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Adventures of Conan
Conan The Fearless
Conan must overcome a demon, a werepanther, and Sovartus, the dangerous Mage of the Black Square in order to rescue Eldia, a little girl who controls the fire elementals
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 1986
3 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Steve Perry
309 books358 followersLibrarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Steven Carl Perry has written over fifty novels and numerous short stories, which have appeared in various magazines and anthologies. Perry is perhaps best known for the Matador series. He has written books in the Star Wars, Alien and Conan universes. He was a collaborator on all of the Tom Clancy's Net Force series, seven of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. Two of his novelizations, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire and Men in Black have also been bestsellers. Other writing credits include articles, reviews, and essays, animated teleplays, and some unproduced movie scripts. One of his scripts for Batman: The Animated Series was an Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Writing.
Perry is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, The Animation Guild, and the Writers Guild of America, West
Steven Carl Perry has written over fifty novels and numerous short stories, which have appeared in various magazines and anthologies. Perry is perhaps best known for the Matador series. He has written books in the Star Wars, Alien and Conan universes. He was a collaborator on all of the Tom Clancy's Net Force series, seven of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. Two of his novelizations, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire and Men in Black have also been bestsellers. Other writing credits include articles, reviews, and essays, animated teleplays, and some unproduced movie scripts. One of his scripts for Batman: The Animated Series was an Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Writing.
Perry is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, The Animation Guild, and the Writers Guild of America, West
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 30, 2022
My patient GR friends know that this is the year that I split my time between worldly commitments (such as the number of books I said I would read) and my pursuit of the essence of Conan, the mighty barbarian created by Robert E. Howard about a century ago. Howard’s output of Conan stories was remarkable for someone who never reached his 31st birthday. When “sword and sorcery” began a revival around 1960 it was with authors such as L. Sprague de Camp and later Robert Jordan….authors whose talent did not depend on the success or failure of their Conan stories. Also, later in the 1960s came Roy Thomas heading Marvel’s adaptation of previous stories to the “comic book medium.” Then Tor Fantasy took up the task putting out almost 40 novels in the 1980s and 1990s using a bullpen of authors. Many of those could be deemed examples of authors just doing what’s necessary to earn a fee.
Let’s admit at the start that Conan is a challenge to write about without getting bogged-down in the need to reference most of his salient characteristics:
His massive, well-muscled body;
His dark mane of square-cut hair;
His skill with a long or broadsword;
His cat-like reflexes;
His over-sized appetites;
His willingness to, on many occasions, help the weak;
His experience as a thief; then a mercenary, then a leader of men; and,
His disdain for the trappings of civilization and pampered nobility and any type of magic.
Here, from the 1980s, is another author, Steve Perry, who is determined to add to the Hyborian World of Conan. Perry shows some knowledge of and gift for this task taking us on an action-packed yarn. A yarn at the center of which is a heart. Here we have mages, and monsters, and demons and were-creatures. A plus factor is that Perry gives us some interesting characters who are more than one-dimensional. There are intersecting subplots with Conan finding himself at the focus of more than one. Perry choses to center his story in Corinthia, a land of city states, which frees him from some of the historical restrictions placed by other Conan novels.
I will add that the action is almost constant and inventive. Perry mixes in more of a PG sexual content with little trace of the misogyny and racism that Howard used freely a century ago.
“You are too late, magician. But all is not lost. I am brother to a human witch who has no small influence in the city that hides your quarry. You will have your child. I will have the man who did this.” Djavul raised his demon arm and stared at the stump where his hand had been. In the far depths of Castle Slott something screamed in hideous anticipation.”
3.5*
“Perry has written books in the Star Wars, Alien and Conan universes. He was a collaborator on all of the Tom Clancy's Net Force series. He has certainly shown that he can adopt another author’s characters and lead them on further adventures.
Found this in the back of the book:
Conan the Indestructible by L Sprague de Camp
When Tom Doherty Associates (think “TOR Books”) re-energized the Conan library in the 1980s, it included this piece as part of publishing Conan the Fearless. Unless you are “into” the Conan lexicon in a serious way, there is no reason to pick it up.
This short piece can be looked at in several ways:
It attempts to gather a chronology of the various “adventures” of Conan.
It serves as a compendium of places and individuals that he encounters.
It is a shameless promotion of the stories written by Sprague de Camp, Nyberg, Carter and Howard.
I found it interesting as a period piece and a “keyhole view” of why Sprague de Camp chose to devote time to this character. There is a lovely attempt to elevate this “research” as exemplified by the following: “…from internal evidence, this event seems to have taken place several years later. For one thing, Conan appears too clever, mature and sophisticated; for another, the fragmentary medieval Arabic manuscript Kitab al-Qunn implies that Conan was well into his twenties by then. The first translator of the Asshurbanipal tablet, Prof. Dr. Andreas von Fuss of the Muchner Staatsmuseum, read Conan’s age as “17.” In Babylonian cuneiform, “17” is expressed by two circles followed by three vertical wedges, with a horizontal wedge above the three for “minus”---hence “twenty minus three.” But Academician Leonid Skram of the Moscow Archaeological Institute asserts that the depression over the vertical wedges is merely a dent made by the pick of a careless excavator, and the numeral properly reads ‘23’.”
Available online as https://hyboria.xoth.net/history/cona...
Bonus to be allocated for making me laugh
Let’s admit at the start that Conan is a challenge to write about without getting bogged-down in the need to reference most of his salient characteristics:
His massive, well-muscled body;
His dark mane of square-cut hair;
His skill with a long or broadsword;
His cat-like reflexes;
His over-sized appetites;
His willingness to, on many occasions, help the weak;
His experience as a thief; then a mercenary, then a leader of men; and,
His disdain for the trappings of civilization and pampered nobility and any type of magic.
Here, from the 1980s, is another author, Steve Perry, who is determined to add to the Hyborian World of Conan. Perry shows some knowledge of and gift for this task taking us on an action-packed yarn. A yarn at the center of which is a heart. Here we have mages, and monsters, and demons and were-creatures. A plus factor is that Perry gives us some interesting characters who are more than one-dimensional. There are intersecting subplots with Conan finding himself at the focus of more than one. Perry choses to center his story in Corinthia, a land of city states, which frees him from some of the historical restrictions placed by other Conan novels.
I will add that the action is almost constant and inventive. Perry mixes in more of a PG sexual content with little trace of the misogyny and racism that Howard used freely a century ago.
“You are too late, magician. But all is not lost. I am brother to a human witch who has no small influence in the city that hides your quarry. You will have your child. I will have the man who did this.” Djavul raised his demon arm and stared at the stump where his hand had been. In the far depths of Castle Slott something screamed in hideous anticipation.”
3.5*
“Perry has written books in the Star Wars, Alien and Conan universes. He was a collaborator on all of the Tom Clancy's Net Force series. He has certainly shown that he can adopt another author’s characters and lead them on further adventures.
Found this in the back of the book:
Conan the Indestructible by L Sprague de Camp
When Tom Doherty Associates (think “TOR Books”) re-energized the Conan library in the 1980s, it included this piece as part of publishing Conan the Fearless. Unless you are “into” the Conan lexicon in a serious way, there is no reason to pick it up.
This short piece can be looked at in several ways:
It attempts to gather a chronology of the various “adventures” of Conan.
It serves as a compendium of places and individuals that he encounters.
It is a shameless promotion of the stories written by Sprague de Camp, Nyberg, Carter and Howard.
I found it interesting as a period piece and a “keyhole view” of why Sprague de Camp chose to devote time to this character. There is a lovely attempt to elevate this “research” as exemplified by the following: “…from internal evidence, this event seems to have taken place several years later. For one thing, Conan appears too clever, mature and sophisticated; for another, the fragmentary medieval Arabic manuscript Kitab al-Qunn implies that Conan was well into his twenties by then. The first translator of the Asshurbanipal tablet, Prof. Dr. Andreas von Fuss of the Muchner Staatsmuseum, read Conan’s age as “17.” In Babylonian cuneiform, “17” is expressed by two circles followed by three vertical wedges, with a horizontal wedge above the three for “minus”---hence “twenty minus three.” But Academician Leonid Skram of the Moscow Archaeological Institute asserts that the depression over the vertical wedges is merely a dent made by the pick of a careless excavator, and the numeral properly reads ‘23’.”
Available online as https://hyboria.xoth.net/history/cona...
Bonus to be allocated for making me laugh
June 6, 2022
This is a fun Conan pastiche; it's set when he was still a teenager, before he got the big letter S-for-superhero on his chest as offutt put it. Whenever things start to slow down, Perry has no hesitation to throw another monster or demon or witch into the mix, just to keep it lively. His writing is clear and straight-forward, not weighed down with pseudo-period jargon. There's a large cast of characters and an intriguing web of deception of sorcery... I liked the ending, too, as Conan saddles his horse and rides off into the sunset. It's not Howard, but it's a fun book.
October 28, 2024
Otra buena aventura de Conan.
Ha habido de todo, peleas, magia, monstruos, demonios... Vamos que ha sido bastante entretenida.
Valoración: 7.75/10
Sinopsis: Conan debe vencer a un demonio, un hombre pantera y a Sovartus, el peligroso mago de la Plaza Negra para rescatar a Eldia, una niña que controla a los elementales de fuego.
Ha habido de todo, peleas, magia, monstruos, demonios... Vamos que ha sido bastante entretenida.
Valoración: 7.75/10
Sinopsis: Conan debe vencer a un demonio, un hombre pantera y a Sovartus, el peligroso mago de la Plaza Negra para rescatar a Eldia, una niña que controla a los elementales de fuego.
June 13, 2024
As an adventure tale, the book may deserve 3 stars. As a Conan pastiche, it’s a one star read. Average that out to 2 stars.
It’s feels too fantastical to be true S&S: White, Grey and Black Wizards do not belong in a Conan tale. The plot is all over the place involving a Wizard of the Black Square (apparently they make those of the Black Circle look like jokers), a were-panther that wants to bone a sexy witch, said sexy witch needs Conan’s heart to animate her ultimate sex toy (no, really, I’m not making that up). The wizard of the Black Square is trying to gather four children that are basically elementals to power his world breaking elemental golem. Toss in the sexy witch’s demon brother, and a greedy merchant just for spice.
The novel never lacks for action and skips along at a speed metal pace with a Cookie Monster lead singer.
Side note, I first read this years ago. I read many of these in my 7th to 12th grade years. I didn’t remember too much of it upon a reread, just enough déjà vu to trigger the knowledge that I had tread here before. I don’t remember my feelings towards it the first time around. I suspect I was much more forgiving. I had not read much REH at that point, outside of comic book adaptations of stories.
It’s feels too fantastical to be true S&S: White, Grey and Black Wizards do not belong in a Conan tale. The plot is all over the place involving a Wizard of the Black Square (apparently they make those of the Black Circle look like jokers), a were-panther that wants to bone a sexy witch, said sexy witch needs Conan’s heart to animate her ultimate sex toy (no, really, I’m not making that up). The wizard of the Black Square is trying to gather four children that are basically elementals to power his world breaking elemental golem. Toss in the sexy witch’s demon brother, and a greedy merchant just for spice.
The novel never lacks for action and skips along at a speed metal pace with a Cookie Monster lead singer.
Side note, I first read this years ago. I read many of these in my 7th to 12th grade years. I didn’t remember too much of it upon a reread, just enough déjà vu to trigger the knowledge that I had tread here before. I don’t remember my feelings towards it the first time around. I suspect I was much more forgiving. I had not read much REH at that point, outside of comic book adaptations of stories.
September 1, 2017
Steve Perry wrote five Conan pastiches. He did much of his work in other writers’ worlds, writing Star Wars, Aliens, Predator, and Indiana Jones books in addition to Conan books. He also wrote several Tom Clancy’s Net Force books.
I have two: Conan the Fearless and Conan the Free Lance. I’ve only read Conan the Fearless and don’t plan on reading any more of the Steve Perry pastiches anytime soon. Conan the Fearless is the worst Conan story I’ve read.
There are a lot of issues with Conan the Fearless. The plot bears too strong a resemblance to Robert Jordan’s Conan the Invincible, already a weak book. The plot is overcomplicated by too many characters. Who tend toward the lame—an aristocratic were-panther? A sex-crazed witch? But the most grievous sin against Howard is that Conan is aided by a White Magician. Simple good-evil delineations of wizard, complete with senseless restrictions on what the good wizards can do, isn’t sword and sorcery, let alone Howard. The entire thing is very much generic 1980s fantasy.
Which is a shame, because Perry might write the best action scenes of any of the pastiche authors I’ve read.
I have two: Conan the Fearless and Conan the Free Lance. I’ve only read Conan the Fearless and don’t plan on reading any more of the Steve Perry pastiches anytime soon. Conan the Fearless is the worst Conan story I’ve read.
There are a lot of issues with Conan the Fearless. The plot bears too strong a resemblance to Robert Jordan’s Conan the Invincible, already a weak book. The plot is overcomplicated by too many characters. Who tend toward the lame—an aristocratic were-panther? A sex-crazed witch? But the most grievous sin against Howard is that Conan is aided by a White Magician. Simple good-evil delineations of wizard, complete with senseless restrictions on what the good wizards can do, isn’t sword and sorcery, let alone Howard. The entire thing is very much generic 1980s fantasy.
Which is a shame, because Perry might write the best action scenes of any of the pastiche authors I’ve read.
July 6, 2016
An adventure from start to finish. Conan is on the run from several factions that either want revenge on him or seek the powers of his companions. Perry does a great job of weaving the paths of characters in and out of each other. It's a domino effect where once the story starts, everything falls in to place.
Although the action was well written, I personally found the motives of most of the baddies to be laughable. A witch that desires Conan's heart to power a sex golem? A powerful lord who wants to capture Conan so he can bed the witch? The main story is interesting but is bogged down by some of these side antagonist characters.
Although the action was well written, I personally found the motives of most of the baddies to be laughable. A witch that desires Conan's heart to power a sex golem? A powerful lord who wants to capture Conan so he can bed the witch? The main story is interesting but is bogged down by some of these side antagonist characters.
February 3, 2011
MONSTERS, WIZARDS, DEMONS, WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE.
September 12, 2016
PS avoid the expurgated version with the horned demon on front
someone edited the story down to be less spicy
basssaaattdz
john maddox roberts
steve perry
rob jordan
best tor conan novel writers
best stuff outside robert e howards original stuff, which i think peaked with the scarlet citadel, but hek its all awesome
robert e howard is the greatest author of all time
only moorcock/vance/ae van vogt keep him undisputed greatest author EVER
more for great leads on scifi awesomeness among all the crap:
The Silver Spike (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #3.5)
by Glen Cook
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 12, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1999
You could read glen cook's silver spike in isolation.
Its that good.
Very D&D, palladium fantasy rpg, jack vance the dying earth!
Then you can go back and enjoy the black company 1-3 spike is 3.5
after that its downhill, I never liked rest of cooks stuff...maybe I should re visit.....
other gems:
In Yana, the Touch of Undying
by Michael Shea
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2014
Pretty wild n raw series of adventures in jack vance dying earth universe.
A dose of comedy and just desserts to those who are basards is ever present.
Just like Vancian tales.
Great stuff.
Hil vampires, demons, giants, witches, undead with crazy powers, evil pirates, mysteries, and uneasy aliiances.
Wish more written like it.
other leads for those hungery for GOOD scifi!:
Stormbringer (Elric, #6)
by Michael Moorcock
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1988
Team Jagreen Lern, wow what a pissed bad guy!! I wish there was a novel series by u moorcock about the beginnings and rise of jagreen!!!
The Vanishing Tower (Elric, #4)
by Michael Moorcock
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1988
beware voilodion ghagnasdiak!
you have stuumbled upon one of the great works of written art
some of best stuff ever written in fighting fantasy
would be 10movie series and best box office if made into film without social justice bs added
there is enuf moralizing trust me
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate (Elric, #2)
by Michael Moorcock
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1988
ever meet your clone from another of the universes in the multiverse? and have to join forces to defeat evil on a galactic scale?
strap yourself in
Elric of Melniboné (Elric, #1)
by Michael Moorcock
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1988
When Moocock is not hirign ghostwriters for his later stuff, he is arguably the greatest author of all time.
Elric was so good you can reread it 100 times and it tastes as good as the first time.
Just thuderously awesome.
Only Jack Vance, AE van VOGT, and robert e howard himself even come close.
Enjoy, but stick to elric 1-6 corum 1-3 and hawkmoon 1-3
The rest are ghostwriten.
The Great Explosion
by Eric Frank Russell
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2014
also read the great explosion by eric frank russel:
Is criminality nature or nurture?
Do we need clothes?
ARe you dirty minded?
whats a antigand?
whats the weapon?
why do we take orders from fat burocrats?
read and find out! ton of fun awaits!
other leads for you noobs:
Voyage from Yesteryear
by James P. Hogan
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2014
Ayn rand was right about everything, youtube yaron brook.
Wow this novel is wicked awesome!
Stop regulating and everyone is happy!
other scifi leads, thank me later:
Moorcock Vance Howard Gygax AE VAN VOGT oh my!!!! you could make 10 movies at least and whole video game franchises and MMPORGS based on the black company universe!!
Goldmine of very orginial combinations of ass kicking fighting fantasy!
other tips and leads:
The Black Company (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #1)
by Glen Cook
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2004
For those of you who are discovering awesome scifi not pushed by socialists, I salute you.
Glen Cooks amazing The Silver Spike black company 3.5, was my intro, then I backfilled 1-3 after spike I think he had ghostwriter because it falls off bigtime. BUT while it lasts WOW cook was ON like few others!!!!
VERY D&D VERY palladium RPG
brilliant really to mix Dying earth with small squad military, amazing no VIDEO GAME or movies based on this!!!! ASTOUNDING IN FACT
while crap from orson scott card and philip k dick gets made...although total recall with arnold was good as well as blade runner, but some of the other dicks are thumping bad
here are some other pointers:
The Lure of the Basilisk (The Lords of Dûs, #1)
by Lawrence Watt-Evans (Goodreads Author)
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2009
Very palladium rpg or D&D.
Cool ideas, a bit dying earth with wizards creating a race? superscience? sorcery?
Great in that the individual has goals and seeks them.
Wish evans wrote more, or did he and I haven't checked?
Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance U 50x66 Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review Sep 11, 2016 · edit i
Tales of the Dying Earth
by Jack Vance
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2012
Arguably the best book ever written. Endlessly re reable. A classic that should be used in schools instead of drivel like Jayne Eyre and other goblin shit. Combines humor, vast worldbuilding, and wit with amazing plots and endless creativity. Did I menion it inspired the entire role playing game industry? starting with dungeons and dragons? Jack Vance is arguably the greatest author ever, with only Robert E Howard himself, AE Van Vogt, and Michael Moorcock at his very best with Erlic 1-6 Corum 1-3 and Hawkmoon 1-3 to contend. SO much better than Heinlein Azimov Card Vinge and others who are bandied about as good. Eric frank russel the great explosion, hogan with voyage to yesteryear, cook with black company 1-3, silver spike and lawrence watt evan with lords of dus bring a little of the magic feel you get from Vance. If only he had written more in the early period. Even Vanc'e later dying earth stuff is nowhere near the VAst Vast worldbuilding power of the originals. Just mind blowing. And you never hear of it. I believe this is because of socialist education and democrats. Vance in hsi space operas envisions a lightly regualted hotel and resort universe with conniving bureaucrats. This must bug pissy lefty librarians. Well now you know despite the coverup!! enjoy!
I think any public library system without a full collection of AE van Vogt, Robert E Howard, and JAck Vance should be all fired. They should also at least have the Moorcocks listed previously. and for you noobs yes get Tom baker the 4th doctor who videos. They along with 1982 the thing, alien 2, and the first 3 star wars will complete a basic good scifi collection.
someone edited the story down to be less spicy
basssaaattdz
john maddox roberts
steve perry
rob jordan
best tor conan novel writers
best stuff outside robert e howards original stuff, which i think peaked with the scarlet citadel, but hek its all awesome
robert e howard is the greatest author of all time
only moorcock/vance/ae van vogt keep him undisputed greatest author EVER
more for great leads on scifi awesomeness among all the crap:
The Silver Spike (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #3.5)
by Glen Cook
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 12, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1999
You could read glen cook's silver spike in isolation.
Its that good.
Very D&D, palladium fantasy rpg, jack vance the dying earth!
Then you can go back and enjoy the black company 1-3 spike is 3.5
after that its downhill, I never liked rest of cooks stuff...maybe I should re visit.....
other gems:
In Yana, the Touch of Undying
by Michael Shea
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2014
Pretty wild n raw series of adventures in jack vance dying earth universe.
A dose of comedy and just desserts to those who are basards is ever present.
Just like Vancian tales.
Great stuff.
Hil vampires, demons, giants, witches, undead with crazy powers, evil pirates, mysteries, and uneasy aliiances.
Wish more written like it.
other leads for those hungery for GOOD scifi!:
Stormbringer (Elric, #6)
by Michael Moorcock
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1988
Team Jagreen Lern, wow what a pissed bad guy!! I wish there was a novel series by u moorcock about the beginnings and rise of jagreen!!!
The Vanishing Tower (Elric, #4)
by Michael Moorcock
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1988
beware voilodion ghagnasdiak!
you have stuumbled upon one of the great works of written art
some of best stuff ever written in fighting fantasy
would be 10movie series and best box office if made into film without social justice bs added
there is enuf moralizing trust me
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate (Elric, #2)
by Michael Moorcock
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1988
ever meet your clone from another of the universes in the multiverse? and have to join forces to defeat evil on a galactic scale?
strap yourself in
Elric of Melniboné (Elric, #1)
by Michael Moorcock
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 1988
When Moocock is not hirign ghostwriters for his later stuff, he is arguably the greatest author of all time.
Elric was so good you can reread it 100 times and it tastes as good as the first time.
Just thuderously awesome.
Only Jack Vance, AE van VOGT, and robert e howard himself even come close.
Enjoy, but stick to elric 1-6 corum 1-3 and hawkmoon 1-3
The rest are ghostwriten.
The Great Explosion
by Eric Frank Russell
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2014
also read the great explosion by eric frank russel:
Is criminality nature or nurture?
Do we need clothes?
ARe you dirty minded?
whats a antigand?
whats the weapon?
why do we take orders from fat burocrats?
read and find out! ton of fun awaits!
other leads for you noobs:
Voyage from Yesteryear
by James P. Hogan
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2014
Ayn rand was right about everything, youtube yaron brook.
Wow this novel is wicked awesome!
Stop regulating and everyone is happy!
other scifi leads, thank me later:
Moorcock Vance Howard Gygax AE VAN VOGT oh my!!!! you could make 10 movies at least and whole video game franchises and MMPORGS based on the black company universe!!
Goldmine of very orginial combinations of ass kicking fighting fantasy!
other tips and leads:
The Black Company (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #1)
by Glen Cook
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2004
For those of you who are discovering awesome scifi not pushed by socialists, I salute you.
Glen Cooks amazing The Silver Spike black company 3.5, was my intro, then I backfilled 1-3 after spike I think he had ghostwriter because it falls off bigtime. BUT while it lasts WOW cook was ON like few others!!!!
VERY D&D VERY palladium RPG
brilliant really to mix Dying earth with small squad military, amazing no VIDEO GAME or movies based on this!!!! ASTOUNDING IN FACT
while crap from orson scott card and philip k dick gets made...although total recall with arnold was good as well as blade runner, but some of the other dicks are thumping bad
here are some other pointers:
The Lure of the Basilisk (The Lords of Dûs, #1)
by Lawrence Watt-Evans (Goodreads Author)
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2009
Very palladium rpg or D&D.
Cool ideas, a bit dying earth with wizards creating a race? superscience? sorcery?
Great in that the individual has goals and seeks them.
Wish evans wrote more, or did he and I haven't checked?
Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance U 50x66 Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review Sep 11, 2016 · edit i
Tales of the Dying Earth
by Jack Vance
U 50x66
Jackvanc3gmail.Com's review
Sep 11, 2016 · edit
it was amazing
Read in January, 2012
Arguably the best book ever written. Endlessly re reable. A classic that should be used in schools instead of drivel like Jayne Eyre and other goblin shit. Combines humor, vast worldbuilding, and wit with amazing plots and endless creativity. Did I menion it inspired the entire role playing game industry? starting with dungeons and dragons? Jack Vance is arguably the greatest author ever, with only Robert E Howard himself, AE Van Vogt, and Michael Moorcock at his very best with Erlic 1-6 Corum 1-3 and Hawkmoon 1-3 to contend. SO much better than Heinlein Azimov Card Vinge and others who are bandied about as good. Eric frank russel the great explosion, hogan with voyage to yesteryear, cook with black company 1-3, silver spike and lawrence watt evan with lords of dus bring a little of the magic feel you get from Vance. If only he had written more in the early period. Even Vanc'e later dying earth stuff is nowhere near the VAst Vast worldbuilding power of the originals. Just mind blowing. And you never hear of it. I believe this is because of socialist education and democrats. Vance in hsi space operas envisions a lightly regualted hotel and resort universe with conniving bureaucrats. This must bug pissy lefty librarians. Well now you know despite the coverup!! enjoy!
I think any public library system without a full collection of AE van Vogt, Robert E Howard, and JAck Vance should be all fired. They should also at least have the Moorcocks listed previously. and for you noobs yes get Tom baker the 4th doctor who videos. They along with 1982 the thing, alien 2, and the first 3 star wars will complete a basic good scifi collection.
September 5, 2018
Conan has overstayed his welcome in Shadizar and decides to head for Nemedia. Along the way he loses his horse and kills a man in a bar for spilling his wine on him. This gets the attention of...well, everybody. A wizard has three of the four power children he needs to form the Thing of Power, and Conan becomes bodyguard for the fourth. A succubus decides she needs Conan to be her sex slave. Not all of him, just his heart. The local were-panther wants to be lover to the succubus so he needs to be rid of Conan. There is some thievery, and fighting, and a tornado, and it is decided that the best way to keep the fourth child out of the hands of the wizard to stop him from destroying the world is to take her directly to his tower. Mostly, Conan just wants someone to pay for the horse he lost at the beginning.
Not the best written Conan story ever, but still mindlessly entertaining. Conan gets told three separate times that he should go around some haunted, deadly place and he goes in anyway and almost gets killed three times. He has several different powerful individuals trying to kill or capture him but they continuously miss opportunities or just screw it up. The wizard he ultimately faces is just lazy, as is the writing. With the exception of the were-panther, everyone turns out to be related to each other. It was OK.
Not the best written Conan story ever, but still mindlessly entertaining. Conan gets told three separate times that he should go around some haunted, deadly place and he goes in anyway and almost gets killed three times. He has several different powerful individuals trying to kill or capture him but they continuously miss opportunities or just screw it up. The wizard he ultimately faces is just lazy, as is the writing. With the exception of the were-panther, everyone turns out to be related to each other. It was OK.
May 1, 2022
One of the better entries in the Conan series. The author is adapt in writing colorful descriptions of the scenes to help visualize the action. There's a bit too many villains with divergent goals, but still either centered on Conan directly or indirectly.
The story takes place shortly after Howard's "Tower of the Elephant", so Conan is only 18 during the novel. Conan is trying to reach Nemedia when he looses his horse and loot to a horde of water weirds. Now penniless he winds up taking a job to help 'bodyguard' a stage magician and his young ward. Things get complicated quickly and he discovers the stage magician is in fact a wizard and his ward needs protecting from an evil wizard with designs on ruling the world.
L. Sprague de Camp has a short essay at the back of the book attempting to place some of the newer novels, this was written in 1986, into the Conan chronology.
The story takes place shortly after Howard's "Tower of the Elephant", so Conan is only 18 during the novel. Conan is trying to reach Nemedia when he looses his horse and loot to a horde of water weirds. Now penniless he winds up taking a job to help 'bodyguard' a stage magician and his young ward. Things get complicated quickly and he discovers the stage magician is in fact a wizard and his ward needs protecting from an evil wizard with designs on ruling the world.
L. Sprague de Camp has a short essay at the back of the book attempting to place some of the newer novels, this was written in 1986, into the Conan chronology.
April 19, 2019
Se nota que el libro es de otro autor, sin embargo no es algo malo ya que el ligero cambio de estilo le da algo de frescura, cosa que se agradece despues de 23 libros de Conan. La historia no da ninguna sorpresa, aunque tambien innova en el número de antagonistas, que habitualmente suele ser uno y aqui hay varias tramas secundarias alrededor de la principal, tambien me ha gustado que respete la esencia de Conan (sus valores y convicciones) pero sin intentar justificarlo una vez más.
September 8, 2019
one of the great conan books not by Robert E Howard. I wish it was made into a movie. Anything by Perry I liek frmo teh TOR series of Cnan novels...Also john maddox roberts.....and Rober tJordan conans not bad either.....They did make conan the destoryer from on of the Jordan Novels Conan the Triumphant. Awesome stuff!! GREAT FUn and original monsters.
September 27, 2020
An OK read and a better Conan story than the other Steve Perry Conan adventures.
January 21, 2015
What can I say about a Conan book? I am not a huge Conan fan, but I did watch the movies when I was a kid, and I liked those. I ended up with three or four Conan books when I was a teenager, which I always liked due to the hot chicks on the covers. This one, done by legendary artist, Boris Vajello, is pretty sweet, too. As it is a Conan book, what you’re pretty much going for is a lot of gritty action, evil wizards, and the aforementioned hot chicks. This one has them all.
Plot-wise, we have an evil wizard, Sovartus, in this case, who is attempting to create a super-elemental by tapping the strength of the four elemental powers embodied in four children. The mage has three of the four, but lacks the one with whom Conan is (of course) going to be associated. Conan meets up with her, ends up protecting her, and, with a rag-tag of heroes and quasi-heroes, Conan travels to the distant castle and defeats the evil sorcerer at the last minute after the latter has apparently accomplished his goal and successfully summoned the super-power.
This story is fun. There is a lot of action. Conan fights the elemental, a demon, a weird man-eating plant, a senator who is actually a were-panther who stalks the city streets at night, a few sets of bandits, a powerful witch--who also happens to be the demon’s sister (well, probably half-sister since she seems to be human in form)--who wants to make him her sex slave by proxy via infusing his soul into a construct that might accurately be considered a sex golem, some strange ape-like creatures who come out of a frozen lake, some sort of lizard or reptile men, and the wizard Sovartus. I appreciate the fact that the snow creatures actually outmatch him, and he flees before he is overcome. This is good because he is still alive to beat up everything else later.
There are hot chicks. The fire elementalist girl, Eldia, is hot in her way. The woman on the cover, though I am not sure who that is supposed to be—she seems allied to him the way she is depicted, so I think she is Kinna, the sister of the elementalist, Eldia—is definitely hot. Pretty much every fantasy woman I’ve ever seen in a metal bikini, high boots, and a cape was smokin’. Ditto for the witch, though in a spooky way. There may have been some other women in the story, but I don’t bother to try to remember them if they aren’t hot.
This book is great for what it is—an adventure tale. It would probably appeal to Conan fans, but I think it would also appeal to general fantasy readers because it has a number of standard sword and sorcery elements such as thieves, bandits, wizards, elementals, monsters, demons, were-beasts, and lots of cool sword fights. Oh, and, lest we forget, the mighty-thewed barbarian, himself. If you’re looking for an evening of light but fun entertainment, this might be worth a try.
I give it four stars; it isn’t the best I’ve read, but it is fun, and being fun is the point of the book.
Plot-wise, we have an evil wizard, Sovartus, in this case, who is attempting to create a super-elemental by tapping the strength of the four elemental powers embodied in four children. The mage has three of the four, but lacks the one with whom Conan is (of course) going to be associated. Conan meets up with her, ends up protecting her, and, with a rag-tag of heroes and quasi-heroes, Conan travels to the distant castle and defeats the evil sorcerer at the last minute after the latter has apparently accomplished his goal and successfully summoned the super-power.
This story is fun. There is a lot of action. Conan fights the elemental, a demon, a weird man-eating plant, a senator who is actually a were-panther who stalks the city streets at night, a few sets of bandits, a powerful witch--who also happens to be the demon’s sister (well, probably half-sister since she seems to be human in form)--who wants to make him her sex slave by proxy via infusing his soul into a construct that might accurately be considered a sex golem, some strange ape-like creatures who come out of a frozen lake, some sort of lizard or reptile men, and the wizard Sovartus. I appreciate the fact that the snow creatures actually outmatch him, and he flees before he is overcome. This is good because he is still alive to beat up everything else later.
There are hot chicks. The fire elementalist girl, Eldia, is hot in her way. The woman on the cover, though I am not sure who that is supposed to be—she seems allied to him the way she is depicted, so I think she is Kinna, the sister of the elementalist, Eldia—is definitely hot. Pretty much every fantasy woman I’ve ever seen in a metal bikini, high boots, and a cape was smokin’. Ditto for the witch, though in a spooky way. There may have been some other women in the story, but I don’t bother to try to remember them if they aren’t hot.
This book is great for what it is—an adventure tale. It would probably appeal to Conan fans, but I think it would also appeal to general fantasy readers because it has a number of standard sword and sorcery elements such as thieves, bandits, wizards, elementals, monsters, demons, were-beasts, and lots of cool sword fights. Oh, and, lest we forget, the mighty-thewed barbarian, himself. If you’re looking for an evening of light but fun entertainment, this might be worth a try.
I give it four stars; it isn’t the best I’ve read, but it is fun, and being fun is the point of the book.
November 20, 2014
Buena historia, muchos enemigos al mismo tiempo, pero buena historia.
Algunos de los escritos que he leído sobre Conan y que no son originales de Robert E. Howard muestran a un Conan algo extraño, no diré que suavizado ya que hay mucha sangre, desmembrados y tripas, pero si algo distinto del sombrío Conan de su creador.
Y esta no fue la excepción, pero definitivamente fue una gran aventura de todos modos, mucho sexo, mas de lo que comúnmente aparece (en serio, incluso aparece un demonio... digamos que muy viril) y algo que me llamo la atención fue la cantidad de enemigos que aparecen, fueron un total de cuatro, me recordó la ultima película de Spiderman donde lucha con electro, el duende verde y con Rino. Pero al menos el autor Steve Perry supo manejarlos bien y de tal manera que no afecta de mala manera a la trama.
Algunos de los escritos que he leído sobre Conan y que no son originales de Robert E. Howard muestran a un Conan algo extraño, no diré que suavizado ya que hay mucha sangre, desmembrados y tripas, pero si algo distinto del sombrío Conan de su creador.
Y esta no fue la excepción, pero definitivamente fue una gran aventura de todos modos, mucho sexo, mas de lo que comúnmente aparece (en serio, incluso aparece un demonio... digamos que muy viril) y algo que me llamo la atención fue la cantidad de enemigos que aparecen, fueron un total de cuatro, me recordó la ultima película de Spiderman donde lucha con electro, el duende verde y con Rino. Pero al menos el autor Steve Perry supo manejarlos bien y de tal manera que no afecta de mala manera a la trama.
April 1, 2022
The eighth book by the third author of the extensive Tor series, this was an enjoyable sword and sorcery adventure. Not the best and not the worst of this particular collection, it managed to be thrilling, atmospheric, and tick many of the typical Conan-story boxes. While you can certainly tell this isn't a work Robert E. Howard would have written himself, it still did well enough for me to finish the final page with a smile.
There were some aspects of the character that were a little flawed and inaccurate... his lack of care or suspicion when robbing a seemingly empty mansion, for example... but as I'm unfamiliar with the timeline as I'm writing this (a timeline which is constantly disputed nonetheless) this could be put down to Conan possibly being younger and less experienced than in other stories. That being said, his ferocity, his skill in battle, his Cimmerian instincts, his values, and his disdain for sorcery were all present, and the few flaws were made up for by a number of great moments.
All in all, a fun Conan tale, and one I'm happy to add to my bookshelf!
There were some aspects of the character that were a little flawed and inaccurate... his lack of care or suspicion when robbing a seemingly empty mansion, for example... but as I'm unfamiliar with the timeline as I'm writing this (a timeline which is constantly disputed nonetheless) this could be put down to Conan possibly being younger and less experienced than in other stories. That being said, his ferocity, his skill in battle, his Cimmerian instincts, his values, and his disdain for sorcery were all present, and the few flaws were made up for by a number of great moments.
All in all, a fun Conan tale, and one I'm happy to add to my bookshelf!
February 9, 2012
2nd Drive Books Not Cars Jakarta Charity Event.
Bought for only IDR 5K
== updated 09th Feb 2012 ==
how sad that lemparius' demise only told in a single paragraph, a sentence, at most.
kind of wondering how can i be drawn to fantasy such as this if the story telling need much work.
yes, i gave 4 stars because i read this for the sake of nostalgia.
Bought for only IDR 5K
== updated 09th Feb 2012 ==
how sad that lemparius' demise only told in a single paragraph, a sentence, at most.
kind of wondering how can i be drawn to fantasy such as this if the story telling need much work.
yes, i gave 4 stars because i read this for the sake of nostalgia.
April 24, 2014
This was a great book in the Conan stories. It pitted our barbarian hero against three different supernatural threats. This was one of my favorite Conan stories to date and a thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone who is a fan of sword & sorcery.
January 4, 2009
Conan pastiche.
December 8, 2017
one of the few TOR books that rate as high as Robert W Howards stuff! This is just outstanding once it gets going!! what D&D should be all about!! In fact u could have most of the characters prequesl and have another 5 novels! for those SJW of you out there beware there is an ass kicking white male in here! who constantly barely escaps with his life, and zomg he might jsut get the girl!! i wonder if I should write a novel where he gets the TGIRL but that wouldnt make the sjws happy only when conan is black n gay!
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