Conan and the Sorcerer

Conan and the Sorcerer is a fantasy novel by Andrew J. Offutt featuring Robert E. Howard's iconic character Conan the Barbarian. The book serves as the first installment in a trilogy, published by Sunridge Press in 1978. The plot centers on a young Conan who attempts to rob a wizard named Hissar Zul but finds himself outmaneuvered. With his soul trapped in a mirror, Conan must embark on a quest to recover a magical artifact for the wizard in exchange for the return of his soul. The novel follows the classic sword and sorcery format as Conan faces various challenges and encounters in his mission to retrieve the artifact and deal with its current possessor. The story continues in the sequel Conan the Mercenary. The book explores themes of pride, consequence, and the price of underestimating one's opponents, while maintaining the action-packed adventure style characteristic of the Conan series.

Readers describe this as a solid but unremarkable Conan adventure that follows Howard's style. Comments frequently note that it moves quickly and maintains the brutal action Conan fans expect. Likes: - Fast pacing and constant action - Stays true to Howard's characterization of Conan - Simple, straightforward plot - Fight scenes and swordplay Dislikes: - Basic storyline without much depth - Too short (many mention it can be read in one sitting) - Writing quality below Howard's standard - Some find the dialogue stiff Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (46 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (6 ratings) "A quick read that captures Conan's essence but doesn't add anything new," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another states "The action scenes shine but the plot is forgettable." Several readers mention they prefer it to later Conan pastiches, though it doesn't reach Howard's level of storytelling.

Sword Woman by Robert E. Howard A compilation of sword and sorcery tales featuring a fierce female warrior who faces dark magic and mythical creatures in a world parallel to Conan's Hyborian Age.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan A blacksmith's apprentice discovers his destiny as a powerful channeler while fighting shadow creatures in a quest across nations.

Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock An albino emperor wields a soul-stealing sword and navigates complex sorcery while battling gods and demons across multiple planes of existence.

Jirel of Joiry by C. L. Moore A medieval French warrior-woman commander travels through supernatural dimensions and confronts ancient powers to protect her realm.

The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard Conan faces usurpers and necromancers in his quest to reclaim the throne of Aquilonia while pursuing a mystical artifact.

🗡️ Published in 1978, this was Andrew J. Offutt's first Conan novel, though he had previously edited several Conan anthologies 🎨 Artist Esteban Maroto, who illustrated the book, was renowned for his work in Spanish comics and had a significant influence on 1970s fantasy art 📚 The book is part of a trilogy that includes "Conan the Mercenary" (1981) and "Conan the Sword-Slayer" (1983) 🌟 The story takes place during Conan's younger years, filling in gaps between Robert E. Howard's original tales of the character 🔮 The plot device of soul-stealing through mirrors is rooted in ancient folklore, where mirrors were often believed to capture or trap souls - a superstition that persists in some cultures today