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The Heroic Legends Series
Conan: Black Starlight
Capturing the electric short fiction energy that led Robert E. Howard to be one of the top fantasy writers of the century, with exclusive serialized eBook stories starring Conan, Solomon Kane, and more by many of today's top writers in fantasy and sword-and-sorcery.
Seeking to avoid the Stygian border guard and cross the River Styx, Conan, the sorceress Zelandra, her scribe Neesa, and bodyguard Heng Shih discover a town that seems to be deserted. To preserve his own life, the town's lord had bargained with a demon that still lurks there. It wants Zelandra's cache of Emerald Lotus and will kill anyone who tries to stop it. Conan and his allies must defeat the demon and its minions—human and inhuman—in order to survive. Originally published as a twelve-part serial in Marvel'sConan the Barbarian comic book (2019-2020), this is a direct sequel to CONAN AND THE EMERALD LOTUS, re-released this month in the new volume CONAN IN THE CITY OF THE DEAD.
Seeking to avoid the Stygian border guard and cross the River Styx, Conan, the sorceress Zelandra, her scribe Neesa, and bodyguard Heng Shih discover a town that seems to be deserted. To preserve his own life, the town's lord had bargained with a demon that still lurks there. It wants Zelandra's cache of Emerald Lotus and will kill anyone who tries to stop it. Conan and his allies must defeat the demon and its minions—human and inhuman—in order to survive. Originally published as a twelve-part serial in Marvel'sConan the Barbarian comic book (2019-2020), this is a direct sequel to CONAN AND THE EMERALD LOTUS, re-released this month in the new volume CONAN IN THE CITY OF THE DEAD.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2023
43 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 21, 2023
Equal parts thrilling and chilling, which for me is what Conan is all about. The Conan characterization is spot on and there's a great cast of supporting heroes, especially the sorceress Zelandra, as well as some truly gripping cosmic horror in the form of an intergalactic alien "leech". Hocking nailed this one, and while it would have been amazing if developed as a full length novel, he deftly managed to craft a very well balanced and compelling novelette.
October 18, 2023
Excellent short Conan story. This takes place after The Emerald Lotus. Hocking has a firm grasp of Sword and Sorcery. Plenty of action, Conan acts like himself, a pretty dark tale. Highly recommend.
October 18, 2023
Stupendously Satisfactory!
This is the best Conan story I've read in a bit! The indomitable barbarian warrior is all here, Howard's character fully reimagined by Hocking. Brawn, blade, battle, bravado, beautifully delivered! Danger, deadly and dark, lurks and threatens throughout. This is a gem of a story I am very glad was rereleased and it really has me eager for Hocking's duo books title in 2024.
This is the best Conan story I've read in a bit! The indomitable barbarian warrior is all here, Howard's character fully reimagined by Hocking. Brawn, blade, battle, bravado, beautifully delivered! Danger, deadly and dark, lurks and threatens throughout. This is a gem of a story I am very glad was rereleased and it really has me eager for Hocking's duo books title in 2024.
June 28, 2025
This short story which is currently an ebook exclusive proved to be another winner from John C. Hocking. Earlier this year I finished reading Hocking's novel, Conan and the Emerald Lotus, a five star Conan story in my opinion. This short story is set after the events of that novel. The story is cleverly done so that the reader can read and enjoy the short story without absolute need of reading the prior written novel. However, there's those little subtle things that readers like me who have read the novel first will find rewarding. I stress that it isn't an absolute must. In this story, I found the spirit of Robert E.Howard's character and even the environment and setting to be very well done. I have Hocking's novel, Conan and the Living Plague, still to read. Based on my experience with Hocking's two Conan stories that I've read, there's plenty for me to look forward too. I highly recommend this short story.
October 23, 2023
Well, that was a distinct step up from the last Conan short I read (Lord of the Mound). Of course I expected nothing less than excellent from the pen of Mr. Hocking, who has written some pretty dang good S&S in the past, including the fantastic (but rather rare) Conan and the Emerald Lotus, of which this novella is a direct sequel. Conan and his companions from Emerald Lotus are making their way back to Shem from Stygia when they end up facing a demonic threat in an ancient manor that is revealed to them in the Black Starlight of the title. I won't get too deep into details or spoilers, but expect a great pulpy vibe in the Weird Tales tradition, with great atmosphere and well written action sequences. Hocking does not write exactly like Howard, but he definitely captures the character of Conan and the Hyborian Age setting. Conan says and does things that one would expect him to do, and that's the most important thing that a pastiche writer must get correct. Can't wait for the follow-up novel Conan and the Living Plague to be released next year: it's rumoured to be even better than Emerald Lotus!
December 22, 2023
Best I've read so far of this pastiche series
Of the three entries I've sampled from the new Titan series, this one landed by far the strongest, in no small part for being significantly longer and making smart use of the extra breathing room.
The "Conan as the Barbarian member of a D an' D party" approach has no precedent in the original source material that I recall/to the best of my knowledge originated with the second movie, and ever since (be it in comics, 80s/90s novels, or the two short-lived TV shows) tends to come served under a thick layer of melted cheese. Hocking, however, makes it not only work but work well...particularly in the handling of a sympathetic sorceress whose dependence on the mystical properties of green lotus resonates like an analog depiction of someone struggling to overcome real life addiction. Of course it doesn't hurt how well the author captures Conan's "voice" (particularly in moments of sardonic devil-may-care humor), with a fine sense of where/when/how to bring on the over the top bloody mayhem, with even a few nicely done poetical prose flourishes that Howard might have been proud of.
Of the three entries I've sampled from the new Titan series, this one landed by far the strongest, in no small part for being significantly longer and making smart use of the extra breathing room.
The "Conan as the Barbarian member of a D an' D party" approach has no precedent in the original source material that I recall/to the best of my knowledge originated with the second movie, and ever since (be it in comics, 80s/90s novels, or the two short-lived TV shows) tends to come served under a thick layer of melted cheese. Hocking, however, makes it not only work but work well...particularly in the handling of a sympathetic sorceress whose dependence on the mystical properties of green lotus resonates like an analog depiction of someone struggling to overcome real life addiction. Of course it doesn't hurt how well the author captures Conan's "voice" (particularly in moments of sardonic devil-may-care humor), with a fine sense of where/when/how to bring on the over the top bloody mayhem, with even a few nicely done poetical prose flourishes that Howard might have been proud of.
October 30, 2023
great Conan adventure
I read this originally as individual chapters in the Marvel comics relaunch. I’m happy to see the story collected in a single volume and readily available as an ebook. Hopefully, these Titan shorts will be collected into an omnibus edition.
I read this originally as individual chapters in the Marvel comics relaunch. I’m happy to see the story collected in a single volume and readily available as an ebook. Hopefully, these Titan shorts will be collected into an omnibus edition.
October 22, 2023
John C. Hocking once again proves himself to be the premier author of contemporary sword and sorcery. This new Conan Novelette is one of the best written stories since the master Robert E. Howard penned the original tales. I was torn between wanting to devour the book in one reading and not wanting it to end.
The book was packed with bloody action and stunning out worldly sorcery. I recommend this to sword and sorcery and Conan fans to read and see how it is supposed to be done.
The book was packed with bloody action and stunning out worldly sorcery. I recommend this to sword and sorcery and Conan fans to read and see how it is supposed to be done.
October 19, 2023
Mr. Hocking's Conan pastiches is legendary and he has returned to show he still knows how to tell a Conan story.
The Heroic Legends Series is one of the coolest things to come out since The Fully Illustrated Robert E Library series from Del Rey books.
REH, Conan, and Sword & Sorcery fans; do all your sword brothers and yourself a favor and buy this eBook serials.
