The Sign of the Moonbow

Syagrius, the last Roman commander in the West, makes an appearance in this book. He accepts the aid of Cormac Mac Art and Wulfhere the Skull-Splitter in defending Sossions against Clovis. Tied in with the historical fact of Syagrius' defeat in 486, which ended Roman control of southern Gaul, and marked the end of his 10-year holdout after the fall of Rome, this final work in the series begun by Robert E. Howard ends Thulsa Doom's reign of terror as Cormac's arch-foe. With the lovely Samire at his side, the heroes do battle with Hengist, the Danish king and mortal enemy of Wulfhere, before reaching doomed Sossions. Andrew Offut also uses the novel to advance theories on the origins of the Irish race, tying in the Tulath de Danu, with their moonbow emblem, with Greek Diana, who also is identified with the crescent Moon. A good, light read, for those who like historical settings for swords & sorcery adventures. -Lloyd A. Conway