Robert Jordan (who I Love). It maybe that it's been a very busy few weeks and I'm tired, but I didn't enjoy it. I barely finished it. And couldn't it read at night because it sent me to sleep. Faster than the nectar of the black lotus and with out the psychedelic dreams!
Sorry Mr Jordan, sorry Conan ...
March 18, 2015
Groovy!
Have you ever wondered what Conan would do in the Sixties? Wonder no more! Here he is, hanging out in coffee houses, picking up liberated young radicals, helping young people who want to make a difference . . . and if you think it's some kind of joke, it's not!
Pretty good sword fighting, evil sorcery, and a few funny sidekicks too.
Right on, Conan!
Have you ever wondered what Conan would do in the Sixties? Wonder no more! Here he is, hanging out in coffee houses, picking up liberated young radicals, helping young people who want to make a difference . . . and if you think it's some kind of joke, it's not!
Pretty good sword fighting, evil sorcery, and a few funny sidekicks too.
Right on, Conan!
October 2, 2011
If you want to see Conan embroiled in court intrigues among dainty characters with Italian names, all the while protecting a stiff-upper-lipped feminist, then this book is for you. Its grimy backstreet slums and decadent palaces, as well as Conan's underdeveloped pairing with the one-eyed Hordo, may just as easily have been rewritten as another Lankhmar adventure of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, which would have actually made this setting and characters' motivations much more convincing for the latter pair than for the former. Jordan, however, is no Fritz Leiber, let alone the Cimmerian's original creator Robert E. Howard.
All the promising strands in the plot that could have made this story a real Conan classic worthy of Howard's name - the Free Company mercenaries, the horseback archery, the gruesome magic sword that possesses the soul of one who handles it thrice - are brushed aside and left hanging in the author's transparent attempt to maintain a brisk pace and light atmosphere as he coasts his characters through his story. Instead, what Jordan chooses to develop and cast at the center of it all, are the political machinations and class warfare led by young malcontent lordlings who are ashamed of their privileged social standings, who self-identify as artists and poets, who live all together in gentrified communes in the slums, and who get each other off by the mere mention of such keywords as "revolution", "struggle", and "equality" - never blushing at the thought of crucifying those who don't share their ideals. These are who Jordan makes Conan side with. This kind of antiheroic moral crusading is not out of place in a Moorcock book, which, incidentally, is why there are no more Moorcock books in my "read" pile. I see plenty of those maladjusted caricatures around me every day as it is, and the last thing I needed was to encounter this poorly fleshed out rabble in a Conan fantasy setting.
All the promising strands in the plot that could have made this story a real Conan classic worthy of Howard's name - the Free Company mercenaries, the horseback archery, the gruesome magic sword that possesses the soul of one who handles it thrice - are brushed aside and left hanging in the author's transparent attempt to maintain a brisk pace and light atmosphere as he coasts his characters through his story. Instead, what Jordan chooses to develop and cast at the center of it all, are the political machinations and class warfare led by young malcontent lordlings who are ashamed of their privileged social standings, who self-identify as artists and poets, who live all together in gentrified communes in the slums, and who get each other off by the mere mention of such keywords as "revolution", "struggle", and "equality" - never blushing at the thought of crucifying those who don't share their ideals. These are who Jordan makes Conan side with. This kind of antiheroic moral crusading is not out of place in a Moorcock book, which, incidentally, is why there are no more Moorcock books in my "read" pile. I see plenty of those maladjusted caricatures around me every day as it is, and the last thing I needed was to encounter this poorly fleshed out rabble in a Conan fantasy setting.
March 13, 2023
This was the second Conan novel written by Jordan that Tor printed. It's among my favorites of his Howard pastiches; he struck a good balance of action and intrigue, developed some interesting side characters, and injected some truly amusing scenes. The prose doesn't read much at all like Howard, but there are enough palace intrigues, scantily clad damsels in distress (and otherwise), magic-spawned menaces, swashbuckling swordplay, Nemedian hippies, and all manner of entertaining Hyborian hijinks, so that only the most Cromdanged purist readers will mind too much.
June 12, 2019
ok, this is way better than the last (now i'm pumped for twot)
it's funny how the cover is in itself a spoiler (hah!)
my copy gets worse over time ocr-error-wise
it's funny how the cover is in itself a spoiler (hah!)
my copy gets worse over time ocr-error-wise
September 15, 2023
Робърт Джордан отново е написал история за Конан с повече дълбочина от очакваното. Тук той е въвлечен в опит за преврат чрез магия, а както може и да се очаква, причината да бъде въвлечен е, че не може да си държи кожения меч в панталоните :).
Като цяло бива, като трябва да се приеме солчицата, че тук Конан е страхотен майстор с лъка - нещо, което не съм срещал никъде извън тази история за него. Според мен, авторът го е изсмукал от пръстите си, за да достигне до някои сюжетни решения. Вероятно би могло да има и по-ненарушаващо канона решение, но пък и кой съм аз, че да давам съвети на Джордан?
Друго нещо, което забравих да напиша е, че мисля, че в книгата има отдаден почит към Лъвкрафт и неговата вселена. Към края на книгата лошкото-магьосник опитва да призове нещо, което е в безкрайния страшен космос и има много, ама много пипала ;).
Лъвкрафт и Хауърд са си били дружки и са си правили "евала" из произведенията толкова често, че може да се твърди, че Конан и Ктхулу се помещават в една и съща вселена!
Като цяло бива, като трябва да се приеме солчицата, че тук Конан е страхотен майстор с лъка - нещо, което не съм срещал никъде извън тази история за него. Според мен, авторът го е изсмукал от пръстите си, за да достигне до някои сюжетни решения. Вероятно би могло да има и по-ненарушаващо канона решение, но пък и кой съм аз, че да давам съвети на Джордан?
Друго нещо, което забравих да напиша е, че мисля, че в книгата има отдаден почит към Лъвкрафт и неговата вселена. Към края на книгата лошкото-магьосник опитва да призове нещо, което е в безкрайния страшен космос и има много, ама много пипала ;).
Лъвкрафт и Хауърд са си били дружки и са си правили "евала" из произведенията толкова често, че може да се твърди, че Конан и Ктхулу се помещават в една и съща вселена!
September 28, 2018
I think this book made me a worse person.
February 27, 2021
Conan rides into a city plagued by income inequality and poor agrarian policy. His goal was to earn some cash, but he ends up joining the local Red Army Faction instead because he wants to bang their spokeswoman (which he does). Meanwhile, a certain Albanus whom Jordan unabashedly dubs "the dark lord" plots to take over the kingdom. Their paths accidentally cross, Albanus ends up dead, the city in ruins, and an eldritch monstrosity free to roam Hyboria.
This is a marked improvement over Jordan's previous offering. Conan feels a lot more like Conan. We get the mandatory "pantherine" epithets thrown in, the description of the beaded sweat, the straining muscles, the piercing eyes blue like the skies of the northern wastes, etc. He is a lot more fallible than Roberts' Conan -- his senses aren't quite as superhuman, and his decision making a lot more questionable -- but that is not necessarily a bad thing. There is only so much you can write about a character that does nothing wrong.
Like the previous work, it is very sensual. Abounding with sumptuous breasts, sultry gazes, and crushed bottoms. It's a shame it never crosses into smut. I think that would play to Jordan's strengths.
The weak point remains the plot. For most of it, Conan has nothing to do with it. Just banging left-wing college students and consuming copious amounts of booze. The mover and driver is Albanus, but nothing about him is interesting enough to engage the reader.
Overall, a decent read. I wasn't thrilled to see the return of Hordo and Karela from the first book, but thankfully Karela only came in at the end. Jordan promises we will see more of her, but I prefer to believe he's bluffing.
This is a marked improvement over Jordan's previous offering. Conan feels a lot more like Conan. We get the mandatory "pantherine" epithets thrown in, the description of the beaded sweat, the straining muscles, the piercing eyes blue like the skies of the northern wastes, etc. He is a lot more fallible than Roberts' Conan -- his senses aren't quite as superhuman, and his decision making a lot more questionable -- but that is not necessarily a bad thing. There is only so much you can write about a character that does nothing wrong.
Like the previous work, it is very sensual. Abounding with sumptuous breasts, sultry gazes, and crushed bottoms. It's a shame it never crosses into smut. I think that would play to Jordan's strengths.
The weak point remains the plot. For most of it, Conan has nothing to do with it. Just banging left-wing college students and consuming copious amounts of booze. The mover and driver is Albanus, but nothing about him is interesting enough to engage the reader.
Overall, a decent read. I wasn't thrilled to see the return of Hordo and Karela from the first book, but thankfully Karela only came in at the end. Jordan promises we will see more of her, but I prefer to believe he's bluffing.
December 30, 2016
This is the second book found in Jordan's The Conan Chronicles (Conan). His work with the character of Conan the Barbarian in the early 1980's is shallow, fast, and fun. Plot lines are relatively simple and the action is extremely fast-paced. Practically opposite of Jordan's later work with the Wheel of Time.
In Conan the Defender, our hero finds himself embroiled in a plot to overthrow the king of Nemedia. Lots of double dealing and behind the scene scheming make this one read almost like a mystery, with Conan playing the part of the detective. Once again, the antagonist is a dark and evil sorcerer with aims on the throne, and once again Conan cleaves through his enemies like a hot knife through butter. Hordo and Karela, characters from the first of Jordan's Conan books, Conan the Invincible, reappear here to aid (or hinder?) Conan in his goals. Compared to that first book, this one was more enjoyable to me, with a slightly more complex plot and with the characters becoming better developed.
The simplicity and fast pace of this book make it highly enjoyable as long as your expectations are correct. This is no epic work, but a small guilty pleasure that will occupy you for a couple of nig
In Conan the Defender, our hero finds himself embroiled in a plot to overthrow the king of Nemedia. Lots of double dealing and behind the scene scheming make this one read almost like a mystery, with Conan playing the part of the detective. Once again, the antagonist is a dark and evil sorcerer with aims on the throne, and once again Conan cleaves through his enemies like a hot knife through butter. Hordo and Karela, characters from the first of Jordan's Conan books, Conan the Invincible, reappear here to aid (or hinder?) Conan in his goals. Compared to that first book, this one was more enjoyable to me, with a slightly more complex plot and with the characters becoming better developed.
The simplicity and fast pace of this book make it highly enjoyable as long as your expectations are correct. This is no epic work, but a small guilty pleasure that will occupy you for a couple of nig
February 8, 2014
This is my first Conan book I've ever read and the first by Robert Jordan, though I do own quite a bit of his books. I do have to say I quite enjoyed it. It made me think of Conan in a different way. I love the movies and this just expands on the whole awesomeness that is Conan. It has everything. Plump gorgeous women, epic sword fights, magic and a cast of characters that I really enjoyed. I look forward to reading more Conan in the future now. And more by Robert Jordan.
September 1, 2022
Conan är alltid gladvåld. Detta var bra Conan, med tillagd satir mot högskoleleninister. Intrigen är enkel - Conan letar jobb, och råkar bli indragen i en intrig. Denna intrig handlar om att den högadlige hexmästaren vill ha tronen i landet, för vilket syfte han skapar en golem. Kungen anställer Conan, och senare, när hexmästaren har lyckats installera sin golem istället för kungen, så genomför de två en gemensam contrarevolution. Sammanfattningsvis en söt och trevlig historia, som nästan vore värd 4 stjärnor, om den bara var lite djupare.
May 30, 2017
Симпатично четиво, което ме върна в младостта :) Какво друго му трябва на човек - мечове, каки, кръв, черва и мозъци до дупка :)
April 29, 2025
От поредицата до сега, това е най - добрата книга.
November 11, 2012
"I want this Conan's head!". But alas for poor Albanus, he's asked for the toughest head to take in all of the Hyborian world, defended by the hardest, swiftest steel ever wielded.
In "Conan the Defender" Conan teams up with the grizzled, old, one-eyed Hordo, one of his allies from Robert Jordan's previous Conan novel as they try to earn gold with their arms in a Belverus roiled in near-rebellion. Yet somehow they fall in with a group of young students, artists and philosophers who think they're going to start a revolution, but morally, without killing anyone innocent.
Hordo's repeated line through the whole book is, "I'm too old for this."
One of the wealthiest lords of the city is using his wealth and secret knowledge of sorcery to bring down King Garion of Nemedia, just on the verge of setting his plans in motion when Conan and Hordo arrive.
By the end of it he meets up again with Karela, the Red Hawk bandit leader from the previous novel. But now she hates Conan, no wait, she loves Conan, no, she hates Conan, no she really, really loves him...
And then it ends with a geography error... Aquilonia is the west of Nemedia, and if they're going to look for someone who was rumored to travel east, it's Brythunia where they should head, not Aquilonia...
This is a very odd Conan novel in that he whines when his lover doesn't want to spend time with him, pleads with various nobles and frequently simply doesn't act like Conan should act.
While the Conan books printed before his death all had someone's quote "No one alive writes Conan better than Robert Jordan," that might only be because most of the others were worse! Although, frankly, I think Andrew Offut and Karl Edward Wagner turned out better Conan novels, but fewer of them.
In "Conan the Defender" Conan teams up with the grizzled, old, one-eyed Hordo, one of his allies from Robert Jordan's previous Conan novel as they try to earn gold with their arms in a Belverus roiled in near-rebellion. Yet somehow they fall in with a group of young students, artists and philosophers who think they're going to start a revolution, but morally, without killing anyone innocent.
Hordo's repeated line through the whole book is, "I'm too old for this."
One of the wealthiest lords of the city is using his wealth and secret knowledge of sorcery to bring down King Garion of Nemedia, just on the verge of setting his plans in motion when Conan and Hordo arrive.
By the end of it he meets up again with Karela, the Red Hawk bandit leader from the previous novel. But now she hates Conan, no wait, she loves Conan, no, she hates Conan, no she really, really loves him...
And then it ends with a geography error... Aquilonia is the west of Nemedia, and if they're going to look for someone who was rumored to travel east, it's Brythunia where they should head, not Aquilonia...
This is a very odd Conan novel in that he whines when his lover doesn't want to spend time with him, pleads with various nobles and frequently simply doesn't act like Conan should act.
While the Conan books printed before his death all had someone's quote "No one alive writes Conan better than Robert Jordan," that might only be because most of the others were worse! Although, frankly, I think Andrew Offut and Karl Edward Wagner turned out better Conan novels, but fewer of them.
July 11, 2018
Доста добра книжка за ранния живот на Конан, поредните приключения сред зли магьосници, груби войни и изкусителни едрогърди красавици.
Робърт Джордан прави (според мен) грешката да направи Конан отличен стрелец с къс лък от гърба на кон, което си е отдалечаване от "канона" относно нашия герой, който в другите книги не умее да си служи с лък.
Робърт Джордан прави (според мен) грешката да направи Конан отличен стрелец с къс лък от гърба на кон, което си е отдалечаване от "канона" относно нашия герой, който в другите книги не умее да си служи с лък.
January 4, 2009
Conan pastiche. One of the better ones by Jordan.
May 2, 2012
Conan makes a half-hearted attempt to steer a group of young champagne socialists clear of disaster, but loses interest after the initial love-in.
August 18, 2014
The books I'd take to a desert island.
The books I'd save from a house on fire.
The books I read over and over.
The best of the best.
The books I'd save from a house on fire.
The books I read over and over.
The best of the best.
December 20, 2018
Conan is in Nemedia looking for work when he meets up with his old friend Hordo. Together they stumble into a group of French Bohemian Beatniks who are studying art, philosophy, wokeness, and revolution. They try to get Conan to join in their plan to overthrow the king and he declines since they are all clearly going to end up dead. Instead he forms his own free company and joins the ranks of the king's militia. There he finds a real plot against the king involving a sorcerer and some traitorous members of the court. He sneaks along rooftops, beds assorted women, and kills a bunch of people.
Normal Conan stuff. He's broke and looking for work. He stumbles into other people's problems. He meets several women who he doesn't understand. Some of the king's men are trying to kill him. Other people he doesn't even know are trying to kill him. A sorcerer has a master plan that Conan is totally unaware of and totally screwing up. The group of artists that think they can overthrow the government and replace it with a Comity of the Citizenry without bloodshed is out of place in Hyborea but still entertaining and Conan's reaction to them is as expected. Nicely done.
Normal Conan stuff. He's broke and looking for work. He stumbles into other people's problems. He meets several women who he doesn't understand. Some of the king's men are trying to kill him. Other people he doesn't even know are trying to kill him. A sorcerer has a master plan that Conan is totally unaware of and totally screwing up. The group of artists that think they can overthrow the government and replace it with a Comity of the Citizenry without bloodshed is out of place in Hyborea but still entertaining and Conan's reaction to them is as expected. Nicely done.
May 4, 2018
El estilo es distinto al de Robert E. Howard, y aunque Robert Jordan escribe bien, se nota mucho en varios aspectos.
Hasta el capítulo 11 o 12 no termina de establecer el escenario al completo. Hay momentos en los que divaga mucho, especialmente en lo relacionado con la erótica de las mujeres, y eso desfocaliza mucho la aventura, el reto del protagonista.
Cuando termina de ser difuso y la historia se centra, da la sensación de cierta improvisación y falta de solidez, para terminar en un final menos épico de lo esperado.
Esta es la segunda novela de Jordan de Conan el bárbaro, y la toma de contacto del autor con el personaje es más débil de lo esperado. Pero esto es algo que suele suceder cuando un autor retoma un personaje ya existente, y es de esperar que las siguientes novelas de Jordan sean más potentes en todos los sentidos.
Aún con todo, no significa que sea una mala novela. Llega a entretener, pero el listón de Howard es alto y se nota.
Hasta el capítulo 11 o 12 no termina de establecer el escenario al completo. Hay momentos en los que divaga mucho, especialmente en lo relacionado con la erótica de las mujeres, y eso desfocaliza mucho la aventura, el reto del protagonista.
Cuando termina de ser difuso y la historia se centra, da la sensación de cierta improvisación y falta de solidez, para terminar en un final menos épico de lo esperado.
Esta es la segunda novela de Jordan de Conan el bárbaro, y la toma de contacto del autor con el personaje es más débil de lo esperado. Pero esto es algo que suele suceder cuando un autor retoma un personaje ya existente, y es de esperar que las siguientes novelas de Jordan sean más potentes en todos los sentidos.
Aún con todo, no significa que sea una mala novela. Llega a entretener, pero el listón de Howard es alto y se nota.
May 9, 2022
You generally know exactly what you're getting when you pick up a Conan book. Beautiful women, magic, swordplay, and Conan. The enemies, women, and locations change, but Conan remains Conan, despite the author of the tale. That being said, I like the way Robert Jordan writes, and he's a good fit for the Cimmarian's adventures. Of all the authors who have penned a Conan tale, his feel the most crisp and well tied together.
As I said above, a Conan book is a Conan book. You either enjoy that, or you don't. No two ways about it. Conan books are GREAT airplane reads for me. It's short, doesn't take a whole ton of concentration, and I can generally finish one on a pair of flights.
If you like pulp characters and have read other Conan books, you won't be disappointed by Jordan's take. If this is your FIRST Conan novel . . . honestly, not a bad one to start with.
On a personal note: Thanks, Cliff.
As I said above, a Conan book is a Conan book. You either enjoy that, or you don't. No two ways about it. Conan books are GREAT airplane reads for me. It's short, doesn't take a whole ton of concentration, and I can generally finish one on a pair of flights.
If you like pulp characters and have read other Conan books, you won't be disappointed by Jordan's take. If this is your FIRST Conan novel . . . honestly, not a bad one to start with.
On a personal note: Thanks, Cliff.
March 19, 2025
Leer a Conan una vez al año es casi una obligación y como tal me la tomo.
Es cierto que está historia al no ser exclusiva del Sr. Howard, tiene toques distintos a las del original, pero el espíritu y la fantasía se mantienen intactos.