The Heroic Legends Series is one of the coolest things to come out since The Fully Illustrated Robert E Library series from Del Rey books.
REH, Conan, and Sword & Sorcery fans; do all your sword brothers and yourself a favor and buy this eBook serials.
March 14, 2025
A bit shorter than l prefer, but a good Conan story. Felt more like a novel version of a comic book
June 30, 2024
A vast improvement on Lord of the Mount. Thank the Gods.
The Hyborian Age feels like the Hyborian Age. Conan feels like Conan. The snozzberries taste like real snozzberries.
I know why Conan is here, and why he stays and fights the bad thing. The bad thing itself is interesting and cosmically horrific. Conan has some other characters to riff off of.
It feels a little wordy, if I pick the nits. I suspect it was written as the first part of the next book by John C. Hocking, this story picking up after Emerald Lotus. I'm very much looking forward to Scott Oden's foray as well and have utter faith that of all the writers working now, he will get it right.
One of the things I find odd, generally, about fantasy now, is how little people seem to know about swords and swordplay. Back in the day figuring out how older, specifically European, fighting styles worked, was difficult. We still know little about older styles of the bronze age and non-literate societies in general. But in recent decades there's been a ton of work done in HEMA, and oodles of good information is right there on the internet. We don't really need to fall back on fight scenes from the 30's these days. There's better options. Also third person omniscient viewpoint telling us about Conan's thews and how manly they are and such. Hits a little weird.
Re read seven months later: This really should be read after a re read of Emerald Lotus. These characters are not really introduced well in this short work, coming to it after the novel in which they appear makes it much better. Yet we still leave Conan hanging out with this DnD group with no idea how it ends up.
The Hyborian Age feels like the Hyborian Age. Conan feels like Conan. The snozzberries taste like real snozzberries.
I know why Conan is here, and why he stays and fights the bad thing. The bad thing itself is interesting and cosmically horrific. Conan has some other characters to riff off of.
It feels a little wordy, if I pick the nits. I suspect it was written as the first part of the next book by John C. Hocking, this story picking up after Emerald Lotus. I'm very much looking forward to Scott Oden's foray as well and have utter faith that of all the writers working now, he will get it right.
One of the things I find odd, generally, about fantasy now, is how little people seem to know about swords and swordplay. Back in the day figuring out how older, specifically European, fighting styles worked, was difficult. We still know little about older styles of the bronze age and non-literate societies in general. But in recent decades there's been a ton of work done in HEMA, and oodles of good information is right there on the internet. We don't really need to fall back on fight scenes from the 30's these days. There's better options. Also third person omniscient viewpoint telling us about Conan's thews and how manly they are and such. Hits a little weird.
Re read seven months later: This really should be read after a re read of Emerald Lotus. These characters are not really introduced well in this short work, coming to it after the novel in which they appear makes it much better. Yet we still leave Conan hanging out with this DnD group with no idea how it ends up.
July 9, 2024
This is undoubtedly one of the finest non-REH Conan tales that I have read. It's grim, fast-paced, rich in characters and their motives, with heady dosage of action. Conan is fabulously realised, and so are the other characters.
The tale practically compels one to go for the works immediately preceding and succeeding this short novella.
Highly recommended.
The tale practically compels one to go for the works immediately preceding and succeeding this short novella.
Highly recommended.
August 5, 2024
A superb Conan short story - as good as gets outside of Howard’s originals. Ties into the Emerald Lotus storyline Hocking wrote, but works as a standalone story of Conan battling a Lovecraftian nightmare.
Action, atmosphere, exotic location and unpleasant monsters. All you need really
Action, atmosphere, exotic location and unpleasant monsters. All you need really
November 28, 2023
A new Conan short, another to read, two more soon to be released, this Heroic Legends series is looking good! Check it out.
October 29, 2023
I am one of those people who read Conan via Del Rey edition, pure Howard, and it made me so voracious I had to have more Conan. Since the author didn't have any more Conan, I read Kull, then Solomon Kane, and so on which I am still piecemealing out to myself. Bran Mak Morn here we come!
Anyway, I had a peek online at which of the pastiches might be worth a flip through, and found most of them to be less than adequate or impossible to find. Robert Jordan is a great fantasy writer, so I appreciated his attempt at Conan, but it wasn't true to the character. Karl Edward Wagner does a fine Sword and Sorcery as we know through Kane, and does a good Conan, but the character isn't quite right. I loved the Stirling audiobook that just came out a bit ago, but mostly for the great narration and I found the style refreshingly different. But again, in my open mind I can enjoy and even love these things, but it isn't the same
Now enters John C Hocking. He's had a foot in the door since Emerald Lotus and heaven knows how anyone got ahold of that in the last year. I will wait for the reprint combo. I hear he and Scott Oden have got the best Howardian prose this side of the hyborian age, and I never got the chance to test the theory. Both author's stories I believe featured in snippets at the end of some Conan comics, which I also haven't read because I'm working my way through both Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan (heck, and Dark Horse) all at once, and haven't caught up yet.
Scott Oden has proven himself through his Grimnir trilogy. Go read it.
And finally, Hocking. He is a fellow Conan lover, who merely wanted more. Don't we all? But instead of trying to make the character his own (Conan is not characteristic of allowing authors to change him willy nilly), Hocking just wants a good piece of hyborian fun, and his appreciation shows in his work (as Zub does in the new comic, unrelated, but check it out). Now, I would have to say my biggest praise to mister Hocking is something he actually has in common with Howard. It may not be identical, sure, but his prose is heart pounding, breakneck brisk, slick as an arrow, subtle as a thief, sharp as an axe. It feels fast in its telling, not just in the pace of the story. One of my favorite things about Howard, who is my favorite author of all time, is his ability to infuse action and pacing into his prose while also telling a meaningful, brief, powerful tale, supercharged with fire and steel and thunder. It was the closest thing to heavy metal music for its time and it didn't even produce a sound. Hocking captures this, and holds it like lightning in a bottle. Again, not identical, but in his own unique way it has similar enough flavors and energy that it spills forward pleasingly. I can read it at ten times normal speed and still understand and enjoy what I'm reading without something bogging down the writing to slow to a crawl. This style of prose is also a good fit for Conan as a character, as someone can put his own words in his mouth like a puppet but if he isn't brought to life with the same verve and vim, then he isn't Conan. This is why many fans will enjoy a story for any number of reasons but others will despise it because Conan isn't in character. I sympathize with both sides. I enjoy fun stories, especially sword and sorcery, but struggle when Conan is only himself in name.
So to those who don't know, this story supposedly takes place between two of Hocking's Conan novels. I can't wait to read them, if this short story is ANY indicator as to the quality of his writing, I will be there for this event. And please find a way to get Bradford Hastings to continue with the audiobook versions of Conan!
Great work John!
Anyway, I had a peek online at which of the pastiches might be worth a flip through, and found most of them to be less than adequate or impossible to find. Robert Jordan is a great fantasy writer, so I appreciated his attempt at Conan, but it wasn't true to the character. Karl Edward Wagner does a fine Sword and Sorcery as we know through Kane, and does a good Conan, but the character isn't quite right. I loved the Stirling audiobook that just came out a bit ago, but mostly for the great narration and I found the style refreshingly different. But again, in my open mind I can enjoy and even love these things, but it isn't the same
Now enters John C Hocking. He's had a foot in the door since Emerald Lotus and heaven knows how anyone got ahold of that in the last year. I will wait for the reprint combo. I hear he and Scott Oden have got the best Howardian prose this side of the hyborian age, and I never got the chance to test the theory. Both author's stories I believe featured in snippets at the end of some Conan comics, which I also haven't read because I'm working my way through both Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan (heck, and Dark Horse) all at once, and haven't caught up yet.
Scott Oden has proven himself through his Grimnir trilogy. Go read it.
And finally, Hocking. He is a fellow Conan lover, who merely wanted more. Don't we all? But instead of trying to make the character his own (Conan is not characteristic of allowing authors to change him willy nilly), Hocking just wants a good piece of hyborian fun, and his appreciation shows in his work (as Zub does in the new comic, unrelated, but check it out). Now, I would have to say my biggest praise to mister Hocking is something he actually has in common with Howard. It may not be identical, sure, but his prose is heart pounding, breakneck brisk, slick as an arrow, subtle as a thief, sharp as an axe. It feels fast in its telling, not just in the pace of the story. One of my favorite things about Howard, who is my favorite author of all time, is his ability to infuse action and pacing into his prose while also telling a meaningful, brief, powerful tale, supercharged with fire and steel and thunder. It was the closest thing to heavy metal music for its time and it didn't even produce a sound. Hocking captures this, and holds it like lightning in a bottle. Again, not identical, but in his own unique way it has similar enough flavors and energy that it spills forward pleasingly. I can read it at ten times normal speed and still understand and enjoy what I'm reading without something bogging down the writing to slow to a crawl. This style of prose is also a good fit for Conan as a character, as someone can put his own words in his mouth like a puppet but if he isn't brought to life with the same verve and vim, then he isn't Conan. This is why many fans will enjoy a story for any number of reasons but others will despise it because Conan isn't in character. I sympathize with both sides. I enjoy fun stories, especially sword and sorcery, but struggle when Conan is only himself in name.
So to those who don't know, this story supposedly takes place between two of Hocking's Conan novels. I can't wait to read them, if this short story is ANY indicator as to the quality of his writing, I will be there for this event. And please find a way to get Bradford Hastings to continue with the audiobook versions of Conan!
Great work John!
July 3, 2024
Highly and enthusiastically recommended for any reader of fantasy fiction...
This second entry in Titan Books’ Heroic Legends series, which chronicles new adventures of Robert E. Howard’s many fantasy characters, is to my mind the best of the excellent lot, at least thus far. Conan: Black Starlight is written by John C. Hawking, considered by many to be the finest living writer of fiction’s most famous barbarian.
I will describe in a moment the placement of this story in the Conan mythos, which is just a bit complicated, but must first offer, in the strongest possible terms, assurances that this story may be productively read on its own. It absolutely stands as a single, unified piece full of robust action, cosmic horror, and resolute courage in the face of impossible odds—all the hallmarks of the best sword and sorcery in general and of a Conan tale in particular.
But completists may be interested in knowing that the story serves as a “midquel” between Hockings’ two full-length Conan novels. Conan and the Emerald Lotus was first published in 1995 as part of Tor Books’ lengthy series of homage novels and is justly considered the best of that line. A long-delayed and much-anticipated sequel is Conan and the Living Plague. Both books have just been published by Titan Books in an omnibus edition, Conan: City of the Dead.
I again rush to say it is not necessary to read the two novels to read Black Starlight with delight. That said, treating this story as the middle course in a fantastic feast between the two novels to be found in the new omnibus would certainly provide a reward different in kind but not in degree of enjoyment. I did not read the three in sequential order, but I certainly plan to when I inevitably return to this wonderful tale, by this wonderful writer.
*crossposted to big river and my blog, swordandsorceryreviews.blogspot.com
This second entry in Titan Books’ Heroic Legends series, which chronicles new adventures of Robert E. Howard’s many fantasy characters, is to my mind the best of the excellent lot, at least thus far. Conan: Black Starlight is written by John C. Hawking, considered by many to be the finest living writer of fiction’s most famous barbarian.
I will describe in a moment the placement of this story in the Conan mythos, which is just a bit complicated, but must first offer, in the strongest possible terms, assurances that this story may be productively read on its own. It absolutely stands as a single, unified piece full of robust action, cosmic horror, and resolute courage in the face of impossible odds—all the hallmarks of the best sword and sorcery in general and of a Conan tale in particular.
