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What more is there to say.. it's a Conan book written by an acolyte of Howard, but loses nothing of the essence of the masters writing... Crom.. just read it.
4.0 out of 5 starsA revisit to some classic Conan.
Reviewed in Canada on 13 August 2010
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I remember reading these novels some twenty years or so ago in paperback and it's nice to have it all coiled up in one large hardcover. Robert Jorden is an excellent writer and though I rarely read fantasy novels anymore, I thought I would make an exception with this edition. I have a complaint with the paper quality as it's quite cheap and they should have done something more professional (better quality paper) and visual (black and white pictures would have been nice). Otherwise, I would reccomend this book for anyone wanting to visit the Hyborian world and their teenage years........
Robert Jordan is a great author. Definitely knows how to write Conan novels. These are the first three Conan stories I've read, although I've been a fan of the comics for years.
2.0 out of 5 starsDon’t expect much in the way of substance.
Reviewed in the United States on 4 September 2019
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Firstly, a disclaimer—I am a purist. I have read, reread, researched, and referenced the original REH Conan stories dozens of times over the years. I bought this on a recommendation of a fellow REH fan and was disappointed initially. If you’re looking for a continuation of the character as depicted in REH original stories, you’re bound to be disappointed. Jordan’s version of the character is a shallow bastardization of Conan at best. He has reduced a character who had been infused with such depth and liveliness to almost a caricature of himself. The dialogue is awkward and the prose itself lacks the luster one looks for when they read the original REH works. Jordan also takes the “sword & sorcery” nomenclature to heart to the point of cliche. The stories follow a very basic structure, Conan goes somewhere new, meets a woman, has to fight a sorcerer, rescue a damsel, and then escape a collapsing temple or castle. By the third novel in the compendium, it all becomes very exhausting. However, if you’re looking for a very “surface level,” beat-em-Up, macho character, these books are for you. These books read like an early 90’s action movie. I can’t say they weren’t at first entertaining, but as I said, I was expecting just a little more. I’m not so daft to expect one to rise to the level of REH and it would be an insult to ape his style. But the depth of the narrative and characters is nonexistent at best. I appreciated the short chapters (which make stopping points easy to get to) and the size and print are very nice. All in all, these books are not Conan. If you are a fan of the original works, you will be greatly disappointed. However, if you’re in the mood for something light to read on vacation, these stories fit that bill nicely. Tailor your expectations.