So you want to dive into the bloody, bronze-aged world of Conan the Barbarian books? Smart move. I remember picking up my first Conan paperback at a dusty used bookstore years ago - that tattered copy of "The Hour of the Dragon" completely hooked me. These stories aren't just mindless hack-and-slash adventures; there's something primal and weirdly philosophical lurking beneath the muscle-bound surface. We're talking about tales that defined the sword-and-sorcery genre, influencing everything from Dungeons & Dragons to Game of Thrones. But where do you even start with this massive, sprawling universe?
The Original Conan Chronicles by Robert E. Howard
Let's cut through the noise: Robert E. Howard is Conan. This Texas writer birthed the Cimmerian during the Great Depression, crafting stories that felt like a punch to the gut compared to the polite fantasy of his era. Between 1932 and 1936, he wrote 21 stories and fragments that became the foundation of all Conan lore. Funny thing - many were rejected by publishers during his lifetime. Can you imagine editors passing on "Red Nails" or "Beyond the Black River"? Their loss, our gain.
Howard's Conan isn't just a brute. Yeah, he cleaves skulls like melons, but he's also a pirate, thief, mercenary, and eventually king. The stories jump around his timeline - one tale shows teenage Conan raiding Cimmerian villages, another features him as a grizzled monarch. This non-chronological approach frustrated me at first until I realized Howard wasn't writing a biography; he was painting a myth.
| Essential Original Conan Stories | Original Pub Year | Conan's Age | Key Elements |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Phoenix on the Sword | 1932 | Mid 40s (King) | First published Conan story |
| The Tower of the Elephant | 1933 | Young thief | Cosmic horror elements |
| Red Nails | 1936 | Prime warrior | Last Conan story written by Howard |
| Beyond the Black River | 1935 | Mercenary | Frontier survival tale |
| Queen of the Black Coast | 1934 | Pirate captain | Introduces Belit |
What makes Howard's Conan the Barbarian books stand out? The visceral prose. When he describes Conan fighting a giant serpent, you feel the scales rasping against stone and smell the reptile's foul breath. Modern fantasy often feels sanitized compared to this raw, sweaty, blood-splattered storytelling. Some passages haven't aged perfectly (fair warning), but the sheer energy remains unmatched.
The Labyrinth of Post-Howard Conan Books
After Howard's tragic suicide in 1936, the character went dormant until the 1950s when L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter started expanding the saga. This is where things get messy. On one hand, they preserved Howard's legacy by getting his stories reprinted. On the other... well, let's just say their pastiche stories feel like Conan fan-fiction. I've read them all, and while some capture the spirit ("Conan the Buccaneer" isn't awful), others miss the mark spectacularly.
Major Conan Book Series After Howard
- The Lancer/Ace Series (1966-1977): De Camp and Carter's rewritten versions with added stories. Controversial among purists - they altered Howard's texts significantly.
- Tor Paperbacks (1982-2004): A whopping 28 novels! Robert Jordan (yes, that Robert Jordan) wrote seven surprisingly decent entries before Wheel of Time fame.
- Marvel's Conan Novels (2019-present): New stories tying into comics, with uneven quality. Some capture the essence surprisingly well.
Look, I'll be honest - most later Conan the Barbarian books feel like pale imitations. Jordan's "Conan the Invincible" has slick pacing but waters down the brutality. Harry Turtledove's "Conan of Venarium" explores Conan's teenage years thoughtfully, yet lacks Howard's poetic savagery. It's like comparing a fast-food burger to dry-aged steak.
Top 5 Non-Howard Conan Books Worth Reading
- The Road of Kings (Karl Edward Wagner) - captures Howard's nihilistic tone
- Conan the Liberator (L. Sprague de Camp) - best of the early pastiches
- Conan the Rebel (Poul Anderson) - interesting political intrigue
- Conan the Defender (Robert Jordan) - solid dungeon-crawling fun
- Conan and the Emerald Lotus (John Hocking) - surprisingly atmospheric
The rest? Mostly forgettable. Many modern writers make Conan too noble or worse - turn him into a boring superhero. Howard's creation was a complex antihero who lived by his own moral code. When later authors forget that, the magic evaporates.
Navigating the Conan Book Timeline
Chronologically or publication order? This debate rages among fans. Howard wrote stories out of sequence, so reading in internal timeline order creates a fascinating character arc. But you lose that raw, unpredictable energy of discovering Conan at random life stages. Personally, I recommend starting with these five Howard classics before branching out:
- The Tower of the Elephant (early thief days)
- Queen of the Black Coast (pirate period)
- Beyond the Black River (wilderness survival)
- Red Nails (mature warrior)
- The Phoenix on the Sword (kingship era)
| Reading Approach | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publication Order | Experience Howard's evolving writing style | Jarring timeline jumps | Literary analysis fans |
| Chronological Order | Clear character development | Requires consulting lists | First-time readers |
| Anthology Collections | Curated best-of experience | Misses lesser-known gems | Casual readers |
One thing I wish I knew earlier: skip the "complete chronology" obsession. Howard never intended these stories as a seamless biography. Reading "Rogues in the House" right after "The God in the Bowl" creates wild tonal whiplash - and that's part of the fun!
Collecting Conan the Barbarian Books
Okay, real talk: collecting these things can drive you mad. With hundreds of editions across decades, here's what matters:
Key Editions for Collectors
- Gnome Press (1950s): First hardcover editions. Expect to pay $300-$1000+ for decent copies. The dust jackets fade terribly.
- Lancer Paperbacks (1960s): Iconic Frazetta covers. Later printings are affordable ($10-$25), but first prints with unclipped covers cost hundreds.
- Del Rey Collections (2000s): Definitive modern texts. Still in print at $15-$20 each.
I learned the hard way that condition is everything. My first Gnome Press "King Conan" had water stains and a torn spine - not worth the premium price. For casual readers, stick with the Del Rey paperbacks. For collectors, focus on Lancer editions with vibrant Frazetta art. That "Conan the Adventurer" cover with the giant snake? Pure pulp gold.
Beyond the Books: Adaptations and Spin-offs
Let's address the elephant in the room: yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger's movies are fun, but they barely scratch the surface of the Conan books. John Milius' 1982 film nails the atmosphere but invents its own mythology. The 2011 reboot? Forget it exists. Better to explore:
- Marvel Comics (1970-present): Savage Sword magazine contains brilliant adaptations
- Dark Horse Comics (2003-2018): Gorgeous art, faithful to Howard's spirit
- Modiphius RPG (2017): Outstanding tabletop game system
Oddly, some comic adaptations understand Conan better than many novelists. Roy Thomas' run in the 70s expanded Hyboria beautifully while keeping Howard's visceral edge. The recent "Birth of the Cimmerian" graphic novel by Ablaze Publishing? Surprisingly authentic.
Conan the Barbarian Books: Your Questions Answered
What's the best Conan book for beginners?
Start with "The Coming of Conan" collection from Del Rey. It contains Howard's earliest and most accessible stories like "The Tower of the Elephant" and "Rogues in the House." Avoid pastiche novels until you've read Howard's originals.
How many Conan books did Robert E. Howard write?
Howard completed 17 Conan short stories and novellas, plus several unfinished fragments. All were written between 1932-1936. Later authors wrote over 100 additional novels.
Are the Robert Jordan Conan books good?
They're competent adventures but lack Howard's intensity. Jordan smoothed out Conan's rough edges, making him more heroic and less complex. Worth reading after Howard, but temper expectations.
Why do some Conan books have different titles?
Marketing chaos! Same stories reappear under different titles across decades. Example: Howard's "The Scarlet Citadel" became "Conan the Conqueror" in some editions. Always check the original title.
Do I need to read Conan the Barbarian books in order?
Not really. Howard designed stories as standalone adventures. Reading chronologically reveals character growth, but publication order showcases his evolving craft. Mix and match based on mood!
Why These Barbaric Tales Still Matter
Reading Conan the Barbarian books in 2024 feels strangely relevant. Howard created Conan during economic collapse - sound familiar? His stories grapple with civilization's fragility, the corruption of power, and humanity's primal instincts. When Conan scowls at "civilized" hypocrites, it resonates differently post-pandemic.
Modern fantasy often feels safe and formulaic. Howard's work remains dangerous - unpredictable, politically incorrect, and throbbing with raw life force. Sure, some passages make me cringe today. But the core vision? Timeless. That moment in "Queen of the Black Coast" when Conan watches Belit's funeral pyre - pure mythic poetry. You don't get that in generic fantasy trilogies.
Last summer, I tracked down the remote Cross Plains, Texas house where Howard wrote most Conan stories. Standing in his tiny bedroom, surrounded by peeling wallpaper and creaking floorboards, I finally understood. These weren't just adventure tales; they were howls against modern emptiness. That raw honesty still connects, ninety years later. Crom would approve.
Final Musings on the Cimmerian
If you take one thing from this guide: read Howard first. Skip the movie novelizations, ignore the endless sequels, and dive straight into the source. Find a battered paperback with Frazetta's art, pour some cheap mead (or decent bourbon), and let that first sentence hook you: "Know, O prince..."
The Hyborian Age awaits. Steel yourself.
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