Conan of Venarium

July 1, 2003
Master alternative historian Turtledove (American Empire) attempts to inject some life into the well-trod Conan sequel subgenre, but this coming-of-age story of Robert E. Howard's barbarian hero is, alas, just as commonplace as all the other imitations by the late Lin Carter and company. Expansion-minded Aquilonians have invaded and occupied Fort Venarium in southern Cimmeria. Their lecherous commander, Count Stercus, seizes a pretty local girl at whom Conan has often gazed silently, like any tongue-tied teenage boy. You can bet the shy, untried Conan will take on the dastardly count, but will he get the girl? Later, Conan fights with the northern Cimmerians, who have gathered to drive out the Aquilonians. Eventually finding himself alone on the cusp of manhood, he realizes that his life will always be that of a wanderer and a thief. The fantasy elements are disappointingly few-a demonic bird, a huge venomous snake, a seer who foretells the boy's incredible future, a vision of a ruined temple that disappears as suddenly as it appears. Only Conan diehards and Turtledove completists will be likely to pick up this sword-with-little-sorcery novel.

August 1, 2003
Before he became a warrior of legend, Conan lived a simple life as the son of a blacksmith in Cimmeria. Then the Aquilonians came with their invading armies and their lust-driven soldiers. Choosing to live not as a slave but as a warrior, Conan takes up the sword and goes to war on his own terms. The popular author of alternate histories now adds his storytelling expertise to the opus of Conan the Barbarian novels that include works by Conan creator Robert E. Howard, Poul Anderson, Robert Jordan, and other genre authors. A good addition to libraries' Conan novels.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2003
Conan isn't quite 15 when the Aquilonian count, Stercus, exiled for chasing underage girls, leads an army into Cimmeria. Stercus defeats Cimmeria's ferocious but divided warriors, and then adds insult to injury by setting his sights on Conan's crush, Tarla. In this tense situation, Conan rapidly grows to manhood, losing his blacksmith father, Mordec, but learning prowess and honor. In the end, he has no home left in Cimmeria. He departs with a prophecy hanging over him, and that prophecy depicts the golden-lion banner of Aquilonia floating over Conan. He thinks this means the curse of having to live under the Aquilonians. Among Conan's many limners, Turtledove distinguishes himself with an unmatched portrait of Cimmerian society and a fine, intelligent characterization of the young barbarian. The best-selling alternate historian explores the Hyborian Age of Robert E. Howard's durable battler as successfully as he reinvents modern wars.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)