fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
novel by American writer
Leonard Carpenter
Leonard Paul Carpenter (born February 6, 1948) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction. He writes as Leonard Carpenter and Leonard P. Carpenter.
Life
Carpenter was born in 1948 in Chicago, but aside from a year in West Texas in chil ...
sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery (S&S) is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. Elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural are also often present. Unlike works of high fantasy, the tale ...
hero
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, films (including '' Conan the Barbarian'' and '' Conan the Destroyer'') ...
. It was first published in paperback by
Tor Books
Tor Books is the primary imprint of Tor Publishing Group (previously Tom Doherty Associates), a publishing company based in New York City. It primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy titles, and is the largest publisher of Chinese scien ...
in February 1993, and reprinted in 1998.
Plot
From a fortress on the island of Djafur, Conan (using his alias as Amra the Lion) builds the piratical Red Brotherhood into a virtual naval empire on the Vilayet Sea. In one raid, Conan accidentally rescues Philiope, a nobleman's daughter, who in time threatens his romantic interests towards Olivia (a holdover from the previous story, "
Shadows in the Moonlight
"Shadows in the Moonlight" is a song written by Charlie Black and Rory Bourke, and recorded by Canadian country pop music singer Anne Murray. It was released in May 1979 as the second single from the album ''New Kind of Feeling''. The song reac ...
"). However, Amra's activities present a major challenge for the region's dominant power, the empire of Turan. In the capital of Aghrapur, Emperor Yildiz, his son Yezdigerd, and their underlings plan on destroying his forces. Their wizards come up with various obstacles including a steam engine, zombie-manned ships, centipede-like creatures, and a huge monster from the depths of the sea. Conan, however, emerges triumphant with each encounter.
Reception
Reviewer
Don D'Ammassa
Donald Eugene D'Ammassa (born April 24, 1946) is an American fantasy, science fiction and horror critic and author.ightly above average for the author."D'Ammassa, Don "Conan of the Red Brotherhood" (review o . Aug. 16, 2017.