But completists may be interested in knowing that the story serves as a “midquel” between Hockings’ two full-length Conan novels. Conan and the Emerald Lotus was first published in 1995 as part of Tor Books’ lengthy series of homage novels and is justly considered the best of that line. A long-delayed and much-anticipated sequel is Conan and the Living Plague. Both books have just been published by Titan Books in an omnibus edition, Conan: City of the Dead.
I again rush to say it is not necessary to read the two novels to read Black Starlight with delight. That said, treating this story as the middle course in a fantastic feast between the two novels to be found in the new omnibus would certainly provide a reward different in kind but not in degree of enjoyment. I did not read the three in sequential order, but I certainly plan to when I inevitably return to this wonderful tale, by this wonderful writer.
*crossposted to big river and my blog, swordandsorceryreviews.blogspot.com
May 25, 2024
Conan and Associates
Conan and three others, a witch, her protector, and a young woman being trained by the witch, find a ghost town along the river Styx, which just happens to have a demon and its minions. residing there. The main demon wants the witch for her emerald lotus and hence the adventure begins.
This story seems to be a continuation of another story from years ago. Recommended for those that enjoy reading Conan and/or short stories in the fantasy genre.
Conan and three others, a witch, her protector, and a young woman being trained by the witch, find a ghost town along the river Styx, which just happens to have a demon and its minions. residing there. The main demon wants the witch for her emerald lotus and hence the adventure begins.
This story seems to be a continuation of another story from years ago. Recommended for those that enjoy reading Conan and/or short stories in the fantasy genre.
July 4, 2025
Hocking perfectly captures the thrills, tone, and electric pacing of REH's original short stories.
August 25, 2025
Before diving into this series of e-books, which promises to capture the spirit of the original Conan tales, I'd read very little Robert E. Howard. I've since started reading the complete Conan stories, and I've found that this one really did nail it.
Firstly, props to Hocking for crafting Black Starlight to be entirely accessible to any reader despite being a direct sequel to his own Conan and the Emerald Lotus. He doesn't include an exposition dump, yet he is able to clue the reader in just enough to keep them from getting lost. What you have is an extremely accessible sword-and-sorcery tale that is riveting from start to finish.
In an effort to cross the River Styx undetected, Conan and friends end up in what seems to be a ghost town, but they are soon set upon by zombies and richly described demons that attempt to kill the travelers and steal the sorceress Zelandra's supply of Emerald Lotus, a powerful plant that fuels her magic and feeds an addiction.
I expected pure fantasy escapism, but the core motif of addiction lifted this short tale to unexpected heights. Zelandra attempts a balancing act of weaning herself from the drug—the past use of which might kill her regardless—while using it sparingly to escape demonic forces attempting to steal it for themselves. The drug places every character, including the antagonists, in danger, and you're left with the sense that the entirety of this terrifying world has been twisted through its exploitation. Perfectly paced, the plot gleefully rockets through well-written action and nightmarish tableaus. You'd be hard-pressed not to finish it in one sitting. Highly recommended.
Firstly, props to Hocking for crafting Black Starlight to be entirely accessible to any reader despite being a direct sequel to his own Conan and the Emerald Lotus. He doesn't include an exposition dump, yet he is able to clue the reader in just enough to keep them from getting lost. What you have is an extremely accessible sword-and-sorcery tale that is riveting from start to finish.
In an effort to cross the River Styx undetected, Conan and friends end up in what seems to be a ghost town, but they are soon set upon by zombies and richly described demons that attempt to kill the travelers and steal the sorceress Zelandra's supply of Emerald Lotus, a powerful plant that fuels her magic and feeds an addiction.
I expected pure fantasy escapism, but the core motif of addiction lifted this short tale to unexpected heights. Zelandra attempts a balancing act of weaning herself from the drug—the past use of which might kill her regardless—while using it sparingly to escape demonic forces attempting to steal it for themselves. The drug places every character, including the antagonists, in danger, and you're left with the sense that the entirety of this terrifying world has been twisted through its exploitation. Perfectly paced, the plot gleefully rockets through well-written action and nightmarish tableaus. You'd be hard-pressed not to finish it in one sitting. Highly recommended.
October 19, 2024
A true Conan tale.
Loved every moment of my time in this story. It was brilliant. Hocking truly knows and understands Howard’s creation. Please continue to write more Conan tales.
Loved every moment of my time in this story. It was brilliant. Hocking truly knows and understands Howard’s creation. Please continue to write more Conan tales.
October 21, 2024
Though a sword-and-sorcery foray, this tale is a bit of science fiction as well. There is no futuristic endeavors or alien technology but the forces at hand (as well as their incantations and engagements) are no less interstellar. Hocking wrote a pretty good tale, and his Conan is fairly decent for those who know his persona in Howard stories. Hocking doesn't have the same prose as Howard, but he has his own that enthralled me, and this one-night horror adventure was a good one.
Bèlit
Bone Whispers by Michael Stackpole 3/5
Shipwrecked by V. Castro 3/5
Bèlit & Conan
Terror from the Abyss by Henry Herz 3/5
Bran Mak Morn
Red Waves of Slaughter by Steven L. Shrewsbury 3/5
Conan
Black Starlight by John C. Hocking 5/5
The Child by Brian D. Anderson 4/5
Lethal Consignment by Shaun Hamill 3/5
Lord of the Mount by Stephen Graham Jones 4/5
Shadow of Vengeance by Scott Oden 4/5
El Borak
The Siege of Lamakan by James Lovegrove 4/5
Solomon Kane
Banquet of Souls by Steven Savile 4/5
The Hound of God by Jonathan Maberry 5/5
Bèlit
Bone Whispers by Michael Stackpole 3/5
Shipwrecked by V. Castro 3/5
Bèlit & Conan
Terror from the Abyss by Henry Herz 3/5
Bran Mak Morn
Red Waves of Slaughter by Steven L. Shrewsbury 3/5
Conan
Black Starlight by John C. Hocking 5/5
The Child by Brian D. Anderson 4/5
Lethal Consignment by Shaun Hamill 3/5
Lord of the Mount by Stephen Graham Jones 4/5
Shadow of Vengeance by Scott Oden 4/5
El Borak
The Siege of Lamakan by James Lovegrove 4/5
Solomon Kane
Banquet of Souls by Steven Savile 4/5
The Hound of God by Jonathan Maberry 5/5
October 3, 2024
Finally! This is a Conan story that feels like a Conan story, by Crom. At 92 pp it is a full-length novella, and the extra space makes all the difference in quality of story, while not bogging down with padding to be a full novel (as the recent Stirling prequel to RED NAILS does in places). The characters are spot on, CONAN is spot on, the villain is creepy as hell (and far more "Lovecraftian" than the attempt in TERROR from the ABYSS), and the pacing is perfect. Although we also have a sorceress is about as benign as one can get in Hyboria, she's hardly Glynda the Good and magic comes with a horrific price. If you have never read the EMERALD LOTUS, you don't need to, even though the action starts, oh, a day after that book and is far more a sequel than LIVING PLAGUE the other novel paired inside CITY OF THE DEAD, which is actually only very loosely connected.
Hocking doesn't try to write like Howard, choosing instead a clean, fast-paced prose that is modern and no frills, yet hits the marks of what pastiche should do--faithfully replicate the author's characters and world, not try and establish revisions to canon, while not being afraid to be adventurous with its storytelling.
Hocking doesn't try to write like Howard, choosing instead a clean, fast-paced prose that is modern and no frills, yet hits the marks of what pastiche should do--faithfully replicate the author's characters and world, not try and establish revisions to canon, while not being afraid to be adventurous with its storytelling.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews