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Brak the Barbarian #1
Brak the Barbarian
1st edition Star 1987 paperback, vg++ In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
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388 people want to read
About the author
John Jakes
417 books969 followersJohn William Jakes, the author of more than a dozen novels, is regarded as one of today’s most distinguished writers of historical fiction. His work includes the highly acclaimed Kent Family Chronicles series and the North and South Trilogy. Jakes’s commitment to historical accuracy and evocative storytelling earned him the title of “the godfather of historical novelists” from the Los Angeles Times and led to a streak of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers. Jakes has received several awards for his work and is a member of the Authors Guild and the PEN American Center. He and his wife, Rachel, live on the west coast of Florida.
Also writes under pseudonyms Jay Scotland, Alan Payne, Rachel Ann Payne, Robert Hart Davis, Darius John Granger, John Lee Gray. Has ghost written as William Ard.
Also writes under pseudonyms Jay Scotland, Alan Payne, Rachel Ann Payne, Robert Hart Davis, Darius John Granger, John Lee Gray. Has ghost written as William Ard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 26, 2015
Before John Jakes became known for historical fiction, he wrote a series of "clonans" (i.e. Conan-like heroes based off of Robert E. Howard's hero). Jake's hero was: Brak the Barbarian. In his introduction, Jake says he merely wanted to have more stories of the ones he liked. With a little more effort, he could have a really neat hero. Instead, he took a cookie cutter mold of Conan, stripped him free of specific goals, and set him on a general trip "south" toward Khurdisan, an apparently dreamy place worth seeking with one's life and soul... but not apparently good enough to tell the reader about.
Horror and action are good: Jake's writing of Brak excels when he employs his version of horror/Lovecraft-themed weirdness. There are true moments of neat-trippiness and terror that I wish he had done more often.
Shallow motivations are bad. Countering this, Jake over-stressed the "barbarian is more civil than city-folk" theme that RE Howard was known to push (i.e. Brak is always the more honest and honorable than any of the civilized people he crosses). Also, there is the matter of inappropriate attire: no matter the environment (whether its the Ice-marshes or the desert), he wears a loin cloth and rides a pony (he has four ponies in five chapters, each one is new since the others die). He is giant, and must look ridiculous on a pony. And he has braided hair, that is strangely described as "savage." This book has 5 chapters that chronicle Brak's life after being outcasted for reasons unknown and never told to the reader.
I chronicled my own adventure with Brak. I would recommend reading the first and fourth chapters:
Chapter I The Unspeakable Shrine: Brak is indeed a Conan clone; hailing from icelands; wearing loincloth in a tundra? Yob-Haggoth antagonist-god is Lovecraftian. Trippy scenes with Adriane (Yob-Haggoth supporter). Anti-civilization themes echoes REH's approach. More entertaining than cheezy.
Chapter II: Flame Face: This was a sub par story. Brak leaves the ice marshes in his loincloth only to take a slow route to Khurdisan, his random goal in life. He spends months working to buy a pony to carry him south ? Really... A pony? Then instantly gets captured and imprisoned in a mine for 50 days. No worries he escapes, of course, and the random villain gets her due justice.
Chapter III: The Courts of the Conjurer: was par with Ch1. A decent adventure story, some betrayal, and a creature named Fangfish (akin to the nomenclature of Ch2's Doomdog). More "barbarians are more civil than civilization" commentary. Still Brak's desire to ride small ponies and wear no clothes seems forced. Pretty shallow personality and goals.
Chapter IV: Ghosts of Stone: This is the best so far. A ghost city called Chamalor, the best follow up to ch1. A good dose of horror and more info on Septegundus, undying evil wizard. The Thing That Crawls, T'muk, is a nice Lovecraftian creature. Enjoyed this story.
Chapter V: Barge of Souls: Brak meanders south via a battlefield. The good parts include interactions with ghosts and haunted war grounds. Too much weird coincidence undermines some really great touches. Minor spoilers:
Horror and action are good: Jake's writing of Brak excels when he employs his version of horror/Lovecraft-themed weirdness. There are true moments of neat-trippiness and terror that I wish he had done more often.
Shallow motivations are bad. Countering this, Jake over-stressed the "barbarian is more civil than city-folk" theme that RE Howard was known to push (i.e. Brak is always the more honest and honorable than any of the civilized people he crosses). Also, there is the matter of inappropriate attire: no matter the environment (whether its the Ice-marshes or the desert), he wears a loin cloth and rides a pony (he has four ponies in five chapters, each one is new since the others die). He is giant, and must look ridiculous on a pony. And he has braided hair, that is strangely described as "savage." This book has 5 chapters that chronicle Brak's life after being outcasted for reasons unknown and never told to the reader.
I chronicled my own adventure with Brak. I would recommend reading the first and fourth chapters:
Chapter I The Unspeakable Shrine: Brak is indeed a Conan clone; hailing from icelands; wearing loincloth in a tundra? Yob-Haggoth antagonist-god is Lovecraftian. Trippy scenes with Adriane (Yob-Haggoth supporter). Anti-civilization themes echoes REH's approach. More entertaining than cheezy.
Chapter II: Flame Face: This was a sub par story. Brak leaves the ice marshes in his loincloth only to take a slow route to Khurdisan, his random goal in life. He spends months working to buy a pony to carry him south ? Really... A pony? Then instantly gets captured and imprisoned in a mine for 50 days. No worries he escapes, of course, and the random villain gets her due justice.
Chapter III: The Courts of the Conjurer: was par with Ch1. A decent adventure story, some betrayal, and a creature named Fangfish (akin to the nomenclature of Ch2's Doomdog). More "barbarians are more civil than civilization" commentary. Still Brak's desire to ride small ponies and wear no clothes seems forced. Pretty shallow personality and goals.
Chapter IV: Ghosts of Stone: This is the best so far. A ghost city called Chamalor, the best follow up to ch1. A good dose of horror and more info on Septegundus, undying evil wizard. The Thing That Crawls, T'muk, is a nice Lovecraftian creature. Enjoyed this story.
Chapter V: Barge of Souls: Brak meanders south via a battlefield. The good parts include interactions with ghosts and haunted war grounds. Too much weird coincidence undermines some really great touches. Minor spoilers:
March 21, 2016
It’s been a while since I’d read a full length old school sword & sorcery novel, and I have to say that this really hit the spot. This is a collection of loosely connect short stories arranged in chronological order. They are very much in the vein of Robert E. Howard’s Conan. These are the tales of high adventure of a barbarian from the north who meets with cultures, customs and civilizations that are strange and incomprehensible to him. He encounters dark magicks and strange supernatural forces, which he ignorantly battles with his force of will and broad sword alone.
The introductory story that really sets the pace for Brak’s adventures (and introduces us to a brief history of Brak himself) is actually probably the least engaging story of the bunch. I feel like it was an exercise for John Jakes to find his voice for these stories (and I suppose arguably his later more famous works). The imagery and descriptions sometimes come across as over the top with an over use of adjectives and adverbs to describe Brak’s every thought and action. In later stories within the collection Jakes seems to work out these kinks and hits a perfect pace that mixes barbaric imagery with high action.
Though nothing too deep is explored within these pages, this is a perfect example of escapist fantasy. It hearkens to a time (though viewed with rose tinted glasses) when morals were more black and white, a matter of good and evil, and problems could be solved the strength of one’s will and might alone, and it’s a damn fun read because of that. 3.5/5
The introductory story that really sets the pace for Brak’s adventures (and introduces us to a brief history of Brak himself) is actually probably the least engaging story of the bunch. I feel like it was an exercise for John Jakes to find his voice for these stories (and I suppose arguably his later more famous works). The imagery and descriptions sometimes come across as over the top with an over use of adjectives and adverbs to describe Brak’s every thought and action. In later stories within the collection Jakes seems to work out these kinks and hits a perfect pace that mixes barbaric imagery with high action.
Though nothing too deep is explored within these pages, this is a perfect example of escapist fantasy. It hearkens to a time (though viewed with rose tinted glasses) when morals were more black and white, a matter of good and evil, and problems could be solved the strength of one’s will and might alone, and it’s a damn fun read because of that. 3.5/5
June 12, 2018
Fairly decent Conan-inspired sword and sorcery tales. Make no mistake, though, John Jakes is no Robert E. Howard. Here are some notes I have on this volume:
Almost every one of these stories starts off with Brak getting the shit beat out of him (in one story it is a sandstorm that does the beating, but I'll still count it).
Brak is very clumsy. It is quite common for him to trip over something and fall over when he is in combat. as an added bonus, he also falls into pits and pools of water pretty frequently.
Brak has long blonde hair and wears a lion skin. You will be reminded of this often. Also, that lion skin must smell terrible since he never takes it off.
Brak doesn't believe in any gods. The first story hinges on this fact, as does the whole reason he was cast out of his homeland. And yet for some reason he randomly says a prayer or puts a religious symbol on someone's grave.
Brak uses a broadsword. If he loses his broadsword, you can rest assured that he will quickly run into an enemy that also uses a broadsword that he can take. He is like a D&D character that only specialized in one weapon.
Brak doesn't seem to be as horny as Conan.
Brak shares his name with this guy from Space Ghost and it brings me no end of joy:
So, anyway, if you are really into sword & sorcery tales or you really like Conan and want something in the same vein, you could certainly do worse than Brak the Barbarian.
Almost every one of these stories starts off with Brak getting the shit beat out of him (in one story it is a sandstorm that does the beating, but I'll still count it).
Brak is very clumsy. It is quite common for him to trip over something and fall over when he is in combat. as an added bonus, he also falls into pits and pools of water pretty frequently.
Brak has long blonde hair and wears a lion skin. You will be reminded of this often. Also, that lion skin must smell terrible since he never takes it off.
Brak doesn't believe in any gods. The first story hinges on this fact, as does the whole reason he was cast out of his homeland. And yet for some reason he randomly says a prayer or puts a religious symbol on someone's grave.
Brak uses a broadsword. If he loses his broadsword, you can rest assured that he will quickly run into an enemy that also uses a broadsword that he can take. He is like a D&D character that only specialized in one weapon.
Brak doesn't seem to be as horny as Conan.
Brak shares his name with this guy from Space Ghost and it brings me no end of joy:
So, anyway, if you are really into sword & sorcery tales or you really like Conan and want something in the same vein, you could certainly do worse than Brak the Barbarian.
August 17, 2020
I enjoy the many Conan knock-offs form the 60s and 70s, Kothar, Kyrik, Thongor but I hadn't tried Jake's version. Good entertaining and quick read. Like all the others it a fast paced and action driven story. Recommended
March 20, 2023
I liked this quite a bit. It is a Conan clone so to speak but it’s very enjoyable and not without its unique charms.
This book consist of five short stories of varying quality. The first is fairly good. It’s kind of like the Last Temptation of Christ but as a heavy metal/Frank Frazetta paint king style retelling. The next two stories are kind of standard S&S but good fun. The fourth I thought had tremendous atmosphere. One of the clever things here is the description of Brak’s antagonist having the moving forms of peoples’ souls in his skin. Reusing that theme in the dead city was very well done.
The last story created tremendous atmosphere and was overall superb. It just really created this smoky feeling and great sense of tension and build up. Maybe the ending wasn’t quite as fabulous as the setup but still overall just awesome.
Overall, as far as Conan knock offs go, I think Brak stands head and shoulders above Gardener Francis Fox’s Kyrik or Kothar. I don’t think it’s quite as fun as the better Thongor stories from Lin Carter but definitely the quality is more consistently overall.
Also, Conan is a very Nietzchean character so having Jakes’ Christian underpinnings (though very subtle) adds a layer of uniqueness to this not present in other Clonans. It might be a good bridge for say Inklings fans to get into Sword and Sorcery as a genre.
Overall, enjoyed this quite a bit and looking forward to reading the rest of the series. RIP John Jakes.
This book consist of five short stories of varying quality. The first is fairly good. It’s kind of like the Last Temptation of Christ but as a heavy metal/Frank Frazetta paint king style retelling. The next two stories are kind of standard S&S but good fun. The fourth I thought had tremendous atmosphere. One of the clever things here is the description of Brak’s antagonist having the moving forms of peoples’ souls in his skin. Reusing that theme in the dead city was very well done.
The last story created tremendous atmosphere and was overall superb. It just really created this smoky feeling and great sense of tension and build up. Maybe the ending wasn’t quite as fabulous as the setup but still overall just awesome.
Overall, as far as Conan knock offs go, I think Brak stands head and shoulders above Gardener Francis Fox’s Kyrik or Kothar. I don’t think it’s quite as fun as the better Thongor stories from Lin Carter but definitely the quality is more consistently overall.
Also, Conan is a very Nietzchean character so having Jakes’ Christian underpinnings (though very subtle) adds a layer of uniqueness to this not present in other Clonans. It might be a good bridge for say Inklings fans to get into Sword and Sorcery as a genre.
Overall, enjoyed this quite a bit and looking forward to reading the rest of the series. RIP John Jakes.
May 21, 2018
Here's some faint praise: better than the sequels. Not consumed by Jakes's excesses, anyways, though these lurk.
(These are, namely: that Brak is headed to Khurdisan with no real justification yet gives up much to continue; that Jakes plays with the order of narration to start in medias res and immediately flashes back to fill in the story; that Brak is frequently an observer or passive element in his own story; that he wears a must-be-disgusting lion pelt despite coming from the tundra and therefore unable to meet a lion in its natural habitat. I would also take issue with his making more educated observations than everyone around him, but, hey, why should I judge a man based on his lionskin tighty-whities?)
Brak's adventures are packed together, in contrast to the scattered events of Conan's life. Each story is presented in reference to the one previous, and this gives the whole work--the whole series--a linear quality, depriving it of geography or a sense that things are happening without Brak's presence. It is all sort of dreamlike, especially when Jakes dips into the outré to construct menaces or situations. These stories are not very grounded, and it's a unique pleasure to see what weird thing he trots out.
The fish with fangs, for instance. Called in the story the 'fangfish'. A hard name to remember, I'll grant.
(These are, namely: that Brak is headed to Khurdisan with no real justification yet gives up much to continue; that Jakes plays with the order of narration to start in medias res and immediately flashes back to fill in the story; that Brak is frequently an observer or passive element in his own story; that he wears a must-be-disgusting lion pelt despite coming from the tundra and therefore unable to meet a lion in its natural habitat. I would also take issue with his making more educated observations than everyone around him, but, hey, why should I judge a man based on his lionskin tighty-whities?)
Brak's adventures are packed together, in contrast to the scattered events of Conan's life. Each story is presented in reference to the one previous, and this gives the whole work--the whole series--a linear quality, depriving it of geography or a sense that things are happening without Brak's presence. It is all sort of dreamlike, especially when Jakes dips into the outré to construct menaces or situations. These stories are not very grounded, and it's a unique pleasure to see what weird thing he trots out.
The fish with fangs, for instance. Called in the story the 'fangfish'. A hard name to remember, I'll grant.
April 14, 2016
The stuff of pulpy fantasy legend.
June 10, 2011
The Story...
Brak is a barbarian in the tradition of Robert E. Howard's Conan. He is a simple man who was exiled from his northern and slightly more savage homeland. Ever since hearing of Khurdisan the Golden, Brak has been wanting to see that place with his own eyes. This is what drives him south to warmer and more exotic lands.
Brak's life is one of endless adventure!
My Judgement...
As you can probably tell, this book is pretty straightforward. Brak owns a broadsword that is more often than not, what saves the hide on his back. He must be a favored of the Goddess of Unluck, because Brak seems to attract danger like a cow's dung attracts flies. He is not discouraged, however, but face the dangers that is presented to him. He fights stranger Darter boys, mad cultists, evil conjurers and strange creatures of the ancient lands.
Brak the Barbarian is a classic Sword & Sorcery tale with everything that you could and should expect. Its language is flamboyant and slightly over the top, but also quite accessible and easy to read. There is much to like here, but only if you like the genre, I guess. I will probably forget most of the book, but there are certain moments that I wont let go any time soon... moments that will feed my imagination... at least for a little while.
Brak is a barbarian in the tradition of Robert E. Howard's Conan. He is a simple man who was exiled from his northern and slightly more savage homeland. Ever since hearing of Khurdisan the Golden, Brak has been wanting to see that place with his own eyes. This is what drives him south to warmer and more exotic lands.
Brak's life is one of endless adventure!
My Judgement...
As you can probably tell, this book is pretty straightforward. Brak owns a broadsword that is more often than not, what saves the hide on his back. He must be a favored of the Goddess of Unluck, because Brak seems to attract danger like a cow's dung attracts flies. He is not discouraged, however, but face the dangers that is presented to him. He fights stranger Darter boys, mad cultists, evil conjurers and strange creatures of the ancient lands.
Brak the Barbarian is a classic Sword & Sorcery tale with everything that you could and should expect. Its language is flamboyant and slightly over the top, but also quite accessible and easy to read. There is much to like here, but only if you like the genre, I guess. I will probably forget most of the book, but there are certain moments that I wont let go any time soon... moments that will feed my imagination... at least for a little while.
December 4, 2023
In a far distant land similar to the world of Conan, a fierce barbarian is on a quest South. He is mysteriously drawn to a city far South with promises of gold. Along his way he must fight evil in many forms, past grisly battle scenes, and defeat sword wielding soldiers, out of control rivers, ghosts and more. Possibly save Queens, some who are not evil.
Told with all the great descriptive passion of Robert E. Howard, this loose connecting collection of tales is by John Jakes. Later best known for his North and South, soap opera like US Civil War stories. Some of which were very popular TV mini series of the 80s-90s.
This is the first Brak the Barbarian book of 4.
Recommended for fans of sword and sorcery adventures. I’d give this 5 stars but parts of the story was very predictable, though in James Jakes defense these were written in the 1970s so maybe not as predictable then?
Told with all the great descriptive passion of Robert E. Howard, this loose connecting collection of tales is by John Jakes. Later best known for his North and South, soap opera like US Civil War stories. Some of which were very popular TV mini series of the 80s-90s.
This is the first Brak the Barbarian book of 4.
Recommended for fans of sword and sorcery adventures. I’d give this 5 stars but parts of the story was very predictable, though in James Jakes defense these were written in the 1970s so maybe not as predictable then?
October 23, 2011
There may have been better Conan ripoffs during the Frazetta inspired Robert E. Howard Sword and Sorcery boom of the late 60's and 70's, but the Brak the Barbarian series was my favorite.
The Brak series lacks the visceral edge and fierce originality of Robert E. Howard's Conan stories. But John Jakes could always be counted on to craft a well structured, seductively readable adventure with colorful action. I also read some his Kent Family Chronicles historical soap opera novels and few of his old science fiction pulps, Timgate was one if memory serves.
Check out the killer cover painting by the legendary master Frank Frazetta.
The Brak series lacks the visceral edge and fierce originality of Robert E. Howard's Conan stories. But John Jakes could always be counted on to craft a well structured, seductively readable adventure with colorful action. I also read some his Kent Family Chronicles historical soap opera novels and few of his old science fiction pulps, Timgate was one if memory serves.
Check out the killer cover painting by the legendary master Frank Frazetta.
May 12, 2016
I first discovered Brak (and Jakes, little knowing he was famous) via the entry in L. Sprague de Camp's "The Fantastic Swordsmen" collection. It was a clear-cut Conan-clone and it was well worth reading, so naturally I snatched up this all-Brak book when I found it at the paperback exchange.
It's sort of a novel and it's sort of a collection of stories, but what matters more is that Brak is an awesome barbarian dude is on a personal quest to reach a near-magical city and that he's got an evil pissed off wizard after him. It's episodic and John Jakes freely admits that he knocked off Robert E. Howard (which is a good idea most of the time), but it's good stuff just the same.
It's sort of a novel and it's sort of a collection of stories, but what matters more is that Brak is an awesome barbarian dude is on a personal quest to reach a near-magical city and that he's got an evil pissed off wizard after him. It's episodic and John Jakes freely admits that he knocked off Robert E. Howard (which is a good idea most of the time), but it's good stuff just the same.
November 2, 2017
A satisfying read but it is really showing its age now. Or maybe I've been influenced by reading more up to date Sword and Sorcey tales. I've just finished a couple of John Thanes brand new Sword and Sorcery stories and they really hit the mark. Shadow of the Barbarian: A Legend Will Rise
July 25, 2008
This is the first book that John Jakes wrote about "Brak the Barbarian." It's a full length novel and I have a fond spot in my heart for it. It's clearly a Conan type story but I didn't mind that. The writing is more sparse and not as poetical as Robert E. Howard's work in Heroic Fantasy, but Jakes tells a good story that's worth reading.
July 18, 2017
John Jakes, of course, is well known today for his popular historical fiction sagas such as the Kent Family Chronicles (Bicentennial series), the Crown Saga, and the North and South trilogy. But before he turned to that genre he was a pretty successful science fiction and fantasy author. As a great fan of Robert E. Howard, Jakes began writing his first Brak the Barbarian story in the 1960s, a Conan pastiche and homage to Howard.
Apparently it was fun to write so he continued on to write quite a few more. This volume contains five stories that cover a time when Brak journeyed from his birth place in the northern steppes towards the warm, rich lands of Khurdisan in the South. But by the end of this volume, he still hadn't reached his goal and I have to wonder if he ever does make it. I'll need to read the rest of the volumes to find out. Regardless, this journey gives a great excuse for Brak and his broadsword to get mixed up in one wild and weird adventure after another. The stories here really do stand alone and only occasionally mention a character or location from a previous story. I believe I’ve read all of the available Conan stories by Howard and these stories are certainly written in the same vein, using a similar story-telling style. Pure sword and sorcery adventure and fun to read.
Apparently it was fun to write so he continued on to write quite a few more. This volume contains five stories that cover a time when Brak journeyed from his birth place in the northern steppes towards the warm, rich lands of Khurdisan in the South. But by the end of this volume, he still hadn't reached his goal and I have to wonder if he ever does make it. I'll need to read the rest of the volumes to find out. Regardless, this journey gives a great excuse for Brak and his broadsword to get mixed up in one wild and weird adventure after another. The stories here really do stand alone and only occasionally mention a character or location from a previous story. I believe I’ve read all of the available Conan stories by Howard and these stories are certainly written in the same vein, using a similar story-telling style. Pure sword and sorcery adventure and fun to read.
September 3, 2023
Do you like barbarians?
Do you like Conan?
Do you like an epic tale full of short adventures?
Brak the barbarian is an old-school sword and sorcery story. No woke in here.
In a tumult of violent adventures he sets out on his quest. It's fun, it's captivating and if you like heroic fantasy it's for you.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Make it a part of your reading list.
Do you like Conan?
Do you like an epic tale full of short adventures?
Brak the barbarian is an old-school sword and sorcery story. No woke in here.
In a tumult of violent adventures he sets out on his quest. It's fun, it's captivating and if you like heroic fantasy it's for you.
I enjoyed it a lot.
Make it a part of your reading list.
March 27, 2023
I enjoyed this way more than I should have. It's brawling and fun and weird.
June 6, 2025
I had hopes for this book, but was definitely disappointed lol. There was so much potential for Brak, and then everything just becomes lame? I feel like Brak is more of a basic adventurer, rather than a Barbarian. Maybe you’ll agree, maybe not. Read the book and you’ll see.
January 12, 2020
It's no Conan. However if you can tolerate some clunky exposition and the occasional plot hole there is some fun to be had here. There is hardly an episode in Brak's adventures that goes by without either 1) the appearance of a unique beastie that would give Lovecraft's creations nightmares or 2) flashy supernatural shenanigans or 3) both. If you've seen Luigi Cozzi's 80s Hercules films with their garish but fun special effects you'll have a good idea of what to expect.
June 24, 2008
Dear god, what a hackneyed, awful series this is.
Even my junior high school self, which was mindless eating machine dedicated to consuming every book in its path, almost stalled out in the middle of this one.
I lost count of the times Brak, faced with some eldrich horror or wizened sorcerer, "bit his lip until it bled".
It was his default reaction to any unexpected events- I patiently waited for him to spill his flagon of mead, or trip on his scabbars and "bite his lip until it bled", but no such luck.
It's hard to jack up something as simple as heroic fantasy so badly a desperate teenage boy can barely plow through it, but Jakes managed the task with aplomb.
Even my junior high school self, which was mindless eating machine dedicated to consuming every book in its path, almost stalled out in the middle of this one.
I lost count of the times Brak, faced with some eldrich horror or wizened sorcerer, "bit his lip until it bled".
It was his default reaction to any unexpected events- I patiently waited for him to spill his flagon of mead, or trip on his scabbars and "bite his lip until it bled", but no such luck.
It's hard to jack up something as simple as heroic fantasy so badly a desperate teenage boy can barely plow through it, but Jakes managed the task with aplomb.
March 20, 2022
I started reading this back in January and I've finally finished the third story a few nights ago. Because I'm bored. I appreciate the purpose of Brak. The intro talks about how Jakes wanted to see more of the stories he liked. An admirable goal as a writer. However, Brak is seriously lacking. His adventures have so much potential. I was intrigued by the villains in the first chapter but there was just not enough of them. The second chapter has a cool monster that shows up briefly at the end after hearing about it. The third story could've been more interesting. It had the elements but alas, the predictable twist and the ending fell a bit short. I don't even mind predictable twists but eh.
Brak himself is the most boring parts of Conan. It kind of feels like Jakes ignored the substance of what makes a good barbarian and just made Brak a towering slab of muscle capable of fighting well. He has no real wit to speak of. Conan was perhaps uneducated but he had wit, cunning, and savage ferocity in a fight. He's like 6'10", blonde, keeps his hair in a braid, and always wears a loincloth. He's a Frazetta painting more than a character. I wanted to like him but his "goal" of going to Khurdisan feels hollow because we never LEARN about the place other than it's warm and nice. He's got very little going for him.
I don't know. I feel like with some extra time and care, Brak could've been his own thing quite well. If Conan was basically a proto-Celt, with Cimmeria serving as some form of Ireland/Scotland, I feel like Brak could've been the Nordic version. I appreciated the Lovecraftian touches and a barbarian fighting such things is definitely my jam (those are my favorite Conan stories), but there just wasn't enough effort put into anything. Not enough to hook me and keep me wanting to read. Your mileage may vary but for me, this ended as a DNF.
Brak himself is the most boring parts of Conan. It kind of feels like Jakes ignored the substance of what makes a good barbarian and just made Brak a towering slab of muscle capable of fighting well. He has no real wit to speak of. Conan was perhaps uneducated but he had wit, cunning, and savage ferocity in a fight. He's like 6'10", blonde, keeps his hair in a braid, and always wears a loincloth. He's a Frazetta painting more than a character. I wanted to like him but his "goal" of going to Khurdisan feels hollow because we never LEARN about the place other than it's warm and nice. He's got very little going for him.
I don't know. I feel like with some extra time and care, Brak could've been his own thing quite well. If Conan was basically a proto-Celt, with Cimmeria serving as some form of Ireland/Scotland, I feel like Brak could've been the Nordic version. I appreciated the Lovecraftian touches and a barbarian fighting such things is definitely my jam (those are my favorite Conan stories), but there just wasn't enough effort put into anything. Not enough to hook me and keep me wanting to read. Your mileage may vary but for me, this ended as a DNF.
February 19, 2026
As good Conan pastiche as I imagine you're likely to find, these classic S&S stories show a lot of imagination and solid writing throughout and although Jakes never quite manages to nail on the atmosphere as Howard does, he comes quite close sometimes, choosing interesting settings and story beats that feel a little different, the last couple of stories here in particular managing to find interesting characterisations not delievered through the protoganist but via the antagonist instead and their tragic backstory that Brak stumbles upon. This is by no means straightfoorward adventure fiction (not that I would have complained if it had been)
April 10, 2019
These would read like a farce if Brak weren’t such a depressing oaf. He’s constantly tripping over, getting tangled in things, and of course, having his ass handed to him. At one point he is physically overpowered by an old man. He’s about as heroic as a mop. And even less fun.
September 2, 2019
Very much a poor man's Conan the Barbarian, but not terrible.
Read
March 7, 2025Thematically more fun than Conan and the ilk, but also not nearly as well written.
July 19, 2025
"Foul pit-things!" Brak shouted, raising his broadsword and charging forward to gut them.
December 9, 2015
For folks who like REH or Sword and Sorcery genre, this book is a worthy read. Jakes prose is much chunkier and coarse than REH or some others, but after a while it becomes serviceable and the stories clip along good enough. Jakes never promises these tales are anything but derivative fan-fiction, and, in this regard, he does not disappoint.
Within the tales, there’s a bit more cheese than REH, and readers should expect some simpler thrills. Even after I got used to the prose, I still would pause to make fun of a dreadful sentence here or there. Some of the themes repeat, and as some others have pointed out, Jakes seems fond of rehashing tropes like “Brak biting his lips till they bleed” (Consider this his signature move for rough going, much like Hawk from the movie “Over the Top”)
A few other notes that are funny:
It’s a bit higher fantasy, as there seem to be more supernatural aspects and magic than REH.
There seems to be no horses in the Brak-verse…only “ponies”. Yet, the poor ponies are akin to “red shirts” in the Star Trek tales…and they don’t live for long.
Unlike Conan, Brak is "lesser swordsman" in more ways than one. He’s got a somewhat more chivalrous code in that regard, and rarely “scores” with the female characters. It’s funny when you consider the more primal and atavistic morals of Howard’s stuff.
Interesting concepts of the female roles in these tales. Often, they are the primary or secondary antagonists and almost always (save for one of the last) evil or displaying extreme character flaws.
For what it’s worth I read this first book w/ the Mark of Demons (3rd book).
Overall, the quality improves nicely in these Brak volumes. I would recommend them, but I would also warn not to expect “socks to be blown off”.
Within the tales, there’s a bit more cheese than REH, and readers should expect some simpler thrills. Even after I got used to the prose, I still would pause to make fun of a dreadful sentence here or there. Some of the themes repeat, and as some others have pointed out, Jakes seems fond of rehashing tropes like “Brak biting his lips till they bleed” (Consider this his signature move for rough going, much like Hawk from the movie “Over the Top”)
A few other notes that are funny:
It’s a bit higher fantasy, as there seem to be more supernatural aspects and magic than REH.
There seems to be no horses in the Brak-verse…only “ponies”. Yet, the poor ponies are akin to “red shirts” in the Star Trek tales…and they don’t live for long.
Unlike Conan, Brak is "lesser swordsman" in more ways than one. He’s got a somewhat more chivalrous code in that regard, and rarely “scores” with the female characters. It’s funny when you consider the more primal and atavistic morals of Howard’s stuff.
Interesting concepts of the female roles in these tales. Often, they are the primary or secondary antagonists and almost always (save for one of the last) evil or displaying extreme character flaws.
For what it’s worth I read this first book w/ the Mark of Demons (3rd book).
Overall, the quality improves nicely in these Brak volumes. I would recommend them, but I would also warn not to expect “socks to be blown off”.
May 18, 2011
In the 1960s there was a new wave of interest in Sword and Sorcery, attributed to L. Sprague de Camp's editing and release of Robert E. Howard's Conan sagas. This opened the door for all sorts of new authors and characters from Michael Moorcock's Elric to John Jakes Brak the barbarian.
Jakes introduced his character Brak through short stories published in Fantastic and other pulps. "Brak the Barbarian" was his first novel based on the character, which is actually several interconnected short stories, some which had been previously published.
Brak the Barbarian is a fun, quick read, full of action, adventure, monsters, sorcerers, and comely lasses.
And really, fun and excitement were really what the whole Sword and Sorcery scene was about and this provides it. In fact, reading this made me nostalgic for that whole era and wish Jakes would return to fantasy and write one more Brak story.
Jakes introduced his character Brak through short stories published in Fantastic and other pulps. "Brak the Barbarian" was his first novel based on the character, which is actually several interconnected short stories, some which had been previously published.
Brak the Barbarian is a fun, quick read, full of action, adventure, monsters, sorcerers, and comely lasses.
And really, fun and excitement were really what the whole Sword and Sorcery scene was about and this provides it. In fact, reading this made me nostalgic for that whole era and wish Jakes would return to fantasy and write one more Brak story.
April 21, 2015
I was very curious about this when I saw it.. I've read some of Jakes' generational fiction, and a Conan clone is VERY far from that. Sadly, this is not just a Conan clone (which he admits even in his prologue), but a medicore one. Brak is like a more savage, less competent Conan.. he is constantly captured and abused. It's kinda interesting that he's wandering because he got kicked out of his country, but that's not a story that's in this book.
Overall, not as bad as, say, Lin Carter's stuff, but still at best a pale shadow of REH.
Overall, not as bad as, say, Lin Carter's stuff, but still at best a pale shadow of REH.
October 3, 2007
It's pretty cheeseball so far, but curiously addiction. I kept thinking to myself - "I could be watching TV right now," and instead, I kept reading the book. I guess that says something. Not sure what.
I read a good portion on the book, enough to get a good sense of it. I'll probably pick it up again down the road, and if fortune presents me with sequels i'll probably feel impelled to buy them, because that's the kind of guy I am. Otherwise, it just is what it is.
I read a good portion on the book, enough to get a good sense of it. I'll probably pick it up again down the road, and if fortune presents me with sequels i'll probably feel impelled to buy them, because that's the kind of guy I am. Otherwise, it just is what it is.
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