Misplaced Pages

Conan the Barbarian: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 23:05, 6 July 2006 edit201.210.179.132 (talk) →Influences← Previous edit Revision as of 23:06, 6 July 2006 edit undo201.210.179.132 (talk) →InfluencesNext edit →
Line 35: Line 35:
However much contemporary readers with leftist political sympathies may dislike it, a distinctly anti-modernist and Nietzschean Aryan racialism underlies much of Howard's ideology and literature: However much contemporary readers with leftist political sympathies may dislike it, a distinctly anti-modernist and Nietzschean Aryan racialism underlies much of Howard's ideology and literature:


The ancient empires fall, the dark-skinned peoples fade and even the demons of antiquity gasp their last, but over all stands the Aryan barbarian, white-skinned, cold-eyed, dominant, the supreme fighting man of the earth. (Wings In The Night)(Obviously the asshole who edited the last part isn't nothing but a fucking racist) The ancient empires fall, the dark-skinned peoples fade and even the demons of antiquity gasp their last, but over all stands the Aryan barbarian, white-skinned, cold-eyed, dominant, the supreme fighting man of the earth. (Wings In The Night)(Obviously the asshole who edited the last part is just a fucking racist)


In this context, Conan embodies Howard's anti-modernist concept of the embattled Nietzschean Aryan Overman, "supreme fighting man of the earth", overcomer of external and internal obstacles. In this context, Conan embodies Howard's anti-modernist concept of the embattled Nietzschean Aryan Overman, "supreme fighting man of the earth", overcomer of external and internal obstacles.

Revision as of 23:06, 6 July 2006

File:Conan9.gif
"Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet." -- Robert E. Howard, The Phoenix on the Sword, 1932.

Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian, from the name of his homeland, Cimmeria) is a fictional barbarian created by Robert E. Howard in a series of fantasy pulp stories published in Weird Tales in the 1930s.

Setting

The Conan stories take place on Earth, but in the mythical (created by Howard) "Hyborian Age," between the time of the sinking of Atlantis and the rise of the known ancient civilizations. According to Howard himself (in The Phoenix on the Sword): "...between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas..."

Characteristics

Conan is a Cimmerian (not to be confused with the historical Cimmerians), a barbarian of the far north; like Genghis Khan, he was born on a battlefield and is the son of a blacksmith. He grew up fast: by age fifteen he was already a respected warrior, participating in the destruction of the Aquilonian outpost of Venarium. After this he was struck by wanderlust and began the colorful and exciting adventures chronicled by Howard (and subsequently, after Howard's death, by others), encountering fabulous monsters, evil wizards, and beautiful wenches and princesses - he has travelled throughout the world and been a thief and outlaw, a mercenary and commander of a mercenary company, and a pirate. He begins building larger units of men, aiming for greater territorial ambitions, though his efforts are repeatedly thwarted - usually by the total massacre of his force except himself. But in his forties he finally succeeds, becoming king of Aquilonia, the most powerful kingdom of the age, having strangled the previous ruler on the steps of the throne. Although Conan's adventures often result in him performing heroic feats, his motive is more often than not his own survival, enrichment or rise to power and he thus displays many of the characteristics of an anti-hero.

Appearance

Conan has "sullen blue eyes," long black hair, stands at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and weighs over 90 kg (200 lb) though this is a later extrapolation and Howard never gives dimensions for either. In the tales no human is ever described as stronger than Conan, although several are mentioned as taller (such as the strangler Baal-pteor) or of larger bulk. Although Conan is muscular, Howard frequently compares his agility and way of moving to that of a panther (see for instance Jewels of Gwahlur, Beyond the Black River or Rogues in the House). His skin is frequently characterised as bronzed from constant exposure to the sun and his garb is most commonly a loincloth, sandals and a sword of some description, depending on his fortunes and location. In his younger years, he is often depicted wearing a light chain shirt and a horned helmet, though appearances vary with different artists.

During his reign as King of Aquilonia, Conan was "... a tall man, mightily shouldered and deep of chest, with a massive corded neck and heavily muscled limbs. He was clad in silk and velvet, with the royal lions of Aquilonia worked in gold upon his rich jupon, and the crown of Aquilonia shone on his square-cut black mane; but the great sword at his side seemed more natural to him than the regal accouterments. His brow was low and broad, his eyes a volcanic blue that smoldered as if with some inner fire. His dark, scarred, almost sinister face was that of a fighting-man, and his velvet garments could not conceal the hard, dangerous lines of his limbs." (The Hour of the Dragon which can be found in the anthology The Bloody Crown of Conan, pg. 89-90). He loses none of his vigour with age with the above description coming when he is in his mid 40's.

Though several later authors have referred to Conan as "Germanic-looking," Howard imagined the Cimmerians as a proto-Celtic people with mostly dark hair and blue or grey eyes. Racially the Cimmerians to which Conan belongs are descendants of the Atlanteans, though they do not remember their ancestry. In his pseudo-historical essay "The Hyborian age", Howard describes how the people of Atlantis (the land where his character King Kull originated) had to move east after a great cataclysm changed the face of the world and sank their island, settling where northern Scotland and Norway would eventually be located. In the same work, Howard also described how the Cimmerians eventually moved south and east after the age of Conan (presumably in the vicinity of the Black Sea, where the historical Cimmerians dwelt).

Abilities and characteristics

Despite his brutish appearance, Conan uses his brain as well as his brawn. The Cimmerian is a talented fighter, but due to his travels abroad, he also has vast experience in other trades, especially the thiefly one; he is also a talented commander, tactician and strategist, as well as a born leader. In addition, Conan speaks many languages, including advanced reading and writing abilities: in certain stories, he's able to recognize, or even decipher, certain ancient or secret signs and writings (like when he uses the sign of Jhebbal Sag in Beyond the Black River) (but noticeably, he apparently is never shown by Howard reading Stygian, though he can speak it), and his very first appearance (in The Phoenix on the Sword) shows him busy writing. Another noticeable trait is his sense of humour, largely absent in the comics and movies, but very much a part of Howard's original vision of the character, particularly apparent in Xuthal of the Dusk a.k.a. The Slithering Shadow. He is a loyal friend to those true to him with a barbaric code of honour and chivalry that often marks him as more civilized than those more sophisticated people he meets in his travels. Indeed his straighforward nature and barbarism are constants in all the tales.

One fact that is often emphasized is that Conan is very difficult to defeat in hand-to-hand combat. Conan needs only to have his back to the wall so that he cannot be surrounded, and then is capable of engaging and killing opponents by the score. This is seen in several stories, such as Queen of the Black Coast, The Scarlet Citadel and A Witch Shall be Born. Conan is not superhuman, though: he did need the providential help of Zelata's wolf to defeat four Nemedian soldiers in the story The Hour of the Dragon. Some of his hardest victories have come from fighting single opponents, but ones of inhuman strength: one such as Thak, the ape man from Rogues in the House, or the strangler Baal-Pteor in Shadows in Zamboula. Conan is far from untouchable and has been captured several times (knocking himself out running into a wall drunk after being betrayed, although he still slays the people initially sent to arrest him, a fall from a wounded horse) but never as a result of martial failings.

Influences

Howard corresponded with H. P. Lovecraft, and the two would sometimes insert references to elements of each others' settings in their works; the Conan stories thus could be said to have originally occurred in the Cthulhu Mythos universe. Modern editors have since reworked many of the original Conan stories, however, diluting this connection.

The Conan stories are informed by the popular interest of the time in ideas on evolution and social Darwinism. Are some peoples destined to rule over others? Are our physical and mental characteristics the result of our experiences or our inheritance from our ancestors? Is human civilization a natural or unnatural development? As Conan remarks in one story:

Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing. (Howard, The Tower of the Elephant, Weird Tales, March 1933)

However much contemporary readers with leftist political sympathies may dislike it, a distinctly anti-modernist and Nietzschean Aryan racialism underlies much of Howard's ideology and literature:

The ancient empires fall, the dark-skinned peoples fade and even the demons of antiquity gasp their last, but over all stands the Aryan barbarian, white-skinned, cold-eyed, dominant, the supreme fighting man of the earth. (Wings In The Night)(Obviously the asshole who edited the last part is just a fucking racist)

In this context, Conan embodies Howard's anti-modernist concept of the embattled Nietzschean Aryan Overman, "supreme fighting man of the earth", overcomer of external and internal obstacles.

Additionally, some fans such as comic book artist Mark Schultz have concluded that Conan was an idealized alter ego for Howard. Unlike the modern, stereotypical view of a brainless barbarian, Howard originally created Conan as a thoughtful but melancholic figure who often battled with depression, much like Howard himself (the writer eventually committed suicide). However, Howard's Conan is unaffected by such feelings:

Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is an illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and I am content. (Howard, Queen of the Black Coast, Weird Tales, May 1934).

The original Robert E. Howard Conan stories

File:Weird Tales QotBC.jpg
Cover of Weird Tales issue May 1934 featuring Conan and Bêlit from Queen of the Black Coast, one of Robert E. Howard's original Conan stories.

Conan stories published in Weird Tales

Conan stories by Howard not published in his lifetime

  • The Frost Giant's Daughter. Originally a Conan story, but after being rejected, Howard revised it. Retitled as The Gods of the North, the main character's name changed to "Amra of Akbitana." The original version has inter alia been published in 2003 in The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.
  • The God in the Bowl. Published inter alia in 2003 in The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.
  • The Vale of Lost Women. Published inter alia in 2003 in The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.
  • The Black Stranger. Rewritten by L. Sprague de Camp as The Treasure of Tranicos. Howard's version published in 1987 in Echoes of Valor.

Unfinished Conan stories by Howard

  • The Snout in the Dark. Fragment.
  • Drums of Tombalku. Fragment.
  • The Hall of the Dead. Synopsis only.
  • The Hand of Nergal. Fragment.
  • There also exist a number of untitled synopses of Conan stories.

Other Conan related material by Howard

  • Wolves Beyond the Border — a non-Conan story set in Conan's world. Fragment.
  • The Hyborian Age — an essay on the Hyborian Age, the fictional setting of the Conan stories. Published in 2003 in The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.
  • Cimmeria — a poem written by Howard in 1932. Published in 2003 in The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.

Textual history

Following Howard's death, the copyright of the Conan stories passed through several hands. Eventually, under the guidance of L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter, the stories were expurgated, revised, and (in some cases) completely rewritten. For about forty years, the original versions of Howard's Conan stories remained out of print. Only with the Berkley editions in 1977 was an attempt made to return to the earliest published (Weird Tales) form of the texts, but these failed to displace the then standard versions. In the 1980s and 1990s, the copyright holders let Howard's stories go out of print entirely, while continuing to sell pastiche works by other authors (see below).

Then, in 2000, Gollancz Science Fiction, a British publisher, issued a two-volume, complete edition of Howard's Conan stories as part of their Fantasy Masterworks imprint (including several stories which had never seen print in their original form). Gollancz' edition used the original versions of the stories as published in Weird Tales.

In 2003, a British publisher named Wandering Star made an effort to both restore Howard's original manuscripts and to provide a more scholarly and historical view of the Conan stories. They published deluxe hardcover editions in England, which are being republished in the USA by the Del Rey imprint of Ballantine Books. The first book, Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933) (2003; vt The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian 2003 US) includes Howard's notes on the fictional setting, as well as letters and poems concerning the genesis of his ideas. It also includes the first thirteen Conan short stories Howard wrote, published between 1932 and 1934. This volume has been followed by Conan of Cimmeria: Volume Two (1934) (2004; vt The Bloody Crown of Conan (2005 US) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume Three (1935-1936) (2005; vt The Conquering Sword of Conan 2005 US). Between the three books, readers will finally have all of the original unedited Robert E. Howard stories available for the first time.

Book editions

The character of Conan has proven durably popular, resulting in pastiche Conan stories being assembled by later writers such as Lin Carter, L. Sprague de Camp, Karl Edward Wagner, John Maddox Roberts, Andrew J. Offutt, J. Ramsey Campbell, Poul Anderson, Richard A. Lupoff, Björn Nyberg, Robert Jordan, Steve Perry, Leonard Carpenter, John C. Hocking, and Harry Turtledove. Some of these pastiches have finished incomplete Conan manuscripts by Howard (listed above). Others were created by rewriting Howard stories which originally featured entirely different characters from entirely different milieus. Most, however, are completely original works. In total, more than fifty pastiche novels and dozens of short stories featuring the Conan character have been written by authors other than Howard. The notable book editions of the Conan stories are:

The Gnome Press editions, 1950-1957

The Gnome Press edition of Conan was the first hardcover collection of Howard's Conan stories, and included the earliest pastiches.

  • Conan the Conqueror (AKA The Hour of the Dragon) (1950)
  • The Sword of Conan (1952)
  • King Conan (1953)
  • The Coming of Conan (1953)
  • Conan the Barbarian (1954)
  • Tales of Conan (1955) (originally non-Conan Howard stories rewritten as Conan stories by L. Sprague de Camp)
  • The Return of Conan (1957) (pastiche by Björn Nyberg and L. Sprague de Camp)

The Lancer/Ace paperback editions, 1966-1977

The cover of Conan the Usurper (1967) by Frank Frazetta (artist).

The first comprehensive paperback edition, which compiled the existing Howard stories and pastiches together with new pastiches in chronological order, to form a complete account of Conan's life. Lancer Books went out of business before bringing out the entire series, the publication of which was completed by Ace Books.

Undertaken under the direction of De Camp and Carter, this edition includes all the original Howard material, including that left unpublished in his lifetime and fragments and outlines. However, De Camp and Carter heavily edited much of the material, even seriously rewriting some stories (like "The Treasure of Tranicos") and completing the stories that were not in finished form. They also rewrote several non-Conan Howard stories, mostly historical exotica situated in the Levant at the time of the crusades, to turn them into Conan yarns. Pastiches written entirely by themselves were added as well. In the following list, volumes 6 and 10–12 don't contain a word by Howard. Of the thirty-five stories in the other eight volumes, nineteen were published or completed by Howard during his lifetime, but with an undetermined amount of new edits, ten are "collaborations" rewritten from other complete manuscripts or completed from his incomplete manuscripts, fragments or synopses, and six are the sole work of De Camp and Carter. Many purist Howard fans have taken exception to these editorial practices.

  1. Conan (1968) (by Robert E. Howard, L. Sprague de Camp, and Lin Carter)
  2. Conan of Cimmeria (1969) (by Robert E. Howard, L. Sprague de Camp, and Lin Carter)
  3. Conan the Freebooter (1968) (by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp)
  4. Conan the Wanderer (1968) (by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp)
  5. Conan the Adventurer (1966) (by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp)
  6. Conan the Buccaneer (1971) (by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter)
  7. Conan the Warrior (1967) (by Robert E. Howard)
  8. Conan the Usurper (1967) (by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp)
  9. Conan the Conqueror (AKA The Hour of the Dragon) (1967) (by Robert E. Howard)
  10. Conan the Avenger (AKA The Return of Conan) (1968) (by Bjorn Nyberg and L. Sprague de Camp)
  11. Conan of Aquilonia (1977) (by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter)
  12. Conan of the Isles (1968) (by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter)

The Donald M. Grant editions, 1974-1989

A series of illustrated limited editions of the Howard Conan stories only, containing one or two stories per volume. The series ran out of steam before publishing the last five of the stories and three of the fragments.

  • People of the Black Circle (1974)
  • The Tower of the Elephant (1975) (also includes The God in the Bowl)
  • A Witch Shall Be Born (1975)
  • Red Nails (1975)
  • The Devil in Iron (1976) (also includes Shadows in Zamboula)
  • Rogues in the House (1976) (also includes The Frost-Giant's Daughter)
  • Queen of the Black Coast (1978) (also includes The Vale of Lost Women)
  • Jewels of Gwahlur (1979) (also includes The Snout in the Dark fragment)
  • Black Colossus (1979) (also includes Shadows in the Moonlight)
  • Pool of the Black One (1986) (also includes Drums of Tombalku fragment)
  • The Hour of the Dragon (1989)

The Berkley editions, 1977

Edited by Karl Edward Wagner, this series, like the Grant edition, included only the Howard Conan stories.

The Bantam editions, 1978-1982

A series of pastiches continuing and supplementing the Lancer/Ace series.

  1. Conan the Swordsman (Aug. 1978) (by L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter, and Bjorn Nyberg)
  2. Conan the Liberator (Feb. 1979) (by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter)
  3. Conan: The Sword of Skelos (May 1979) (by Andrew J. Offutt)
  4. Conan: The Road of Kings (Oct. 1979) (by Karl Edward Wagner)
  5. Conan and the Spider God (Dec. 1980) (by L. Sprague de Camp)
  6. Conan the Rebel (Jul. 1980) (by Poul Anderson)
  7. Conan the Barbarian (May 1982) (adaptation by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter of the movie of the same title)

The Ace Maroto editions, 1978-1981

A series of new pastiches by Andrew J. Offutt and old Howard/de Camp collaborations, all illustrated by Esteban Maroto. The Offutt pastiches, in combination with his Conan: The Sword of Skelos from the Bantam series, form a linked trilogy.

  • Conan and the Sorceror (Oct. 1978) (by Andrew J. Offutt)
  • Conan: The Treasure of Tranicos (Jul. 1980) (by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp)
  • Conan the Mercenary (Jan. 1981) (by Andrew J. Offutt)
  • Conan: The Flame Knife (Jul. 1981) by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp)

The Tor editions, 1982-2004

A series of new pastiches by various hands. Tor has also lately reissued most of the previous pastiche editions not originally published by Tor.

  • Conan the Invincible (Jun. 1982) (by Robert Jordan)
  • Conan the Defender (Dec. 1982) (by Robert Jordan)
  • Conan the Unconquered (Apr. 1983) (by Robert Jordan)
  • Conan the Triumphant (Oct. 1983) (by Robert Jordan)
  • Conan the Magnificent (May 1984) (by Robert Jordan)
  • Conan the Destroyer (Jul. 1984) (adaptation by Robert Jordan of the movie of the same title)
  • Conan the Victorious (Nov. 1984) (by Robert Jordan)
  • Conan the Valorous (Sep. 1985) (by John M. Roberts)
  • Conan the Fearless (Feb. 1986) (by Steve Perry)
  • Conan the Renegade (Apr. 1986) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan the Raider (Oct. 1986) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan the Champion (Apr. 1987) (by John M. Roberts)
  • Conan the Defiant (Oct. 1987) (by Steve Perry)
  • Conan the Marauder (Jan. 1988) (by John M. Roberts)
  • Conan the Warlord (Mar. 1988) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan the Valiant (Oct. 1988) (by Roland Green)
  • Conan the Hero (Feb. 1989) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan the Bold (Apr. 1989) (by John M. Roberts)
  • Conan the Great (Apr. 1989) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan the Indomitable (Oct. 1989) (by Steve Perry)
  • Conan the Freelance (Feb. 1990) (by Steve Perry)
  • Conan the Formidable (Nov. 1990) (by Steve Perry)
  • Conan the Guardian (Jan. 1991) (by Roland Green)
  • Conan the Outcast (Apr. 1991) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan the Rogue (Nov. 1991) (by John M. Roberts)
  • Conan the Relentless (Apr. 1992) (by Roland Green)
  • Conan the Savage (Nov. 1992) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan of the Red Brotherhood (Feb. 1993) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan and the Gods of the Mountain (May 1993) (by Roland Green)
  • Conan and the Treasure of Python (Nov. 1993) (by John M. Roberts)
  • Conan the Hunter (Jan. 1994) (by Sean A. Moore) ISBN 0-812-53531-6
  • Conan, Scourge of the Bloody Coast (Apr. 1994) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan and the Manhunters (Oct. 1994) (by John M. Roberts)
  • Conan at the Demon's Gate (Nov. 1994) (by Roland Green)
  • Conan the Gladiator (Jan. 1995) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan and the Amazon (Apr. 1995) (by John M. Roberts)
  • Conan and the Mists of Doom (Aug. 1995) (by Roland Green)
  • Conan and the Emerald Lotus (Nov. 1995) (by John C. Hocking)
  • Conan and the Shaman's Curse (Jan. 1996) (by Sean A. Moore)
  • Conan, Lord of the Black River (Apr. 1996) (by Leonard Carpenter)
  • Conan and The Grim Grey God (Nov. 1996) (by Sean A. Moore)
  • Conan and the Death Lord of Thanza (Jan. 1997) (by Roland Green)
  • Conan of Venarium (Jul. 2004) (by Harry Turtledove)

The Gollancz editions, 2000-2001

A new edition of Howard's original stories purporting to feature all of Howard's Conan fiction in the two volumes, and to present only Howard's writings. Includes all the classic stories, apparently in their unrevised form (The Black Stranger is quite different from its De Camp cognate The Treasure of Tranicos); uncompleted or fragmentary tales have been left in that state.

  • The Conan Chronicles, 1 (Aug. 2000)
  • The Conan Chronicles, 2 (2001)

The Wandering Star/Del Rey editions, 2003-2005

Another new illustrated edition of Howard's original stories, published by Wandering Star in the United Kingdom and Del Rey in the United States.

  • Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933) (2003; vt The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian 2003 US)
  • Conan of Cimmeria: Volume Two (1934) (2004; vt The Bloody Crown of Conan (2005 US)
  • Conan of Cimmeria: Volume Three (1935-1936) (2005; vt The Conquering Sword of Conan 2005 US)

Other media

Movies

Conan movies

File:Conan the barbarian.jpg
Movie poster for Conan the Barbarian (1982).

For detailed information on the individual Conan movies, see Conan the Barbarian (film) and Conan the Destroyer.

The film Conan the Barbarian (1982) was written by the unlikely pairing of Oliver Stone and John Milius. The script, which has next to nothing in common with Howard's original, draws material from a number of stories. It tells the story of Conan rising up in slavery and finally taking revenge on the nefarious Thulsa Doom, the malevolent warlord who was responsible for the genocide of his parents and his people. Later, Thulsa Doom turns into a devious cult leader who runs an evil shamanist religion which worships a Snake God. The intrepid, vengeful Conan, the archer Subotai, and the ravishing thief Valeria set out on a quest to save a beautiful princess and negate the power-hungry megalomaniac. The film was directed by John Milius and produced by Dino DeLaurentis. The title role was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger and was his break-through as an actor.

A less popular sequel, Conan the Destroyer (1984), was also made, a more typical fantasy-genre film (again, not very true to Howard's stories).

The originator of the Conan movie project and its Associate Producer, Edward Summer had originally planned for there to be a series of Schwarzenegger Conan films much like the James Bond series. Summer outlined six stories for this film series, but none were ever made. Elements from the original screenplay by Summer and Roy Thomas were utilized, but their much more authentic screen story has never been filmed in total.

There are rumours of a third Conan movie, Conan: Crown of Iron, although with Arnold Schwarzenegger being Governor it seems he will be unable to reprise the role in the near future. Warner Bros has recently (March 30 2006) said as much although they state that as a franchise they are naturally interested in more releases.

On June 15, 2006, Warner Bros hired Boaz Yakin to write and possibly direct a new Conan the Barbarian film. Production will begin early 2007.

Other

Schwarzenegger also played a muscular sword-fighter (named "Kalidor" due to licensing issues) in the Howard-inspired Red Sonja (1985).

A fourth film was based on the (pre) Hyborian setting, Kull the Conqueror, starring Kevin Sorbo as Kull, an Atlantean (the ancestor race of Conan's own people, the Cimmerians) who, like Conan, advanced in rank in more civilized lands and became king by force, and now must contend with those who don't like his rule. In a reverse of Conan's beginnings, when Howard re-wrote a Kull story to become the first Conan story, the Kull movie draws a lot from The Hour of the Dragon.

An animated feature, Conan: Red Nails, based upon the novella of the same name is being made. Actor Ron Perlman will provide the voice of Conan.

TV series

File:Conan the Adventurer.JPG
Ralf Moeller as Conan.

Conan has appeared in a TV series (1997), played by the German bodybuilder Ralf Moeller.

This short-lived series, Conan the Adventurer, featured a more caring Conan, and involved much less blood and gore.

