What do you think?
Rate this book
The Heroic Legends Series
Conan: Lord of the Mount
Capturing the electric short fiction energy that led Robert E. Howard to be one of the top fantasy writers of the century, with exclusive serialized eBook stories starring Conan, Solomon Kane, and more by many of today’s top writers in fantasy and sword-and-sorcery.
Awakening covered in blood, the sole survivor of a doomed raiding party, Conan sets out for the taverns, women, and ale of Trinnecerl. To reach the village, however, he must pass ruins scattered with the shattered helmets, broken blades, and bones of untold victims—as well as the hideous the creature that left them, the Lord of the Mount. Rapid-paced and bloody fantasy action written by Stephen Graham Jones, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians .
Awakening covered in blood, the sole survivor of a doomed raiding party, Conan sets out for the taverns, women, and ale of Trinnecerl. To reach the village, however, he must pass ruins scattered with the shattered helmets, broken blades, and bones of untold victims—as well as the hideous the creature that left them, the Lord of the Mount. Rapid-paced and bloody fantasy action written by Stephen Graham Jones, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians .
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2023
33 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Graham Jones
237 books15k followersStephen Graham Jones is the NYT bestselling author thirty-five or so books. He really likes werewolves and slashers. Favorite novels change daily, but Valis and Love Medicine and Lonesome Dove and It and The Things They Carried are all usually up there somewhere. Stephen lives in Boulder, Colorado. It's a big change from the West Texas he grew up in.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 29, 2023
Quick Conan read. It felt more natural in the short story format. Conan acts like Conan, especially in the end when he reaches the Tavern and deals with a traitorous herdsman. I’m definitely looking forward to the upcoming books in this series. Recommended for S&S and Conan fans.
December 27, 2023
Now this is a great S&S yarn. To me S&S is best served in short format; short stories, novellas or short novels, and this short story delivers the goods. First up, Jones doesn’t write in the voice of Howard, nor should he try, but he certainly writes in the spirit of Howard; his Conan acts and sounds like our favorite Cimmerian should. Jones gets the rough, gritty and blood-drenched atmosphere that a good Conan (or any S&S) yarn needs, and serves it up on a platter with a side of creepy horror. Without spoiling anything, it was bloody good fun!
Recommended.
Edit update; upon a second reading I have changed my opinion a bit concerning the overall score of this story. A few things felt out of place concerning the character of Conan (“screamed”?) and a slow start kinda dampens the mood a bit. Maybe closer to a 3 1/2 star read…
Recommended.
Edit update; upon a second reading I have changed my opinion a bit concerning the overall score of this story. A few things felt out of place concerning the character of Conan (“screamed”?) and a slow start kinda dampens the mood a bit. Maybe closer to a 3 1/2 star read…
September 26, 2023
Short, savage fun with a grin
A decent kickoff to this Savage Tales Short Fiction series from Heroic/Titan. I think this a good idea, so long as they keep the stories $2-2.50...and then eventually offer a print omnibus. As for this particular tale, Jones opens the modern telling of Conan's adventures with a cool sorcerous & monstrous foe. He also gives us an indomitable Cimmerian with excellent displays of mirth and LIVE!ism and mercenary intent -- a perfect S&S Attitude story!
A decent kickoff to this Savage Tales Short Fiction series from Heroic/Titan. I think this a good idea, so long as they keep the stories $2-2.50...and then eventually offer a print omnibus. As for this particular tale, Jones opens the modern telling of Conan's adventures with a cool sorcerous & monstrous foe. He also gives us an indomitable Cimmerian with excellent displays of mirth and LIVE!ism and mercenary intent -- a perfect S&S Attitude story!
October 6, 2023
Fun and action packed read
This read like a story from the classic Marvel Savage Sword of Conan comics. I am excited to see Howard’s barbarian return to the form he is best served in, the short story
This read like a story from the classic Marvel Savage Sword of Conan comics. I am excited to see Howard’s barbarian return to the form he is best served in, the short story
December 20, 2023
Gets it done
This is a solid little "dungeon-crawl/fight with a lurking ancient monster" kind of Conan story, by a writer with a strong grasp of the character, albeit seemingly a tad more Marvel comics than REH in places, with a slightly spottier grasp of the Hyborian world and barer-bones plotting than Howard would have typically settled for in a tale of this length. Still, there's some nicely perverse, freakish imagery early on (at one point seemingly taking an old Dennis Leary standup joke literally), the climactic monster fight brings some real spooky chills, and the denouement is pure Conan in a way that wickedly makes up for any prior shortcomings.
This is a solid little "dungeon-crawl/fight with a lurking ancient monster" kind of Conan story, by a writer with a strong grasp of the character, albeit seemingly a tad more Marvel comics than REH in places, with a slightly spottier grasp of the Hyborian world and barer-bones plotting than Howard would have typically settled for in a tale of this length. Still, there's some nicely perverse, freakish imagery early on (at one point seemingly taking an old Dennis Leary standup joke literally), the climactic monster fight brings some real spooky chills, and the denouement is pure Conan in a way that wickedly makes up for any prior shortcomings.
December 24, 2023
This is decent short story that captures the spirit of Robert E. Howard's most famous character, but doesn't hit Howard's heights.
I've enjoyed reading this story & it is the first Conan pastiche story that I've read to date. This is a quick ebook only read and worth the asking price of a couple of dollars/pounds.
I've enjoyed reading this story & it is the first Conan pastiche story that I've read to date. This is a quick ebook only read and worth the asking price of a couple of dollars/pounds.
September 29, 2023
The return of Conan The Librarian. This took some bizarre turns, as expected from SGJ. Can't wait for the Laird Barron installment to this series.
July 29, 2025
This one begins with Conan bloodied from head-to-toe. Then he cleans himself up.
Then it ends with Conan bloodied from head-to-toe.
Then it ends with Conan bloodied from head-to-toe.
September 27, 2023
I been excited every since I heard about this new series of short stories. The first tale proves it was worth waiting for. The author did an Amazing job capturing the mood and action of those tales of old. The story was filled with bloody action and an epic monster. I recommend it to all lovers of sword and sorcery and fantasy.
September 30, 2023
SGJ does Conan! What more can one ask for? Well... I would certainly ask for more, by Crom!
August 4, 2024
The perfect tribute to the classic Conan stories of old. A quick set up, a proper Conan and a big, brutal battle against a giant monster.
A short story, but worthy of Robert E. Howard himself and a great start to this new series
A short story, but worthy of Robert E. Howard himself and a great start to this new series
September 28, 2023
Conan at his most savage
An action packed tale with some of the best elements of sword and sorcery. Conan is back at his most savage, dealing death and leaving a bloody path in his wake.
An action packed tale with some of the best elements of sword and sorcery. Conan is back at his most savage, dealing death and leaving a bloody path in his wake.
October 5, 2023
This is my kinda Conan tale. Conan is hard-core as he was always meant to be. And I get what so many have set about Sword and Sorcery being meant for short-stories. This one definitely works written this way.
I'm anxious for the next installment and will be checking out Mr. Jones' other work.
I'm anxious for the next installment and will be checking out Mr. Jones' other work.
April 25, 2024
A standalone short story rather than a novella or novel, it was an interesting take on the Cimmerian. Perhaps a bit out of character in minor ways from REH's iconic style, but an author of the caliber of SGJ can take liberties.
September 27, 2024
This short story grabbed me right from the start. Fast paced, action packed, and Conan felt like Conan.
November 4, 2024
A quick read, I was just interested in what SGJ did here, not read anything else in this series.
It's Conan the barbarian, slashing and killing his way through the mountain where he encounters the lord of the mountain beast.
It's Conan the barbarian, slashing and killing his way through the mountain where he encounters the lord of the mountain beast.
September 28, 2023
This is the first Conan tale I've read that wasn't written by Robert E. Howard, so I was curious to see how another author would do in the lands of the Hyborian Age. I've read other stories by Stephen Graham Jones, so I was very excited to see he had written a Conan tale! Jones captures that same REH style of writing in this fast read. The story is lots of fun, and left me wanting more. Also, I'm glad Jones was able to work the word "thews" into the tale, by Mitra!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2023
Fun pastiche that understands the character
Conan is too often portrayed as either utterly amoral, or simplisticly direct, when he was neither. Although SGJ's tale, a loose riff on Beowulf, is not terribly complex, nor features any of the signature horror for which the author is known, he clearly gets what makes Conan whom he is and the action pulses. A fun, fast, read.
Conan is too often portrayed as either utterly amoral, or simplisticly direct, when he was neither. Although SGJ's tale, a loose riff on Beowulf, is not terribly complex, nor features any of the signature horror for which the author is known, he clearly gets what makes Conan whom he is and the action pulses. A fun, fast, read.
October 2, 2023
Great modern Conan short
An excellent new tale of Conan starts a promising new series. Stephen Graham Jones has a good handle on the barbarian's personality and his dogged pursuit of survival against even unearthly threats.
An excellent new tale of Conan starts a promising new series. Stephen Graham Jones has a good handle on the barbarian's personality and his dogged pursuit of survival against even unearthly threats.
September 22, 2024
My first Stephen Graham Jones!
Interesting coming at it with the background of just having read the original REH material and the one Wagner novel, Road of Kings. Where the REH material almost has the feel of outsider art written down in a feverish haze (with the occasional bows to editorial demands of the pulps), and Wagner's novel intended to point reader towards REH's oft-diluted material, Jones' perspective on the Cimmerian is rather novel to me.
There's *comfort* here.
Perhaps an odd term to use for the savage violence and mutilation we're treated to in these 40-something pages of monster-haunted ruins and iron thews, but it's the best I can come up with to describe Jones' easy mastery of the pulp adventure novella.
In 2023, there are certain expectations of what a Conan adventure is. Sure, they were there when Wagner did Road of Kings in '79 (and to an even lesser extent by the end of REH's own tragically short career) but what's different almost a century on from the original tales, is the lack of dire urgency.
Jones is not REH the starving artist, nor is he Wagner the passionate conservationist; he's simply a literary voice that the current rights owners of the character thought would be a good fit for the brand. Lest anyone accuse me of being cynical, I say this with the utmost enthusiasm after reading Jones' actual work -- would that any of my creations were still being written about a century on, and with the skill and passion Jones shows here.
I'm aware on the premise level that Jones' work often deals with his indigenous heritage, and the ways in which it is reflected in pop culture, so it was striking to see Conan deal with a greedy cattleman as an antagonist. Right on! If I was more versed in the author's actual oeuvre, I'd say that work-for-hire needn't be anonymous just on that count, but I'll swallow that presumption for the time being.
There's one instance of "Hyperborea" being used which rankled me ("no animal native to this clime, nor any other in Hyperborea") which seemed to imply Jones' using the term as a name for the setting. Confusingly, the setting* does have a region called Hyperborea, so maybe he meant that? In any case, that's unimportant nerd shit. A little bit later, he refers to Conan's "mighty thews," which is a hilariously REH turn of phrase indicating that even if he doesn't know the exact nerd minutiae**, he got the assignment based off of vibes perfectly.
Need a quick hit of monster-fighting, mighty-thewed badassery, and greedy bastards getting a well-deserved come-uppance? Sniff this purple moss, I say!
*Geographically nameless, but temporally called "The Hyborian age" -- I've seen plenty of Red Sonja writers (even ones I like!) get this wrong.
**Unless he did, in fact, mean the region of Hyperborea -- in which case I bow my head.
Interesting coming at it with the background of just having read the original REH material and the one Wagner novel, Road of Kings. Where the REH material almost has the feel of outsider art written down in a feverish haze (with the occasional bows to editorial demands of the pulps), and Wagner's novel intended to point reader towards REH's oft-diluted material, Jones' perspective on the Cimmerian is rather novel to me.
There's *comfort* here.
Perhaps an odd term to use for the savage violence and mutilation we're treated to in these 40-something pages of monster-haunted ruins and iron thews, but it's the best I can come up with to describe Jones' easy mastery of the pulp adventure novella.
In 2023, there are certain expectations of what a Conan adventure is. Sure, they were there when Wagner did Road of Kings in '79 (and to an even lesser extent by the end of REH's own tragically short career) but what's different almost a century on from the original tales, is the lack of dire urgency.
Jones is not REH the starving artist, nor is he Wagner the passionate conservationist; he's simply a literary voice that the current rights owners of the character thought would be a good fit for the brand. Lest anyone accuse me of being cynical, I say this with the utmost enthusiasm after reading Jones' actual work -- would that any of my creations were still being written about a century on, and with the skill and passion Jones shows here.
I'm aware on the premise level that Jones' work often deals with his indigenous heritage, and the ways in which it is reflected in pop culture, so it was striking to see Conan deal with a greedy cattleman as an antagonist. Right on! If I was more versed in the author's actual oeuvre, I'd say that work-for-hire needn't be anonymous just on that count, but I'll swallow that presumption for the time being.
There's one instance of "Hyperborea" being used which rankled me ("no animal native to this clime, nor any other in Hyperborea") which seemed to imply Jones' using the term as a name for the setting. Confusingly, the setting* does have a region called Hyperborea, so maybe he meant that? In any case, that's unimportant nerd shit. A little bit later, he refers to Conan's "mighty thews," which is a hilariously REH turn of phrase indicating that even if he doesn't know the exact nerd minutiae**, he got the assignment based off of vibes perfectly.
Need a quick hit of monster-fighting, mighty-thewed badassery, and greedy bastards getting a well-deserved come-uppance? Sniff this purple moss, I say!
*Geographically nameless, but temporally called "The Hyborian age" -- I've seen plenty of Red Sonja writers (even ones I like!) get this wrong.
**Unless he did, in fact, mean the region of Hyperborea -- in which case I bow my head.
November 4, 2023
So, Conan pastiche. I'm a little behind here. I read all the lancer and Tor's back in the day, and some of those were...not good. I looked at the SM Stirling and can't generate any enthusiasm. The Dixon Conans aren't available on Kindle and that's where most of my reading gets done these days.
Ah, but these Titan short story/novelettes look promising.
Unfortunately this one did not live up to the promise. I don't need these to read like REH. But I need the Hyborian Age to feel like the Hyborian Age. I need Conan to feel like Conan.
This did not feel like the Hyborian Age, or feel like anything really. Incredibly bland. Conan wasn't bad, but he didn't have much to work with here. Like casting a great actor in a terribly written and conceived film, there's only so much they can do.
It's essentially 'Conan fights a monster'. The monster in question, did not carry the story. It was bland. For a guy sold as 'the horror guy', I'd think this would be sharper. There is no real sense of why Conan is fighting this monster, frankly. If it were a D&D game the players would be screaming RAILROAD! He's there, he fights it.
Not a promising beginning, but Conan pastiches generally prove how hard it is to write pulpy sword and sorcery. This pastiche specifically proves the point.
Ah, but these Titan short story/novelettes look promising.
Unfortunately this one did not live up to the promise. I don't need these to read like REH. But I need the Hyborian Age to feel like the Hyborian Age. I need Conan to feel like Conan.
This did not feel like the Hyborian Age, or feel like anything really. Incredibly bland. Conan wasn't bad, but he didn't have much to work with here. Like casting a great actor in a terribly written and conceived film, there's only so much they can do.
It's essentially 'Conan fights a monster'. The monster in question, did not carry the story. It was bland. For a guy sold as 'the horror guy', I'd think this would be sharper. There is no real sense of why Conan is fighting this monster, frankly. If it were a D&D game the players would be screaming RAILROAD! He's there, he fights it.
Not a promising beginning, but Conan pastiches generally prove how hard it is to write pulpy sword and sorcery. This pastiche specifically proves the point.
November 29, 2023
While I expected more from a Stephen Graham Jones take on Conan, Lord of the Mount is still worth the small price of admission. I appreciate Titan Books’ willingness to go beyond safe and expected Conan writers, giving readers a chance to see a variety of different interpretations and portrayals of a familiar character.
Read my full review at Grimdark Magazine!
Read my full review at Grimdark Magazine!
April 3, 2025
This is the basic white girl of Conan stories. Is it bad? No. Is it good? Not really. It's fine. Just super basic.
The only thing really disappointing about this story is that it's the first of this new line of "Heroic Legends" short stories being put out by Titan so I would expect the first story to be the absolute best to get me hyped up for more. Instead I'm left with...."sure if I've got two dollars I don't care about I'll probably get the next one."
The only thing really disappointing about this story is that it's the first of this new line of "Heroic Legends" short stories being put out by Titan so I would expect the first story to be the absolute best to get me hyped up for more. Instead I'm left with...."sure if I've got two dollars I don't care about I'll probably get the next one."
May 17, 2024
The Beast
Conan recovers from battle with the help of a herder that has other plans. Conan must face the Lord of the Mount, or for that matter, the lord of any place it choses to call home.
A good story, that would make a good SSOC conversion.
Conan recovers from battle with the help of a herder that has other plans. Conan must face the Lord of the Mount, or for that matter, the lord of any place it choses to call home.
A good story, that would make a good SSOC conversion.
September 29, 2023
Stephen Graham Jones writing a Conan story is a perfect combination.
October 7, 2023
A very enjoyable tale reminiscent of the original short stories of the brawny Cimmerian. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!
December 10, 2023
A short but entertaining story where our favorite cimmerian meets a weird foe. I was expecting a bit more behind said foe given its strange description. Nice read though.
February 12, 2024
Could have been Bob the butcher
It did not feel like a Conan story, nor did if have a flow that captures you. I was disappointed.
It did not feel like a Conan story, nor did if have a flow that captures you. I was disappointed.
March 28, 2024
This a nice, crisp well paced Conan adventure. The action makes Conan-sense at least.
June 6, 2024
Really solid Conan short story, felt totally of the spirit of the Robert E Howard stories and has me excited to read more in this line from Titan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews