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Adventures of Conan
Conan the Renegade
Conan works as a mercenary for Prince Ivor, of Koth, who plans to depose his wicked uncle, King Strabonus
278 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1986
4 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Carpenter
51 books18 followersLeonard Paul Carpenter (born 1948) is an American technical writer and author of fantasy, historical and futurist fiction. He began by selling horror/fantasy tales and Conan the Barbarian sequels, eleven novels totaling a million words. This is more of the Conan saga than any other author living or dead, including Conan's inspired creator Robert E. Howard in the 1930's. Now Carpenter breaks out of sci-fantasy with his mainstream historical opus Lusitania Lost, a wartime epic of the sinking of the luxury liner in 1915 by a German U-boat, which ultimately caused the US to enter WWI. This is the first novelization of an event more dramatic and significant than the Titanic tragedy 3 years earlier. Carpenter has also written the screenplay adaptation of this book. Another novel of his, the future-history thriller Biohacker, is available on Amazon Kindle. Carpenter is the widowed survivor of a 50-year courtship and marriage, proud father of 3, and owner of a superstar Frisbee dog, Lizzie. He spends his time traveling and writing about a Cuban fantasy quest and real-life engagement in his just-published novel, Tropic of Cuba, now serialized on Kindle Vella at Amazon (first chapters free!)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 24, 2022
This was the first of eleven Conan pastiches that Carpenter wrote. It has a nice pulp feel, with an enthusiastic flair. There are several sequences that do little to advance the overall plot, but they're fine diversions. Carpenter knew Howard's work quite well, and there are interesting references to events from it throughout. The writing is not as descriptive as many of the other books Tor published, but it's a fun story. Conan shows some prowess as a leader here, though I always preferred him more in his younger, solo years. Swords and sorceries galore!
February 13, 2020
dedicated to Don José Baena Castel and the group Melodies of Steel.
Ladies and gentlemen, first and foremost I have some bad news to give you. It is quite possible, that from Monday I can not write reviews for a while. As you know, I committed myself to my father to help him with a book (done), but I also made a commitment to help him write a student's doctoral thesis. So I'll be indefinite for a while without writing thesis I feel it in my soul.
Also another bad news. I have very little time to finish this review, because my mother has told me to come home early, so maybe it's shorter than normal. It will be difficult, because I tend to lack the capacity to synthesis and write long, boring, and heavy writings.
The first thing, I must say that after my experience with "Conan the raider" of the same author I loved, and burned in desire to repeat, and I was also very fond of that criticism for several reasons. Firstly because it was the last review I wrote in 2019 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... , and I thanked you for all the support and affection received by Goodreads users towards me. I remembered, as everyone's drive helped me achieve two goals to reach 2000 books in Goodreads, and read more books than ever before (thanks to anthologies) I was able to achieve my goal. The second reason I liked that review was because that review was written by me thinking of sharing it with my dear friends at Melodies of Steel. A group on Facebook, which promotes fantasy, specifically the sword and witchcraft genre, feeling all its members a great weakness for Conan the Cimmerian. Specifically this criticism is dedicated to the group, and especially to my half-country, because my mother is from the Spanish city of Córdoba, like Don José Baena Castel https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , who apart from being the owner of the page is a great fantasy writer, as he showed me in his account of "Ecos of the Twelve Worlds" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... and has another book, which I want to read, and one day he will be very much able to read, and one day he will be able to read his https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... . But I'm deviating from the subject, so I'm going back to the thread of the matter, which we're dealing with. This story is also a pastiche, or a continuation of the character created by Robert E. Howard https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/series/6558... I regret to take the opposite again to goodreads users, but I liked "Conan the raider" much more than this novel "Conan the Renegade" for several reasons, which I will comment on, but the main One I think, which is, because I like Conan more as an adventurer, when he goes on blind exploration, and encounters a lost civilization, and it turns out that he belonged to a glorious civilization advanced than ours, but it became corrupted and ended up degenerating and becoming monsters. I like more that adventurous Conan, than Conan the military, because in this novel Conan has this facet, even if in this particular novel Conan has his share of adventure, when fighting a flesh-eating monster. However, let us not