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Conan: The Barbarian complete collection
Originally appearing in the pulp fiction publication "Weird Tales" throughout the 1930's, Conan: The Barbarian complete collection is the complete collected stories of Conan the Cimmerian as written by Robert E. Howard. This eBook, which is optimized for Kindle, re-tells all 18 stories of Conan.
Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films
The various stories of Conan the Barbarian occur in the pseudo-historical "Hyborian Age", set after the destruction of Atlantis and before the rise of any known ancient civilization.
Stories included:
Cimmeria — A Poem
The Phoenix on the Sword
The Scarlet Citadel
The Tower of the Elephant
The Slithering Shadow/ Xuthal of the Dusk
The Pool of the Black One
Rogues in the House
Gods of the North/The Frost Giant's Daughter/The Frost King's Daughter
Shadows in the Moonlight
Queen of the Black Coast
The Devil in Iron
The People of the Black Circle
A Witch Shall Be Born
Jewels of Gwahlur
Beyond the Black River
Red Nails
The Hour of the Dragon
The Hyborian Age
Robert E. Howard- Biografy and more!
Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films
The various stories of Conan the Barbarian occur in the pseudo-historical "Hyborian Age", set after the destruction of Atlantis and before the rise of any known ancient civilization.
Stories included:
Cimmeria — A Poem
The Phoenix on the Sword
The Scarlet Citadel
The Tower of the Elephant
The Slithering Shadow/ Xuthal of the Dusk
The Pool of the Black One
Rogues in the House
Gods of the North/The Frost Giant's Daughter/The Frost King's Daughter
Shadows in the Moonlight
Queen of the Black Coast
The Devil in Iron
The People of the Black Circle
A Witch Shall Be Born
Jewels of Gwahlur
Beyond the Black River
Red Nails
The Hour of the Dragon
The Hyborian Age
Robert E. Howard- Biografy and more!
1023 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2016
2291 people are currently reading
2348 people want to read
About the author
Robert E. Howard
2,981 books2,643 followersRobert Ervin Howard was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. Howard wrote "over three-hundred stories and seven-hundred poems of raw power and unbridled emotion" and is especially noted for his memorable depictions of "a sombre universe of swashbuckling adventure and darkling horror."
He is well known for having created—in the pages of the legendary Depression-era pulp magazine Weird Tales—the character Conan the Cimmerian, a.k.a. Conan the Barbarian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can only be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond.
—Wikipedia
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
He is well known for having created—in the pages of the legendary Depression-era pulp magazine Weird Tales—the character Conan the Cimmerian, a.k.a. Conan the Barbarian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can only be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond.
—Wikipedia
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
September 5, 2016
Took me two months to read it, since it's a collection of short works (and one novel) that I didn't read everyday, but now I'm finished. And I believe not reading all the stories in one go is the best way to savor them best.
Here we simply have why Conan is a character who stood the test of time, remaining an iconic, almost archetypal character almost a century later. Thief, pirate, king, mercenary, he has been and can be a placeholder for everything you can imagine.
One thing that stood out for me the most was Conan's intelligence and creativity. Because of the movies and other people milking the franchise (since Howard, the creator, died young) the image most common depicted or thought of him is the brainless barbarian, all brawn and nothing else. Conan schemes, sees political scenarios clearly, haggle with merchants, seduces, commands armies with precision and out thinks his opponents.
Also, Conan is often imprisoned and even bested sometimes. He needs help of other people a lot of times. He isn't invincible, completely getting out of everything thrown at him by himself. A man, even one like Conan, is not an island after all.
Another thing that's refreshing is the style and pace.
If you read a lot of fantasy it's inescapable that you will read novels with pages upon pages of location descriptions, meals, exposition, worldbuilding, secondary characters, tertiary characters, sub-plots, sub sub-plots, flashbacks, etc.
In Conan for the most part everything is direct and straight to the point. It's simple, efficient and no less vivid. It's a nice change to just have a story with beginning and end in 3-5 chapters.
Of course, some stories will be good and even be surprising, considering their length, while others not so.
Also surprising is the portrayal of women. Yes, there are some damsels, but also a pirate woman, a warrior woman, queens, princesses, merchants, sorceresses, priestesses, dancers, aristocrats, etc. Looking now, women are represented in every possible position in the society of Conan's world, and this was written in the 30's, something that would make a lot of pseudo "progressive" authors blush.
And no, he doesn't always get the girl at the end. Although he does most of the time. He is Conan, the apex of manliness, after all.
And even when that happens, Howard is careful to portray everything through the woman's own POV.
The work isn't without it's own flaws, of course. I thought the writing would be a bit dated, but it's actually not. It's even better than some recent fiction I've read in the past years. Most of it wouldn't have any problems today. But at other parts it does show it is a product of almost a century ago.
Maybe people can get a bit tired of reading Conan's description, but they have to remember the author never dreamed of one day all his stories would be collected in a huge anthology. He was a pulp writer, and although fast, it could be weeks or months between stories, I believe.
But the most glaring one is that in some stories, including the novel included, sometimes things happen a bit too conveniently in Conan's favor. Like super powerful wizards suddenly being not so powerful. Or when escaping certain situations. Or maybe the excessive use of necromancers as villains.
Luck affects real-life ans is often shunned in fiction ("everything has to have a purpose or be foreshadowed"), but this can be challenged and used to good effect (like in The Folding Knife), but here I think sometimes was a bit excessive.
But no work is without some flaws, and they are very minor in the grand enjoyment of the overall work. Like I said it earlier, I would recommend not to try to read it in one-go, but to savor it slowly.
Here we simply have why Conan is a character who stood the test of time, remaining an iconic, almost archetypal character almost a century later. Thief, pirate, king, mercenary, he has been and can be a placeholder for everything you can imagine.
One thing that stood out for me the most was Conan's intelligence and creativity. Because of the movies and other people milking the franchise (since Howard, the creator, died young) the image most common depicted or thought of him is the brainless barbarian, all brawn and nothing else. Conan schemes, sees political scenarios clearly, haggle with merchants, seduces, commands armies with precision and out thinks his opponents.
Also, Conan is often imprisoned and even bested sometimes. He needs help of other people a lot of times. He isn't invincible, completely getting out of everything thrown at him by himself. A man, even one like Conan, is not an island after all.
Another thing that's refreshing is the style and pace.
If you read a lot of fantasy it's inescapable that you will read novels with pages upon pages of location descriptions, meals, exposition, worldbuilding, secondary characters, tertiary characters, sub-plots, sub sub-plots, flashbacks, etc.
In Conan for the most part everything is direct and straight to the point. It's simple, efficient and no less vivid. It's a nice change to just have a story with beginning and end in 3-5 chapters.
Of course, some stories will be good and even be surprising, considering their length, while others not so.
Also surprising is the portrayal of women. Yes, there are some damsels, but also a pirate woman, a warrior woman, queens, princesses, merchants, sorceresses, priestesses, dancers, aristocrats, etc. Looking now, women are represented in every possible position in the society of Conan's world, and this was written in the 30's, something that would make a lot of pseudo "progressive" authors blush.
And no, he doesn't always get the girl at the end. Although he does most of the time. He is Conan, the apex of manliness, after all.
And even when that happens, Howard is careful to portray everything through the woman's own POV.
The work isn't without it's own flaws, of course. I thought the writing would be a bit dated, but it's actually not. It's even better than some recent fiction I've read in the past years. Most of it wouldn't have any problems today. But at other parts it does show it is a product of almost a century ago.
Maybe people can get a bit tired of reading Conan's description, but they have to remember the author never dreamed of one day all his stories would be collected in a huge anthology. He was a pulp writer, and although fast, it could be weeks or months between stories, I believe.
But the most glaring one is that in some stories, including the novel included, sometimes things happen a bit too conveniently in Conan's favor. Like super powerful wizards suddenly being not so powerful. Or when escaping certain situations. Or maybe the excessive use of necromancers as villains.
