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The Heroic Legends Series
Conan: The Halls of Immortal Darkness: The Heroic Legends Series
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.
After killing his latest employer, a bored Conan wanders Stygia. His wanderlust is brought to an end when he is bitten by an asp. Though he attempts to extract the venom, it’s no use. At death’s door, the Cimmerian is saved by an otherworldly woman and a skull-headed tarantula.
Conan awakens being attended to by the merchant Khal, an acolyte of the strange goddess who saved his life. Khal came to Conan’s aid because Conan has been blessed by The Lady of the Desert; the Cimmerian is fated for something extraordinary. As it happens, fate is a seductive priestess with a legend to tell and coin to offer. Will Conan answer her call to adventure?
After killing his latest employer, a bored Conan wanders Stygia. His wanderlust is brought to an end when he is bitten by an asp. Though he attempts to extract the venom, it’s no use. At death’s door, the Cimmerian is saved by an otherworldly woman and a skull-headed tarantula.
Conan awakens being attended to by the merchant Khal, an acolyte of the strange goddess who saved his life. Khal came to Conan’s aid because Conan has been blessed by The Lady of the Desert; the Cimmerian is fated for something extraordinary. As it happens, fate is a seductive priestess with a legend to tell and coin to offer. Will Conan answer her call to adventure?
Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2024
33 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Laird Barron
176 books2,909 followersLaird Barron, an expat Alaskan, is the author of several books, including The Imago Sequence and Other Stories; Swift to Chase; and Blood Standard. Currently, Barron lives in the Rondout Valley of New York State and is at work on tales about the evil that men do.
Photo credit belongs to Ardi Alspach
Agent: Janet Reid of New Leaf Literary & Media
Photo credit belongs to Ardi Alspach
Agent: Janet Reid of New Leaf Literary & Media
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 20, 2024
Reading Barron is always such an immense pleasure. His delicious prose is strikingly vivid, with an amazing flair for the dark and ominous. I don't necessarily feel he's attempting to imitate Howard's style here, and I think that's just fine. But at the same time it is unmistakably a Conan tale, precise in its detail, context and rendering of the brooding yet exuberant Cimmerian. Alas, the only fault I can find with this is that I wish it were longer.
August 26, 2024
This is a difficult book to rate. I liked the story, but that certainly doesn’t explain reviews that put this ahead of almost all of Robert E. Howard’s works. That’s utterly preposterous, as this is a middling version of Conan.
August 21, 2024
Um...not much of what I anticipated
I just finished reading a Barron Isaiah Coolridge novel. Outside some of his typical wonderful turns of phrase, this story was nowhere near the caliber of that book. This was...odd. Oddly detached, like a person knowledgeable of the subject matter told me about it, relayed information about it. Conan is not a subject matter; he deserves more. I almost want to give this 2 stars.
I just finished reading a Barron Isaiah Coolridge novel. Outside some of his typical wonderful turns of phrase, this story was nowhere near the caliber of that book. This was...odd. Oddly detached, like a person knowledgeable of the subject matter told me about it, relayed information about it. Conan is not a subject matter; he deserves more. I almost want to give this 2 stars.
January 27, 2025
Laird Barron has been popping up on my radar here and there for a while now as one to watch for, and if his pastiche writing is anything to go by, his original creations are something to keep an eye on indeed.
That said, this turned out to be a frustrating mixed bag, where the highs left me *wanting* to like it more than the lows ultimately allowed.
Where Barron excels is in bringing the supernatural horror aspects of Conan's world to vivid, nightmarish life, spinning a scenario where it sometimes credibly feels like Conan's in over his head. There's also some well-used down time/breathing room exploring the more nuanced aspects of Conan's personality.
The first shaky ground I noticed was in the weak, strangely unrealized fight scenes...like either the author only hurriedly sketched these moments and forgot to go back and fix them or writing action sequences simply isn't his strong suit. The real sign of trouble, though, was when the main plot seems to be kicking off in earnest, and I noticed I was at the halfway mark. And sure enough, the second half feels like a frustratingly undercooked first draft...which is a real shame, as it builds to a conclusion that feels like it would have been far more impactful with a bit more work.
That said, this turned out to be a frustrating mixed bag, where the highs left me *wanting* to like it more than the lows ultimately allowed.
Where Barron excels is in bringing the supernatural horror aspects of Conan's world to vivid, nightmarish life, spinning a scenario where it sometimes credibly feels like Conan's in over his head. There's also some well-used down time/breathing room exploring the more nuanced aspects of Conan's personality.
The first shaky ground I noticed was in the weak, strangely unrealized fight scenes...like either the author only hurriedly sketched these moments and forgot to go back and fix them or writing action sequences simply isn't his strong suit. The real sign of trouble, though, was when the main plot seems to be kicking off in earnest, and I noticed I was at the halfway mark. And sure enough, the second half feels like a frustratingly undercooked first draft...which is a real shame, as it builds to a conclusion that feels like it would have been far more impactful with a bit more work.
December 2, 2025
Such a great entry as Conan takes on the protection of a beautiful priestess in a well-written short with very beautiful prose and great twists that really had me guessing where it was heading.
August 20, 2024
100% REH, ~90% Laird - this really reads like something Howard could write himself (and sell, and be reasonably proud of), the voice is captured perfectly. I just hoped that Barron would inject more of himself into it. Still, a nice, fast read, though the action proper begins late and ends swiftly (OK, this is unlike REH, he would add much more hewing and rending).
August 20, 2024
Good job for a non Howard and better than what I have seen. Short, fast, and filled with enough action and development. Nice to read on a lunch break. Would recommend.
October 24, 2025
After reading Shaun Hamill’s ‘Conan’ entry into Titans The Heroic Legends Series, I saw Laird had one as well and knew I absolutely had to read it. So, I snagged it, loaded it onto my Kindle and devoured it last night in one frantic, Basil Poledouris fueled session.
Laird and Shaun have very different writing styles and storytelling styles, so it was interesting to see how Shaun wrote more of a comic book entry, while Laird’s was a full throwback to the days or yore with even the language and words used dripping with Cimmerian influence.
What I liked: In this one, Conan is older than in the previous entry I read, but still seeking adventure and employment. The book picks up just as Conan kills his current employer and takes his wages and heads to a bar to drink and ponder his next steps.
Along the way, he’s bitten by a venomous snake, which puts him at death’s doorstep. While in the throes of agony, he’s visited by an old crone, one who isn’t exactly as she seems.
Conan comes through, aided by a wandering merchant, who was sent by the crone. Conan rides with this man to the next town, at which time he heads to the nearest tavern. After spending a week there, he’s out of coin and moves on, only to discover a priestess being attacked in an alleyway. After killing her attackers, she thanks him and offers him a job, to act as her security. Wanting new adventure, more coin and a way out of the town, he agrees and they head out, flanked by her assistant, an older man whom Conan distrusts.
Barron easily slides from page to page, showcasing Conan as the introspective brute we all know and love. The barbarian grows more and more untrusting of the man, more so after the priestess takes him to a secluded grassy area and seduces him, all the while whispering an odd thing into Conan’s ear.
Once they arrive at the mysterious Halls of Immortal Darkness, the truth is revealed and Conan must fight for his life – and the priestess’ – and somehow find his way back out. Barron writes this final quarter with gusto, and again, Poledouris’ soundtrack rumbled throughout my brain as I read, flipping every page faster than the last.
This was all flexing muscles, spraying blood and swords clanging, making for yet another amazing visit into Conan’s world.
What I didn’t like: For me personally, I was a bit confused by the crone’s visit at first, as well as the priestess’ assistant. I was trying to figure out if they were the same person or not and it made for some confusion on my end, but that purely might’ve been me mis-reading some of the descriptions when they arrived. As well, I wished we learned more about the Halls of Immortal Darkness. The myth/lore behind the place wasn’t explored near enough for what I wanted.
Why you should buy this: Conan fans have surely already read this, but I’ve not seen many people posting about this who I usually see post about Laird’s stuff frequently, so if you’re a Laird fan and haven’t read this yet, get on it, even if you’re not a Conan fan. Laird handles the barbarian with ease and makes him come alive on the page.
This one was another really fun Conan story, but also a really engaging sword and sorcery story, which I’m always down for!
Laird and Shaun have very different writing styles and storytelling styles, so it was interesting to see how Shaun wrote more of a comic book entry, while Laird’s was a full throwback to the days or yore with even the language and words used dripping with Cimmerian influence.
What I liked: In this one, Conan is older than in the previous entry I read, but still seeking adventure and employment. The book picks up just as Conan kills his current employer and takes his wages and heads to a bar to drink and ponder his next steps.
Along the way, he’s bitten by a venomous snake, which puts him at death’s doorstep. While in the throes of agony, he’s visited by an old crone, one who isn’t exactly as she seems.
Conan comes through, aided by a wandering merchant, who was sent by the crone. Conan rides with this man to the next town, at which time he heads to the nearest tavern. After spending a week there, he’s out of coin and moves on, only to discover a priestess being attacked in an alleyway. After killing her attackers, she thanks him and offers him a job, to act as her security. Wanting new adventure, more coin and a way out of the town, he agrees and they head out, flanked by her assistant, an older man whom Conan distrusts.
Barron easily slides from page to page, showcasing Conan as the introspective brute we all know and love. The barbarian grows more and more untrusting of the man, more so after the priestess takes him to a secluded grassy area and seduces him, all the while whispering an odd thing into Conan’s ear.
Once they arrive at the mysterious Halls of Immortal Darkness, the truth is revealed and Conan must fight for his life – and the priestess’ – and somehow find his way back out. Barron writes this final quarter with gusto, and again, Poledouris’ soundtrack rumbled throughout my brain as I read, flipping every page faster than the last.
This was all flexing muscles, spraying blood and swords clanging, making for yet another amazing visit into Conan’s world.
What I didn’t like: For me personally, I was a bit confused by the crone’s visit at first, as well as the priestess’ assistant. I was trying to figure out if they were the same person or not and it made for some confusion on my end, but that purely might’ve been me mis-reading some of the descriptions when they arrived. As well, I wished we learned more about the Halls of Immortal Darkness. The myth/lore behind the place wasn’t explored near enough for what I wanted.
Why you should buy this: Conan fans have surely already read this, but I’ve not seen many people posting about this who I usually see post about Laird’s stuff frequently, so if you’re a Laird fan and haven’t read this yet, get on it, even if you’re not a Conan fan. Laird handles the barbarian with ease and makes him come alive on the page.
This one was another really fun Conan story, but also a really engaging sword and sorcery story, which I’m always down for!
August 24, 2024
Laird Barron is one of my very favourite authors, there are so many stories that he has written that I have been enamored by. When it was announced that he was writing a story about Robert E.Howard's most famous character, Conan (of course), I was over the moon. Reading this story upon release was mandatory for me, and I even though I risked getting a little over hyped up about it, I wasn't disappointed. Now, I'll say this from the start, there will be Howard purists out there who will say things like "it doesn't read like Howard". Well, here's the thing, how can it? And truly, nothing ever will in my opinion, at least not completely. But does that totally matter?, so long as it captures the spirit of Howard’s character and world. For me, thats what's important about the new Howard pastiche fiction that we are lucky to be getting lately. This story by Laird Barron captures that spirit and also features that special ingredient that Laird sprinkles through his best tales. Robert E.Howard fan or not, Conan fan or not, this in my opinion is a cracking sword and sorcery story. For £1.99, an ebook exclusive, it is a bargain. Well done, Laird, I enjoyed your Conan story, please write another.
March 17, 2025
Conan - perhaps my favorite sword and sorcery/fantasy character. Laird Barron - one of my favorite authors of dark, evocative fiction. Put'em together and I could hardly wait to get to the book in my reading list. Not quite a novelette, the only complaint I have of the story is that I wanted more! That said, its a fast-paced, gritty and grim tale true to Robert E. Howard's literary style, but Barron still manages to weave his own style to the tale without breaking the genre and indeed elevating it with this short, exciting tale worthy of the brooding Cimmerian. If you're a fan of sword and sorcery, dark fantasy and/or Conan himself don't miss out on the great yarn.
More at my blog: https://tinyurl.com/3jazvj2y.
More at my blog: https://tinyurl.com/3jazvj2y.
October 1, 2024
As much as I liked the writing, I wasn’t sure what to make of this story until I got to the end, which really won me over. I’ve heard good things about Laird Barron and have a few of his books but until now I haven’t read anything by him. I really need to get around to reading the Laird Barron books that I have.
August 21, 2024
Nice
I hope this is not Laird's only foray into the Hyborian world, this was solid, with some great use of language, good action and dark sorcery. Well done. Check it out.
I hope this is not Laird's only foray into the Hyborian world, this was solid, with some great use of language, good action and dark sorcery. Well done. Check it out.
August 23, 2024
Fighting and fornicating, Cimmerian style
As the latest in The Heroic Legends series, Laird Barron has channeled his inner "Two-Gun" Bob Howard to create a satisfying addition to the Conan canon. It's short at 41 pages, but is an excellent use of a half-hour, by Crom!
As the latest in The Heroic Legends series, Laird Barron has channeled his inner "Two-Gun" Bob Howard to create a satisfying addition to the Conan canon. It's short at 41 pages, but is an excellent use of a half-hour, by Crom!
August 24, 2024
It’s Conan by Laird Barron. Before I read this I didn’t see the connection Barron has to the pulp of Howard and L. Sprague de Camp but this short lays bare their ghosts in his work. Crom’s bones, but I enjoyed this!
January 5, 2025
fun story
This wastes no time getting to the good stuff. It’s short, full of action, and has many of the elements that I look for in Conan stories.
The writing was very clear and flowed nicely, letting the story read with ease and I could picture all the fight scenes and destinations without confusion. I also enjoyed the mystery and reveals along the way.
This wastes no time getting to the good stuff. It’s short, full of action, and has many of the elements that I look for in Conan stories.
The writing was very clear and flowed nicely, letting the story read with ease and I could picture all the fight scenes and destinations without confusion. I also enjoyed the mystery and reveals along the way.
August 31, 2024
Run of the mill Conan story. I like Solomon Kane a lot better.
November 13, 2025
This was a fairly interesting tale, where the language leaned towards a flowery prose on occasion but not throughout in a critical way. The more of these Conan stories come out, the more I think they should change the name from Conan to whichever original name the author desires, and present these tales as being inspired by Conan, or by Robert E. Howard's Conan. This wasn't Conan as I've come to know him, but was still a character to see what future short stories hold for him, not necessarily novellas or novels. I recall instances of Howard writing with a critical lens against the debauchery of the civilized, and the fear-mongering herd mentality of the tribal-minded, but in this tale, Conan is often debaucherous himself. Howard's Conan is most relatable, for myself and what I've seen from many others, in that he doesn't fit in with the civilized or the barbaric, and often is appalled at the decadence of the populace. Even so, it was fairly interesting as a tale of ancient horror and gruff individuals.
I. Days of Iron and Melancholy
II. The Night City
III. In the Halls of Immortal Darkness
IV. The Pit and the Dark
Bèlit
Bone Whispers by Michael Stackpole 3/5
Shipwrecked by V. Castro 3/5
Bèlit & Conan
Terror from the Abyss by Henry Herz 3/5
Bran Mak Morn
Red Waves of Slaughter by Steven L. Shrewsbury 3/5
Conan
Black Starlight by John C. Hocking 5/5
The Child by Brian D. Anderson 4/5
Halls of Immortal Darkness by Laird Barron 3/5
Lethal Consignment by Shaun Hamill 3/5
Lord of the Mount by Stephen Graham Jones 4/5
Shadow of Vengeance by Scott Oden 4/5
El Borak
The Siege of Lamakan by James Lovegrove 4/5
Kull & Brule if you know what's good for you
The Talons of Deep Time by Francesco Dimitri 5/5
Solomon Kane
Banquet of Souls by Steven Savile 4/5
The Hound of God by Jonathan Maberry 5/5
I. Days of Iron and Melancholy
II. The Night City
III. In the Halls of Immortal Darkness
IV. The Pit and the Dark
Bèlit
Bone Whispers by Michael Stackpole 3/5
Shipwrecked by V. Castro 3/5
Bèlit & Conan
Terror from the Abyss by Henry Herz 3/5
Bran Mak Morn
Red Waves of Slaughter by Steven L. Shrewsbury 3/5
Conan
Black Starlight by John C. Hocking 5/5
The Child by Brian D. Anderson 4/5
Halls of Immortal Darkness by Laird Barron 3/5
Lethal Consignment by Shaun Hamill 3/5
Lord of the Mount by Stephen Graham Jones 4/5
Shadow of Vengeance by Scott Oden 4/5
El Borak
The Siege of Lamakan by James Lovegrove 4/5
Kull & Brule if you know what's good for you
The Talons of Deep Time by Francesco Dimitri 5/5
Solomon Kane
Banquet of Souls by Steven Savile 4/5
The Hound of God by Jonathan Maberry 5/5
January 5, 2025
I'm enjoying the novellas based on Robert E. Howard's work put out by Titan Books, but Laird Barron's addition to those ranks just knocked the ball out of the part. Not only is Conan brought to true life as a barbarian wanderer who goes his own way in the manner in which he chooses, but the menace the Cimmerian is put up against fits right in with stuff Howard did.
Even in this short venue, Barron manages to ratchet up the tension and throw a couple of curveballs that work really well. The villain was well done, and the inherent magic smacks of H. P. Lovecraft, who was a close pen pal of Howard's.
I really recommend this one!
Even in this short venue, Barron manages to ratchet up the tension and throw a couple of curveballs that work really well. The villain was well done, and the inherent magic smacks of H. P. Lovecraft, who was a close pen pal of Howard's.
I really recommend this one!
August 29, 2024
Hey, this was pretty good. A little flabby in the beginning, I thought, but it came together in the end. The horror was good, the ending a proper shade of grey. Like a lot of these newer shorts there are little hooks for continuations and sequels. This one among them. I want to start seeing these sequels. Edgar Rice Burroughs made a lot of books out of interwoven novellas, and that comes a lot more naturally to writers steeped in peak tv and their long narratives made up of smaller episodes. Once done bind them into a physical book, let us buy them as a single story.
August 23, 2024
Much like the movie Mandy, Laird Barron is listed as a horror genre denizen by most people but is in fact a sword and sorcery author. Many of his characters have a Conan or Kullesque essence to them. A part of me always wondered how he would write Conan.
I am usually not a fan of non-Howard Conan stories. Karl Wagner is the only exception to this rule...or was. Barron can join that tiny club. Hell, this even reads like its straight out of a 30s pulp magazine.
I am usually not a fan of non-Howard Conan stories. Karl Wagner is the only exception to this rule...or was. Barron can join that tiny club. Hell, this even reads like its straight out of a 30s pulp magazine.
December 4, 2024
To Short
This book is to short and to heavy on magic for a Conan story and although it has an ending, it's more like an open ending, so that this story can be continued.
This story, I think, would have been better in SSOC comic form and although it is short, it still has good character development and environment description.
Recommended for those that have read other stories in this heroic series, but I wouldn't begin this series with this book.
This book is to short and to heavy on magic for a Conan story and although it has an ending, it's more like an open ending, so that this story can be continued.
This story, I think, would have been better in SSOC comic form and although it is short, it still has good character development and environment description.
Recommended for those that have read other stories in this heroic series, but I wouldn't begin this series with this book.
May 21, 2025
Great story
Really enjoyed this story. I grew up watching Conan over and over and I figured it was time to read some of his other adventures. I will admit it was strange to me that he had dialogue since in the movie he had very few lines. I know that's way different, but it was the only thing I had to compare it to.
All in all it was enjoyable, action packed and very entertaining.
Really enjoyed this story. I grew up watching Conan over and over and I figured it was time to read some of his other adventures. I will admit it was strange to me that he had dialogue since in the movie he had very few lines. I know that's way different, but it was the only thing I had to compare it to.
All in all it was enjoyable, action packed and very entertaining.
October 1, 2024
A short, fun adventure for Conan. Laird does a good job of capturing the spirit of R.E. Howard's Conan in this brief adventure featuring all of the hallmarks of classic Conan: Conan on the run, drinking, debauchery, sword fights, magic and betrayal. Fans of Barron and Conan will most likely enjoy this brief sojourn into the world that Howard created.
August 24, 2024
What a fine confluence to have Laird Barron write Conan! Barron's words sit well on the Cimmerian's shoulders and carve out a satisfying tale. If I have a criticism, it is that there is only one story. Someone tether Barron to the wheel of woe and have him scribe more, by Crom!
October 21, 2024
Horror great Laird Barton does justice to the legacy of Conan the Cimmerian
Horror great Laird Barton does justice to the legacy of Robert E. Howard and his most memorable creation, Conan the Cimmerian.
Horror great Laird Barton does justice to the legacy of Robert E. Howard and his most memorable creation, Conan the Cimmerian.
August 20, 2024
"Mom, Conan is banging barmaids in his room again, come make him stop!"
August 27, 2024
Laird does Conan well, a perfect match
All I can say after reading this is: Laird, give us a full dark fantasy series, you would absolutely kill it!
All I can say after reading this is: Laird, give us a full dark fantasy series, you would absolutely kill it!
February 9, 2025
This was a lot of fun, even if you don't read a lot of sword and sorcery type books. It's like a "best of" Conan, all packed into a really fun novella.
April 29, 2025
What a send up. Can't wait for Barron's antiquity.
June 25, 2025
Robert E Howard homage by someone who has clearly a deep love of ol' Conan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews