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Adventures of Conan
Conan the Hunter
A jeweled bracelet he purchases for his current lady love, Yvanna, from a Zamoran thief sends Conan on a quest for murderous when he discovers that the bracelet had belonged to the King of Brythunia's murdered daughter. Original.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 11, 2022
This was the first of three Conan novels that Moore completed before his untimely death. It's not particularly well written, but it does have a charming enthusiasm and brashness of style and good humor that captures the spirit of pulp/comic book Howard pretty well. As a character says on page 242; "By Hanuman's furry member, 'tis Conan!" It's split a little oddly into two parts, and has a young Conan facing evil sorcery, vile palace intrigue, and a creepy monster that's depicted quite well on the nice Ken Kelly cover.
March 11, 2013
I am a great fan of the Conan novels and short stories by Howard, Carter, Nyberg and de Camp. Wagner did a great job, and Jordan's Conan novels are at least readable. But this one here is one of the worst fantasy books i've ever had on my shelf.
The story is boring, full of clichés, loads of logical errors (electromagnetic shields anyone?), the characters are flat like a pancake and something like atmosphere is completely absent. The names of people are completely unfitting ("Elspeth"! "Mutare"!), the style of writing is that of a 14 year old writing essays on "me and my pet".
Books like this one are the reason why fantasy is looked down upon so condescendingly by many people. Howard turns in his grave for another time...
February 26, 2024
This is the first of Sean A. Moore's three Conan pastiches before his tragic early death, and I had an absolute blast reading it. With tavern brawls, slimy sewer monsters, vampiric sorcerers, treacherously plotting eunuchs, and booby-trapped lairs, it gave me everything I could want from a Conan story.
Sure, there were some flaws, which can be attributed to the fact that this was Moore's first novel. The pacing was a little up and down, especially with some of the excessive exposition, and the plot felt a little scattered at times... but otherwise, this was a very enjoyable adventure from an author who obviously really enjoyed writing Howard's character and world.
On a personal note, I actually think I found a lot of similarities between Moore and myself as a writer, which likely made me enjoy reading this even more. He's also the first 'new' Conan pastiche author I've read in a couple of years now, and it was refreshing to get stuck into another one of these books that was nothing more than what it was supposed to be; a fun sword and sorcery yarn. No excessive horniness and forced nudity on every page, i.e. Roland Green. No bitter neutering of the character of Conan by someone who clearly wanted to be writing something else, i.e. Leonard Carpenter. Just Conan being Conan in a story that he not only belonged in, but thrived in too.
For that reason, this gets a strong four stars from me and goes down as one of my favourite pastiches in the Tor run. Now I can't wait to see what else Moore had to offer fans of Conan before he was taken from us far too soon.
Sure, there were some flaws, which can be attributed to the fact that this was Moore's first novel. The pacing was a little up and down, especially with some of the excessive exposition, and the plot felt a little scattered at times... but otherwise, this was a very enjoyable adventure from an author who obviously really enjoyed writing Howard's character and world.
On a personal note, I actually think I found a lot of similarities between Moore and myself as a writer, which likely made me enjoy reading this even more. He's also the first 'new' Conan pastiche author I've read in a couple of years now, and it was refreshing to get stuck into another one of these books that was nothing more than what it was supposed to be; a fun sword and sorcery yarn. No excessive horniness and forced nudity on every page, i.e. Roland Green. No bitter neutering of the character of Conan by someone who clearly wanted to be writing something else, i.e. Leonard Carpenter. Just Conan being Conan in a story that he not only belonged in, but thrived in too.
For that reason, this gets a strong four stars from me and goes down as one of my favourite pastiches in the Tor run. Now I can't wait to see what else Moore had to offer fans of Conan before he was taken from us far too soon.
March 11, 2021
Давно я не радовал себя настолько лайтовой, наивной и простодушной беллетристикой. В этом плане книга "Конан идет по следу" легла на душу как бальзам. Это возможно самое примитивное произведение, которое я прочитал в этом тысячелетии (пожалуй, даже "Оттенки" снимут шляпу перед ним). Как сигара - иногда просто сигара, так и в художественной литературе написанное иногда означает только то, что написано. В данном случае именно таким образом и написана вся книга. Содержание - максимально дефолтное фэнтези, а такого как здесь количества двигающих сюжет счастливых совпадений я возможно не встречал нигде и никогда. Подобное веселье мне очень зашло в первой половине книги, которую я прочитал за один присест, а вот остальную часть читать было уже как-то в тягость.
Закономерно встает вопрос зачем вообще читать фэнтези, тем более такое. Как и всякий ребенок из начала 90-х, я фанател от мультсериала про варвара Конана и в какой-то момент уговорил родителей купить мне какую-нибудь книгу про него (в те годы на прилавках у метро их было вывалено до фига, так что они всегда были на виду). Хотя роман беспрецедентно примитивно написан, для ~9-летнего меня он оказался великоват и скучноват - я тогда не ушел дальше, наверное, середины и забросил его. Но книга все это время лежала на полке и перед тем, как избавиться от нее навсегда, я решил все же отдать дань своему детскому увлечению и завершить начатое.
