Conan
The Barbarian
Michael A. Stackpole
Based on a screenplay by Thomas Dean Donnelly & Joshua Oppenheimer and Sean Hood

Berkley Boulevard Books
July 2011 / ISBN 978-0-425-24206-3
Fantasy/Sword and Sorcery
Amazon

Reviewed by P.L. Blair

It's been a long time since I've read sword and sorcery, but if Michael
Stackpole's version of Conan is an example of the genre today, I'll be reading more.

True, at its heart the book is based on a movie screenwriters' version of Robert E. Howard's archetype hero, but I suspect Stackpole brought a lot of himself to the table in creating the Conan you'll meet inside his novel.

It's a well-crafted tale, following young Conan through his youth among the Cimmerians as he seeks to prove himself worthy of his destiny; through his survival as his father and the rest of his village is slaughtered by a man who wants to become a god; through his adventures until he finally faces that man …

And proves himself, as he is destined to be, not merely a Cimmerian, but … The Cimmerian.

Stackpole does the tale justice. His version of Conan is as smart, clever, strong and brave as Howard first conceived the barbarian hero. Conan is also still the thief, pirate and thoroughgoing barbarian that Howard envisioned.

But Conan – and all the other characters – are also solid, three-dimensional people. Conan has his faults. He isn't invulnerable.

The witch Marique, daughter of Khalar Zym, the man who wants to be a god, for all her evil behavior still craves that which any child wants – her parent's love.

Stackpole's writing style puts the reader solidly in the center of Conan's world. There's a richness of detail – not too much detail, and not slapped down in front of the reader in unappealing chunks but delivered skillfully, interwoven with the action of his plot.

You never feel overwhelmed by details, but you're also never left with a feeling that you don't know enough.

Conan is a fine book for young adults – but it's equally suitable for adults of all ages. It's a terrific read, and if you've never met Conan the Barbarian or the sword and sorcery subgenre of fantasy, it's a great introduction.

Reviewer's Note: Exciting, well-written, suitable for young adults