 Cover of first edition | |
| Author | Robert E. Howard,L. Sprague de Camp andLin Carter |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Frank Frazetta |
| Language | English |
| Series | Conan the Barbarian |
| Genre | Sword and sorceryFantasyshort stories |
| Publisher | Lancer Books |
Publication date | 1967 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 221 pp |
Conan is a 1967 collection of sevenfantasy short stories and associated pieces written byRobert E. Howard,L. Sprague de Camp andLin Carter featuring Howard's seminalsword and sorcery heroConan the Barbarian. Most of the stories were originally published in variouspulp magazines. The book was first published in paperback byLancer Books in 1967, and was reprinted in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 (twice) and 1973.[1][2] After the bankruptcy of Lancer, publication was taken over byAce Books.[1] Its first edition appeared in May 1977, and was reprinted in 1979, 1982 (twice), 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1990. The first British edition was issued bySphere Books in 1974, and was reprinted in 1977.[1][2] The book has also been translated into German, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian,Swedish andDutch.[1] It was gathered together withConan of Cimmeria andConan the Freebooter into the omnibus collectionThe Conan Chronicles (Sphere Books, August 1989).[2]
The book has been reviewed by:[2]
After a letter reflecting on Conan's life written by Howard toP. Schuyler Miller andJohn D. Clark, both fans of Howard's work, is an essay on the invented prehistory in which the hero's adventures are set tracing its development up to Conan's own time. The stories gathered in this collection then follow theCimmerian from his escape from slavery in Hyperborea through his days as a youthful thief in Zamora, Corinthia, and Nemedia, to the beginning of his employment as amercenary for King Yildiz of Turan. To Conan's discomfiture, the supernatural is his constant companion.
Chronologically, the seven short stories collected asConan are the earliest inLancer's Conan series. The stories collected asConan of Cimmeria follow.
| Preceded by none | Lancer/Ace Conan series (chronological order) | Succeeded by |