Book Review 233 // Black Colossus by Robert E. Howard

My goal of completing some of my backlog novels is failing completely. Instead, I find myself absorbed by Conan and ignoring the bowing shelves of books. Maybe if I read enough Conan I will flip back to Gaunt and his Ghosts soon.

Title: Black Colossus

Author: Robert E. Howard

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Blurb: "Black Colossus" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine in June 1933. Howard earned $130 for the sale of this story.

Set during the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, Conan leads the army of Khoraja against an evil sorcerer named Natohk, "The Veiled One".

Review

What an adventure! We have a young princess stalked in her dreams by a demon wanting to have its wicked way with her. While wracked with this torment, her kingdom crumbles around her due to civil unrest. With her and her country weakened, a desert cult has grown and focused on dominating this realm. Then into this, we throw Conan, who, through an act of fate, soon becomes commander of the princess's forces, much to the joy of the Lords within the kingdom.

Soon the battle is joined, and we have a wonderfully described battle full of violence. Ultimately this tale doesn't grow Conan as a character but helps fill in details of the lands and people within. Not the most exciting Conan tale out there but still an enjoyable read whilst lounging on a sofa.