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- Weaveworld (93)
- By Clive Barker
- Finished
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- Labyrinth (23)
- A Novel
- By A. C. H. Smith
- Not Started
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- Willow (11)
- By Wayland Drew
- Finished
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- Maureen Birnbaum (2)
- Barbarian Swordsperson: The Complete Stories
- By George Alec Effinger
- Finished
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- The Essential Conan, Volume #1 (2)
- (Conan the Barbarian #1-25)
- By Roy Thomas
- Unfinished
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- Conan (1)
- The Reaver
- By Don Kraar
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- Conan The Rebel (3)
- (Conan)
- By Poul Anderson
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- The Conan Chronicles (12)
- (Conan)
- By Robert Jordan
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- The Further Chronicles of Conan (5)
- Conan the Magnificent/Conan the Triumphant/Conan the Victorious
- By Robert Jordan
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- Conan the Destroyer (5)
- By Robert Jordan
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Conan the Destroyer

To Slay A Necromancer, To Lay A Virgin: Robert Jordan's Conan The Destroyer.

Apparently the third Conan novel written by James Oliver Rigney Jr. (pen name: Robert Jordan), Conan The Destroyer is one of three Conan novels he had published back in 1984.
Unlike his other Conan novels, Conan The Destroyer is a novelization from the script of the second Conan film starring ... (continue)

Apparently the third Conan novel written by James Oliver Rigney Jr. (pen name: Robert Jordan), Conan The Destroyer is one of three Conan novels he had published back in 1984.
Unlike his other Conan novels, Conan The Destroyer is a novelization from the script of the second Conan film starring Arnold Swarzenegger.
Those that have seen the film or read the novel should know the characters. The Royal Guard of Shadizar catches Conan and his fellow thief friend Malak, but not for what they think.
Apparently it is written in the Scrolls of Skelos that someone who fits Conan's exact description must quest with the One (an innocent princess, Jehnna), and her bodyguard Bombatta. The Princess of Shadizar, Tamaris eventually convinces Conan to join this quest by promising him the return of Valeria, his lost love.
As the quest begins already Bombatta and Conan are at odds. Throughout the novel readers know that eventually there will be a showdown between them. The Princess Jehnna however, is a beautiful innocent who quickly becomes attached to Conan. This just adds to Bombatta's and Conan's feud.
Throughout the quest Conan recruits his friends, old and new; his fellow thief Malak, the wizard Akiro, and the powerful female warrior Zula. They all follow Princess Jehnna's direction toward the Heart of Ahriman. Jehnna has been raised since birth using sorcery and living a sheltered life just for this quest. It is her destiny. A most powerful necromancer guards the Heart of Ahriman. Many a Conan fan know just how much Conan likes sorcery, but in order to finish his quest he must have Jehnna collect the Horn of Dagoth and the Heart is the key to retrieving it. Will Conan complete the quest? Does he believe Princess Tamaris can bring Valeria back from death? What happens to Princess Jehnna after her task is completed?
The novelization was really well done and easy to read. I enjoyed the written story more than the film because Jordan wrote in (either it was in the initial script or added by the author) some more adult situations. For instance, a night where Conan involuntarily cupped a warm hard-tipped mound. I'll have to watch the film again soon because I can't recall a love scene between Arnold and Olivia D'Abo (sigh, I pray it's a cut scene to be included in a future DVD, but I doubt it).
Other than some more added romance perhaps the best thing I liked about the novelization was the fact that the story is a heck of a lot more rounded out. You are taken by the hand and lead through this adventure. Jordan describes every situation well and the reason behind it. Throughout the film I remember just following along the story but not knowing who this gorilla wizard is and why the heck mirror breaking hurt it.
Now I know the answer to many things not explained well enough in the film. As a novelization of a film, Conan The Destroyer is a typical transformation of a script to novel form with added bits. I'm happy I read it, maybe now I'll enjoy the film more.

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- The Hobbit (3285)
- By J.R.R. Tolkien
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The Hobbit

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The Hobbit - Inventor Of A Genre Still A Testament To Time

Long ago in elementary school one of the first 'chapter' novels I ever read (I was so proud at the time I recall), was one entitled The Hobbit.
I remember just loving the story but always being hungry and wishing I always had snacks around, but nothing much other than that (It's been so long). ... (continue)

Long ago in elementary school one of the first 'chapter' novels I ever read (I was so proud at the time I recall), was one entitled The Hobbit.
I remember just loving the story but always being hungry and wishing I always had snacks around, but nothing much other than that (It's been so long).
Now, due to the fact that everyone around me seems to be hyped about the new Lord Of The Rings film and is reading the series, I decided to GASP! Go with the flow and start them as well (I have never read The Lord Of The Rings). I however, need completion when I read a series, so I decided to reread The Hobbit because well, I remembered nothing about it.
Now I do! Oh boy, it's a good thing I read it around Christmas because at least this time I was able to stuff myself every time a halfling (a more widely used term for Hobbit these days it appears) has a cake, or second breakfast, etc.
Bilbo Baggins is the hobbit in question's name and it's one that I have never forgotten since I first read it, even if I did forget exactly what he did.
When I started off on this adventure for the second time I was wary that perhaps it could be a little to childish nowadays for my liking. I have read the Chronicles of Narnia a second time later in life as well and found them a little to easy to read, but they were enjoyable.
At first I initially wasn't impressed. Bilbo, the wizard Gandalf, and a bunch of dwarves (not dwarfs), set out to steal back gold taken by a dragon named Smaug. A decent amount of pages in and it was just this little group travelling along, complaining, eating, and being watched over by Gandalf. I thought to myself, this is actually a pretty boring premise. Where is the grandeur? Where is the honourable quest (stealing gold doesn't do it for me)? Where is the heroism? That soon changed.
It took a little while, but eventually the group's guardian, Gandalf leaves. It is the up to these inexperienced dwarves along with a very inexperienced hobbit to finish the task. One bad thing after another happens and surprise, surprise! Bilbo's courage grows (reluctantly perhaps, but it does) and he saves the day for the entire group and himself many a time.
Now the story is a good one. Now it has meaning. Readers get to read along, as the spoilt little homebody Bilbo grows as a person, becomes honourable, and heroic. It's a tale everyone should like.
As a prelude to the Lord Of The Rings, I don't really know how this fits in (I haven't read them, but I did see the first film and see some obvious ties of which I won't go into here) but it's still a very good read at any age. While my skeptical brain may not have been as lost in the world of Middle Earth as it once was when I was a child, The Hobbit still entertained me quite a bit.
The Hobbit and the rest of Tolkien's works are stunning when you sit back and think of it. Sure the novels read a little like really well written Dungeons and Dragons books, but these were the first! There was nothing similar to The Hobbit back then. Tolkien invented 'orcs' and many other fantasy specifics that fantasy writers have used time and again.
The Hobbit and Tolkien created a genre, which many have expanded upon and perhaps improved upon, but they still stand the test of time as classic epic fantasy.

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- The Lord of the Rings (3774)
- By J.R.R. Tolkien
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The Lord of the Rings

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The Lord Of The Rings - Cooking With Hobbits Or An Actual Quest?

Well I finally did it. Ever since I first read The Hobbit back in elementary school I had been meaning to read J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings but I never did get around to it...until now.
It took me virtually forever to finish this thing. I started in January and it's May now. Yikes, ... (continue)

Well I finally did it. Ever since I first read The Hobbit back in elementary school I had been meaning to read J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings but I never did get around to it...until now.
It took me virtually forever to finish this thing. I started in January and it's May now. Yikes, have I become a slow reader. However, it's not just my speed at reading that made this novel slow, there were many parts to it that I just found outright slow going as well.
The Hobbit was an excellent read, hence the reason I wished to always read this novel. Heck, I've read The Hobbit twice! The Lord Of The Rings I doubt I will ever read again.
I'm one of those weird people that like to read the actual stories that so many modern writers have taken inspiration and their ideas from. The Lord Of The Rings is just such a novel. Back in the day apparently, this was one, if not the first big successful 'Epic Fantasy' novel.
The story is one where the entire world (called middle-Earth) is threatened by an ancient evil lord named Sauron. Many side with him and many side with the 'good guys'. There is one group of characters that the novel mainly concentrates on though, four hobbits, an elf, a dwarf, and a few men.
Frodo Baggins (an adopted relative of Bilbo from The Hobbit) is given a massive quest. It is he who must save the world by destroying a ring that can give the Lord Sauron all the power he needs to conquer middle-Earth. The rest of the characters set out with him to assist him in his quest.
The novel tells the story of each character at times but mainly the stars of the novel are the four hobbits. Their stories and activities are told in detail.
At first I have to admit, I hated these whiny little hobbits that slept and ate all the time. It drove me bonkers! All the other types of characters seemed so hard working and noble, how could I like these little guys? Eventually though, Tolkien concentrates almost solely on the hobbits so you really begin to have no choice but to like them. While I never could stand Frodo throughout the novel (I can't remember how many times when he looked like he would die, I actually wished he would!), the other two, Merry and Pippin became favorites. They were these goofy two guys that eventually became the noblest of creatures in the end. They both fought hard and went through great pains to try to save those they loved. The other hobbit was Sam. Who the heck is this slave? I swear, many times throughout the novel I thought Sam and Frodo would fall in love and finally both of them would get out of the closet. If this was written today, these guys couldn't possibly have passed for being straight.
Many have seen the movie, many have seen the cartoon, I have. I can't believe what a wonderful job the film has done to cut out all the tedious bits of this novel (and let me tell you...there are many tedious bits). If they cut three major things down a little out of this story, the eating (eating, wishing for food, preparing food, etc. etc.), the sleeping, and the little scared hungry hobbits walking around getting more scared, then this novel may have kicked some serious butt! It doesn't though.
The above three things are what really dragged this novel down. Hundreds upon hundreds of pages of scared hungry hobbits. I could barely take it. The base story itself is a really good one. Perhaps I am a child of the MTV generation and need action upon action. I doubt it though, I like a little atmosphere but The Lord Of The Rings borders on the ridiculous. There were countless times I'd really get into the story only to have it switch to people eating for the next eighty or so pages (is this story called The Lord Of The Rings, or Cooking With Hobbits?). I just don't understand why there was so much about nothing written in this story. Heck, even when you think the story should be over, it drags on for yet three or four more chapters..end it!
I am happy I finally read this huge thing though. I now can see where many a fantasy writer has gotten their ideas and expanded or refined them. Nowadays fantasy novels are everywhere. They are a dime a dozen one might say, some great, some very poor. Even though Tolkien may have set the standard for Epic Fantasy fiction as we know it, I find I didn't really enjoy The Lord Of The Rings that much. If it had less of the stuff I mentioned earlier the story may have flowed better and had been more enjoyable. Heck, the quest and all was interesting. It just wasn't rewarding enough of a read to have to sift through endless idle hobbit lore. If I ever read Tolkien again, I think I'll stick to The Hobbit.

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- The Last Aerie (12)
- (Necroscope: Vampire World Trilogy)
- By Brian Lumley
- Finished
  
  Tradable
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- The Dark Tower, Book 3 (328)
- The Waste Lands
- By Stephen King
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- Ghor, Kin-Slayer (1)
- The Saga of Genseric's Fifth-Born Son
- By Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andrew J. Offutt, Brian Lumley, …
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Ghor, Kin-Slayer

During my constantly aimless web browsing, I ran into a cool little book publisher, the Necronomicon Press. Of course the first thing I searched for was books by Brian Lumley.Boy was I surprised to see this one. Something I had never heard of. Ghor Kin-Slayer was pretty well just ... (continue)

During my constantly aimless web browsing, I ran into a cool little book publisher, the Necronomicon Press. Of course the first thing I searched for was books by Brian Lumley.Boy was I surprised to see this one. Something I had never heard of. Ghor Kin-Slayer was pretty well just a one chapter idea written by the author of Conan, Robert E. Howard.Originally a concept by the magazine 'Fantasy Crossroads', Ghor Kin-Slayer was finished by some of the top fantasy writers of the time.Unfortunately the magazine folded before all the stories could be published. The Necronomicon Press however, has released the stories as on novel. Each writer wrote one chapter in this story.In the beginning the novel starts out very Conanish. Ghor, abandoned by his family because of a deformed right leg is left out in the snow to die, ravished by the cold and the wild wolves. The wolves however, adopt this young newborn human child and raise him.Throughout the novel Ghor meets up with various armies and leads them to conquests. Falls in love with a princess, and some cruel gods punish Ghor for being so arrogant. Throughout life Ghor will never be happy, and will never find his true mate. Eventually, Ghor even has to battle the minions of Cthulhu himself!I had a lot of fun reading this novel. Although some chapters I just wanted to rush through because they weren't that good, some of them were quite excellent. Most Cthulhu Mythos, and Weird Tales fans will love this book.

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— Sep 9, 2007 | Add your feedback