The Conan Chronicles: Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle (The Conan Chronicles, #1) in Robert E. Howard Readers

Nov 05, 2010 Stephen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kings-of-badassia, 1900-1929, sorcerous-swords, 1930-1953, pulpy, short-fiction, single-author-collections, fantasy

5.0 stars. I have not read all of the stories in this collection so this review is for the stories listed below. These are the first Conan stories I have ever read and I did not go into them with really high expectations (despite the great reviews), thinking they would be dated and kind of cheesy. However, given the significant influence Robert E. Howard, in general, and Conan, in particular, has had on the fantasy genre, I thought it was time I read at least a few for historical purposes.

With 5.0 stars. I have not read all of the stories in this collection so this review is for the stories listed below. These are the first Conan stories I have ever read and I did not go into them with really high expectations (despite the great reviews), thinking they would be dated and kind of cheesy. However, given the significant influence Robert E. Howard, in general, and Conan, in particular, has had on the fantasy genre, I thought it was time I read at least a few for historical purposes.

With the above in mind, I can honestly say I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THESE STORIES. They are inventive, combine great world-building with memorable characters and are a ton of fun. I plan to read them all (taking breaks to read other things so the stories do not run together). These stories below with the best works of the genre and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND them to anyone who, like me, thought they would not stand the test of time.

Specific stories read:

THE TOWER OF THE ELEPHANT (6.0 Stars): Often considered one of the "best" Conan stories given the unique insights into the Hyborian world of Conan and the unusual use of "science fiction" elements in the story. I loved it and thought it was suberb.

THE GOD IN THE BOWL (5.5 Stars): Not published in Howard's lifetime, this is a superb story (kind of a murder mystery) that creates great similarities between Conan's world and the world of H.P Lovecraft Cthulu mythos. It is that "connection" that I think makes the Conan "world building" so incredible.

THE FROST GIANT'S DAUGHTER: (4.5 stars) Argunably the earlist Conan story from a chronological standpoint. Expands on the Conan mythology by introducing Frost Giant's of the North and their leader, the God Ymir.

QUEEN OF THE BLACK COAST (read May 20, 2010) (4.5 stars): Conan takes to the seas as a pirate alongside "Belit" the Queen of the Black Coast. A great story and one in which Conan has a true love interest.

BLACK COLOSSUS (read May 20, 2010)(5.0 stars): Conan battles the demon-wizard Thugra Khotan in another superb Conan story.

SHADOWS IN THE MOONLIGHT (AKA IRON SHADOWS OF THE MOON) (read July 7, 2010)(4.0 stars): Conan finds himself on a dark island surrounded by cursed soldiers made of iron.

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Aug 29, 2019 Graham rated it it was amazing

Shelves: anthology, fantasy, pulp

THE CONAN CHRONICLES: VOLUME 1 is the first of two extensive anthologies, edited by Stephen Jones, which bring together all of Howard's Conan stories, including his unfinished fragments. The collected stories are bookended by a great little map, an examination of Conan's world by the author himself, and an afterword by Jones which ably sets the scene.

THE TOWER OF THE ELEPHANT is a great way to start, giving Conan a strong villain to fight, an ally almost as interesting as the hero, and a solid s THE CONAN CHRONICLES: VOLUME 1 is the first of two extensive anthologies, edited by Stephen Jones, which bring together all of Howard's Conan stories, including his unfinished fragments. The collected stories are bookended by a great little map, an examination of Conan's world by the author himself, and an afterword by Jones which ably sets the scene.

THE TOWER OF THE ELEPHANT is a great way to start, giving Conan a strong villain to fight, an ally almost as interesting as the hero, and a solid setting in the form of the creepy old tower. A shame that THE HALL OF THE DEAD exists only as a synopsis, because it's highly promising and still worth reading through for fans. THE GOD IN THE BOWL is the author at his imaginative best, a locked room murder mystery with Conan cast as the detective solving the case. A wonderfully gruesome climax finishes things off nicely.

ROGUES IN THE HOUSE is similar to the last, with more thievery in a boobytrapped house and an interesting foe to battle. THE HAND OF NERGAL is a mere fragment but the image of Conan striding through a corpse-laden battlefield is a typically strong one. THE FROST-GIANT'S DAUGHTER is a slight story without much in the way of narrative structure, but the snowbound location is well described and there are some memorable bits. QUEEN OF THE BLACK COAST offers one of the strongest female characters in Conan's world, and the piratical adventure marks a refreshing change from what's come previously. The traditional climax offers all the gory action you could wish for.

THE VALE OF LOST WOMEN is perhaps the most blatantly racist of all the Conan stories, as our hero intrudes upon a black tribe and openly slaughters of them. It's straightforward and to the point. THE SNOUT IN THE DARK is another mere fragment, but the titular apparition is well-described, reminding me of one of the Carnacki adventures. BLACK COLOSSUS shifts the action to the desert; there's no horror in this one but plenty of solid action to see it through, even if it is a lesser piece. SHADOWS IN THE MOONLIGHT shifts to a creepy jungle island with some good foes for our hero to battle, and is packed full of the appropriate creepy atmosphere.

A WITCH SHALL BE BORN is a change of pace, more about plot than action for a change. There's an epic feel in the story of a regal usurper and a desert tribe uprising. Different and fresh are the keywords I'd choose. SHADOWS IN ZAMBOULA is pure pulp action/horror with all of the ingredients you could hope for, and perhaps the ultimate damsel-in-distress story; there are even some cannibals added to the mix. Great fun, and the same can be said for THE DEVIL IN IRON, with yet another creepy jungle island inhabited by metal-men bent on death and destruction. Nothing to dislike about this one.

THE PEOPLE OF THE BLACK CIRCLE is the longest Conan story in the collection, a novella exploring mountaintop wizardry and political intrigue, with a setting seemingly inspired by Afghanistan. The gory magical action is deftly described here, and the pacing never slows down for a second over the 80-odd pages. THE SLITHERING SHADOW goes back to the desert for a creepy abandoned kingdom and some nefarious baddies for our hero to tackle, while DRUMS OF TOMBALKU is unfortunately another fragment. I say unfortunately because it's a real cracker, with a different protagonist for once – the great Amalric – and plenty of interest going on. The final story in the collection is THE POOL OF THE BLACK ONE, which goes back to the pirate and island setting and closes off with the usual sinister foes and action spectacle. ...more

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