The Unconquered

"Conan the Unconquered" by Robert Jordan, © 1983 Conan is truly awe inspiring. In this story of magic and myths, he has to travel to heck and back, though it does have another name and he does not have to die to get there. It is always amusing how the women are always beautiful and happy to give him whatever he wants. It has become so part of his mystique that other genres (mysteries, science fiction, etc) mention him in passing as a model or something. He gets to have only one virgin in this story, but she is proud and happy to his woman for the time being. In the midst of action, he shows his intelligence and ability to figure out how to win. He also teaches his woman how to fight with a sword. She surpasses his goals for her and progresses nicely to being her own person. It is interesting that he gives her a yatagan to use for a sword, being lighter and easier to handle. Mr. Jordan must have done his homework in military history or weapons to even know there was such a thing.

Well, if you don't already know who Robert Jordan is please ask whoever it is that has kept you locked in that closet to buy you the entire Wheel of Time series--and this book of course--before inserting you back into that dark, miserable vault. Then read them all voraciously. You will not be disappointed, with this or any of the other many books Mr. Jordan has written. This book in particular is probably the best Conan novel I have read in a great many moons. Why you ask? Well, the plotting is crisp and fast moving, the prose and dialogue effectively create action in the reader's mind, and as all of us RJ sycophants have come to expect, the characterizations are well done and extremely believable. A great book.