be fooled, robert E. Howard also wrote accounts of Conan, as a warrior, or more martial, as the wonderful prologue of the book edited by Chair recounts. What happens is that Chair whose seal is called The Popular Classical Chair, he became more interested in the adventurous side of Conan than in the military. Even if there are two more martial accounts. It should be said that the Conan of John Milius was inspired, and had as a reference to Genghis Kahn, as a model, to develop Conan, even if he put a villain, who was not his enemy but the previous King Kull of Valusia (we referred to Thulsa Doom, who had a lot of leader of the Assassins sect) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... (by the way, it was played by actor Kevin Sorbo, who played the Greek demigod Hercules), and this comes to my hair, because in this story. This comes to my hair, because an Amazon will appear like Drusandra (which remind me a lot of Xena and less of the Wonder Woman played by the beautiful, but excessively thin Gal Gadot), and her little thing, and I didn't like this either. It seems to me that Carpenter has wanted to please feminist lobbies, presenting these Amazons, here the author has wanted to give them to modernillo, and has sinned of great political correctness (I do not think, that we should incite a war of the sexes but a harmony in both). I guess that's why I didn't like this Conan story so much, even though it has its interest. He first collects a new look of the character by introducing Conan, as a volunteer, who joins a mercenary company. It reminds me of that wonderful account of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The White Companies", which told the life of a company of English mercenaries in the 100-year-old War, and who had a brilliant sequel "Nigel Loring" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... They have also had their echo in the fantasy world, I think of the saga of the Companies Black Glen Cook https://www.goodreads.com/series/5428... In fact this is a Conan, who performs an apprenticeship, which will be very useful in the future to be King of Aquilonia. We see how, it is recommended to the company of a friend of his called Hundolph, and decides to choose this company by knowledge instead of choosing Brago's, or that of the petty Villeza (another thing, which I do not like Zingaria is the equivalent according to the map shown by the book of Popular Letters to Spain https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...) and frankly I do not like the portrait, which Carpenter makes of the Zingarios. It is very good the jealousy, and envy that Conan creates with Stengar, and then with Zeno (which has little to do with the sympathetic vlach of the novel "Les mendiants les miracles" by Constatin Virgil Gheorghiu Gheorghiu https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... ). In fact, duels are more interesting part of the book. Also the knowledge, that Conan has of politics. I liked that the Prince who seemed so progressive (if you saw the magnificent prison film starring Robert Redford Brubaker, you will realize that the worst wardens in prison were the ones who were progressive, just in this case), I ended up being a worse tyrant than the one trying to overthrow your Uncle Strabonus. With the one Conan already had some disagreement. That is why he supports Prince Ivor, which we will later discover, who besides his evil possesses a terrifying secret. Part of the tyrant's cynicism, because all dictatorships are characterized by cynicism. It's the quick thing that will solve family disagreements with your uncle. Another element of interest is Conan's clash with Khitai's evil sorcerer. Here Conan is more like the one created by Lyon Sprague of Camp https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... than that of Robert E. Howard. Well, Robert E's. Howard doesn't like magic, and he has problems with priests, and sorcerers may be due to the influence they had on Robert E. Howard Fletcher Pratt, Abraham Merrit, and especially Edgar Rice Burroughs (that, I think, i was overlooked in my previous critique, perhaps Edgar Rice Burroughs was due to conflicts with theocracies, and with the priestly caste, which created false cults. Although eye does not mean, that Edgar Rice Burroughs postulated atheism, since the scientist Perry de Pellucidar is a very religious Christian and is a beneficial character https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... it seems as if Christianity is a liberating counterpoint against false cults, perhaps Burroughs' model was the Quatermain of Henry Rider Haggard's "Alan Quatermain" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...). One of the things, that I did not like about the novel, or that I found looser were the names Eulalia, Stephany (very poor and not prehistoric) In fact, it is almost the best of the novel the haunts of Agohoth. Of course I will say that a count represents a third way off Strabonus, and Ivor. That there comes a time when the leaders of the companies are falling, and Conan must take command, and he does it right, but here I do recognize the Conan of Robert Ervin Howard. Just because being with Conan doesn't mean you're going to survive. The percentage of deaths is high. Even if it doesn't reach the Level of the Hamlet, so the pointer can rest easy. The kings here play a role as