The Conan series of books is one that has been seen in an enormous number of formats from comics to novels to short stories to movies starring Ahhhhnold.
What makes them so popular? They are fast-paced and suck you in. They are blunt, brutal, and its like the reading equivalent of getting punched in the face, it happens fast. It is very much one for someone that doesn’t want to have to pick through the politics of a George RR Martin book or keep track of what esoteric little hint of a thing someone said somewhere 150 pages ago.
According to the author it depicts Barbarism at its finest. And according to him barbarism is a natural state of mankind, it is civilization that is unnatural. Civilization is a whim of circumstance, and barbarism will always triumph.
While I don’t agree with that statement, it does come through in his writing. If you want to see civilization torn to pieces, this is a series of books for you.
I think there are 12 books in the original series, but like the more modern-day publications DragonLance there are many beyond the originals. I think there are 83 books in the series now. If you enjoy them, you certainly won’t run out anytime soon.
It is one for the fantasy lover out there. Even those who are not into Tolkein level fantasy may enjoy this series. The upside is they don’t tend to be very long, grab the first book in the series and see what you think for yourself!
I have a number of them that once belonged to my father that are from the old Ace Books printings. If you have time to read one you can probably do it across a single weekend. Great entertainment awaits!
