 Cover of first edition | |
| Author | L. Sprague de Camp andLin Carter |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Boris Vallejo |
| Language | English |
| Series | Conan the Barbarian |
| Genre | Sword and sorcery |
| Publisher | Ace Books |
Publication date | 1977 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 171 |
| ISBN | 0-441-11682-5 |
| OCLC | 3068744 |
Conan of Aquilonia is a collection of four linkedfantasy short stories by American writersL. Sprague de Camp andLin Carter featuringRobert E. Howard'ssword and sorcery heroConan the Barbarian. The stories were originally published inFantastic in August 1972, July 1973, July 1974, and February 1975. The collected stories were intended for book publication byLancer Books, but this edition never appeared due to Lancer's bankruptcy, and the first book edition was issued in paperback byAce Books in paperback in May 1977. It was reprinted by Ace in July 1981, April 1982, November 1982, August 1983, July 1984, 1986, June 1991, and April 1994. The first British edition was published bySphere Books in October 1978, and reprinted in July 1988.[1][2] The book has also been translated into French.[1]
In his late 50s, King Conan of Aquilonia engages in his final struggle with his arch-foe, the black magicianThoth-Amon of Stygia, servant of the evil godSet. First, Conan must journey into Hyperborea and rescue his kidnapped son, Prince Conn, from an unholy alliance between Thoth-Amon and the witch queen, Louhi. Next, Conan and Conn carry the struggle to their enemy's stronghold in Stygia itself at the head of an invading army, with the aid of a white druid named Diviatix. Pursuing their defeated foe southward, they confront him again, first in the kingdom of Zembabwei and, at last, near the very edge of the world, where Conan and Thoth-Amon face each other in a final astral duel.
Conan of Aquilonia depicts thecoming of age of Conan's son, Conn. In the beginning, Conn is still very much of a boy and is afraid of a heavybelting which he could expect from his father for disobedience. By the end, he's already a seasoned warrior, who took part in various kinds of battle, escaped from capture, avoided imminent death, saved his father's life, and has a crucial role in the final defeat of Conan's old enemy Thoth-Amon—making him ready to succeed as King Conan II (which he would seven years hence, inConan of the Isles).
CriticDon D'Ammassa writes "Although this is billed as a novel it is actually a series of four novelettes set during Conan's tenure as king of Aquilonia. ... These all felt lightweight, as though they were meant for younger readers."[3]
| Preceded by | Lancer/Ace Conan series (chronological order) | Succeeded by |