the Gangsters of Raymond Chandler's novels https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , or like any self-respecting historical novel, they are untouchable at the moment for the Cimmerio, whether Strabonus, like Queen Jasmela, who may like Conan, but more power, and preserve, which Conan graciously gave him. Battle scenes are acceptable, although I admit that I read the final third of the novel very quickly, because I had a commitment in my bookstore (just like now). The ending remains open, and certainly what I liked most about this book and what deserves to go down in history is by the epilogue of L. Sprague Camp telling Conan's cursus honorum to become a myth as Perseus, Theseus, Hercules, Gil Gamesh and other great heroes. It's extraordinary as Sprague de Camp mixes history and fiction. The book, although I like less that "Conan the desecration" has an acceptable quality, and if they do not like it, they must face the wrath of Crom ;-). Don't worry my God is stronger ;-). Goodreads users put the note that most conveniently seems to them what I can say is that I will give this book my placet.
Ladies and gentlemen, first and foremost I have some bad news to give you. It is quite possible, that from Monday I can not write reviews for a while. As you know, I committed myself to my father to help him with a book (done), but I also made a commitment to help him write a student's doctoral thesis. So I'll be indefinite for a while without writing thesis I feel it in my soul.
Also another bad news. I have very little time to finish this review, because my mother has told me to come home early, so maybe it's shorter than normal. It will be difficult, because I tend to lack the capacity to synthesis and write long, boring, and heavy writings.
The first thing, I must say that after my experience with "Conan the raider" of the same author I loved, and burned in desire to repeat, and I was also very fond of that criticism for several reasons. Firstly because it was the last review I wrote in 2019 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... , and I thanked you for all the support and affection received by Goodreads users towards me. I remembered, as everyone's drive helped me achieve two goals to reach 2000 books in Goodreads, and read more books than ever before (thanks to anthologies) I was able to achieve my goal. The second reason I liked that review was because that review was written by me thinking of sharing it with my dear friends at Melodies of Steel. A group on Facebook, which promotes fantasy, specifically the sword and witchcraft genre, feeling all its members a great weakness for Conan the Cimmerian. Specifically this criticism is dedicated to the group, and especially to my half-country, because my mother is from the Spanish city of Córdoba, like Don José Baena Castel https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , who apart from being the owner of the page is a great fantasy writer, as he showed me in his account of "Ecos of the Twelve Worlds" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... and has another book, which I want to read, and one day he will be very much able to read, and one day he will be able to read his https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... . But I'm deviating from the subject, so I'm going back to the thread of the matter, which we're dealing with. This story is also a pastiche, or a continuation of the character created by Robert E. Howard https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/series/6558... I regret to take the opposite again to goodreads users, but I liked "Conan the raider" much more than this novel "Conan the Renegade" for several reasons, which I will comment on, but the main One I think, which is, because I like Conan more as an adventurer, when he goes on blind exploration, and encounters a lost civilization, and it turns out that he belonged to a glorious civilization advanced than ours, but it became corrupted and ended up degenerating and becoming monsters. I like more that adventurous Conan, than Conan the military, because in this novel Conan has this facet, even if in this particular novel Conan has his share of adventure, when fighting a flesh-eating monster. However, let us not be fooled, robert E. Howard also wrote accounts of Conan, as a warrior, or more martial, as the wonderful prologue of the book edited by Chair recounts. What happens is that Chair whose seal is called The Popular Classical Chair, he became more interested in the adventurous side of Conan than in the military. Even if there are two more martial accounts. It should be said that the Conan of John Milius was inspired, and had as a reference to Genghis Kahn, as a model, to develop Conan, even if he put a villain, who was not his enemy but the previous King Kull of Valusia (we referred to Thulsa Doom, who had a lot of leader of the Assassins sect) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... (by the way, it was played by actor Kevin Sorbo, who played the Greek demigod Hercules), and this comes to my hair, because in this story. This comes to my hair, because an Amazon will appear like Drusandra (which remind me a lot of Xena and less of the Wonder Woman played by the beautiful, but excessively thin Gal Gadot), and her little thing, and I didn't like this either. It seems to me that Carpenter has wanted to please feminist lobbies, presenting these Amazons, here the author has wanted to give them to modernillo, and has sinned of great political correctness (I do not think, that we should incite a war of the sexes but a harmony in both). I guess that's why I didn't like this Conan story so much, even though it has its interest. He first collects a new look of the character by introducing Conan, as a volunteer, who joins a mercenary company. It reminds me of that wonderful account of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The White Companies", which told the life of a company of English mercenaries in the 100-year-old War, and who had a brilliant sequel "Nigel Loring" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... They have also had their echo in the fantasy world, I think of the saga of the Companies Black Glen Cook https://www.goodreads.com/series/5428... In fact this is a Conan, who performs an apprenticeship, which will be very useful in the future to be King of Aquilonia. We see how, it is recommended to the company of a friend of his called Hundolph, and decides to choose this company by knowledge instead of choosing Brago's, or that of the petty Villeza (another thing, which I do not like Zingaria is the equivalent according to the map shown by the book of Popular Letters to Spain https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...) and frankly I do not like the portrait, which Carpenter makes of the Zingarios. It is very good the jealousy, and envy that Conan creates with Stengar, and then with Zeno (which has little to do with the sympathetic vlach of the novel "Les mendiants les miracles" by Constatin Virgil Gheorghiu Gheorghiu https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... ). In fact, duels are more interesting part of the book. Also the knowledge, that Conan has of politics. I liked that the Prince who seemed so progressive (if you saw the magnificent prison film starring Robert Redford Brubaker, you will realize that the worst wardens in prison were the ones who were progressive, just in this case), I ended up being a worse tyrant than the one trying to overthrow your Uncle Strabonus. With the one Conan already had some disagreement. That is why he supports Prince Ivor, which we will later discover, who besides his evil possesses a terrifying secret. Part of the tyrant's cynicism, because all dictatorships are characterized by cynicism. It's the quick thing that will solve family disagreements with your uncle. Another element of interest is Conan's clash with Khitai's evil sorcerer. Here Conan is more like the one created by Lyon Sprague of Camp https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... than that of Robert E. Howard. Well, Robert E's. Howard doesn't like magic, and he has problems with priests, and sorcerers may be due to the influence they had on Robert E. Howard Fletcher Pratt, Abraham Merrit, and especially Edgar Rice Burroughs (that, I think, i was overlooked in my previous critique, perhaps Edgar Rice Burroughs was due to conflicts with theocracies, and with the priestly caste, which created false cults. Although eye does not mean, that Edgar Rice Burroughs postulated atheism, since the scientist Perry de Pellucidar is a very religious Christian and is a beneficial character https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... it seems as if Christianity is a liberating counterpoint against false cults, perhaps Burroughs' model was the Quatermain of Henry Rider Haggard's "Alan Quatermain" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...). One of the things, that I did not like about the novel, or that I found looser were the names Eulalia, Stephany (very poor and not prehistoric) In fact, it is almost the best of the novel the haunts of Agohoth. Of course I will say that a count represents a third way off Strabonus, and Ivor. That there comes a time when the leaders of the companies are falling, and Conan must take command, and he does it right, but here I do recognize the Conan of Robert Ervin Howard. Just because being with Conan doesn't mean you're going to survive. The percentage of deaths is high. Even if it doesn't reach the Level of the Hamlet, so the pointer can rest easy. The kings here play a role as the Gangsters of Raymond Chandler's novels https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... , or like any self-respecting historical novel, they are untouchable at the moment for the Cimmerio, whether Strabonus, like Queen Jasmela, who may like Conan, but more power, and preserve, which Conan graciously gave him. Battle scenes are acceptable, although I admit that I read the final third of the novel very quickly, because I had a commitment in my bookstore (just like now). The ending remains open, and certainly what I liked most about this book and what deserves to go down in history is by the epilogue of L. Sprague Camp telling Conan's cursus honorum to become a myth as Perseus, Theseus, Hercules, Gil Gamesh and other great heroes. It's extraordinary as Sprague de Camp mixes history and fiction. The book, although I like less that "Conan the desecration" has an acceptable quality, and if they do not like it, they must face the wrath of Crom ;-). Don't worry my God is stronger ;-). Goodreads users put the note that most conveniently seems to them what I can say is that I will give this book my placet.
