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The Conan Chronicles, Volume 1

The Conan Chronicles, Volume 1

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $13.57
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good for what it is
Review: After reading 10,000 some odd pages of the wheel of time, part of me expected this to feel the same way. But these were certainly Conan stories. Each of these three stories were pretty much the same, kind of like watching three scooby doo episodes in a row: there is an evil socrerer working to enslave the world. Conan, along with another characterized warrior type, a handful of nameless fighters and a beautiful woman, get in the way of the sorcerer's plans. It's not as good as Robert E Howard, but entertaining IF thats what you're looking for (like scooby doo)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good for what it is
Review: After reading 10,000 some odd pages of the wheel of time, part of me expected this to feel the same way. But these were certainly Conan stories. Each of these three stories were pretty much the same, kind of like watching three scooby doo episodes in a row: there is an evil socrerer working to enslave the world. Conan, along with another characterized warrior type, a handful of nameless fighters and a beautiful woman, get in the way of the sorcerer's plans. It's not as good as Robert E Howard, but entertaining IF thats what you're looking for (like scooby doo)

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Don't bother!
Review: As an avid reader of fantasy novels, this series of books was one of the biggest dissapointments ever. It was my first Jordan novel and has put me right off reading any other books of his.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: robert jordan is not a conan writer.
Review: Avoid. Shun. This will not attract you to Conan, the mythical Cimmerian superman. The Conan Chronicles are a disgrace to Robert E. Howard and a slur on his name. All three novels are basically the same. Robert Jordan has only rehashed the same plot and cliches over and over again in three separate tomes. To qualify how bad these three novels are, re read the criticism levelled against mr Jordan in the last sentence. Any Conan reader will know that the plot is always very predictable and that each novel is full of a standard set of cliches. This reflects on the new lows that Robert Jordan has succumbed to in his pathetic attempt to write on one if not the, greatest fantasy super hero.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: If you like Conan...Robert Jordan is as good as they come...
Review: For those who love Conan stories, Robert Jordan has given a new depth to the Barbarian. Jordan's Conan books are the creme de la creme of the series. Those of you who love the Wheel of Time Series might be a little disappointed with these Conan Stories in comparison. But that would be comparing fast food to gourmet cuisine.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A good quick read...
Review: I picked up this book as a fan of Jordan's Wheel of Time, and the Schwarzenegger Conan movies. I figure put the two together and we're in business. Well... The three stories in this book have pretty much nothing to do with one another other than being vaguely chronological, and sharing one or two supporting characters. They were entertaining, but involved no development for our hero at all. It was like Jordan merely borrowed Conan and then put him back the way he found him. Unchanged- for better or worse. Much like a Bond movie. Not exactly my taste, but if that is fine with you- give it a shot!

In CONAN the INVINCIBLE, the barbarian/thief is hired by a nasty ol' wizard to steal five precious gems from a King's throne room only to find that someone has beaten him to it. Conan is apparently never fazed by anything, and of course pursues the rival thieves. He will stop at nothing to get his reward. This brings him face to face with several perils including an army of the King's men, the mysterious Red Hawk and her band of caravan-raiding bandits, as well as another evil wizard and his army of Lizard men. I give it a 3.

In CONAN the DEFENDER, our hero arrives in the city of Belverus to, again, find work to fill his gold purse. His plan is to raise his own company of warriors, but Civil war threatens the Kingdom- and he must choose sides between his friends and the King. But first he must find out who has been trying to kill him and why. I give this a 3 also.

In CONAN the UNCONQUERED, the barbarian once again arrives in a new city looking for a way to fill his pockets with gold and manages to end up knee deep in trouble. As usual, he does some bar crawling, sleeps with some gorgeous women, and of course- stops the evil wizard. This story was not as good as the other two in my opinion, but it was ok. I give it a 2.

Over all I gave this book a 3 because the three stories were almost exact replicas of one another. By the end, I was bored and had heard it all before. However, you could do worse than this book if looking for a quick read, but in general I'd only recommend it to a younger audience.

-If you are looking for more "Wheel of Time" you are likely to be disappointed -but it is fun watching Jordan hone his skills.

-As far as Conan goes, I hear R E Howard's works are the best -so you might want to look there instead. That's next for me as well.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: misconceptions
Review: I'm sorry - I have to set a few other reviewers straight. Robert Jordan's Conan stories WAY pre-date the Wheel of Time. Also, Conan is not his character. He, like many other authors, borrowed Conan from the late Robert E Howard. Howard wrote to my mind the best Conan (he was the creator, after all) and Conan was by no means his best stuff.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: misconceptions
Review: I'm sorry - I have to set a few other reviewers straight. Robert Jordan's Conan stories WAY pre-date the Wheel of Time. Also, Conan is not his character. He, like many other authors, borrowed Conan from the late Robert E Howard. Howard wrote to my mind the best Conan (he was the creator, after all) and Conan was by no means his best stuff.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Conan Rocks
Review: It isn't the Novel that The Dragon Reborn has become. Each book is complete in itself, which is very rewarding for the reader. Yet, each new book brings forth some elements found in previous books. I enjoyed every story. Conan is quick with his blade, wide with his ale, and all arms for his wenches.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: "know, o prince"
Review: Know, o price, that between the years when the pulps ruled the newsstands, and the death of Karl Edward Wagner, there was an age undreamed of, when Conan the Barbarian finally became a household name. Hither came Robert Jordan...

I remember reading these books 20 years ago, when I would literally read anything as long as it had Conan on the cover. I quickly realized though, THAT THEY'RE ALL THE SAME. Even the L. Sprague De Camp pastiches managed to deviate from the stock formula from time to time. In every book in this collection, Conan is up against another diabolical wizard bent on destroying the world.

Its really simple, folks, if you want to read Sherlock Holmes, you read Arthur Conan Doyle. If you want to read Tarzan, you read Edgar Rice Burroughs, and if you want to read Conan, you read Robert E. Howard. None of these Robert Jordan books ever approach the tragic romance of "Queen of the Black Coast", or the bleak nihlism of "Beyond the Black River". None of Jordan's villians even come close to The Black Seers of Yimshah, or Khosatral Khel. None of Jordan's love interests can hold a candle to Valeria of the Red Brotherhood, or Belit.

If you've read all of the Howard stories (finally re-released in a 3 series from ACE, btw), and you simply must have more, then I would suggest "The Road of Kings" by Karl Edward Wagner, who also wrote the magnificent "Kane" series.

As for Robert Jordan, his Conan stories are the literary equivalent to the movie "Conan the Destroyer (which he novelized, btw)", or the old marvel comics. You might find them enjoyable if you're 15 or younger, but as you get older (like me) you'll start to appreciate the originals more, and you'll dismiss these for what they are, literary fast food.


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