Conan - Blood of the Serpent: The All-New Chronicles of the Worlds Greatest Barbarian Hero

My copy arrived today, and I promptly read Chapter One.

Now, I can't judge an entire book by its single first chapter, but dudes and dudettes, I really liked what I read.

Sterling masterfully introduces the reader to the gritty, feral Hyborian Age in a way that both builds atmosphere for Conan newcomers and presents a welcome re-introduction to those, like me, who have read a ton of Conan by Howard and many other authors.

I've always loved the way The Tower of the Elephant starts off--I can smell the sweat and the leather. I can feel the grit and the heat and the fear. Stirling's book does the same thing, but draws it out through the first chapter.

I soaked up every word.

So far, I'm really into it. I'm also very glad I bought the book as Christmas gifts to the five players in my Conan RPG group. What comes across in chapter one is exactly how I'm going to run the game--money is scarce, and people barter as fast as exchange coins. Any type of worked metal is worth something, and bartering for less than worth is often better than the hassle. Not everyone can afford armor, and even professional mercenaries may only be wearing leather tunics for protection.

Sterling doesn't even pretend to write like Howard, but I think (so far) that Sterling "gets" Conan. It's really too early to make that statement, but I feel as if he does. Sterling certainly seems to have done some research, with thoughts of Venarium and other places like Shadizar.

It is plainly noted in the text that the story takes place ten years since Conan ventured south on his path of wanderlust. So, if you would say that Conan left right after Venarium--and Conan was 15 during that battle--then Conan is about 25 years old in this story. If you think he journeyed south sometime after Venarium (say, having spent time among the Aesir first), then Conan somewhere between 25 and 29 in this story.

Conan does come across worldly and traveled in this story, which fits with Red Nails. I'm sure you know that Sterling's story is a prequel to Red Nails, and Howard's story is also included in the book.

It's a handsome hardback. I'm glad I bought it. It will look good on the shelf. The work is lightly sprinkled with excellent B&W illustrations that harken back to the old, illustrated paperbacks of the 70's. There's also a map of the Known World included at the start of the book, and this, of course, reminds me of the 80's novels published by TOR. Homage.

There's something special about reading a brand new hardback. I don't often do it. I like paperbacks, too. But a new hardcover--the smell of it. It's heft in your hands. It adds to the experience for me. After Amazon delivered the book today, I took it out on my back porch, sat down, and read the first chapter as it started to rain. Awesome.

All together, the book is 427 pages, but it looks and feels like more.

I dig the shiny gold imprint of Conan recognizable sword from the 1982 movie there on the cover, too.

I'm off to Chapter Two before I go to bed.

To say I was thrilled to discover a new Conan novel is the understatement of my year or maybe even decade. Conan of Cimmeria, barbarian, thief, warrior, outlaw, mercenary, reaver, king, Robert E. Howard’s legendary hero, the one who made him the father of Sword and Sorcery has returned. Conan is back, Baby!

Conan, and REH, not to mention ERB’s Tarzan, are not only what made me into a bookworm, but transformed me into the total fantasy geek I am today. I literally get chills when I read the line “Know ye O’ Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis….”

So, Blood of the Serpent (2022) is a struggle for me to review objectively but, seeing as how Conan set me on this path, I owe him the attempt. (Note to Titan Books; how dare you not include that iconic introduction?!?!)

I’m a tad disappointed that the newest addition in the Robert E. Howard pastiche tradition is not an off-the-spinner-rack paperback with a Frazetta, Ken Kelly, Boris, or Royo, cover the likes of what Ballantine, Ace, and Tor published in the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s. Nevertheless, Titan Books delivers with a beautiful hardback. The dust jacket features the iconic sword from the 80’s Conan the Barbarian movie (and the more recent Stranger Things season finale) which I will always respectfully refer to as The Schwarzenegger Sword.

The illustrations by Roberto De La Torre are an absolute fanboy’s dream. They’re wonderfully reminiscent of Marvel’s Conan comics and magazines. My only complaint is there wasn’t enough of them.

Along with S.M. Stirling’s story, this book also contains the original Robert E. Howard novella and fan favorite, Red Nails. Blood of the Serpent portrays the events leading up to Red Nails, and when Conan meets the sexy, swashbuckling pirate captain, Valeria of the Red Brotherhood.

I’m well pleased with Mr. Stirling’s take on Conan. Not just any fantasy author can pull this off. There’s a list of accomplished writers who failed miserably at REH pastiche. Contrary to what many uninitiated believe, Conan is not just a musclebound brute sporting a sword, a fur diaper, and a voluptuous half-naked damsel clutching at his mighty thews. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Stirling, for the most part, gets it.

Robert E. Howard projected his conflicted — and ultimately suicidal — personality into all his stories. His bleak outlook and pessimism about society fueled a motivation to live life with furious, reckless, passion. It’s this dark trait lurking deep in the DNA of Howard’s characters that provides ballast to ground what otherwise might be seen as shallow ultra-alpha-male (and occasionally alpha-female) personas. When authors don’t understand Conan and don’t have extensive knowledge and insight into the history and content of the original Howard tales and S&S genre, their attempt at an REH pastiche falls flat.

Respectfully, Stirling doesn’t quite capture the dark undercurrent that hides in the periphery of Conan’s personality. (Then again, tell me which REH pastiche writers do? Maybe John Robert Maddox came closest.) Otherwise, Stirling is up to the task. He knows the Hyborian Age that is Conan’s world and can skillfully tell an exciting Conan tale. Even though I found Stirling’s use of inner monologue for Conan a bit jarring at times, it became both enjoyable and quotably humorous.

Conan: Blood of the Serpent is a series of linked adventures which lead directly into Red Nails. As mentioned previously, Red Nails is most awesomely also in this book.

Conan is already employed as mercenary of Zaralla’s Free Companions when Valeria signs on. The captain of the notorious Red Brotherhood band of buccaneers has found herself temporarily without ship or crew, so a soldier of fortune would seem the perfect job to get her back on her feet, or sea legs rather. But, as I imagine is the way with any pretty pirate, especially one as well put together and dangerous as Valeria, trouble always finds her and, naturally, Conan is all too ready to jump into the fray.

What ensues is a series of two-fisted sword and sorcery adventures that reads to me like a good Western tale. From bar room brawls, to combating a slave rebellion, and wilderness survival, Conan fights apex predators, other dangerous animals, and even simian monsters all while cursed by a po'ed sorcerer. The stories culminate with a manhunt across the deadly deserts, savage savannas, and shadowed jungles on the southern border of Stygia. As any Conan fan will tell you, of all the kingdoms in the Hyborian Age, Stygia is the most dangerous place for Conan of Cimmeria to be.

There’ve been some stirring on the fringes of SFF communities that a Sword and Sorcery revival is on the horizon. What better way to kick things off than with a new Conan book? S.M. Stirling, along with illustrator Robert De La Torre, do a bang-up job with Blood of the Serpent. Cheers to Titan Books as well! The only other thing this fanboy can ask for is: More, please!

I was excited several months ago when I learned there was a new Conan novel coming out, even though I've never found S.M. Striling to be a particularly good writer. "It's Conan," I reasoned, "How bad could it be?" Turns out, it can be pretty bad indeed. The story is supposed to be a prequel to Howard's classic story "Red Nails," wherein Conan and Valeria the she-pirate get caught up in the bloody intrigues of a decadent jungle city. Unfortunately the story is a dull, meandering mess, with one dimensional characters, virtually no plot, long stretches of pointless backstory that is seemingly supposed to be character development, and "action scenes" that make children's cartoons seem like high art. It was over 300 pages that felt like 500 and with a "story" that could have been told in 30. Add in the writer's anachronistic and often annoying verbiage and you have something that reads like it was written by a 13 year old with a fetish for faux Celtic culture. Indeed, the author claims that his first effort at writing a novel was a truly awful Howardian pastiche, but I'm thinking this was actually that effort.

A minor saving grace is that "Red Nails" is also included herein, but again the publisher shoots themselves in the foot with their virtue signaling warning readers about Howard's society not being as "socially aware" so one should be ready for possibly "jarring" language. Please just let the reader enjoy a classic piece of literature already, especially if they just suffered through the socially aware prequel.

It's awesome to finally get a new Conan novel. Unfortunately, it feels like a 2020's Conan, not the barbarian rogue we fell in love with. The story is ok. The vast majority of the TOR Originals published between 1982 and 1997 are far superior to this novel. If you missed some of those, go read them, I have twice, along with every Conan publication. Personally I think the Age of Conan books published in 2005 - 2006 are better than this one. Previous Conan writers have tied their novel into a previous Conan story so that linkage approach has been done before. The problem I have with this story leading into Red Nails is the tone. The Conan from Blood of the Serpent is tonely not the Conan in Red Nails. Ultimately I'm happy to read a new Conan book even if it doesn't necessarily hold up. I'm crossing my fingers the next one will be better.

This book has no comparison to the writings of Robert E. Howard. It was a colossal effort to get through reading “Blood of the Serpent”. If you are expecting sword and sorcery, skip to the rear where Robert E. Howard’s story “Red Nails” is included. In fact, the first two pages, of Howard’s story, give you the plot of Stirling’s “Conan-Blood of the Serpent”. Read this first so you can skip massive pages of Stirling’s boring writing. His book reads more like an African travelogue with details of leaves, brush, insects and animals instead of plot, characterization and story.
The meager story of “Blood of the Serpent” is of Conan relegated to mercenary border work, leading a group of settlers and slaves to a gold mine near the southern regions of Stygia. After a slave revolt and some stolen gold Conan returns to his border barracks. After his compatriot, Valeria, kills a high Stygian official and runs for the border, Conan follows. This is all a prelude to the better story, “Red Nails”. Here, Conan and Valeria discover a hidden city where two clans fight each other for supremacy, and where the king and queen of one clan have devious plans for Conan and Valeria.

As a lifelong Robert E. Howard Conan fan I was willing to give this newest book a trial and am glad I did. As escapist fantasy, the Hyborian Age makes a good and bloody landscape whether it is explored in books, movies, comics, or the Sunday funnies and Stirling is a worthy companion on the trek. I admired how he was able to make this prequel seamlessly mesh with the original Howard story at the end. Unfortunately, the comparison made the less politically correct Age of the original more appealing for a true science fantasy aficionado.

The first in a new series of original Conan novels, this offering from Stirling is a prequel to Robert Howard’s final Conan story “Red Nails” which introduced the world to the female pirate Valeria (it’s reprinted here as an extra for newcomers). We find Conan traveling with a band of mercenaries when he comes across Valeria in a tavern. He quickly falls for her, but she seems to want nothing to do with him romantically.

She joins Conan’s band of mercenaries, and they fall prey to a priest of the serpent god Set. Conan has a curse placed on him by said priest, causing the animals in and around Stygia to attack him (the animal violence here is extreme and often, so if that bothers you be warned).

The bulk of BLOOD OF THE SERPENT’s 305 pages follows Conan searching for Valeria and her would be rapist who is also in pursuit. Conan meets a few allies along the way, the best being a fierce female warrior named Irawagbon, who adds some sly humor to the nearly constant animal attacks.

I think Stirling did a decent enough job here, but the lack of supernatural creatures gives the story more of a jungle adventure feel (ALA Tarzan) than a character known more for sword and sorcery. There’s some sorcery afoot, but it’s overshadowed by the natural dangers of the terrain.

The last chapter is pretty much an abridged re-write of the first chapter of RED NAILS, which shows the author’s love for Howard’s characters, but I think some readers may find unnecessary. The finale is a bit quick, too, making the reader long for more after such an epic journey.

Hoping Titan Books keeps this series moving forward. It would be nice to see Conan in completely new scenarios that aren’t sequels or prequels.

Just to get this out of the way I have to say nobody will write Conan better than it’s creator Robert E Howard. Nobody. But I really like the world that was created and think it’s fun to see other authors take a opportunity to write in that setting and see their take on Conan. These stories are usually called “pastiches” by fans. I think that this one is pretty good, better than many I’ve read, but not quite up to the level of someone like John Maddox Roberts. My favorite original Conan story is Red Nails and in it Valeria mentions a meeting with Conan in Sukhmet; this story is how they originally met (according to Stirling) and what follows. Plenty of action and adventure follow this encounter! The advance copy I got had a beautiful map and occasional illustrations which was really nice. I’ll always welcome more Conan adventures!

Normally I am a great fan of S.M Sterling, but this book is: 1. poorly written with incomplete sentences and grammatical errors. I suppose we cannot expect modern writers to proof their own work, in this case his editor should be fired. 2. I understand that today we are toning down the male image (to non-existence) and sadly this book reflects it. I never thought to read emotional, introspective non-sense in a Conan book but somehow the author and editors have managed to emasculate the barbarian essence of this character. I can only assume someone needed the money. Two stars for including Red Nails, even with the somehow obligatory warning that some may be offended by Howard's original work. The book is disappointing, at best.

After many false starts someone has finally published a new official Conan novel. With any beloved intellectual property fans exhibited many different opinions about it. Many condemned it without reading it, many more after. The unwary can become lost down the rabbit hole of reviews online.

Personally, I welcomed the new novel, but with trepidation. When Titan listed the book initially, they only offered hardcover and kindle. A hardcover can be nice, but my Conan collection is paperback; I did not want a hardcover. Then you figure in the kindle price­–seems rather inflated by comparison to other books in this genre.

After the initial euphoria wears off you realize that this isn't a complete new novel, but a prequel paired with the short story Red Nails. The 421 pages of the story is padded with a reprint of Howard's original work. Stirling's novel doesn't fare well without the inclusion, but this is a minor complaint.

You should never judge a book by its cover, but the cover for Blood of the Serpent is unassuming. It is bland. It is safe. Certainly not the eye candy fans come to expect from this type of book. The indie crowd gets it. The redemption for Titan comes with the inclusion of interior illustrations by Roberto de la Torre. This was a very nice touch and much appreciated.

The story is well written. Although, it is basically a chase story. What I mean by this is our male protagonist is in a race against time chasing our female protagonist in an attempt to help avert disaster from the antagonist. Burroughs did this with his Carson of Venus books and Resnick did this with his Ganymede books. This can make for a fast-paced story. In this instance Conan went on a few side quests while on his chase which stretched the credulity of his quarry not escaping him altogether.

The ending of Blood of the Serpent flows directly into the beginning of Red Nails. I am still unsure why Blood of the Serpent reiterates the opening of Red Nails if both stories are present together. More padding?

This was my first reading of Red Nails. Coming so late to it I cannot help but look at it with apathy. Once the players are introduced everything that happens is evident long before it happens. It certainly was not the best S&S I've ever read. The menace and horror of the setting and situation is palpable and helps make up for the transparent plot. The denouement is also rather cliché to the jaded reader.

The Afterword is a sad thing. It is an apology for the righteous and indignant for Howard's "original manuscript. Raw and powerful, it's also very much of its time–written almost a century ago, when our culture could be less socially aware and genre fiction in particular often exhibited rough edges some of today's readers may find jarring."

Overall, even though I was not blown away by the story or packaging I still found the story engaging and welcomed it to my collection. There is ample room for improvement from Titan. Perhaps they will get it right with the release of John C. Hocking's Conan in the City of the Dead due in November?