Conan the Free Lance

Conan the Free Lance follows the young barbarian hero as he becomes entangled in a quest involving magical artifacts and warring factions. The story centers on a mystical Seed possessed by the Tree Folk, which attracts the attention of a cursed wizard and a race of lizard people. Multiple groups clash over the powerful Seed, with Conan aligning himself with the Tree Folk after saving their medicine woman. The narrative moves through a series of confrontations and pursuits as various parties attempt to claim the artifact for their own purposes. The book fits into the broader Conan universe while introducing unique elements like the Tree Folk and selkies. This standalone adventure represents one of several Conan novels penned by Steve Perry in the sword-and-sorcery tradition. The novel explores themes of loyalty and the corrupting nature of power, set against the backdrop of Howard's Hyborian Age. It presents a straightforward action-adventure story that emphasizes combat and pursuit over political intrigue.

Readers rate this as one of the weaker Conan novels. Reviews call it a basic, formulaic adventure that lacks depth compared to other Conan stories. Positives mentioned: - Fast-paced action sequences - Clear writing style - Decent companion character development Common criticisms: - Plot feels rushed and predictable - Characters make illogical decisions - Dialogue doesn't match Howard's original Conan voice - Magic elements seem out of place - Too much focus on romance subplots One reader noted: "Perry's Conan comes across more like a generic fantasy hero than Howard's fierce barbarian." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (53 ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (4 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.0/5 (6 ratings) Most readers recommend skipping this entry unless trying to complete the full Conan series. Several suggest reading the original Robert E. Howard stories instead.

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Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames A band of aging mercenaries embark on a quest through monster-filled forests to rescue a companion's daughter from a besieged city.

Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber Two skilled swordsmen encounter supernatural forces and strange civilizations while pursuing magical items across a fantasy landscape.

The Desert of Souls by Howard Andrew Jones A warrior and a scholar chase a stolen artifact through an ancient Middle Eastern setting filled with supernatural creatures and rival factions.

🗡️ Steve Perry has written numerous media tie-in novels, including entries in the Star Wars, Aliens, and Tom Clancy's Net Force series 🌳 The Tree Folk featured in the book draw from various mythological traditions, similar to dryads and other forest spirits found in ancient Greek and Celtic folklore 🗺️ Shadizar, known as "The Wicked" in Conan lore, is one of the major cities in Zamora, a country featured prominently in Robert E. Howard's original Conan stories 🌱 The Seed's fertility magic connects to common themes in sword and sorcery fiction, where magical artifacts often represent primal forces of nature 👑 The book is part of Tor Books' long-running series of original Conan novels, which expanded the character's adventures beyond Howard's original stories throughout the 1980s and 1990s