Conan the Triumphant
 Cover of first edition | |
| Author | Robert Jordan |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Conan the Barbarian |
| Genre | Sword and sorcery |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
Publication date | 1983 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 280 |
| ISBN | 0-8125-4234-7 |
Conan the Triumphant is a fantasy novel by American writer Robert Jordan, featuring Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in trade paperback by Tor Books in October 1983, and was reprinted in 1991; a regular paperback edition followed from the same publisher in April 1985, and was reprinted in January 1987, May 1991 and February 2011. The first British edition was published in paperback by Sphere Books in November 1985; a later British edition was published in paperback by Legend Books in April 1997. The novel was later gathered together with Conan the Magnificent and Conan the Destroyer into the hardcover omnibus collection The Conan Chronicles II (Legend, April 1997), and was later gathered together with Conan the Magnificent and Conan the Victorious into the hardcover omnibus collection The Further Chronicles of Conan (Tor Books, October 1999).[1]
Plot
Conan guides his army of mercenaries to Ianthe, capital of Ophir, where they become entangled in the chaos ensuing on the death of King Valdric. The factions of Antimides, Valentius, and Lady Synelle (Countess of Asmark) all contest for the throne. Synelle is secretly a sorceress and the high priestess of a nearly-forgotten demon god known as Al’Kiir. Al’Kiir was imprisoned within the depths of a mountain, called Tor Al’Kiir, centuries before by a mage named Avanrakash, but she hopes to release him by providing Al'Kiir a “bride” through human sacrifice and enlist his power to attain the throne.
Conan comes to Synelle’s attention when he buys an idol of Al’Kiir which she believes can be used to revive her god. She plan on obtaining it, sending various agents to try to steal it and bewitching the Cimmerian into enlisting in her service. This attachment is complicated by Conan’s interest in Julia, a young noblewoman reduced to trulldom, and his old rival, a female bandit named Karella the Red Hawk, one of those Synelle has hired to steal the idol.
Ultimately, Synelle’s true colors are revealed. In the bowels of the Tor Al’Kirr, she and her priestesses attempt to sacrifice Karella to raise the demon. Conan and his company attack her forces and the Cimmerian wins through—just too late. Al’Kiir is raised, but takes Synelle instead of the intended victim. When it next turns its attention to Karella, Conan seizes the Staff of Avanrakash and spears the creature. At its unearthly screams, Synelle’s defenders flee. The demon and the captive sorceress harden into stone as the mountain begins to rumble. Conan and his men flee, putting as much distance as they can between themselves and the mountain before it erupts in a pillar of flame resembling the staff.
In the aftermath, the victorious army of Valentius marches onto Ianthe. The remnants of the Free Company, sidelined, break up, each going his separate way. Conan urges Karella to go to Argos with him, but she refuses, preferring her free life to being mastered by the Cimmerian. He proceeds south alone. Meanwhile, Synelle is rescued from the destroyed mountain and brought back to life by Thoth-Amon.
Reception
Don D'Ammassa notes "The ending is rather weak in this one and there are a few too many coincidences."[2]
Notes
- ↑ Conan the Triumphant title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- ↑ D'Ammassa, Don. "Conan the Triumphant" (review on Critical Mass). Sep. 28, 2017.
References
| Preceded by Conan the Unconquered |
Tor Conan series (publication order) |
Succeeded by Conan the Magnificent |
| Preceded by Conan the Defender |
Complete Conan Saga (William Galen Gray chronology) |
Succeeded by Conan the Guardian |