Cartoons

Two animated series from the early '90s feature a muscle-bound Conan character.

The first animated series, also called Conan the Adventurer (1992), involved Conan chasing the serpent-men across the world in an attempt to release his parents from eternal torture as living statues. It is a typical example of the action-adventure cartoon genre of the time. It should be noted that "Wrath-Amon" is possibly Thoth-Amon renamed and remodeled from the comics.

The fact is, Conan the Adventurer was loosely based from the novels. Instead of a Conan who is bloody, a womanizer, thief and so on, he's much more like He-Man: a kind and caring character, an honest fellow who went to fight against the sorcerer Wrath-Amon to free his parents (though they were killed in the original line).

The second animated series, Conan and the Young Warriors (1994), saw Conan as a mentor to three young adventurers, focusing mainly on the young characters.

Comics

Main article: Conan (comics)

Conan has appeared in comics nearly non-stop since 1970. These are arguably, apart from the books, the vehicle that has made the greatest influence on the character.

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics introduced a fairly faithful version of Conan in 1970 with Conan the Barbarian, written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith. He was succeeded after several issues by penciller John Buscema, while Thomas continued to write for many years. Later writers included J.M. DeMatteis, Bruce Jones, Michael Fleisher, Doug Moench, Jim Owsley, Alan Zelenetz, Chuck Dixon, and Don Kraar.

Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics began their take on Conan in 2003. Currently publishing the comic series Conan, written by Kurt Busiek and pencilled by Cary Nord. This series is a fresh interpretation, based solely on the works of Robert E. Howard, with no connection to the large Marvel run. Dark Horse Comics is also publishing digitally re-coloured compilations of the 1970s Marvel Comics Conan the Barbarian series in graphic-novel format.

Games

File:Aoc temp cover.jpg
Age of Conan, a MMORPG, will debut in December 2006.

Computer Games

Four commercial computer and video games were released based on the Conan mythos.

Collectible Card Games

Role-Playing Games

Play-by-email Games

Parody and other references

  • "Tusk" is a character from the video game Killer Instinct 2, produced by Nintendo and Rare. This character is almost identical to Arnold Schwarzenegger's version of Conan from Conan the Destroyer, wearing only a giant fur loincloth and having stage music that is extremely similar to the main titles of the second movie ("The Riders of Taramis"). His only differences include that he has blond hair and a giant snake tattoo around his chest.
  • Korgoth of Barbaria, an American animated television series, is officially described by the Cartoon Network as a parody of Conan the Barbarian.
  • Terry Pratchett has parodied him with the Discworld character "Cohen the Barbarian". (Later he revealed his first name: "Genghiz Cohen.")
  • Thrud the Barbarian is a British comic strip that is an obvious parody of Conan.
  • Ator was a character created by Italian director Joe d'Amato to capitalize on the popularity of the Conan movies. Four movies were made which featured the Ator character. One of these films (Cave Dwellers) was later featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. As a result, the film now enjoys modest success as a cult favorite.
  • Numerous "Conan the Librarian" parodies have cropped up, including sketches in "Weird Al" Yankovic's comedy film UHF and on the children's television series Reading Rainbow.
  • Additionally a short book, Colin the Librarian, parodies the genre as a whole — the Conan character replaced by "Krap the Conqueror" and "Colin", a socially disfunctional librarian from Earth.
  • Independent comic legend Dave Sim's Cerebus the Aardvark also began as a Conan parody, Sim modelling his early art style on that of Windsor-Smith. Sim further parodied the famous introductory lines "Know, o prince..." in a two-page story featuring "Arnold the Isshurian", in the pages of the magazine Epic Illustrated #16 published by Marvel. The story parodied both Conan and the Little Nemo strip by Winsor McCay.
  • Another parody is Equine the Uncivilized, a horse.
  • Yet another popular parody of Conan has been Groo the Wanderer by Sergio Aragones.
  • The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans was nicknamed "Conan the Bacterium" after the character.
  • There are many video games based on the Conan character. Rastan Saga, a coin-op and console game, is an example of these. It even has a "King Conan"-like sequence at the end of the game.
  • The Eye of Argon, famous as one of the worst fantasy stories ever written, is inspired by Conan.
  • Italian metal band Domine's song The Aquilonia Suite Pt. 1 from their Emperor of the Black Runes album is based on the story told in the movie version of Conan the Barbarian. The song is primarily an original composition, but parts of the film score are woven into the song as well. Since the song is titled part 1, the band presumably plans to continue the Conan story on a later album.
  • Stoner rock band Electric Wizard feature Conan in their song Barbarian from their Dopethrone album.
  • American heavy metal band Manilla Road did a song based on the Conan story Queen of the Black Coast. The song shares the title of the story, and is found on their Metal album. In addition, the first three songs from their album Gates of Fire are based on the Frost Giant's Daughter.
  • Thundarr the Barbarian is an early 1980's animated series of a barbarian living on a post-apoclytic earth, ala Escape from New York. Thundarr would spout Conan-reminiscent curses such as "Demon-dogs!" and "Lords of Light!"
  • In volleyball, an overhand hit with the bottom of both clenched fists is often called a "Conan", ostensibly after the sword-swinging barbarian.
  • At WrestleMania 22, WWE superstar Triple H's entrance consisted of him sitting on a throne in a Norse king's outfit, reminiscent of Conan.
  • John Jakes' Mention My Name in Atlantis features "Conax the Chimerical."

Characters

The following characters have prominent or recurring roles in the Conan series.

  • Bêlit, self-styled queen of the Black Coast and captain of the pirate ship "Tigress" (Queen of the Black Coast). Conan's first serious lover. Killed in issue #100 of the Marvel Comics series Conan The Barbarian (Death on the Black Coast).
  • Prince Conan II, called Conn, first born son of King Conan of Aquilonia by his wife Zenobia. Conn is a creation of L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. (Witch of the Mists, Black Sphinx of Nebthu, Red Moon of Zembabwei, Shadows in the Skull, Conan of the Isles, as well as the Conan The King comic books).
  • Fafnir Demonhand (comics only).
  • Red Sonja, a Hyrkanian warrior. Red Sonja is a character from the Conan comics, and was created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith. She was inspired by a R. E. Howard character, Red Sonya of Rogatino, who appeared in the historical story The Shadow of the Vulture set in the XVI
    This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Conan the Barbarian article.
    This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject.
    Article policies
    century.
    • Thoth-Amon of the ring, a Stygian wizard of great power and influence. He appeared in the very first Conan story written (The Phoenix on the Sword) and was mentioned in The God in the Bowl and The Hour of the Dragon. L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter, in their pastiche stories, made Thoth-Amon the most prominent adversary of Conan (The Treasure of Tranicos, Conan the Buccaneer, Witch of the Mists, Black Sphinx of Nebthu, Red Moon of Zembabwei, Shadows in the Skull). In the Marvel comic-book series, Thoth-Amon was also Conan's life-long opponent. He had a striking appearance designed by Barry Windsor-Smith, with a ram-horn ornemental headdress. In the Dark Horse comic-book series, Thoth-Amon is also an important character, but with a more traditional Stygian (Egyptian-looking) appearance.
    • Thulsa Doom. Originally, he was a wizard, described as a necromancer in the King Kull story Delcardes' Cat. He was a recurring character in the Kull comic books. John Milius used a similarly-named character as the villain in the first Conan movie. He appears as a skull-faced sorcerer with awesome powers.
    • Valeria of the Red Brotherhood, a female pirate (Red Nails).
    • Princess Yasmela of Khoraja. She made Conan commander of her country's armies to repel the invasion of a desert horde (Black Colossus).
    • Yasmina, queen (or "devi") of Vendhya. She tried to coerce Conan, then a hill-chieftain, to destroy the Black Seers of Yimsha. Brave and determined, she gained Conan's respect and gruff affection (The People of the Black Circle).
    • King Yezdigerd of Turan (The People of the Black Circle, The Devil in Iron, Conan the Avenger). Yezdigerd was also prominent in the Conan comics, in which he bears a scar given him by Conan.
    • Zenobia, whom Conan married and made his queen after she helped him escape the dungeons of king Tarascus of Nemedia (The Hour of the Dragon).
    • Zephra (comics only).

    Trivia

    • On the subject of Howard and Conan, L. Sprague de Camp states the following in his book Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: The Makers of Heroic Fantasy concerning an interview with J. R. R. Tolkien : "We sat in the garage for a couple of hours, smoking pipes, drinking beer, and talking about a variety of things. Practically anything in English literature, from Beowulf down, Tolkien had read and could talk intelligently about. He indicated that he 'rather liked' Howard's Conan stories."

    Quotes

    Quotes from Howard's original Conan stories

    • Arus saw a tall powerfully built youth, naked but for a loin-cloth, and sandals strapped high about his ankles. His skin was burned brown as by the suns of the wastelands and Arus glanced nervously at his broad shoulders, massive chest and heavy arms, A single look at the moody, broad-browed features told the watchman the man was no Nemedian. From under a mop of unruly black hair smoldered a pair of dangerous blue eyes. A long sword hung in a leather scabbard at his girdle. (The God in the Bowl)
    • "You cannot escape me!" he roared. "Lead me into a trap and I'll pile the heads of your kinsmen at your feet! Hide from me and I'll tear apart the mountains to find you! I'll follow you to hell!" (The Frost Giant's Daughter)
    • Then suddenly the borealis, the snow-clad hills and the blazing heavens reeled drunkenly to Conan's sight; thousands of fire-balls burst with showers of sparks, and the sky itself became a titanic wheel which rained stars as it spun. Under his feet the snowy hills heaved up like a wave, and the Cimmerian crumpled into the snows to lie motionless. (The Frost Giant's Daughter)
    • Conan stood paralyzed in the disruption of the faculties which demoralizes anyone who is confronted by an impossible negation of sanity. (The Devil in Iron)
    • Conan did not hesitate, nor did he even glance toward the chest that held the wealth of an epoch. With a quickness that would have shamed the spring of a hungry jaguar, he swooped, grasped the girl's arm just as her fingers slipped from the smooth stone, and snatched her up on the span with one explosive heave. (Jewels of Gwahlur)
    • "Keep back!" ordered Shah Amurath, watching him narrowly.
      "Ha!" It was like the bark of a timber wolf. "Shah Amurath, the great Lord of Akif! Oh, damn you, how I love the sight of you — you, who fed my comrades to the vultures, who tore them between wild horses, blinded and maimed and mutilated them — Ai, you dog, you filthy dog!" His voice rose to a maddened scream, and he charged. (Iron Shadows in the Moon)
    • "...Free my hands and I'll varnish this floor with your brains!" (The Scarlet Citadel)
    • "Crom!" his mighty shoulders twitched. "A murrain of these wizardly feuds! Pelias has dealt well with me, but I care not if I see him no more. Give me a clean sword and a clean foe to flesh it in. Damnation! What would I not give for a flagon of wine!" (The Scarlet Citadel)
    • "Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing." (The Tower of the Elephant)
    • "Did you deem yourself strong, because you were able to twist the heads off civilized folk, poor weaklings with muscles like rotten string? Hell! Break the neck of a wild Cimmerian bull before you call yourself strong. I did that, before I was a full-grown man...!" (Shadows in Zamboula)
    • "... you speak of Venarium familiarly. Perhaps you were there?"
      "I was," grunted . "I was one of the horde that swarmed over the hills. I hadn't yet seen fifteen snows, but already my name was repeated about the council fires." (Beyond the Black River)
    • He grunted with satisfaction. The feel of the hilt cheered him and gave him a glow of confidence. Whatever webs of conspiracy were drawn about him, whatever trickery and treachery ensnared him, this knife was real. The great muscles of his right arm swelled in anticipation of murderous blows. (The Hour of the Dragon)

    Conan the Barbarian movie quotes

    • Mongol General: "What is best in life?"
      Conan: "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women."
      (Note that this is actually a quote from Ghengis Khan)
    • Conan: "Crom, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men, or bad. Why we fought, or how we died. No, all that matters is, that two stood against many. That's what's important. Valour pleases you Crom, so grant me one request, grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then the hell with you!"
    • Conan, to Subotai: "Crom laughs at your four winds."
    • King Osric: "There comes a time, thief, when the jewels cease to sparkle, when the gold loses its luster, when the throne room becomes a prison, and all that is left is a father's love for his child."
    • Valeria: "To the hellfires with Thulsa Doom. He's evil; a sorcerer who can summon demons. His followers' only purpose is to die in his service... Thousands of them."
    • Valeria: "All my life I've been alone. Many times I've faced death with no one to know. I would look into the huts and the tents of others in the coldest dark and I would see figures holding each other in the night. But I always passed by."
    • The Wizard(voiceover): "Between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis, and the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of. And onto this, Conan, destined to wear the jeweled crown of Aquilonia upon a troubled brow. It is I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure!"
    • Thulsa Doom: "Infidel defilers. They shall all drown in lakes of blood."
    • Thulsa Doom: "My child, you have come to me, my son. For who now is your father if it is not me? I am the wellspring, from which you flow. When I am gone, you will have never been. What would your world be, without me? My son."
    • Conan's Father: "For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts. This you can trust."
    • Thulsa Doom: "Yes! You know what it is, don't you boy. Shall I tell you? It's the least I can do. Steel isn't strong boy, flesh is stronger! Look around you. There, on the rocks; that beautiful girl. Come to me, my child... That is strength, boy! That is power! What is steel compared to the hand that wields it? Look at the strength in your body, the desire in your heart, I gave you this! Such a waste. Contemplate this on the tree of woe. Crucify him!"
    • Valeria: "Do you want to live forever?"
      (Note that this is actually a quote from Frederick the Great)
    • Thulsa Doom: "Now they will know why they are afraid of the dark. Now they learn why they fear the night."
    • Thulsa Doom: "Where is the Eye of the Serpent? Rexor said that you gave it to a girl; probably for a mere night's pleasure. Such a loss. People have no grasp of what they do."
    • Subotai: "He is Conan, Cimmerian, he won't cry, so I cry for him."
    • Black Lotus Street Peddler: "Two or three years ago it was just another snake cult."
    • The Wizard: "I'm a wizard, mind you. This place is kept by powerful gods and spirits of kings. Harm my flesh and you will have to deal with the dead!"
    • Valeria: "All the gods, they cannot sever us. If I were dead and you were still fighting for life, I'd come back from the darkness. Back from the pit of hell to fight at your side."
    • Conan: "For us, there is no spring. Just the wind that smells fresh before the storm."

    External links

Categories: