Conan of Venarium

As a longtime fantasy/sword and sorcry fan, and an avid Turtledove reader, this is an excellent addition to Howard's iconic hero.

This, in my opinion, is one of the best Conan novels. As far as Conan stories go, this one is the one with the greatest amount of dramatic and emotional elements. I'm not saying I don't like it when Conan stories aren't all that meaningful. I do like the ones that aren't meaningful and are just plain fun adventures in exotic locations. That type of meaningless fun is what I expect and want from a Conan story. I pre-ordered the book before it came out, not because it seemed like it would be a good Conan novel, but because a new Conan story has not been written in a while and it seemed that the Conan series couldn't afford to have it's newest novel not do well if it wanted to survive. I didn't read it until November, which was about 5 or 6 months after I got it in the mail. It took me that long to get around to reading it because the concept of a story about Conan's childhood didn't interest me at all. But after having given it a chance, it actually is a very good Conan story, although it doesn't have that characteristically Conan feel, being that it takes place in Conan's childhood, with a dramatic story and he doesn't have an adventure until the end of the book, and even then it's not that type of fun Conan sword and sorcery adventure.

Turtledove made a very good stab at the Conan legend with this work. Oft told of in passing (that young Conan was at the Sack of Venarium) turtledove uses his usual forumla....telling the tale from opposing sides of a conflict, here from Aquilonian invaders + settlers (akin to British Imperialism) and the Cimmerian barbarians....rude and clannish. His knowledge of Conan mythos is good (down the the Asura religion & boats references) and I enjoyed this tale a great deal.It was at least a bit original.Conan's mother slowly dying was almost too close to home, ala Howards aling mother....etc. Great touch