September 21, 2018
Leonard Carpenter seems to bring a reality to Conan that brings the character more into focus. Its a Conan adventure presented as a thriller novel and it works. It may lack the headlong thrust and passion of a Howard story but it is a good read none the less. Enjoyable!
May 13, 2021
Another highly enjoyable instalment in the vast run of Tor's Conan mass market paperbacks. This one sees Conan caught up in a scheme-ridden whirlwind of politics, rebellion, and steel (literally a whirlwind in that regard) in Koth, and delivers many classic elements a Conan story needs. Kings and princes plotting, a sorcerer from Khitai, unstable mercenary camps - and of course, our titular hero in the midst of it all.
I'll start with the only real flaw I noticed in this book, which is that it is occasionally lacking descriptive details; for example, a conversation might be happening... but I couldn't picture where it was happening because the surroundings/locations weren't described, or were described much too late in the chapter. Or, say, I couldn't picture a character due to minimal-to-no details shared regarding their appearance. That being said, Leonard Carpenter certainly does paint a good image of most of the events in the novel, and it was only because I enjoyed them that I noticed on the odd occasions that they were lacking.
However, on the positive side of things, I'd say that this is a good Conan book with a few great moments. The sorcery used was captivating, if a little minimal, and the grotesque imagery that followed gave that magic the dark, horrifying feel I'm used to in the Hyborian Age. There was also a well-written dungeon/creature of the dark chapter thrown in there, which tied into the negotiations between the prince and the king nicely. And of course, just about any moment we saw Conan raging in the midst of battle, blood high and blade in hand, was a barrel of fun. I would also be remiss to not mention Conan's reunion chapter with Yasmela, a character from the original Conan story 'Black Colossus', which worked well and was a nice tribute to Robert E. Howard's works.
Overall, this book opened strong, I found myself very intrigued throughout much of it, and though it wavered a little in the second half, the final chapter was epic and unexpected in equal proportions. Though Conan the Renegade sometimes lacks some of the passion and soul of Robert E. Howard's original stories, it nonetheless delivers an enjoyable sword and sorcery adventure that feels true to the world and character. I look forward to Leonard Carpenter's future Conan books, that's for sure!
I'll start with the only real flaw I noticed in this book, which is that it is occasionally lacking descriptive details; for example, a conversation might be happening... but I couldn't picture where it was happening because the surroundings/locations weren't described, or were described much too late in the chapter. Or, say, I couldn't picture a character due to minimal-to-no details shared regarding their appearance. That being said, Leonard Carpenter certainly does paint a good image of most of the events in the novel, and it was only because I enjoyed them that I noticed on the odd occasions that they were lacking.
However, on the positive side of things, I'd say that this is a good Conan book with a few great moments. The sorcery used was captivating, if a little minimal, and the grotesque imagery that followed gave that magic the dark, horrifying feel I'm used to in the Hyborian Age. There was also a well-written dungeon/creature of the dark chapter thrown in there, which tied into the negotiations between the prince and the king nicely. And of course, just about any moment we saw Conan raging in the midst of battle, blood high and blade in hand, was a barrel of fun. I would also be remiss to not mention Conan's reunion chapter with Yasmela, a character from the original Conan story 'Black Colossus', which worked well and was a nice tribute to Robert E. Howard's works.
Overall, this book opened strong, I found myself very intrigued throughout much of it, and though it wavered a little in the second half, the final chapter was epic and unexpected in equal proportions. Though Conan the Renegade sometimes lacks some of the passion and soul of Robert E. Howard's original stories, it nonetheless delivers an enjoyable sword and sorcery adventure that feels true to the world and character. I look forward to Leonard Carpenter's future Conan books, that's for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2021
Conan joins a mercenary band backing Prince Ivor of Tantusium's revolt against the king of Koth. Prince Ivor, however, is unconvinced that these mercenaries are worth their pay, and figures it makes more sense to hire a wizard to blow them up instead. In short, Tantusium is soon under new management.
This is my first exposure to Carpenter's Conan, and on first impression he cuts a much less imposing figure than any I've seen so far. He trips over tent ropes, gets surprised in the night, needs rescuing more than once from a sticky situation. Somehow it's not irritating, as opposed to Jordan's Conan. I suppose it's because Jordan's character had all the superhero bluster with nothing to show for it, while Carpenter's is more human all-round. He is a very impressive man, but nevertheless a man. It works, though descriptions of rustling muscles and catlike grace are too sparse for my liking.
The presentation of the plot is somewhat episodic. We cut from scene to scene, focusing on the action and glossing over the groundwork. This makes the course of the rebellion difficult to follow as it is not clear where the forces are coming from and what Conan's decision making is based on. The challenges and solutions tend to come out of nowhere, leaving the reader unsatisfied. Where the novel is at its best is in the individual exploits of Conan, and we are treated to Conan cutting a man in half with an axe and crushing a giant bat with a block of masonry.
Bonus points for the implied lesbian orgy with the squadron of female warriors, but alas, the book does not stray from PG territory.
This is my first exposure to Carpenter's Conan, and on first impression he cuts a much less imposing figure than any I've seen so far. He trips over tent ropes, gets surprised in the night, needs rescuing more than once from a sticky situation. Somehow it's not irritating, as opposed to Jordan's Conan. I suppose it's because Jordan's character had all the superhero bluster with nothing to show for it, while Carpenter's is more human all-round. He is a very impressive man, but nevertheless a man. It works, though descriptions of rustling muscles and catlike grace are too sparse for my liking.
The presentation of the plot is somewhat episodic. We cut from scene to scene, focusing on the action and glossing over the groundwork. This makes the course of the rebellion difficult to follow as it is not clear where the forces are coming from and what Conan's decision making is based on. The challenges and solutions tend to come out of nowhere, leaving the reader unsatisfied. Where the novel is at its best is in the individual exploits of Conan, and we are treated to Conan cutting a man in half with an axe and crushing a giant bat with a block of masonry.
Bonus points for the implied lesbian orgy with the squadron of female warriors, but alas, the book does not stray from PG territory.
January 4, 2009
Conan pastiche. I'd like to have seen Leonard Carpenter create his own sword and sorcery hero. He has talent as a writer but the Conan formula doesn't let him stretch his wings.
January 28, 2010
fun read
November 25, 2017
I appreciate a book that connects Conan’s life by mentioning the events of other stories, especially as I try to read a chronological account of his exploits. In this book his days in Zamora and in Khoraja both get a mention and we meet a devious Yasmela, grown up slightly from her encounter with Conan in the Black Colossus.
Conan in this story is an experienced warrior, having commanded bands of men before, particularly Khoraja (though this lines up well with his generalship from the Road of Kings). He seeks work as a mercenary under Prince Ivor of Koth, a rebel lord who turns out to be the villain, along with, of course, a sorcerer.
This book has some good primary and secondary plot lines and a large geography. It maintains a great variety of places, encounters and people, whether the ballroom of a royal, the rowdy pavilions of mercenary soldiers, the blazing streets of a besieged city or a haunted dungeon deep below the earth.
The Conan of this story bears fair resemblance to that of the other Tor books, although he isn’t as savage (I would say) as the Conan of Howard.
I enjoyed this story thoroughly, and it was a page turner. However, the ending was rather abrupt, with a primeval lizard/ridge playing the deus ex machina. The scenes in the tents of the sword women were also unnecessary. Agohoth’s survival of the arrow in his neck was not explained.
Conan in this story is an experienced warrior, having commanded bands of men before, particularly Khoraja (though this lines up well with his generalship from the Road of Kings). He seeks work as a mercenary under Prince Ivor of Koth, a rebel lord who turns out to be the villain, along with, of course, a sorcerer.
This book has some good primary and secondary plot lines and a large geography. It maintains a great variety of places, encounters and people, whether the ballroom of a royal, the rowdy pavilions of mercenary soldiers, the blazing streets of a besieged city or a haunted dungeon deep below the earth.
The Conan of this story bears fair resemblance to that of the other Tor books, although he isn’t as savage (I would say) as the Conan of Howard.
I enjoyed this story thoroughly, and it was a page turner. However, the ending was rather abrupt, with a primeval lizard/ridge playing the deus ex machina. The scenes in the tents of the sword women were also unnecessary. Agohoth’s survival of the arrow in his neck was not explained.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2019
The King of Koth's nephew wants to usurp him and Conan signs up with his cause. He joins the Free Companies with some of his old mercenary buddies and some new Amazons. A wizard arrives with the Amazons which does not please Conan at all. Then the backstabbing begins and Conan ends up imprisoned, tortured, and generally on the run. He wanders about the countryside looking for allies and basically makes a nuisance of himself until the King has had enough. Then there's a lot of dead people.
This book moves pretty slowly with many separate incidents which do little to advanced the plot. Apparently the idea was to fill in a very basic plot line with a bunch of fighting and some orgy time to add some to the page count. One section involving the Queen-Regent seems added just so Carpenter can close up some loose ends from previous novels, and other parts could just be there as setups for future novels. Only at the very end did things really start to move, and the ending was pretty good. It wasn't a bad book , the incidents were well written, but Conan spent more time trying to keep his mercenaries in line than actually fighting his enemies.
This book moves pretty slowly with many separate incidents which do little to advanced the plot. Apparently the idea was to fill in a very basic plot line with a bunch of fighting and some orgy time to add some to the page count. One section involving the Queen-Regent seems added just so Carpenter can close up some loose ends from previous novels, and other parts could just be there as setups for future novels. Only at the very end did things really start to move, and the ending was pretty good. It wasn't a bad book , the incidents were well written, but Conan spent more time trying to keep his mercenaries in line than actually fighting his enemies.
March 3, 2024
Leonard Carpenter's 'Conan The Renegade' holds the promise of an engaging Conan novel, featuring a seasoned mercenary in uncharted territories, facing off against a power-hungry wizard, and setting the stage for epic battles. However, the narrative falls short in capturing the essence of Conan's larger-than-life persona. The typically unstoppable Cimmerian lacks his trademark intolerance for fools, and an early fight scene, where Conan is unexpectedly bested by a young opponent, feels inconsistent with the established character.
The departure from Conan's iconic traits raises questions about the character's authenticity. If the protagonist were given a different name and set in a time when Conan traversed the earth, perhaps as another Cimmerian seeking his way, the narrative might have been more palatable. As one reviewer aptly puts it, the work appears more like a 'Conan Pastiche,' and this sentiment resonates.
While some positive reviews appreciate Carpenter's attempt to introduce realism to Conan, acknowledging the vulnerabilities of a mere man, these commendations are overshadowed by a slow and anti-climactic ending. The book, despite its potential, leaves readers yearning for the grandeur and excitement that define true Conan adventures.
The departure from Conan's iconic traits raises questions about the character's authenticity. If the protagonist were given a different name and set in a time when Conan traversed the earth, perhaps as another Cimmerian seeking his way, the narrative might have been more palatable. As one reviewer aptly puts it, the work appears more like a 'Conan Pastiche,' and this sentiment resonates.
While some positive reviews appreciate Carpenter's attempt to introduce realism to Conan, acknowledging the vulnerabilities of a mere man, these commendations are overshadowed by a slow and anti-climactic ending. The book, despite its potential, leaves readers yearning for the grandeur and excitement that define true Conan adventures.
August 7, 2024
This was better than I expected. The writer's voice lacks the grand epicness of, say, Robert Jordan's foray into Conan, but Leonard Carpenter has the crisp, efficient prose of a skilled writer. And he also lacks the painfully slanted portrayal of women that Jordan was known so well for, which is a definite plus.
'Efficient' is the best description of this book that I can think of, actually. It moves along at a good pace, it covers a lot of ground because it describes places and people and events once and moves forward, and for it being only 250 pages in length, a lot happens in such a way that everything ties together without wasting time on needless repetition or flowery description. And here we get to see Conan fit into the role of a leader as he speaks of alliances and future plans of conquest and carving out a kingdom of his own, a nod to his future on the throne of Aquilonia.
I purchased this title on a lark, but I'm glad I did. I look forward to other works written by Leonard Carpenter, and would put him above almost all the other Conan writers I've encountered - and I've read most of them.
'Efficient' is the best description of this book that I can think of, actually. It moves along at a good pace, it covers a lot of ground because it describes places and people and events once and moves forward, and for it being only 250 pages in length, a lot happens in such a way that everything ties together without wasting time on needless repetition or flowery description. And here we get to see Conan fit into the role of a leader as he speaks of alliances and future plans of conquest and carving out a kingdom of his own, a nod to his future on the throne of Aquilonia.
I purchased this title on a lark, but I'm glad I did. I look forward to other works written by Leonard Carpenter, and would put him above almost all the other Conan writers I've encountered - and I've read most of them.
June 24, 2025
Sometimes you are a fan of things that years later are weird. In the late 1970’s and through the 1980’s, Marvel Comics “Conan the Barbarian” was a monthly purchase. It took years, because back issues are not always cheap, but I owned the entire 275 issue series by 2001. The book series, which is the source material, is not as good. I read this. I remember the title. I remember the cover art. I have no recollection of the story. Marvel adapted this, very loosely, toward the end of the run, in issues numbers 266 through 269. That is the better route, if you can find those four issues.
December 8, 2017
One of my favorite evil magic users ever! Agohoth!!! outstanding ending as well!! like all steve perry conan books they are over the top but the best!! Love it!! You will never find a cooler magic user !!
Makes me wonder when I drive mountain passes now!! dont think just read it!! then get a copy of conan the fearless which is even better by perry!
Makes me wonder when I drive mountain passes now!! dont think just read it!! then get a copy of conan the fearless which is even better by perry!
August 29, 2017
My first Conan book, actually my first sword and sorcery book in general. Enjoyed it though I felt it slowed down towards the end and the ending itself was a little anti-climactic.
January 31, 2020
Solid Conan pastiche
June 7, 2020
Första halvan ok, vad intrig anbelangar. Därefter deus ex machina efter deus ex machina.
October 1, 2022
i enjoyed this one; it had a good pace, was well written, and I found the smaller less world-ending plot quite satisfying.
September 25, 2015
Mr Carpenter is one of several authors to continue the adventures of Conan, filling in gaps of the larger-than-life character's history that the Great Robert E. Howard left unexplored.
I've read this one twice, first as a teenager, second when in my mid-twenties. Fifteen years on, I can't remember this tale in great detail, but know that I enjoyed it, though not as much as the Conan tales penned by Mr Howard.
I've read this one twice, first as a teenager, second when in my mid-twenties. Fifteen years on, I can't remember this tale in great detail, but know that I enjoyed it, though not as much as the Conan tales penned by Mr Howard.
January 9, 2016
I know, I know these books are pulp. But if you are going to read pulp it should be like this and bloody good fun!
Read
July 30, 2013Still have this book I have to unearth it sometime to go back through it again.
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