Es una historia larga dónde Conan entra en contacto con unos disidentes del poder y se debate entre dos luchas internas, por un lado quiere proteger a una muchacha que ha conocido, pero por otro intenta ser fiel al poder establecido ya que también tiene intereses ahí.
En la historia hay de todo, lucha, borracheras, mujeres hermosas, brujería y todo lo que caracteriza al universo Conan.
Me ha gustado mucho el amigo de Conan, un antiguo guerrero como él, pero que ya empieza a estar de retirada y ve las cosas desde otro ángulo, aunque, si se trata de coger la espada...
Es cierto que está historia al no ser exclusiva del Sr. Howard, tiene toques distintos a las del original, pero el espíritu y la fantasía se mantienen intactos.
Es una historia larga dónde Conan entra en contacto con unos disidentes del poder y se debate entre dos luchas internas, por un lado quiere proteger a una muchacha que ha conocido, pero por otro intenta ser fiel al poder establecido ya que también tiene intereses ahí.
En la historia hay de todo, lucha, borracheras, mujeres hermosas, brujería y todo lo que caracteriza al universo Conan.
Me ha gustado mucho el amigo de Conan, un antiguo guerrero como él, pero que ya empieza a estar de retirada y ve las cosas desde otro ángulo, aunque, si se trata de coger la espada...
June 12, 2023
Nothing satisfies like Conan. In the mid-90s, famed fantasy author Robert Jordan wrote six (-ish) pastiches of Robert E. Howard, and did a good job with them. I read several in the late 90s and enjoyed them, but I missed this one. This is Conan being Conan: hacking his way through the kingdom of Nemedia, fighting evil sorcerers, and sleeping with hot babes. Conan may be my favorite literary figure. I spend way, way too much time thinking about him and his world. The only thing worse than bad Conan is no Conan! (Honestly: this was pretty good, although Conan - Blood of the Serpent, a more recent homage, was better).
December 9, 2021
I got this from a blind book sale so this isn't the usual genre I read but it was surprisingly entertaining.
The story is about the Barbarian, Conan, who finds himself tangled up in revolution involving several parties and with that, he's given warning in form of a prophecy. It was pretty fun to read how things will go and who the prophecy were talking about. I have not read any other Conan books but this wasn't hard to follow. There's too many fanservice-y scenes though which I'm not really into and while it doesn't bother me much, it was hard to ignore since there are a lot of moments with them.
The story is about the Barbarian, Conan, who finds himself tangled up in revolution involving several parties and with that, he's given warning in form of a prophecy. It was pretty fun to read how things will go and who the prophecy were talking about. I have not read any other Conan books but this wasn't hard to follow. There's too many fanservice-y scenes though which I'm not really into and while it doesn't bother me much, it was hard to ignore since there are a lot of moments with them.
June 24, 2020
Incredibly consistent with the black and white savage sword of Conan stories I read as a kid.
Easy to read, highly enjoyable.
Lots of words I didn't know though, describing architecture and clothes/armour.
As expected, wildly sexist with every woman being curvy and beautiful and "scantily clad in silk and gems." There were some female characters who weren't just tavern wenches but they we're still beautiful and either loved Conan, laid with Conan - or both.
Will be reading more. (Also, it's the Robert Jordan - Wheel of Time guy.)
Easy to read, highly enjoyable.
Lots of words I didn't know though, describing architecture and clothes/armour.
As expected, wildly sexist with every woman being curvy and beautiful and "scantily clad in silk and gems." There were some female characters who weren't just tavern wenches but they we're still beautiful and either loved Conan, laid with Conan - or both.
Will be reading more. (Also, it's the Robert Jordan - Wheel of Time guy.)
September 4, 2022
Well-written and appropriate for the sword and sorcery sub-genre. Having read Jordan's WoT series extensively, it added an extra layer uncovering common motifs, turns-of-phrase, archetypical characters, and use of military and fighting background in Jordan's writing. A good little fantasy book, overall, if perhaps hard to compare, as I havent' read much S&S fantasy, or even over Conan material. Still, as enjoyable at age 42 as I imagine it would have been at age 14 or 24. Ah, Erlick's bowels and bladder!!!
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