Conan the Indomitable

Conan the Indomitable continues the adventures of Robert E. Howard's legendary barbarian hero. In this tale, Conan and his companion Elashi face pursuit by pirates led by an unusual merged being seeking the power of Conan's sword. The story takes place largely in an underground realm populated by strange creatures and ruled by two opposing forces - a sorceress and a necromancer. The subterranean setting introduces an array of unique beings including blind apes, vampire bats, and intelligent worms, all caught in the power struggle between the realm's rulers. This entry in the Conan series connects directly to Perry's previous work Conan the Defiant in terms of storyline and chronology. The novel incorporates multiple plot threads involving various creatures and factions within the underground kingdom. The book represents a departure from typical sword and sorcery conventions through its emphasis on humor and its imaginative underground setting. Perry's approach to the Conan mythos favors unconventional elements and creature-focused subplots over traditional heroic fantasy tropes.

Most readers found this to be among the weaker Conan novels, criticizing its departure from Robert E. Howard's original characterization. The book maintains a mediocre 3.23/5 rating on Goodreads across 92 ratings. Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced action sequences - Creative monster designs - Quick, easy reading experience Common criticisms: - Conan acts out of character, showing fear and hesitation - Writing style lacks Howard's grit and atmosphere - Plot relies too heavily on supernatural elements - Dialogue feels modern rather than period-appropriate Multiple reviews note Perry's Conan behaves more like a "nervous teenager" than the confident barbarian from the original stories. One Amazon reviewer stated "Perry fundamentally misunderstands what makes Conan work as a character." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.23/5 (92 ratings) Amazon: 3.1/5 (6 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.0/5 (4 ratings)

Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures by Robert E. Howard This collection features sword-wielding protagonists facing supernatural threats across historical settings with the same pulp-fantasy combat style found in Conan the Indomitable.

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames Mercenaries battle monsters in a world where adventuring bands operate like rock tours, incorporating the same blend of action and humor present in Perry's Conan tale.

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks A warrior's quest through a post-apocalyptic fantasy world delivers combat sequences and magical encounters that mirror the pacing of Conan's adventures.

Imaro by Charles R. Saunders This sword and sorcery epic follows an African warrior through a mythical continent, featuring the same type of personal combat and sorcerous opponents that Conan faces.

The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane by Robert E. Howard A Puritan wanderer encounters dark magic and evil creatures while traveling through ancient lands, sharing the same pulp-action DNA as Perry's Conan story.

🗡️ Steve Perry wrote over 50 novels across multiple franchises including Star Wars, Aliens, and Tom Clancy's Net Force 🏰 The book is part of Tor Books' original Conan series from the 1980s and early 1990s, which expanded Robert E. Howard's original Conan universe 🌍 The underground setting was unique among Conan stories, which typically took place in the Hyborian Age - a fictional prehistoric era on Earth's surface 🦇 The book's diverse creatures were influenced by real subterranean animals, including specialized cave-dwelling bats and eyeless salamanders 📚 Though primarily known for science fiction, this was one of Perry's rare forays into pure fantasy writing, blending his signature action style with sword-and-sorcery elements