Conan the Victorious
Encyclopedia
Conan the Victorious is a fantasy
novel written by Robert Jordan
featuring Robert E. Howard
's seminal sword and sorcery
hero Conan the Barbarian
. It was first published in trade paperback by Tor Books
in November 1984; a regular paperback edition followed from the same publisher in December 1985, and was reprinted in March 1991 and August 2010. The first British edition was published in paperback by Sphere Books
in April 1987. The novel was later gathered together with Conan the Magnificent and Conan the Triumphant into the hardcover omnibus collection The Further Chronicles of Conan
(Tor Books, October 1999).
Learning he has been framed, Conan decides to skip town and takes ship south with the smugglers to the Zaporaska River. While helping load the chests forming cargo he is attacked with a dagger by a Vendhyan hiding in one of them, who then commits suicide after Conan overpowers him. The Cimmerian's wound proves to be poisoned; a herbalist called in is able to mitigate but not counteract it, declaring that only the leeches of Vendyha can cure him. At the mouth of the Zaporaska, the smugglers rendezvous with the Vendhyans who are to receive the cargo. These, finding the chests have been tampered with, attack, and the ship is burnt. The stranded smugglers strike inland, eventually encountering a large caravan. A Khitan merchant in the caravan hires them as guards.
In Vendhya, Naipal discovers Conan has become embroiled in his schemes; believing the involvement purposeful, he determines to kill the Cimmerian and his companions. After the wizard's agents in the caravan attempt without success to slay Conan, Naipal lays a trap for him in the great city of Gwandikian. Conan takes the bait. Lured to a tower, he is again set upon, but escapes. Afterward he seeks the antidote for his poisoned wound in a nearby forest, where he has been told it can be found. There he discovers the herbalist who originally treated him and learns he was in fact cured by that first treatment; the man had lied about it then to secure the Cimmerian's aid. He, it seems, it Naipal's true adversary. A final conflict between the two sorcerers ensues, in which both end up dead at the hands of the demon each tried to control, and the demon itself is destroyed by the spells they had lain on it.
Conan, surviving, decides to return home. On the way, he encounters Lord Khalid's agent Jelal. The spy has completed his investigations and cleared the Cimmerian of complicity in the Vendhyan plot against Turan. He gives Conan a parchment and instructs him to present it at the headquarters of the Turanian army on his return to Sultanpoor.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novel written by Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
featuring Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
's seminal sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
hero Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
. It was first published in trade paperback by Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
in November 1984; a regular paperback edition followed from the same publisher in December 1985, and was reprinted in March 1991 and August 2010. The first British edition was published in paperback by Sphere Books
Sphere Books
-History:Founded in 1961, Sphere Books began work on its first publication, the 1962 paperback edition of Gottfried Benn's The Trainee Man. Originally part of The Thomson Corporation, Sphere was sold to Pearson PLC in 1985 and became part of Penguin...
in April 1987. The novel was later gathered together with Conan the Magnificent and Conan the Triumphant into the hardcover omnibus collection The Further Chronicles of Conan
The Further Chronicles of Conan
The Further Chronicles of Conan is a collection of fantasy novels written by Robert Jordan featuring the sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian, created by Robert E. Howard. The book was published in 1999 by Tor Books and collects three novels previously published by Tor.-Contents:* Conan the...
(Tor Books, October 1999).
Contents
- Conan the Victorious (novel) (Robert Jordan)
- Conan the Indestructible (chronological essay) (L. Sprague de CampL. Sprague de CampLyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
)
Plot
Naipal, court wizard to King Bandharkar of Ayodha in Vendyha, prepares to bargain with the demon Masrock to win control of Vendhya and revenge himself on his rivals, the Black Seets of Mt. Yimsha. Meanwhile, in the Turanian city of Sultanapoor, a Vendhyan-instigated plot has resulted in the assassination of a prince. Conan, employed in guarding a smugglers' ship, is rumored to have been hired to commit the crime. Turanian spymaster Lord Khalid sends his apprentice Jelal the merchant to Vendhya find out if Conan was truly involved.Learning he has been framed, Conan decides to skip town and takes ship south with the smugglers to the Zaporaska River. While helping load the chests forming cargo he is attacked with a dagger by a Vendhyan hiding in one of them, who then commits suicide after Conan overpowers him. The Cimmerian's wound proves to be poisoned; a herbalist called in is able to mitigate but not counteract it, declaring that only the leeches of Vendyha can cure him. At the mouth of the Zaporaska, the smugglers rendezvous with the Vendhyans who are to receive the cargo. These, finding the chests have been tampered with, attack, and the ship is burnt. The stranded smugglers strike inland, eventually encountering a large caravan. A Khitan merchant in the caravan hires them as guards.
In Vendhya, Naipal discovers Conan has become embroiled in his schemes; believing the involvement purposeful, he determines to kill the Cimmerian and his companions. After the wizard's agents in the caravan attempt without success to slay Conan, Naipal lays a trap for him in the great city of Gwandikian. Conan takes the bait. Lured to a tower, he is again set upon, but escapes. Afterward he seeks the antidote for his poisoned wound in a nearby forest, where he has been told it can be found. There he discovers the herbalist who originally treated him and learns he was in fact cured by that first treatment; the man had lied about it then to secure the Cimmerian's aid. He, it seems, it Naipal's true adversary. A final conflict between the two sorcerers ensues, in which both end up dead at the hands of the demon each tried to control, and the demon itself is destroyed by the spells they had lain on it.
Conan, surviving, decides to return home. On the way, he encounters Lord Khalid's agent Jelal. The spy has completed his investigations and cleared the Cimmerian of complicity in the Vendhyan plot against Turan. He gives Conan a parchment and instructs him to present it at the headquarters of the Turanian army on his return to Sultanpoor.