Моя внимательность к деталям открыла несколько примечательных фактов:
1. Как многобещающе и авторитетно заявляет российское издание книги "Конан идет по следу", это "один из лучших романов о Конане, написанных в прошлом году". WHOA!
2. "Перевод Гали Трубицыной". Имя мне показалось странным, и я решил погуглить. Оказалось, это псевдоним на тот момент еще не раскрывшегося гения Марии Семеновой, автора серии "Волкодав". Если серьезно, ничего не знаю про ее книги, только помню, что ими вскоре были завалены все те же приметрошные торговые точки.
3. Автор книги - Шон Мур - погиб в автокатастрофе спустя несколько лет после написания книги.
Закономерно встает вопрос зачем вообще читать фэнтези, тем более такое. Как и всякий ребенок из начала 90-х, я фанател от мультсериала про варвара Конана и в какой-то момент уговорил родителей купить мне какую-нибудь книгу про него (в те годы на прилавках у метро их было вывалено до фига, так что они всегда были на виду). Хотя роман беспрецедентно примитивно написан, для ~9-летнего меня он оказался великоват и скучноват - я тогда не ушел дальше, наверное, середины и забросил его. Но книга все это время лежала на полке и перед тем, как избавиться от нее навсегда, я решил все же отдать дань своему детскому увлечению и завершить начатое.
Моя внимательность к деталям открыла несколько примечательных фактов:
1. Как многобещающе и авторитетно заявляет российское издание книги "Конан идет по следу", это "один из лучших романов о Конане, написанных в прошлом году". WHOA!
2. "Перевод Гали Трубицыной". Имя мне показалось странным, и я решил погуглить. Оказалось, это псевдоним на тот момент еще не раскрывшегося гения Марии Семеновой, автора серии "Волкодав". Если серьезно, ничего не знаю про ее книги, только помню, что ими вскоре были завалены все те же приметрошные торговые точки.
3. Автор книги - Шон Мур - погиб в автокатастрофе спустя несколько лет после написания книги.
March 12, 2022
Ytterligare en Conan som handlar mer om D&D än fejkbronsåldern. Men för allt vad den är lätt löjesvärd, med saker som gigantiska kloaksystem i förment medeltida städer, och hjältar som får spikar drivna genom kroppsdelar och sedan vandrar genom en öken utan blodförgiftning, så var den i alla fall rolig och inte förutsägbar i alla stegen. Och kombinationen av lätt löjesvärd och rolig blir avslappnande och kravlös; och ibland behöver man popcornläsning.
August 5, 2019
The book is divided into two parts. The first half is a revenge tale. For the second part, Conan joins forces with a fellow warrior and a priest that seems too much like a D&D cleric for this to feel Hyborian. The quest involves finding a vampire like sorceress. A Dracula like myth is introduced early in the book and takes root in the final chapters.
The story isn’t bad, but things are a bit too choppy to warrant more than 2 stars. Support characters are introduced, given backgrounds and then killed off. The book feels like an interesting rough draft.
Of interest is Sean Moore. This was his first Tornan. He would write, I believe, two more before tragically dying in an auto accident at too young years old. Until then, he was living my dream. I read a steady diet of Tornans in the 80’s, not so much in the 90’s; and I had a dream of writing these for a living.
That dream never bore fruit for me, but it did for Sean Moore. This first book isn’t good. I hope his next two were. Outside of three Tornans, he was uncredited for screen writing on the Kull movie, and he wrote the novelization of the script. The Kull movie was so bad, I barely remember watching it, but I would dig finding a copy of the novelized paperback by Sean A. Moore.
The story isn’t bad, but things are a bit too choppy to warrant more than 2 stars. Support characters are introduced, given backgrounds and then killed off. The book feels like an interesting rough draft.
Of interest is Sean Moore. This was his first Tornan. He would write, I believe, two more before tragically dying in an auto accident at too young years old. Until then, he was living my dream. I read a steady diet of Tornans in the 80’s, not so much in the 90’s; and I had a dream of writing these for a living.
That dream never bore fruit for me, but it did for Sean Moore. This first book isn’t good. I hope his next two were. Outside of three Tornans, he was uncredited for screen writing on the Kull movie, and he wrote the novelization of the script. The Kull movie was so bad, I barely remember watching it, but I would dig finding a copy of the novelized paperback by Sean A. Moore.
June 4, 2018
In Conan's early years as a thief he takes some time off for a little R&R in Brythunia. He decides to buy a present for his current wench, but his thieving skills have not yet advanced to the level of when pass on stolen merchandise. He is framed for the death of the king's daughter and eventually sets out in pursuit of the real killer, an immortal demon priestess. He gains and loses allies, faces down gods and gets in a bar fight, and on the whole gets knocked around a lot more than normal.
The action is fast paced generally, though the book is oddly divided into two parts. Important characters are dispatched suddenly, and there is far too much deus ex machina for my liking. It's not REH, but REH is dead so it's probably asking too much for him to write any new Conan stories.
The action is fast paced generally, though the book is oddly divided into two parts. Important characters are dispatched suddenly, and there is far too much deus ex machina for my liking. It's not REH, but REH is dead so it's probably asking too much for him to write any new Conan stories.
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February 14, 2017THIS NOVEL WAS OK. BUT, I NEED TO SAY THAT I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MR. CHARLES GRAMLICH ABOUT THE FACT THAT CONAN IS TREATED TOO MUCH OF A SUPERMAN AND THE TALKING SPIDER WAS JUST PLAIN SILLY. THIS IS MY OPINION, OF COURSE.
February 10, 2025
This one is tough to rate. As one reviewer said, it's not written well, but it's got such energy it's tough not to like it. I think that about sums my reaction up. I'll say that it gets a little dull in the third act, but I'm always going to shrug at a rough third act more than a rough first act.
December 3, 2024
As Conan goes, this was good, escapist nonsense. The writing wasn't great. It has a start and stops feel to it several times. However, the author did create some decent secondary characters without destroying the classic timeline.
July 11, 2018
One of the poorest of the Tor Conan books. You don’t expect Shakespeare but this novel suffers from poor writing even for a pulp series.
January 24, 2019
Good escapist fare.
January 30, 2013
Another exciting Conan tale! This adventure slowed it's pacing down at times, mostly from the swicthing of character's viewpoints. It released some of the tension, but the author made up for it later on. It reminded me a bit of a roleplaying game, where there is a bit of adventure, then storyline, possibly a random encounter, more story... The format works fairly well and is easy to get used to.
One thing struck out at me. There was a bit of stretched coincidence as well near the end, but when you get to the part I'm talking about you will clearly know. However, supernatural hands guide many events, so it doesn't come off as being too unbelievable.
This tale reminded me of a quote from Robert E. Howard. He said that he wrote his tales as though an older Conan were reciting them to him. Good storytellers embellish at times, and reading about the abuse Conan takes makes me think of that. Then again, this is a fantasy tale. Cimmerians were made of sterner stuff than most mortals. (In other fantasy books, if an Orc or other strong humanoid would take the abuse an keep going, the reader likely wouldn't bat an eye.)
All in all, it was a good book. I am reading/re-reading through every Conan book I can find in chronical order, so I would like to compare Moore's Conan to other author's. I am also a little upset that I didn't pick this up when it was released in '95. I remember seeing it on the bookstore, but passed it up in favor of a book I didn't enjoy. C'est la vie!
One thing struck out at me. There was a bit of stretched coincidence as well near the end, but when you get to the part I'm talking about you will clearly know. However, supernatural hands guide many events, so it doesn't come off as being too unbelievable.
This tale reminded me of a quote from Robert E. Howard. He said that he wrote his tales as though an older Conan were reciting them to him. Good storytellers embellish at times, and reading about the abuse Conan takes makes me think of that. Then again, this is a fantasy tale. Cimmerians were made of sterner stuff than most mortals. (In other fantasy books, if an Orc or other strong humanoid would take the abuse an keep going, the reader likely wouldn't bat an eye.)
All in all, it was a good book. I am reading/re-reading through every Conan book I can find in chronical order, so I would like to compare Moore's Conan to other author's. I am also a little upset that I didn't pick this up when it was released in '95. I remember seeing it on the bookstore, but passed it up in favor of a book I didn't enjoy. C'est la vie!
March 2, 2014
Skemmtileg fantasía um villimanninn Conan sem er skíthræddur við presta, djöfla og galdramenn en berst samt ótrauður við þá með sverði og þrjósku auk þess að vera mikið heljarmenni. Ágætlega spennandi og með óvæntar uppákomur og vandamál sem komu mér einstaka sinnum að óvörum.
Conan var upphaflega skapaður af rithöfundinum Robert E. Howard árið 1932 en eftir andlát hans fjórum árum síðar hafa fjölmargir höfundar spreytt sig við hetjuna auk þess sem Conan og fantasíuheimurinn sem hann býr í hafa lifað vel í teiknimyndasögum, sjónvarpsþáttum og bíómyndum.
Conan var upphaflega skapaður af rithöfundinum Robert E. Howard árið 1932 en eftir andlát hans fjórum árum síðar hafa fjölmargir höfundar spreytt sig við hetjuna auk þess sem Conan og fantasíuheimurinn sem hann býr í hafa lifað vel í teiknimyndasögum, sjónvarpsþáttum og bíómyndum.
January 4, 2009
Conan pastiche. I think this was Hunter's first book and it showed enthusiasm. I think he could have been a fine writer, but this one just wasn't terribly good to me. It treated Conan as far too much of a superman.
November 16, 2011
Moore does well to provide a tale of adventure in classic Conan style.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews