The People of the Black Circle

The People of the Black Circle is a collection of four sword and sorcery stories featuring Conan the Barbarian, published in 1977. The stories were originally published in Weird Tales magazine during the 1930s and represent some of Howard's most significant Conan adventures. This edition, edited by Karl Edward Wagner, presents the stories in their original, unaltered form as they appeared in Weird Tales. The collection contains "The Devil in Iron," "The People of the Black Circle," "A Witch Shall Be Born," and "Jewels of Gwahlur," accompanied by Wagner's foreword and afterword. The narratives pit Conan against dark sorcerers, ancient demons, and treacherous rulers across various kingdoms and landscapes. Each tale combines elements of action, supernatural horror, and political intrigue within Howard's fictional Hyborian Age setting. These stories showcase Howard's vision of civilization versus barbarism, and his exploration of power dynamics between rulers, sorcerers, and warriors. The collection demonstrates Howard's influence on the sword and sorcery genre and his creation of a complex fantasy world.

Readers rank this as a mid-tier Conan story, praising Howard's world-building of the Himalayan-inspired setting and the complex political intrigue. Many note it delivers Howard's signature action scenes and dark sorcery elements while exploring deeper themes of civilization versus barbarism. Liked: - Fast pacing and multiple compelling antagonists - Cultural details of the mountain kingdoms - Strong female characters, particularly Yasmina - Battle sequences and supernatural elements Disliked: - Plot feels rushed in places - Some dated cultural depictions - Middle section drags with excess description - Character motivations can be unclear Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (240+ ratings) Several reviewers called it "ambitious but uneven." One frequent comment is that the novella length constrains what could have been a more expansive story. As one Goodreads reviewer noted: "The world Howard creates here deserves more time to breathe."

The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson Norse mythology and dark sorcery blend with brutal warfare in this tale of a changeling warrior caught between the mortal world and the realm of faerie.

Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock An albino sorcerer-king wields a soul-drinking sword through a decadent empire where magic and violence intersect.

The Sword of Rhiannon by Leigh Brackett A Martian tomb raider discovers ancient powers and battles across a dying planet filled with sword fights and forbidden magic.

Jirel of Joiry by C. L. Moore A medieval woman warrior encounters dark magic and otherworldly forces while defending her realm through demon-haunted dimensions.

Kane: Darkness Weaves by Karl Edward Wagner An immortal warrior-sorcerer confronts cosmic horrors and political intrigue in a world where magic brings destruction.

🗡️ The character of Conan was partially inspired by Howard's mother's tales of her family's frontier experiences in Texas during the 1800s. 🖋️ Howard wrote most of these stories in a single draft, often completing them at an astonishing pace of 5,000 to 12,000 words per day. 📚 "The People of the Black Circle" is the longest Conan story ever published in Weird Tales magazine, spanning three consecutive issues in 1934. 🌍 The Hyborian Age setting was deliberately created by Howard as a fictional era between the sinking of Atlantis and the beginning of recorded history. 🎭 The Black Seers of Yimsha were influenced by Howard's fascination with Tibetan mysticism and his extensive readings about Asian occult practices.