Luck affects real-life ans is often shunned in fiction ("everything has to have a purpose or be foreshadowed"), but this can be challenged and used to good effect (like in The Folding Knife), but here I think sometimes was a bit excessive.
But no work is without some flaws, and they are very minor in the grand enjoyment of the overall work. Like I said it earlier, I would recommend not to try to read it in one-go, but to savor it slowly.
August 17, 2021
Timeless classic.
The authors method was surprisingly similar to Tolkien in that he essentially had a 'design document', a set of rules about the world he wanted to create that he referred back to. Another interesting thing is how familiar the stories will be to anyone who has played Dungeons and Dragons, or pretty much any fantasy themed videogame. The hero spends a great deal of time in dungeons filled with traps and wandering monsters. And this was written before D&D, and all those videogames, so it's weird how 'gamey' many of the stories feel. Enter dungeon, kill monsters, rescue princess/treasure. But then I remembered that these themes are archetypal, basically timeless narratives carved into our DNA. Of course the hero has to go deep into the bowels of some foul demonic dungeon to find that which is valuable. Where else would valuable things be found?
In Sterquilinis Invenitur.
The authors method was surprisingly similar to Tolkien in that he essentially had a 'design document', a set of rules about the world he wanted to create that he referred back to. Another interesting thing is how familiar the stories will be to anyone who has played Dungeons and Dragons, or pretty much any fantasy themed videogame. The hero spends a great deal of time in dungeons filled with traps and wandering monsters. And this was written before D&D, and all those videogames, so it's weird how 'gamey' many of the stories feel. Enter dungeon, kill monsters, rescue princess/treasure. But then I remembered that these themes are archetypal, basically timeless narratives carved into our DNA. Of course the hero has to go deep into the bowels of some foul demonic dungeon to find that which is valuable. Where else would valuable things be found?
In Sterquilinis Invenitur.
own-and-need-to-read
December 28, 2016ever thought your life was incomplete without all 19 books in the Conan the Barbarian collection? Today is your day! 772 pages for the best price ever: FREE
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November 10, 2022
Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have a very special and hard-to-get guest for you. He's a man with steel-spring muscles knit to a keen brain filled with deadly, catlike instincts — a Crom-worshipping outlaw with a gargantuan laugh, a distinct love of wine, and a definite lust for a harem's worth of supple young damsels in deadly distress. Yes, folks, with his bull-like vitality, he's a lover AND a fighter who enjoys occasional spanking and frequent swordplay, and who never met an axe he wasn't happy to heft. He hates slimy, clammy things, especially giant snakes and otherworldly demons. He also has a hate on for people with “dusky complexions” or “hooked noses” — forget the dog-whistle, this guy's an unabashed proponent of white supremacy! Wild yet noble, you'll know him by his square-cut, black mane, his nearly complete lack of adornment, his tanned and scarred visage, and his famously volcanic blue gaze that smolders as if with some inner fire. For a big guy, his ability to move silently and strike with lightning speed — in his signature pantherskin loin-clout and high-laced sandals — is unmatched. He's like a tiger, a wolf, a panther, a lion, quick to dispatch those who resemble the hawk, the rat, the dog, or the ape. Strong of teeth, thick of neck, and steely of thews, this is a man who hates politics and believes civilization unnatural — yet he's been an outlaw, a corsair, a kozak, a vagabond, a sword for hire, a general, and the king of a civilized country! Known as a red-handed barbarian, he admits to loving nothing better than to sheath his sword in the flesh of a clean foe — that moment when he lops a head clean off a body, sends 6 inches of sword clear to the other side of his enemy’s corpse, or strikes so hard an opponent’s torso falls one way and legs another. That's right, folks, please help me welcome him to our program ... it's Conan the Racist Cimmerian!
September 12, 2024
Conan stories leave me conflicted. First, Howard is very good at writing thrilling action. Each story was engaging as Conan fought through various strange situations. While it is a given that Conan will make it through every story, it always felt like he was in extreme danger. Also, Howard is successful in adding a sense of horror to the magical and mystical elements of his stories.
Having said all of this, Howard was definitely a man of his time. The cultures of his fantasy world are based on real world cultures and ethnicities, and in almost every story, whenever a character or a culture of an identifiably non-white culture appears, Howard is quick to harp on some sort of negative ethnic or cultural stereotype. As this happens every time, it becomes grating to the point where it makes reading the stories less enjoyable. Additionally, the view of women in these stories leaves a lot to be desired as almost all women are objectified.
Despite the exciting adventures contained here, I can't really recommend this to modern readers.
Having said all of this, Howard was definitely a man of his time. The cultures of his fantasy world are based on real world cultures and ethnicities, and in almost every story, whenever a character or a culture of an identifiably non-white culture appears, Howard is quick to harp on some sort of negative ethnic or cultural stereotype. As this happens every time, it becomes grating to the point where it makes reading the stories less enjoyable. Additionally, the view of women in these stories leaves a lot to be desired as almost all women are objectified.
Despite the exciting adventures contained here, I can't really recommend this to modern readers.
March 24, 2020
The Phoenix on the Sword - 3/5
Conan is a hardcore badass that loves danger, adventure and beautiful maidens as much as he enjoys bashing in some heads with heavy weapons; man and monster alike. He might not be the deepest in terms of character, but you have to admire the sheer amount of adrenaline, excitement and gory intensity he delivers with nearly every scene he's involved in. Although this is the first tale in the Conan series, it takes place near the very end of his journey in terms of chronology. The prose in this tale is incredibly vivid but it's also a bit messy and hard to follow at times, Robert's writing improved immensely as the series progressed. Hour of the Dragon for example is one of my all time favorite sword & sorcery books. Even though it's not quite up to par with the later Conan tales, it's still an entertaining introduction to the legendary barbarian himself.
***
The Frost-Giant's Daughter - 3/5
A battle between Conan's companions and a war-party of Vanir ends with Conan, the sole survivor of his band, facing the final surviving Vanir, Heimdul. Conan is victorious but so weakened he collapses onto the battlefield. In a dreamlike state, Conan encounters Atali, the daughter of the god Ymir, in the frozen wastes of the north and chases after her as she lures him with demeaning taunts and laughter.
Conan exerts himself from chasing her until he passes out, waking up to discover that quite a few of his companions actually survived and came to his rescue while he was unconscious. Upon being reunited with his companions, Conan tells them the story of his strange encounter with the Frost Giant's Daughter. This tale steers away from action and adventure in favor of a bit of slapstick humor featuring our barbarian Conan.
***
The God in the Bowl - 3/5
Conan plies his trade as a thief in the city of Numalia. He is caught while attempting to steal a valuable object from a museum and becomes the suspect in the death of the museum's owner.
It's a taste of bloody Conan action with a detective fiction twist. The story primarily takes place over a long interrogation scene that's surprisingly well-crafted for an early fantasy tale. The twist at the end was certainly neat, but it was very rushed and could've had more build-up. It was nice to see the unshakable barbarian get a taste of fear.
***
The Tower of the Elephant - 4/5
This story really serves to flesh out the lore and history of Conan's world, adding a ton of context and emotional value to all of the previous stories as well as all that came after it. Conan teams up with the master thief Taurus to climb the Tower of the Elephant in order to obtain a rare jewel that awaits them at the very top. On their way up the tower, they encounter a massive spider and things turn nasty. After dealing with the spider, Conan makes it to the top of the tower and encounters something otherworldly. Conan’s meeting with the Lovecraftian entity is reminiscent to the wonderfully eldritch encounter in Lovecraft's Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath. We learn a lot about the lore, the setting and the history of Conan's age which adds a much-needed layer of world-building to make the stories feel more realistic.
***
The Scarlet Citadel - 3/5
Conan teams up with the mysterious sorcerer Pelias who happens to share Conan's desire for revenge against the man threatening his kingdom. After being captured through treachery and thrown into an eldritch dungeon, Conan escapes with Pelias's help and the two unleash chaos against their imprisoners. It's a massive battle sequence, an orgiastic clash of blades and magic. The story was on the weaker side but I enjoyed seeing the sadistic, shapeshifting sorcerer Pelias in action alongside Conan's usual chaotic antics.
***
Queen of the Black Coast - 4/5
Conan joins the pirate crew of Bêlit, Queen of the Black Coast, until the exploration of an ancient city and an encounter with the primordial creature that dwells within wreak havoc on the crew. Fun, exciting and the prose is candy for the eyes. It's everything I look for in a Conan story and it's a nice follow-up to Iron Shadows in the Moon which ended abruptly. My only complaint this time around is that the villain/monster felt underwhelming and had no time to develop compared to many other villains in the series. The final battle was flashy and cool, but it lacked emotional substance because of the lack of characterization. Other than that, still Conan at its finest with lots of bloody, sexy action.
***
Black Colossus - 4/5
Princess Yasmela, the city of Khoraja's remaining sovereign, has been haunted by the terrifying apparitions of the evil wizard Natohk. When Natohk threatens to bring his demonic hordes to Khoraja, Yasmela prays to the god Mitra for help. Mitra responds and tells her to place the fate of her entire kingdom into the hands of the first man she meets out in the city streets, and that man just so happens to be a drunk and feisty Conan.
Not quite as adventurous or horrific as the best works in the series, but a clean and fun ride with a creepy villain nonetheless. It was also nice seeing Conan show off his skills in front of a bunch of prudish nobles that looked down on him as a savage unworthy of their attention or respect.
***
Iron Shadows in the Moon - 3/5
Escaping a massacre that claimed his army, Conan and an abandoned princess make their way to a haunted and occupied island at the same time as a band of pirates. A fairly fun voyage, but no exciting conclusion happens as the story cuts off very abruptly and sets itself up for the next volume. I feel like both volumes should've just been included in the same story since this is literally just one half of something with no conclusion. Other than that big gripe, the writing and pacing is still superb and I hope the next volume does this one justice for all it has set up. Conan becomes the leader of a pirate crew which could prove to be a fun little escapade.
***
Xuthal of the Dusk - 4/5
Driven by the intense heat of the desert, Conan and his lovely companion seek water and food in a nearby city. Conan and his companion Natala discover the nearly-abandoned city of Xuthal in the desert, occupied only by a Stygian witch and a shadowy demon. The city of Xuthal is full of haunting imagery, as all of its inhabitants are frozen in a state of constant dreaming. Anyone that dares to wake them will be shown no mercy. It's a chilling premise with a strong Lovecraftian horror vibe. Despite how nightmarish the story is, the ending is surprisingly humorous and it left me with a smile on my face after finishing the tale.
***
The Pool of the Black One - 3/5
Conan makes himself the captain of a pirate vessel and travels to a remote island with a mysterious pool that has powers of transmutation. The violence, action and excitement were all on point as usual, but the elements of racism in this particular tale were unnecessary to the point of being uncomfortable to read. I prefer watching Conan wage epic battles against horrifying demons and armies of mad soldiers, not engage in racist drivel.
***
Rogues in the House - 4/5
Conan is drawn into a feud between a priest and a nobleman in Corinthia which leads him to be trapped in a decrepit house that contains a terrifying beast within it. Very simplistic in comparison to many other tales in the series, which is not a bad thing by any means. Instead of focusing on expanding the lore and the development of Conan, we have a straightforward plot about taking down a brutal baddie to settle a deadly dispute. Lots of horrific imagery and badass action scenes. No more, no less. Pure and simple fun.
***
The Devil in Iron - 3/5
While pursuing an enslaved princess, Conan is led into a trap on a seemingly abandoned island. On this island, Conan discovers a slumbered, resurrected city which is watched over by an ancient evil. It reads like several of the older stories stitched together with a few unrealized new ideas. Not bad, but it feels a bit uninspired at times and doesn’t bring anything new to the expanding universe. Just like Queen of the Black Coast, the villain doesn’t offer much either and the ending after Conan saves the girl feels awkward because he forces herself on her a bit too hard. She takes a liking to Conan, but it still feels a bit cringy.
***
The Vale of Lost Women - 1/5
I think this is the absolute worst of the Conan stories. I’ve enjoyed many of them and even gave Hour of the Dragon a 5 Star review, but this one is just scathing with racism, sexism and a lousy plot that can’t save it in any way. A shame.
***
The Hour of the Dragon - 5/5
The Hour of the Dragon is worth five stars alone. It combines all of the greatest elements from every other story in the Conan saga while excluding their flaws. It's an adrenaline-filled slugfest with nearly 200 pages worth of war, epic bloody battles and savage warriors against supernatural abominations. The action was incredible and the characterization of Conan is more mature and complex than ever before. The ending is surprisingly heartwarming as we watch a slave girl become a queen while Conan reclaims something precious that he once lost. A fitting finale for the legendary conqueror.
***
A Witch Shall Be Born - 4.5/5
A Witch Shall Be Born is a story about a queen that is dethroned by her evil twin that was once thrown out into the desert and left to die because she was born with the mark of a witch. The outcasted sister builds up her powerful magic and hatred over the years and turns it against the kingdom that left her to die. The sister steals the queen's place on the throne and commits countless atrocities in her name.
Conan comes along to make the evil sister pay for her crimes and restore the glory of the true queen. A thrilling tale of deception and sisterly betrayal. I ended up feeling a bit sorry for the villain this time around, I can't blame her for hating a world that cursed her to such a tragic fate the moment she was born. Salome is one of the most sympathetic villains in the entire Conan the Barbarian series.
***
The People of the Black Circle - 4/5
Hill Chieftain Conan heads into the Himalayan Mountains to rescue the Vendhyan queen, as Turanians, Afghulis, and Irakzais are caught in the machinations of demonic sorcerers of the Black Circle. It's a visceral, bloody and blindingly fast fantasy adventure that keeps up a consistent pace. It's an adrenaline rush from beginning to end.
***
Red Nails - 4/5
Wandering across the scorching desert in search of adventure, Conan stumbles upon the beautiful and fearsome pirate Valeria. After narrowly escaping from a dragon by making clever use of a poison fruit, Conan and Valeria take refuge in an entirely walled and enclosed city named Xuchotl where generations of inhabitants have waged war against each other for hundreds of years. Conan and Valeria get swept up into some nasty affairs between the two warring clans, a storm of swords and demonic sorcerey rages throughout the city until the warriors put an end to the insane clans war once and for all. It's a haunting and visceral story with lots of bloody action on par with Hour of the Dragon.
***
Jewels of Gwahlur - 3/5
Conan battles his way through Gwahlur in search of ancient jewels and riches but ends up empty handed. Although his original mission ended in failure, he got to experience the thrill of bloodshed and brought a girl that resembled a real goddess back home with him, so perhaps his journey for treasure wasn't a total waste after all. Not the best of Conan, but still a fun and quick read.
***
Beyond the Black River - 3.5/5
Conan teams up with a warrior named Balthus in an attempt to thwart the conquests of the Pictish sorcerer Zogar Sag. Just like People of the Black Circle, it's a nonstop adrenaline fest with lots of blood and guts.
***
The Black Stranger - 3/5
The story begins with Conan fleeing for the hills after being pursued by a flock of angered tribesman. While fleeing, the tribesman give up their chase upon reaching a peculiar hill that stands out from all the others. The hill turns out to hold a treasure cave along with the preserved bodies of a pirate captain, Tranicos. Conan's attempt to remove the treasure proves futile, as a demon of mist appears and attempts to strangle him. He barely escapes with his life, leaving the treasure undisturbed.
After getting away, Conan forms a thieves pact with several groups of feuding pirates to steal the forbidden treasure. Little do they know however, each person involved in the pact are manipulating each other and have a plan to dispose of each of the opposing groups once they've gotten their hands on the treasure. Debauchery, betrayal and cunning pirate trickery ensue until the last man gets away with what they came for.
***
Shadows in Zamboula - 3/5
Conan helps a dancer named Zabibi save her insane lover from a flock of cannibals and evil priests that are terrorizing her desert town. Conan fights his way through the cannibal horde does what he does best. The action was good and the setting was interesting, but the story was often ruined by a lot of unnecessary racist undertones.
Conan is a hardcore badass that loves danger, adventure and beautiful maidens as much as he enjoys bashing in some heads with heavy weapons; man and monster alike. He might not be the deepest in terms of character, but you have to admire the sheer amount of adrenaline, excitement and gory intensity he delivers with nearly every scene he's involved in. Although this is the first tale in the Conan series, it takes place near the very end of his journey in terms of chronology. The prose in this tale is incredibly vivid but it's also a bit messy and hard to follow at times, Robert's writing improved immensely as the series progressed. Hour of the Dragon for example is one of my all time favorite sword & sorcery books. Even though it's not quite up to par with the later Conan tales, it's still an entertaining introduction to the legendary barbarian himself.
***
The Frost-Giant's Daughter - 3/5
A battle between Conan's companions and a war-party of Vanir ends with Conan, the sole survivor of his band, facing the final surviving Vanir, Heimdul. Conan is victorious but so weakened he collapses onto the battlefield. In a dreamlike state, Conan encounters Atali, the daughter of the god Ymir, in the frozen wastes of the north and chases after her as she lures him with demeaning taunts and laughter.
Conan exerts himself from chasing her until he passes out, waking up to discover that quite a few of his companions actually survived and came to his rescue while he was unconscious. Upon being reunited with his companions, Conan tells them the story of his strange encounter with the Frost Giant's Daughter. This tale steers away from action and adventure in favor of a bit of slapstick humor featuring our barbarian Conan.
***
The God in the Bowl - 3/5
Conan plies his trade as a thief in the city of Numalia. He is caught while attempting to steal a valuable object from a museum and becomes the suspect in the death of the museum's owner.
It's a taste of bloody Conan action with a detective fiction twist. The story primarily takes place over a long interrogation scene that's surprisingly well-crafted for an early fantasy tale. The twist at the end was certainly neat, but it was very rushed and could've had more build-up. It was nice to see the unshakable barbarian get a taste of fear.
***
The Tower of the Elephant - 4/5
This story really serves to flesh out the lore and history of Conan's world, adding a ton of context and emotional value to all of the previous stories as well as all that came after it. Conan teams up with the master thief Taurus to climb the Tower of the Elephant in order to obtain a rare jewel that awaits them at the very top. On their way up the tower, they encounter a massive spider and things turn nasty. After dealing with the spider, Conan makes it to the top of the tower and encounters something otherworldly. Conan’s meeting with the Lovecraftian entity is reminiscent to the wonderfully eldritch encounter in Lovecraft's Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath. We learn a lot about the lore, the setting and the history of Conan's age which adds a much-needed layer of world-building to make the stories feel more realistic.
***
The Scarlet Citadel - 3/5
Conan teams up with the mysterious sorcerer Pelias who happens to share Conan's desire for revenge against the man threatening his kingdom. After being captured through treachery and thrown into an eldritch dungeon, Conan escapes with Pelias's help and the two unleash chaos against their imprisoners. It's a massive battle sequence, an orgiastic clash of blades and magic. The story was on the weaker side but I enjoyed seeing the sadistic, shapeshifting sorcerer Pelias in action alongside Conan's usual chaotic antics.
***
Queen of the Black Coast - 4/5
Conan joins the pirate crew of Bêlit, Queen of the Black Coast, until the exploration of an ancient city and an encounter with the primordial creature that dwells within wreak havoc on the crew. Fun, exciting and the prose is candy for the eyes. It's everything I look for in a Conan story and it's a nice follow-up to Iron Shadows in the Moon which ended abruptly. My only complaint this time around is that the villain/monster felt underwhelming and had no time to develop compared to many other villains in the series. The final battle was flashy and cool, but it lacked emotional substance because of the lack of characterization. Other than that, still Conan at its finest with lots of bloody, sexy action.
***
Black Colossus - 4/5
Princess Yasmela, the city of Khoraja's remaining sovereign, has been haunted by the terrifying apparitions of the evil wizard Natohk. When Natohk threatens to bring his demonic hordes to Khoraja, Yasmela prays to the god Mitra for help. Mitra responds and tells her to place the fate of her entire kingdom into the hands of the first man she meets out in the city streets, and that man just so happens to be a drunk and feisty Conan.
Not quite as adventurous or horrific as the best works in the series, but a clean and fun ride with a creepy villain nonetheless. It was also nice seeing Conan show off his skills in front of a bunch of prudish nobles that looked down on him as a savage unworthy of their attention or respect.
***
Iron Shadows in the Moon - 3/5
Escaping a massacre that claimed his army, Conan and an abandoned princess make their way to a haunted and occupied island at the same time as a band of pirates. A fairly fun voyage, but no exciting conclusion happens as the story cuts off very abruptly and sets itself up for the next volume. I feel like both volumes should've just been included in the same story since this is literally just one half of something with no conclusion. Other than that big gripe, the writing and pacing is still superb and I hope the next volume does this one justice for all it has set up. Conan becomes the leader of a pirate crew which could prove to be a fun little escapade.
***
Xuthal of the Dusk - 4/5
Driven by the intense heat of the desert, Conan and his lovely companion seek water and food in a nearby city. Conan and his companion Natala discover the nearly-abandoned city of Xuthal in the desert, occupied only by a Stygian witch and a shadowy demon. The city of Xuthal is full of haunting imagery, as all of its inhabitants are frozen in a state of constant dreaming. Anyone that dares to wake them will be shown no mercy. It's a chilling premise with a strong Lovecraftian horror vibe. Despite how nightmarish the story is, the ending is surprisingly humorous and it left me with a smile on my face after finishing the tale.
***
The Pool of the Black One - 3/5
Conan makes himself the captain of a pirate vessel and travels to a remote island with a mysterious pool that has powers of transmutation. The violence, action and excitement were all on point as usual, but the elements of racism in this particular tale were unnecessary to the point of being uncomfortable to read. I prefer watching Conan wage epic battles against horrifying demons and armies of mad soldiers, not engage in racist drivel.
***
Rogues in the House - 4/5
Conan is drawn into a feud between a priest and a nobleman in Corinthia which leads him to be trapped in a decrepit house that contains a terrifying beast within it. Very simplistic in comparison to many other tales in the series, which is not a bad thing by any means. Instead of focusing on expanding the lore and the development of Conan, we have a straightforward plot about taking down a brutal baddie to settle a deadly dispute. Lots of horrific imagery and badass action scenes. No more, no less. Pure and simple fun.
***
The Devil in Iron - 3/5
While pursuing an enslaved princess, Conan is led into a trap on a seemingly abandoned island. On this island, Conan discovers a slumbered, resurrected city which is watched over by an ancient evil. It reads like several of the older stories stitched together with a few unrealized new ideas. Not bad, but it feels a bit uninspired at times and doesn’t bring anything new to the expanding universe. Just like Queen of the Black Coast, the villain doesn’t offer much either and the ending after Conan saves the girl feels awkward because he forces herself on her a bit too hard. She takes a liking to Conan, but it still feels a bit cringy.
***
The Vale of Lost Women - 1/5
I think this is the absolute worst of the Conan stories. I’ve enjoyed many of them and even gave Hour of the Dragon a 5 Star review, but this one is just scathing with racism, sexism and a lousy plot that can’t save it in any way. A shame.
***
The Hour of the Dragon - 5/5
The Hour of the Dragon is worth five stars alone. It combines all of the greatest elements from every other story in the Conan saga while excluding their flaws. It's an adrenaline-filled slugfest with nearly 200 pages worth of war, epic bloody battles and savage warriors against supernatural abominations. The action was incredible and the characterization of Conan is more mature and complex than ever before. The ending is surprisingly heartwarming as we watch a slave girl become a queen while Conan reclaims something precious that he once lost. A fitting finale for the legendary conqueror.
***
A Witch Shall Be Born - 4.5/5
A Witch Shall Be Born is a story about a queen that is dethroned by her evil twin that was once thrown out into the desert and left to die because she was born with the mark of a witch. The outcasted sister builds up her powerful magic and hatred over the years and turns it against the kingdom that left her to die. The sister steals the queen's place on the throne and commits countless atrocities in her name.
Conan comes along to make the evil sister pay for her crimes and restore the glory of the true queen. A thrilling tale of deception and sisterly betrayal. I ended up feeling a bit sorry for the villain this time around, I can't blame her for hating a world that cursed her to such a tragic fate the moment she was born. Salome is one of the most sympathetic villains in the entire Conan the Barbarian series.
***
The People of the Black Circle - 4/5
Hill Chieftain Conan heads into the Himalayan Mountains to rescue the Vendhyan queen, as Turanians, Afghulis, and Irakzais are caught in the machinations of demonic sorcerers of the Black Circle. It's a visceral, bloody and blindingly fast fantasy adventure that keeps up a consistent pace. It's an adrenaline rush from beginning to end.
***
Red Nails - 4/5
Wandering across the scorching desert in search of adventure, Conan stumbles upon the beautiful and fearsome pirate Valeria. After narrowly escaping from a dragon by making clever use of a poison fruit, Conan and Valeria take refuge in an entirely walled and enclosed city named Xuchotl where generations of inhabitants have waged war against each other for hundreds of years. Conan and Valeria get swept up into some nasty affairs between the two warring clans, a storm of swords and demonic sorcerey rages throughout the city until the warriors put an end to the insane clans war once and for all. It's a haunting and visceral story with lots of bloody action on par with Hour of the Dragon.
***
Jewels of Gwahlur - 3/5
Conan battles his way through Gwahlur in search of ancient jewels and riches but ends up empty handed. Although his original mission ended in failure, he got to experience the thrill of bloodshed and brought a girl that resembled a real goddess back home with him, so perhaps his journey for treasure wasn't a total waste after all. Not the best of Conan, but still a fun and quick read.
***
Beyond the Black River - 3.5/5
Conan teams up with a warrior named Balthus in an attempt to thwart the conquests of the Pictish sorcerer Zogar Sag. Just like People of the Black Circle, it's a nonstop adrenaline fest with lots of blood and guts.
***
The Black Stranger - 3/5
The story begins with Conan fleeing for the hills after being pursued by a flock of angered tribesman. While fleeing, the tribesman give up their chase upon reaching a peculiar hill that stands out from all the others. The hill turns out to hold a treasure cave along with the preserved bodies of a pirate captain, Tranicos. Conan's attempt to remove the treasure proves futile, as a demon of mist appears and attempts to strangle him. He barely escapes with his life, leaving the treasure undisturbed.
After getting away, Conan forms a thieves pact with several groups of feuding pirates to steal the forbidden treasure. Little do they know however, each person involved in the pact are manipulating each other and have a plan to dispose of each of the opposing groups once they've gotten their hands on the treasure. Debauchery, betrayal and cunning pirate trickery ensue until the last man gets away with what they came for.
***
Shadows in Zamboula - 3/5
Conan helps a dancer named Zabibi save her insane lover from a flock of cannibals and evil priests that are terrorizing her desert town. Conan fights his way through the cannibal horde does what he does best. The action was good and the setting was interesting, but the story was often ruined by a lot of unnecessary racist undertones.
June 1, 2017
Conan. It took a barbarian's strength to push through this whole thing. It was a test of endurance for me. Not because I didn't like the stories, just because there was so much of the same thing stacked up in one place!
This collection was assembled (as I understand it) from multiple novels that were not originally part of the same work. What happens when they are lumped together is that you get a repetition of phrasing you might not otherwise notice. Comparisons to wolves and tigers using the same descriptors gets really old – quickly.
I see clearly where the inspiration for Frazetta and so many others comes from. This is a cornerstone in the building that is modern fantasy. There are many, many things that clearly descend from this ancestor.
At the same time, it does have issues. IF you decide to take the challenge and plow through this whole thing, be prepared for turns of phrases that are out of date. Prepare for the use of language that has developed different connotations over the intervening eighty years or so – giving an odd flavor to the text despite the technically correct usage of certain words. Also be prepared for characters that are placed / labeled or otherwise called out based on their physical descriptions. Any non-white persons in this book are judged and categorized based on that fact. I don't know if that was the opinion of the author or a shorthand sort of cheat. Why develop a villain when all I need to say is “he was of the darkest jungle with fuzzy hair and sharpened teeth”? It's uncomfortable and makes certain aspects of the book less enjoyable for it. Females fall directly into either weak and lust worthy or strong and lust worthy – either category to be part of the conquest. There really are women of power in here, just don't expect them to take on significant roles.
I would say it's important to read this original Conan material to learn where so much of today's fantasy comes from, but read it with the age and context in mind.
This collection was assembled (as I understand it) from multiple novels that were not originally part of the same work. What happens when they are lumped together is that you get a repetition of phrasing you might not otherwise notice. Comparisons to wolves and tigers using the same descriptors gets really old – quickly.
I see clearly where the inspiration for Frazetta and so many others comes from. This is a cornerstone in the building that is modern fantasy. There are many, many things that clearly descend from this ancestor.
At the same time, it does have issues. IF you decide to take the challenge and plow through this whole thing, be prepared for turns of phrases that are out of date. Prepare for the use of language that has developed different connotations over the intervening eighty years or so – giving an odd flavor to the text despite the technically correct usage of certain words. Also be prepared for characters that are placed / labeled or otherwise called out based on their physical descriptions. Any non-white persons in this book are judged and categorized based on that fact. I don't know if that was the opinion of the author or a shorthand sort of cheat. Why develop a villain when all I need to say is “he was of the darkest jungle with fuzzy hair and sharpened teeth”? It's uncomfortable and makes certain aspects of the book less enjoyable for it. Females fall directly into either weak and lust worthy or strong and lust worthy – either category to be part of the conquest. There really are women of power in here, just don't expect them to take on significant roles.
I would say it's important to read this original Conan material to learn where so much of today's fantasy comes from, but read it with the age and context in mind.
January 5, 2022
What to say about Conan? It's cheesy and simple, with the manly-man, noble-savage barbarian and the distressed and ditzy damosel, and plenty of opportunities for Our Hero to make good on his hero-ness. I'm glad I read it just for the simple ability to understand the references better, but I can't say that I exactly enjoyed the experience.
July 31, 2017
Barbaric
How could you not love these stories. A rip roaring collection of adventure tales. If you love fantasy novels then you have to read this collection.10\10
How could you not love these stories. A rip roaring collection of adventure tales. If you love fantasy novels then you have to read this collection.10\10
March 18, 2025
Conan was an uncivilized barabarian. He was a wandering freebooter, mercenary, thief.
Nevertheless If his friends needed help he would be there at the front of the pack, swinging his sword.
Conan the Barbarian Complete Collection by Robert E Howard. Many short stories with our fellow Conan taking on all comers. Sorcerer’s, Beasts, and a lot of bad folks.
If you want a good dose of adventure try it out.
Nevertheless If his friends needed help he would be there at the front of the pack, swinging his sword.
Conan the Barbarian Complete Collection by Robert E Howard. Many short stories with our fellow Conan taking on all comers. Sorcerer’s, Beasts, and a lot of bad folks.
If you want a good dose of adventure try it out.
December 26, 2024
A inventé la fantasy
August 23, 2016
Very interesting. After a bit of research, I'm seeing why so little of this was familiar to me, the Lancer/Ace editions I had previously read (not sure how far I actually got) contained mostly work by de Camp and Carter, thus the only Howard story I could recall for certain was Tower of the Elephant, though I must have read Rogues in the House since they're in the same volume (and it did seem familiar). Anyhow, this is an almost complete collection of the Conan stories published in Howard's lifetime (Thus it does not include The God in the Bowl, Vale of Lost Women or The Black Stranger, all published well after his death). The almost is due to leaving out The Black Colossus, but since that was largely reworked into Hour of the Dragon, I can kind of see the point.
Now this is most certainly not a knock on L. Sprague de Camp, one of my favorite authors and certainly a worthy writer to carry on Howard's legacy, nor is it necessarily a knock on Lin Carter, though I don't believe I've ever read any of his non-Conan work (and there's quite a lot of it), but now I see a lot more clearly why Conan has had the influence he had (not that de Camp and Carter didn't contribute to it, but that came later).
The stories are in publication order, so when we first meet Conan, he is already King of Aquillonia (a bit of a surprise, I had always assumed that was added later) and it definitely helps see the development of the character. And not just the character, because of course Howard is largely inventing the entire Sword and Sorcery genre with these stories. Overall, a quite worthy collection and a very interesting read.
Now this is most certainly not a knock on L. Sprague de Camp, one of my favorite authors and certainly a worthy writer to carry on Howard's legacy, nor is it necessarily a knock on Lin Carter, though I don't believe I've ever read any of his non-Conan work (and there's quite a lot of it), but now I see a lot more clearly why Conan has had the influence he had (not that de Camp and Carter didn't contribute to it, but that came later).
The stories are in publication order, so when we first meet Conan, he is already King of Aquillonia (a bit of a surprise, I had always assumed that was added later) and it definitely helps see the development of the character. And not just the character, because of course Howard is largely inventing the entire Sword and Sorcery genre with these stories. Overall, a quite worthy collection and a very interesting read.
July 25, 2022
Really fun read! The short stories are all exciting and action-packed. They're a nice breath of fresh air after all the epic fantasy that's always concerned with world- and universe-changing events. In Conan, you always get a nice dose of intrigue, action and excitement.
The main negative is that the stories can get a bit same-y after a while, and certain tropes can start overstaying their welcome, especially later on (e.g. Conan being absolutely invincible, 90% of all the women being either useless or evil).
But then again, these stories were never intended for being read back-to-back. So as long as you take them in small doses, I think you'll definitely enjoy this collection!
The main negative is that the stories can get a bit same-y after a while, and certain tropes can start overstaying their welcome, especially later on (e.g. Conan being absolutely invincible, 90% of all the women being either useless or evil).
But then again, these stories were never intended for being read back-to-back. So as long as you take them in small doses, I think you'll definitely enjoy this collection!
January 30, 2022
I couldn't get past the opening lore sections of this collection. Endless waves of descriptions of people conquering and enslaving their neighbors, in turn being conquered and enslaved by their own slaves, to be conquered and enslaved by their neighbors, etc. With a grotesque amount of antiquated racial language that would raise eyebrows in this day and age (though not necessarily crossing the line into explicit racist language from what I read).
I noped out so hard from this opening book, but there js a small chance that one day I will give another section of the anthology a try.
I noped out so hard from this opening book, but there js a small chance that one day I will give another section of the anthology a try.
February 10, 2018
It has been a while since I first read these stories, reformed into a narrative of Conan's life by De Camp and Carter. They are better this way, truer to Howard's intentions and truer to the time when they were written.
July 21, 2018
Granted, these stories are pulp fiction without any deep theme at the core. But there is obvious passion in the writing. Howard’s words are detailed and descriptive, but fast-paced and full of badass action sequences that are as artfully written as they are intense.
February 20, 2017
The original and still the best.
February 7, 2017
When I was an adolescent back in the 1970's, I discovered Robert E. Howard, thanks to Lancer Books. The first Howard collection I read was The Dark Man and Others, but I soon discovered Conan the Barbarian comic books, by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith. Then I quickly put two and two together and realized the comic book character was the same brooding barbarian that was featured in all those Lancer editions with the Frank Frazetta covers, and soon bought all the Conan books available. Of course, not all stories in the Lancer (and later Ace) editions were written by Howard, and indeed, not all stories written by Howard were in fact Conan stories to begin with. L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter wrote their own Conan stories, and also altered non-Conan stories to fit their timeline. But even though I liked all the stories, my favorites were clearly those penned by Robert E. Howard himself.
Since Howard was incredibly prolific during his relatively short writing career, the '70's and '80's saw a plethora of Howard paperbacks. After Lancer went out of business, Ace, Zebra (R.I.P, Zebra Books), and Berkley published a seemingly endless series of titles, and I, by then in college, tried my darnedest to buy and read them all, regardless of the genre. So I have a pretty good appreciation of Howard as a writer.
When I saw Conan the Barbarian: The Complete Collection listed on Amazon (and for free!), I couldn't resist, but I downloaded it with some trepidation; there is nothing so deflating as to revisit a childhood pleasure as an adult and find it wanting. But I downloaded it anyway, and sat down to plow through all 700+ pages to see if the stories were really as good as I remembered.
To my surprise and delight, I enjoyed them just as much as when I was thirteen. In fact, I think I enjoyed them more this time than when I first read them over 45 years ago. When Howard died, he was still fairly young (only 30 years old), and he had yet to fully mature as a writer. But the vigor and strength of his imagination jumps off the page with as much energy as Conan fought his battles. Author Harlan Ellison once wrote about another writer's work (I think he was talking about Stephen King), "It pulls the plow." And Robert E. Howard's Conan stories certainly do that. Howard's Conan stories should be considered essential reading for anyone interested in sword-and-sorcery fantasy.
(Note: Robert Howard lived and wrote in small-town Texas during the 1930's. Anyone reading his works needs to remember and understand this when encountering Howard's attitudes about race and gender, and judge the stories by the historical and social matrix of the time.)
Since Howard was incredibly prolific during his relatively short writing career, the '70's and '80's saw a plethora of Howard paperbacks. After Lancer went out of business, Ace, Zebra (R.I.P, Zebra Books), and Berkley published a seemingly endless series of titles, and I, by then in college, tried my darnedest to buy and read them all, regardless of the genre. So I have a pretty good appreciation of Howard as a writer.
When I saw Conan the Barbarian: The Complete Collection listed on Amazon (and for free!), I couldn't resist, but I downloaded it with some trepidation; there is nothing so deflating as to revisit a childhood pleasure as an adult and find it wanting. But I downloaded it anyway, and sat down to plow through all 700+ pages to see if the stories were really as good as I remembered.
To my surprise and delight, I enjoyed them just as much as when I was thirteen. In fact, I think I enjoyed them more this time than when I first read them over 45 years ago. When Howard died, he was still fairly young (only 30 years old), and he had yet to fully mature as a writer. But the vigor and strength of his imagination jumps off the page with as much energy as Conan fought his battles. Author Harlan Ellison once wrote about another writer's work (I think he was talking about Stephen King), "It pulls the plow." And Robert E. Howard's Conan stories certainly do that. Howard's Conan stories should be considered essential reading for anyone interested in sword-and-sorcery fantasy.
(Note: Robert Howard lived and wrote in small-town Texas during the 1930's. Anyone reading his works needs to remember and understand this when encountering Howard's attitudes about race and gender, and judge the stories by the historical and social matrix of the time.)
March 14, 2023
Ah, Conan the Barbarian. The quintessential pulp hero of the 20th century. Known for his rippling muscles, his flashing sword, and his brooding intensity. If you're looking for a book that will transport you to a savage, primal world of adventure and danger, look no further than the complete collection of Conan tales.
From his earliest stories in the 1930s, Conan has captured the imagination of generations of readers. And it's not hard to see why. The world of Conan is a brutal, unforgiving place, where might makes right and the weak are trampled underfoot. But it's also a world of grandeur and majesty, where heroes battle monsters, wizards wield arcane powers, and kingdoms rise and fall in the blink of an eye.
If you've never read any Conan before, be warned: this is not a series for the faint of heart. The violence is graphic, the sex is lurid, and the racial stereotypes are... well, let's just say they're not exactly politically correct. But if you can look past all that, there's a lot to enjoy here.
One of the most impressive things about Conan is the sheer variety of stories. In some tales, he's a sword-for-hire, battling rival mercenaries and corrupt officials. In others, he's a hero defending a city from marauding invaders. And in still others, he's a lone adventurer exploring the wilds of the Hyborian Age, encountering strange creatures and lost civilizations.
The best Conan stories are the ones that manage to combine all of these elements into a seamless whole. Take "The Tower of the Elephant," for example. In this classic tale, Conan sneaks into the titular tower to steal a valuable gem, only to discover that the tower is guarded by an otherworldly being known as Yara. What follows is a tense, gripping battle of wits and strength as Conan struggles to outsmart his opponent and escape with his life.
But perhaps the most impressive thing about the Conan stories is the sheer inventiveness of the world-building. Howard was a master at creating new cultures and mythologies, and he imbued his stories with a sense of wonder and mystery that still captivates readers today. Whether he's exploring ancient ruins, fighting giant snakes, or battling sorcerers, Conan always feels like he's in a world that's bigger than he can ever fully comprehend.
So, should you pick up the complete collection of Conan tales? If you're a fan of pulpy adventure stories, absolutely. The stories are fast-paced, action-packed, and full of surprises. But if you're looking for something more subtle or nuanced, you might want to look elsewhere. This is a series that revels in its own excesses, and if you can't handle that, well... Crom help you.
From his earliest stories in the 1930s, Conan has captured the imagination of generations of readers. And it's not hard to see why. The world of Conan is a brutal, unforgiving place, where might makes right and the weak are trampled underfoot. But it's also a world of grandeur and majesty, where heroes battle monsters, wizards wield arcane powers, and kingdoms rise and fall in the blink of an eye.
If you've never read any Conan before, be warned: this is not a series for the faint of heart. The violence is graphic, the sex is lurid, and the racial stereotypes are... well, let's just say they're not exactly politically correct. But if you can look past all that, there's a lot to enjoy here.
One of the most impressive things about Conan is the sheer variety of stories. In some tales, he's a sword-for-hire, battling rival mercenaries and corrupt officials. In others, he's a hero defending a city from marauding invaders. And in still others, he's a lone adventurer exploring the wilds of the Hyborian Age, encountering strange creatures and lost civilizations.
The best Conan stories are the ones that manage to combine all of these elements into a seamless whole. Take "The Tower of the Elephant," for example. In this classic tale, Conan sneaks into the titular tower to steal a valuable gem, only to discover that the tower is guarded by an otherworldly being known as Yara. What follows is a tense, gripping battle of wits and strength as Conan struggles to outsmart his opponent and escape with his life.
But perhaps the most impressive thing about the Conan stories is the sheer inventiveness of the world-building. Howard was a master at creating new cultures and mythologies, and he imbued his stories with a sense of wonder and mystery that still captivates readers today. Whether he's exploring ancient ruins, fighting giant snakes, or battling sorcerers, Conan always feels like he's in a world that's bigger than he can ever fully comprehend.
So, should you pick up the complete collection of Conan tales? If you're a fan of pulpy adventure stories, absolutely. The stories are fast-paced, action-packed, and full of surprises. But if you're looking for something more subtle or nuanced, you might want to look elsewhere. This is a series that revels in its own excesses, and if you can't handle that, well... Crom help you.
April 19, 2024
Wow. Sometimes you hear about something your whole life and when you finally get around to it, you wonder what all the fuss was about. Other times you wish you could go back in time and read it sooner, and that's how I feel about Conan the Barbarian.
I must admit, being more of a long-form story fan, it took me some time to get into the character of Conan presented as a series of short stories that jump around in his life un-chronologically (as Howard wrote them), but once I acclimated to the format, I never looked back. Also, the development of Howard's skills is evident throughout the canon, so stick with the beginning and you will not regret it when you reach the end. These swashbuckling, saucy stories serve as the archetypal foundation of pulp sword and sorcery in ways that are difficult to surpass, even as nearly a century of honorers and imitators have taken up the baton. Absolutely recommend.
(Now, it's current year, so I guess I have to include a note about racial elements that are potentially offensive to modern readers. There are no slurs that I recall, but Howard's prejudices, more common in his day, do show through in some of the stories. If you are the kind of person who can't read a work of fiction without pearl-clutching at the words of a writer who's been dead for 88 years, you'll have to read something else.)
I must admit, being more of a long-form story fan, it took me some time to get into the character of Conan presented as a series of short stories that jump around in his life un-chronologically (as Howard wrote them), but once I acclimated to the format, I never looked back. Also, the development of Howard's skills is evident throughout the canon, so stick with the beginning and you will not regret it when you reach the end. These swashbuckling, saucy stories serve as the archetypal foundation of pulp sword and sorcery in ways that are difficult to surpass, even as nearly a century of honorers and imitators have taken up the baton. Absolutely recommend.
(Now, it's current year, so I guess I have to include a note about racial elements that are potentially offensive to modern readers. There are no slurs that I recall, but Howard's prejudices, more common in his day, do show through in some of the stories. If you are the kind of person who can't read a work of fiction without pearl-clutching at the words of a writer who's been dead for 88 years, you'll have to read something else.)
October 27, 2017
It’s been such. Long time since I read a Conan story and I throughly enjoyed them! Howard was a much better writer than he is usually given credit for and the tales of the lusty Cimmerian are the foundations of all modern heroic/epic fantasy. Conan is a hero that reflects the times in which Howard wrote his stories. Despite the inherent racism, misogyny and ethnic stereotyping the short stories are engaging. The quality of the writing varies and some stories work better than others but the pace of the tales and the imagination which created them are excellent. When Conan is creeping through the catacombs of some ancient city, pushed by zombies and ghouls the reader is there heart in mouth willing him on as they turn the page to find out the next twist. When Conan discovers a city in the middle of a desert Howard does not settle for the obvious abandoned city, he gives it a history of an alien race from another dimension and weaves the story around this and his hero. Conan is primal yet he is not without conscience. His code is direct and when bloodlust takes him brutal in the extreme. Always worth revisiting the roots of the genre from time to time just to confirm that while fantasy has become more complex it still displays its traditions proudly.
April 15, 2022
Ah, my old friend Conan. I have not read some of these stories in decades, and my enjoyment of them has not waned in all that time. No one--and I mean no one--wrote sword&sorcery like Howard. His ability to write pulse-pounding combat interspersed with weird, weird fantasy is unsurpassed. He is one of the original world builders in the field of speculative fiction: Hyperborea has a complete history and geography, and Howard used this background to great effect in creating a sense of verisimilitude in this stories. It's just great. Conan is the best.
With all of that said, 2022 Michael is not as tone deaf as 1986 Michael. Howard wrote some distatesful shit about black people, brown people, and women. Full-stop. I get why modern readers find that a disqualifier, and I respect that position. Reading Howard again as an adult, I saw things I did not as a teenager, and I didn't like it. I will make no excuses for him; I will only say this: in the 1930s, Howard's opinions were widely held by a majority of people in America (and in Europe). If we are going to remove him from the canon, he is going to have an awful lot of company.
Hail, Conan! Thief, reaver, wanderer, king! May you wear the jeweled crown of Aquilonia upon your troubled brow forever!
With all of that said, 2022 Michael is not as tone deaf as 1986 Michael. Howard wrote some distatesful shit about black people, brown people, and women. Full-stop. I get why modern readers find that a disqualifier, and I respect that position. Reading Howard again as an adult, I saw things I did not as a teenager, and I didn't like it. I will make no excuses for him; I will only say this: in the 1930s, Howard's opinions were widely held by a majority of people in America (and in Europe). If we are going to remove him from the canon, he is going to have an awful lot of company.
Hail, Conan! Thief, reaver, wanderer, king! May you wear the jeweled crown of Aquilonia upon your troubled brow forever!
June 23, 2022
We all know Conan the Cimmerian. The archetypal noble savage. Brawny, instinctive, lusty. He carries the wilds with him, beats the unbeatable, and saves the damsel in distress.
This ebook is a collection of all of the Conan stories Howard published, bookended by the poem Cimmeria and the essay The Hyborean Age. This version is woefully formatted, to the point that it genuinely detracts from the experience. Some portions are in a light grey text, and random pieces of text from elsewhere are interspersed throughout.
There's a distinctly Lovecraftian bent to many of these stories, with the author even throwing in the word 'cyclopean' a few times. And if Lovecraft liked his tropes, then Howard loved them. Near every woman in the entire collection is described as "supple", and naked save for a girdle. Conan is "pantherish" or "[like] a panther" 51 times. Unfortunately, this sort of thing also leans towards the unpleasant; "the blacks" are homogenous and savage, and the "Shemites" share characteristics with the worst of Jewish stereotypes.
Generally, the longer the story, the better it is. I'd recommend reading The Hour of the Dragon in particular, and avoiding the issues with this collection entirely.
This ebook is a collection of all of the Conan stories Howard published, bookended by the poem Cimmeria and the essay The Hyborean Age. This version is woefully formatted, to the point that it genuinely detracts from the experience. Some portions are in a light grey text, and random pieces of text from elsewhere are interspersed throughout.
There's a distinctly Lovecraftian bent to many of these stories, with the author even throwing in the word 'cyclopean' a few times. And if Lovecraft liked his tropes, then Howard loved them. Near every woman in the entire collection is described as "supple", and naked save for a girdle. Conan is "pantherish" or "[like] a panther" 51 times. Unfortunately, this sort of thing also leans towards the unpleasant; "the blacks" are homogenous and savage, and the "Shemites" share characteristics with the worst of Jewish stereotypes.
Generally, the longer the story, the better it is. I'd recommend reading The Hour of the Dragon in particular, and avoiding the issues with this collection entirely.
July 22, 2023
Mixed feelings
In the beginning, what strikes me most is the awful writing of female characters, as if the author have never seen one. All of them are "damsel in distress" type: supple, weak of body and mind, child-like. Similarly, dark-skinned characters are often ape-like, simple-minded, evil, and called "negroes".
So both racism and sexism are ripe.
This can be put on the times those stories were written: in the 30's of previous century, Texas.
Also the early stories imho are just trash, I struggled to read on.
From about half into the book there's an upward trend and nearing the end my interest grew. Women figures became more complex, more fleshed out, less damsel-in-distress and more having their own agenda, similar to the stories: less beaten up tropes, more intrigue.
Overall, I can't recommend this book for those looking for an easy, entertaining read. There is little in there for you. If you're, however, one of those who wants to learn more about the source material that shaped the current fantasy genre, read on. The biographic article at the end was especially interesting and gave much needed context to the times those stories were written.
In the beginning, what strikes me most is the awful writing of female characters, as if the author have never seen one. All of them are "damsel in distress" type: supple, weak of body and mind, child-like. Similarly, dark-skinned characters are often ape-like, simple-minded, evil, and called "negroes".
So both racism and sexism are ripe.
This can be put on the times those stories were written: in the 30's of previous century, Texas.
Also the early stories imho are just trash, I struggled to read on.
From about half into the book there's an upward trend and nearing the end my interest grew. Women figures became more complex, more fleshed out, less damsel-in-distress and more having their own agenda, similar to the stories: less beaten up tropes, more intrigue.
Overall, I can't recommend this book for those looking for an easy, entertaining read. There is little in there for you. If you're, however, one of those who wants to learn more about the source material that shaped the current fantasy genre, read on. The biographic article at the end was especially interesting and gave much needed context to the times those stories were written.
June 21, 2017
Conan the man, the myth, the legend.
Great chronological survey of the Original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. Loved revisiting these again all in one volume. Howard's dark, gritty style is what gave Conan life. Others have tried to copy it (a good recent rendition is the character called 'the bloody nine' in the book entitled 'the first law' by Abercrombie.) but you can't beat Howard's style of writing that draws you in with hidden steamy jungles, the unforgiving frozen tundra, the harsh salt spray of the sea, or the warm passionate embrace of a willing wench. Great read!
Great chronological survey of the Original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. Loved revisiting these again all in one volume. Howard's dark, gritty style is what gave Conan life. Others have tried to copy it (a good recent rendition is the character called 'the bloody nine' in the book entitled 'the first law' by Abercrombie.) but you can't beat Howard's style of writing that draws you in with hidden steamy jungles, the unforgiving frozen tundra, the harsh salt spray of the sea, or the warm passionate embrace of a willing wench. Great read!
August 10, 2025
Maybe I'm not reading the right books, but unfortunately the Conan books are all very samey. They are well written and the imagery paints a vivid image for you. They all have a very similar plot where Conan usually finds himself in a situation you can't imagine anyone coming back from, he then slays everything and gets to the top of the pile. Often there is a helpless woman involved which he rescues and invariably she is swooned.
If you feel you need to read Conan, then you should but try and pick a handful or the 'better' short stories available. The Internet will assist you in finding them.
If you feel you need to read Conan, then you should but try and pick a handful or the 'better' short stories available. The Internet will assist you in finding them.
May 22, 2017
You could summarize just about all the stories in this collection with "Conan is a badass, kills the bad guys, and gets the woman" but the author managed to come up with different enough scenarios that my interest was consistently held and I didn't know exactly what was going to happen in every story despite the overall similarity.
These stories were written in the 1930's so expect some racism and women whose main job is being an object of desire. On the whole though both of these were much less than I've read in other books from the same time.
These stories were written in the 1930's so expect some racism and women whose main job is being an object of desire. On the whole though both of these were much less than I've read in other books from the same time.
January 18, 2018
The stories are timeless and incredible, pulp fiction sword and sorcery at it's best. These are fun binge reading short stories of high adventure and if you are into that genre, then this is the must read granddaddy of them all.
Only downside about this edition was though being very cheap, it is unfortunately full of spelling and grammatical errors, I believe this is due to it being a scanned copy of the book which has not been properly proof read to ensure that the text was picked up correctly by the scanner. I would probably invest in future in the physical copy of the book.
Only downside about this edition was though being very cheap, it is unfortunately full of spelling and grammatical errors, I believe this is due to it being a scanned copy of the book which has not been properly proof read to ensure that the text was picked up correctly by the scanner. I would probably invest in future in the physical copy of the book.
January 10, 2019
An interesting look at character development (Conan), it was rather sexist not to mention racist, but did explain all the factors involved in Conan's development and evolution as a staple character of fantasy fiction. The final chapter of this book does contain and examine the social aspects of the "Hyborean age", though this age does not exist except in the fantasy context, it is good to acknowledge this as if it were real and provides a social context in which to see the elements that may influence the development of the character of Conan the Barbarian.
March 5, 2024
Reading Conan today really highlights some of the short comings of the early sword and sorcery writers. I love the sense of adventure in every short story and the way Howard is always exploring new locals. I don't love the obvious racism, sexism, and pretty much every other ism there is. It is truly exciting to read Conan's adventures, few books today give me the same sense. I have a complicated relationship with this book but overall feel it is worthy of reading if you identify and challenge the overt "isms".
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