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* DistressedDamsel: Many. {{Flanderization}}, however, has put a scantily-clad buxom maiden at Conan's feet being menaced by someone or something on ''every'' cover, bar none, regardless of story content. She could be an ActionGirl in the story, she might be a background characters who never meets Conan face to face, but on the cover it's always StrictlyFormula: 1.) [[FurryLoincloth Loincloth]], 2.) monster and/or ravening horde of savages, 3.) hot half-naked chick sprawled between Conan's legs [[TouchOfTheMonster looking terrified]] at [=#2=].
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* DistressedDamsel: Many. {{Flanderization}}, however, has put a scantily-clad buxom maiden at Conan's feet being menaced by someone or something on ''every'' cover, bar none, regardless of story content. She could be an ActionGirl in the story, she might be a background characters who never meets Conan face to face, but on the cover it's always StrictlyFormula: 1.) [[FurryLoincloth Loincloth]], {{Loincloth}} 2.) monster and/or ravening horde of savages, 3.) hot half-naked chick sprawled between Conan's legs [[TouchOfTheMonster looking terrified]] at [=#2=].
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** For reference, this is likely because in the movies, Conan is a hero, and has destiny on his side to glue his blade to him. In the books, he spends a significant amount of time falsely accused of crimes and the majority of the time correctly accused of crimes, so any weapon he doesn't break is going to be taken when he inevitably gets arrested or captured again, and most of his fighting is done in the process of escaping whatever so he doesn't have time to recover magic doodads.
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* BadassLongHair: One of Conan's trademarks since Creator/FrankFrazetta did the legendary illustrations is his long black mane, a look that was used in virtually all adaptations. Howard consistently describes Conan's hairdo as a "''square-cut'' black mane"; Creator/LSpragueDeCamp [[http://www.rehupa.com/?p=272 objected]] to Frazetta's shoulder-length interpretation and [[WhatCouldHaveBeen might have had the art replaced if he hadn't been overruled]].
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* BarbarianLongHair: One of Conan's trademarks since Creator/FrankFrazetta did the legendary illustrations is his long black mane, a look that was used in virtually all adaptations. Howard consistently describes Conan's hairdo as a "''square-cut'' black mane"; Creator/LSpragueDeCamp [[http://www.rehupa.com/?p=272 objected]] to Frazetta's shoulder-length interpretation and [[WhatCouldHaveBeen might have had the art replaced if he hadn't been overruled]].
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* ActionGirl: Belit, Nanaia.
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* ActionGirl: Belit, Nanaia.Nanaia and Valeria.
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** She gets repeatedly mentioned in the second film. Prior to that, you could be forgiven for thinking she's supposed to be Belit, who did some of the same things in the books. She appears to be, if anything from the books at all, a pastiche of the two.
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** The second film tends to grab names and jam them onto people, places, and things unrelated to the canon, and doesn't even make sense internally on some story points.
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* AmbiguousTimePeriod: The stories take place sometime between 20,000 B.C. and 9500 B.C. Or as his short story "The Phoenix on the Sword" puts it, "Between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas."
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Not to be confused with ConanOBrien. Also not to be confused with ''DetectiveConan'' or ''FutureBoyConan''.
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Not to be confused with ConanOBrien.Creator/ConanOBrien. Also not to be confused with ''DetectiveConan'' or ''FutureBoyConan''.
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There has [[AgeOfConan also been an]] {{MMORPG}}, notable for being unusually bloody for the genre, and several other adaptations in various media. A British game company named Mongoose Publishing, creators of, among other things, ''{{Infernum}}'' and two successive ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' {{Role Playing Game}}s, created a Conan role-playing-game using the D20 ruleset.
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There has [[AgeOfConan [[VideoGame/AgeOfConan also been an]] {{MMORPG}}, notable for being unusually bloody for the genre, and several other adaptations in various media. A British game company named Mongoose Publishing, creators of, among other things, ''{{Infernum}}'' and two successive ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' {{Role Playing Game}}s, created a Conan role-playing-game using the D20 ruleset.
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* ''AgeOfConan'' (2008)
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* ''AgeOfConan'' ''VideoGame/AgeOfConan'' (2008)
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* AncientAfrica: Kush, Keshan, Darfar, Punt, Zembabwei, Atlaia, Amazon and the other "Black Kingdoms" to the south of Stygia where Conan managed to lead a tribe for a few months. Possibly also the second movie featuring Grace Jones as a [[HeroicSociopath psychotic tribeswoman]] (as one of the ''heroes'').
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* AncientAfrica: Kush, Keshan, Darfar, Punt, Zembabwei, Atlaia, Amazon and the other "Black Kingdoms" to the south of Stygia where Conan managed to lead a tribe for a few months. Possibly also the second movie featuring Grace Jones as a [[HeroicSociopath [[SociopathicHero psychotic tribeswoman]] (as one of the ''heroes'').
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Removing Nightmare Fuel potholes. NF should be on YMMV only.
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* LivingShadow: The [[NightmareFuel nightmarish]] monster from ''Xuthal of the Dusk'', Thog.
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* LivingShadow: The [[NightmareFuel nightmarish]] nightmarish monster from ''Xuthal of the Dusk'', Thog.
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* NoblewomansLaugh: In one case, [[MindScrew it came]] [[NightmareFuel from the lips of]] a [[BlobMonster gelatinous, tentacled, toad headed monstrosity]].
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* NoblewomansLaugh: In one case, [[MindScrew it came]] [[NightmareFuel came from the lips of]] a [[BlobMonster gelatinous, tentacled, toad headed monstrosity]].
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* "Conan the Rogue" (November, 1991) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel, partly based on ''Literature/RedHarvest'' (1929) and "Film/TheMalteseFalcon" (1930), both by DashiellHammett. Conan has just ended a stint as a mercenary to the army of Nemedia. He has already lost his entire pay and most of his equipment gambling. So he gladly accepts a new job offer, searching for a mysterious and valuable item. Said job leads him to Sicas, an Aquilonian city increasingly dominated by organized crime. A MobWar between the five main gangs, and several minor factions, is ongoing. Deciding that this city of rogues is his kind of place, Conan soon uses the conflict to his own advantage. Meanwhile several parties in the War are also after the MacGuffin.
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* "Conan the Rogue" (November, 1991) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel, partly based on ''Literature/RedHarvest'' (1929) and "Film/TheMalteseFalcon" ''Literature/TheMalteseFalcon'' (1930), both by DashiellHammett.Creator/DashiellHammett. Conan has just ended a stint as a mercenary to the army of Nemedia. He has already lost his entire pay and most of his equipment gambling. So he gladly accepts a new job offer, searching for a mysterious and valuable item. Said job leads him to Sicas, an Aquilonian city increasingly dominated by organized crime. A MobWar between the five main gangs, and several minor factions, is ongoing. Deciding that this city of rogues is his kind of place, Conan soon uses the conflict to his own advantage. Meanwhile several parties in the War are also after the MacGuffin.
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* "Conan the Rogue" (November, 1991) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel, partly based on "RedHarvest" (1929) and "Film/TheMalteseFalcon" (1930), both by DashiellHammett. Conan has just ended a stint as a mercenary to the army of Nemedia. He has already lost his entire pay and most of his equipment gambling. So he gladly accepts a new job offer, searching for a mysterious and valuable item. Said job leads him to Sicas, an Aquilonian city increasingly dominated by organized crime. A MobWar between the five main gangs, and several minor factions, is ongoing. Deciding that this city of rogues is his kind of place, Conan soon uses the conflict to his own advantage. Meanwhile several parties in the War are also after the MacGuffin.
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* "Conan the Rogue" (November, 1991) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel, partly based on "RedHarvest" ''Literature/RedHarvest'' (1929) and "Film/TheMalteseFalcon" (1930), both by DashiellHammett. Conan has just ended a stint as a mercenary to the army of Nemedia. He has already lost his entire pay and most of his equipment gambling. So he gladly accepts a new job offer, searching for a mysterious and valuable item. Said job leads him to Sicas, an Aquilonian city increasingly dominated by organized crime. A MobWar between the five main gangs, and several minor factions, is ongoing. Deciding that this city of rogues is his kind of place, Conan soon uses the conflict to his own advantage. Meanwhile several parties in the War are also after the MacGuffin.
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Sliding Scale Of Antiheroes was redirected. Deleting wicks to it, Anti Hero Zero Context Examples and \"Type X\" junk
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* AntiHero: Conan varies from [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III to Type V]]
** At worst, he's a thief, a reaver, a slayer... and pretty much everything else you can think of where there's an opportunity for violence, wenches and loot. Including piracy, assassination, mercenary work and becoming warrior-king of the richest country on the continent. At best, then? The archetype of a ChaoticGood hero. He never kills anyone who doesn't deserve it or isn't trying to kill him, keeps his word, and goes out of his way to help the weak and helpless - ''if'' they're hot women. He even states this bluntly in "The Vale of Lost Women." Once he does become king he becomes pretty much the best one Aquilonia has ever had. However, he can be seen less as Type V and more as [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type IV]] with occasional dips into [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III.]] The movie Conan is more solidly a Type III while the Marvel Comics version was mostly [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type II]] with dips into III. [[Creator/DarkHorseComics Dark Horse's]] version is more back to the original IV.
** At worst, he's a thief, a reaver, a slayer... and pretty much everything else you can think of where there's an opportunity for violence, wenches and loot. Including piracy, assassination, mercenary work and becoming warrior-king of the richest country on the continent. At best, then? The archetype of a ChaoticGood hero. He never kills anyone who doesn't deserve it or isn't trying to kill him, keeps his word, and goes out of his way to help the weak and helpless - ''if'' they're hot women. He even states this bluntly in "The Vale of Lost Women." Once he does become king he becomes pretty much the best one Aquilonia has ever had. However, he can be seen less as Type V and more as [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type IV]] with occasional dips into [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III.]] The movie Conan is more solidly a Type III while the Marvel Comics version was mostly [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type II]] with dips into III. [[Creator/DarkHorseComics Dark Horse's]] version is more back to the original IV.
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* AntiHero: Conan varies from [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III to Type V]]
Conan
** At worst, he's a thief, a reaver, a slayer... and pretty much everything else you can think of where there's an opportunity for violence, wenches and loot. Including piracy, assassination, mercenary work and becoming warrior-king of the richest country on the continent. At best, then? The archetype of a ChaoticGood hero. He never kills anyone who doesn't deserve it or isn't trying to kill him, keeps his word, and goes out of his way to help the weak and helpless - ''if'' they're hot women. He even states this bluntly in "The Vale of Lost Women." Once he does become king he becomes pretty much the best one Aquilonia has ever had.However, he can be seen less as Type V and more as [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type IV]] with occasional dips into [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III.]] The movie Conan is more solidly a Type III while the Marvel Comics version was mostly [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type II]] with dips into III. [[Creator/DarkHorseComics Dark Horse's]] version is more back to the original IV.
** At worst, he's a thief, a reaver, a slayer... and pretty much everything else you can think of where there's an opportunity for violence, wenches and loot. Including piracy, assassination, mercenary work and becoming warrior-king of the richest country on the continent. At best, then? The archetype of a ChaoticGood hero. He never kills anyone who doesn't deserve it or isn't trying to kill him, keeps his word, and goes out of his way to help the weak and helpless - ''if'' they're hot women. He even states this bluntly in "The Vale of Lost Women." Once he does become king he becomes pretty much the best one Aquilonia has ever had.
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* The films ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' (1982) and ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'' (1984). Both had Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger as Conan, and MakoIwamatsu as Akiro, his KWONICLER. The first film also had JamesEarlJones as Thulsa Doom, and Sandahl Bergman as Valeria. It was co-written by John Milius and Oliver Stone, directed by Milius alone. The second film had Grace Jones as Zula, Olivia d'Abo as Jehnna, Sarah Douglas as Taramis, Pat Roach as Toth-Amon, Wilt Chamberlain (yes, ''that'' WiltChamberlain) as Bombaata, and an uncredited AndreTheGiant as the monster Dagoth. It was written by Stanley Mann, and directed by Richard Fleischer.
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* The films ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' (1982) and ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'' (1984). Both had Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger as Conan, and MakoIwamatsu as Akiro, his KWONICLER. The first film also had JamesEarlJones Creator/JamesEarlJones as Thulsa Doom, and Sandahl Bergman as Valeria. It was co-written by John Milius and Oliver Stone, directed by Milius alone. The second film had Grace Jones as Zula, Olivia d'Abo as Jehnna, Sarah Douglas as Taramis, Pat Roach as Toth-Amon, Wilt Chamberlain (yes, ''that'' WiltChamberlain) as Bombaata, and an uncredited AndreTheGiant as the monster Dagoth. It was written by Stanley Mann, and directed by Richard Fleischer.
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There has [[AgeOfConan also been an]] {{MMORPG}}, notable for being unusually bloody for the genre, and several other adaptations in various media. A British game company named Mongoose Publishing, creators of, among other things, ''{{Infernum}}'' and two successive ''JudgeDredd'' {{Role Playing Game}}s, created a Conan role-playing-game using the D20 ruleset.
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There has [[AgeOfConan also been an]] {{MMORPG}}, notable for being unusually bloody for the genre, and several other adaptations in various media. A British game company named Mongoose Publishing, creators of, among other things, ''{{Infernum}}'' and two successive ''JudgeDredd'' ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' {{Role Playing Game}}s, created a Conan role-playing-game using the D20 ruleset.
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For years, the pastiches and modified versions of Howard's stories were all considered {{Canon}} while the unedited originals were allowed to fall out of print. Nowadays however, Howard's unedited stories are available on the market again (and provided they're in public domain, the Internet), while the pastiches and modified texts [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes are mostly out of print]].
Though the dozens of pastiches are of varying quality, they are not without merit. If they wish, readers of today may relegate these stories to ExpandedUniverse status or just [[FanonDisContinuity ignore them altogether.]]
However, the status of Lin Carter and L. Sprague De Camp's works can be considered a [[LooseCanon secondary]] {{Canon}} of sorts, due to de Camp's decades-long control of the franchise and efforts to "reconcile" the original works. (Not to mention the sheer preponderance of in-universe works written posthumous to Howard's ShorterThanTheyThink series.)
Though the dozens of pastiches are of varying quality, they are not without merit. If they wish, readers of today may relegate these stories to ExpandedUniverse status or just [[FanonDisContinuity ignore them altogether.]]
However, the status of Lin Carter and L. Sprague De Camp's works can be considered a [[LooseCanon secondary]] {{Canon}} of sorts, due to de Camp's decades-long control of the franchise and efforts to "reconcile" the original works. (Not to mention the sheer preponderance of in-universe works written posthumous to Howard's ShorterThanTheyThink series.)
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For years, the pastiches and modified versions of Howard's stories were all considered {{Canon}} while the unedited originals were allowed to fall out of print. Nowadays however, Howard's unedited stories are available on the market again (and provided they're in public domain, the Internet), while the pastiches and modified texts [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes are mostly out of print]].
print]].
Though the dozens of pastiches are of varying quality, they are not without merit.If they wish, Some readers of today may relegate assign these stories to ExpandedUniverse status or just [[FanonDisContinuity status, some [[FanonDiscontinuity ignore them altogether.]]
However,altogether]], some accept them all as part on one big canon, and some accept [[HeadCanon just the stuff they like.]] The status of Lin Carter and L. Sprague De Camp's works can also be considered a [[LooseCanon secondary]] {{Canon}} of sorts, due to de Camp's decades-long control of the franchise and efforts to "reconcile" the original works. (Not Not to mention the sheer preponderance of in-universe works written posthumous to Howard's ShorterThanTheyThink series.)
Though the dozens of pastiches are of varying quality, they are not without merit.
However,
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The Conan books published by Lancer Books and Ace Books from 1966-1977 are among those supervised by De Camp, and they are perhaps most famous for their cover art by FrankFrazetta.
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The Conan books published by Lancer Books and Ace Books from 1966-1977 are among those supervised by De Camp, and they are perhaps most famous for their cover art by FrankFrazetta.
Creator/FrankFrazetta.
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* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: "The Scarlet Citadel" and "A Witch Shall Be Born" in particular, the most famous visual example being FrankFrazetta's iconic illustration for Conan the Adventurer.
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* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: "The Scarlet Citadel" and "A Witch Shall Be Born" in particular, the most famous visual example being FrankFrazetta's Creator/FrankFrazetta's iconic illustration for Conan the Adventurer.
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* BadassLongHair: One of Conan's trademarks since FrankFrazetta did the legendary illustrations is his long black mane, a look that was used in virtually all adaptations. Howard consistently describes Conan's hairdo as a "''square-cut'' black mane"; Creator/LSpragueDeCamp [[http://www.rehupa.com/?p=272 objected]] to Frazetta's shoulder-length interpretation and [[WhatCouldHaveBeen might have had the art replaced if he hadn't been overruled]].
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* BadassLongHair: One of Conan's trademarks since FrankFrazetta Creator/FrankFrazetta did the legendary illustrations is his long black mane, a look that was used in virtually all adaptations. Howard consistently describes Conan's hairdo as a "''square-cut'' black mane"; Creator/LSpragueDeCamp [[http://www.rehupa.com/?p=272 objected]] to Frazetta's shoulder-length interpretation and [[WhatCouldHaveBeen might have had the art replaced if he hadn't been overruled]].
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** As mentioned above, the classic FrankFrazetta covers adorned Creator/LSpragueDeCamp's [[LooseCanon semi-canonical]] Conan stories. De Camp, not known as a [[BroadStrokes continuity zealot]], objected to the [[InkstainAdaptation clearly inaccurate but thoroughly memetic]] depictions of Conan as a long-haired, loincloth-wearing savage, and wanted Frazetta fired... in which case the famous image of Conan would have never come to light.
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** As mentioned above, the classic FrankFrazetta Creator/FrankFrazetta covers adorned Creator/LSpragueDeCamp's [[LooseCanon semi-canonical]] Conan stories. De Camp, not known as a [[BroadStrokes continuity zealot]], objected to the [[InkstainAdaptation clearly inaccurate but thoroughly memetic]] depictions of Conan as a long-haired, loincloth-wearing savage, and wanted Frazetta fired... in which case the famous image of Conan would have never come to light.
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Zero Context Example of renamed trope. The example doesn\'t say how it qualifies for the trope criteria and has been removed. Don\'t readd unless you can tell \'\'why\'\' it qualifies for the trope
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* ''Conan and the Young Warriors'' (1994). Continuation of the above. This had Conan leading kids around. Having defeated his enemies, Conan was contemplating retirement. Fate, in the form of Epimetrius the Sage, has other plans and the Cimmerian becomes mentor to [[TheChosenOne The Chosen Ones]], three siblings with magical powers who are destined to rule the Hyborian world. All three are blonde, and blue-eyed. Draegen, the eldest boy, summons an InstantArmor with magical qualities. He has also been trained to WhipItGood in battle. Brynne, middle child and only girl, is a MasterOfIllusion. She has also had training as a thief and [[TheArcher Archer]]. Navah, the youngest boy, is a TheBeastmaster of the group. He has had training as a slinger. This show was never particularly successful. A total of 13 episodes were released.
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* ''Conan and the Young Warriors'' (1994). Continuation of the above. This had Conan leading kids around. Having defeated his enemies, Conan was contemplating retirement. Fate, in the form of Epimetrius the Sage, has other plans and the Cimmerian becomes mentor to [[TheChosenOne The Chosen Ones]], three siblings with magical powers who are destined to rule the Hyborian world. All three are blonde, and blue-eyed. Draegen, the eldest boy, summons an InstantArmor with magical qualities. He has also been trained to WhipItGood in battle. Brynne, middle child and only girl, is a MasterOfIllusion. She has also had training as a thief and [[TheArcher Archer]].Archer. Navah, the youngest boy, is a TheBeastmaster of the group. He has had training as a slinger. This show was never particularly successful. A total of 13 episodes were released.
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* CombatPragmatist: While he [[HeroesPreferSwords often uses swords]], Conan may also use pretty much whatever else is at hand. This includes other weapons like [[AnAxeToGrind axes,]] [[BladeOnAStick spears]], daggers, [[TheArcher bows and arrows]] (though he only learns archery after leaving Cimmeria), and [[ImprovisedWeapon improvised ones]] - like a stool in "Rogues in the House". He can also fight dirty, as when he gouges someone's eyes out in "The God in the Bowl".
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* CombatPragmatist: While he [[HeroesPreferSwords often uses swords]], Conan may also use pretty much whatever else is at hand. This includes other weapons like [[AnAxeToGrind axes,]] [[BladeOnAStick spears]], daggers, [[TheArcher bows and arrows]] arrows (though he only learns archery after leaving Cimmeria), and [[ImprovisedWeapon improvised ones]] - like a stool in "Rogues in the House". He can also fight dirty, as when he gouges someone's eyes out in "The God in the Bowl".
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* NotSoExtinct: Finding the pelt of a long-extinct golden leopard in "The Devil In Iron" confirms to Conan that the city has arisen from the ruins.
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* NotSoExtinct: Finding the pelt of a long-extinct golden leopard in "The Devil In Iron" confirms suggests to Conan that the city has arisen from the ruins.ruins. [[spoiler: This is confirmed when he fights a giant snake, also of a long-extinct species.]]
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* NotSoExtinct: Finding the pelt of a long-extinct golden leopard in "The Devil In Iron" confirms to Conan that the city has arisen from the ruins.
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* StatusQuoIsGod: No matter how much treasure Conan carries off from an adventure, the next story will be preceded with a brief note of how he squandered or lost it all, usually by partying non-stop in the first city he comes to.
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* GenreKiller: ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'' for a long time was considered to be one of two movies that killed the SwordAndSorcery genre in film (the other one being ''Film/RedSonja'').
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* GenreKiller: ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'' for a long time was considered to be is one of two movies that effectively killed the SwordAndSorcery genre in film and media for quite some time (the other one being ''Film/RedSonja'').
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* DeadExMachina: Happens with Belit.
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* GenreKiller
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* GenreKillerGenreKiller: ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'' for a long time was considered to be one of two movies that killed the SwordAndSorcery genre in film (the other one being ''Film/RedSonja'').
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* MagicIsEvil: Nostly. Even Pelias in the original stories was on Conan's side and nevertheless managed to creep him out so badly that Conan felt no [[FireForgedFriends friendship]] for him after, a circumstance so odd that Conan muses on it. In ''Hour of the Dragon'' the priests of Asura and the witch woman Conan meets in the hills are ay least neutral. Epimetheus, or his spirit at least is the only absolutely clear example of white magic although, being opposed to Set and Thoth Amon it can be inferred that the offscreen priest of Ibis in "The God in the Bowl" is a good guy.
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* MagicIsEvil: Nostly.Mostly. Even Pelias in the original stories was on Conan's side and nevertheless managed to creep him out so badly that Conan felt no [[FireForgedFriends friendship]] for him after, a circumstance so odd that Conan muses on it. In ''Hour of the Dragon'' the priests of Asura and the witch woman Conan meets in the hills are ay at least neutral. Epimetheus, Epimetreus, or his spirit at least is the only absolutely clear example of white magic although, being opposed to Set and Thoth Amon Thoth-Amon it can be inferred that the offscreen priest of Ibis in "The God in the Bowl" is a good guy.
* NotTooDeadToSaveTheDay: Belit in ''Queen of the Black Coast'' does this in Conan's hour of need. The scene in the movie when Valeria does this was inspired directly by the story in question.
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* PlanetOfHats: In many istances: almost every Stygian is an evil sorcerer/priest worshipping Set, all Picts are wild, bloodthirsty barbarians and woodsmen, Zamorians are sniveling thieves, Aesir and Vanir are [[HornyVikings viking-like]] BoisterousBruiser warriors, Khitans and Eastern people are enigmatic fatalists, Zuagirs are noble sand raiders with a strict code of honor and Hyperboreans are skinny, evil people worshipping a sorceress. Furthermore, all those "isolated and decadent" type of people living in remote cities tends to be depraved and decadent psychos.
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* PlanetOfHats: In many istances: instances: almost every Stygian is an evil sorcerer/priest EvilSorcerer or priest worshipping Set, all Picts are wild, bloodthirsty barbarians and woodsmen, Zamorians are sniveling thieves, Aesir and Vanir are [[HornyVikings viking-like]] BoisterousBruiser warriors, Khitans and Eastern people are enigmatic fatalists, Zuagirs are noble sand raiders with a strict code of honor and Hyperboreans are skinny, evil people worshipping a sorceress. Furthermore, all those "isolated and decadent" type of people living in remote cities tends to be depraved and decadent psychos.
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* RescueSex: When Conan saves Princess Yasmela from an evil wizard at the end of ''Black Colossus'', she immediately insists that he ravish her atop the very alter that she going to be sacrificed on.
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* RescueSex: When Conan saves Princess Yasmela from an evil wizard at the end of ''Black Colossus'', she immediately insists that he ravish her atop the very alter that she was going to be sacrificed on.
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* SeenItAll: He's traveled from Asgard and Vanaheim (Scandinavia) in the north to the tribal lands south of Kush(central Africa), from West of the Baracha Isles (Azores or Canary Islands) to Vendhya (India) in the east (and in other authors' work to Khitai (China)). He's been a mercenary, a thief, a pirate, a bandit, a tribal chieftain in four distinct geographical areas, a Captain of the Guard, a wilderness scout , a General and finally a king. He's fought men, beasts (especially snakes) and demons. He's discovered lost civilizations and the ruins of lost civilizations. This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Thulsa Doom in one of the later Savage Sword of Conan stories, when Conan recounts his experiences. Thulsa Doom calls Conan a liar, stating that no one could have lived through so many adventures over the thirty-odd years that Conan had been alive.
to:
* SeenItAll: He's traveled from Asgard and Vanaheim (Scandinavia) in the north to the tribal lands south of Kush(central Kush (central Africa), from West of the Baracha Isles (Azores or Canary Islands) to Vendhya (India) in the east (and in other authors' work to Khitai (China)). He's been a mercenary, a thief, a pirate, a bandit, a tribal chieftain in four distinct geographical areas, a Captain of the Guard, a wilderness scout , scout, a General and finally a king. He's fought men, beasts (especially snakes) and demons. He's discovered lost civilizations and the ruins of lost civilizations. This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Thulsa Doom in one of the later Savage Sword of Conan stories, when Conan recounts his experiences. Thulsa Doom calls Conan a liar, stating that no one could have lived through so many adventures over the thirty-odd years that Conan had been alive.
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* SilverHasMysticPowers: And is the only thing other than fire that can hurt demons.
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* SilverHasMysticPowers: And is the only thing other than fire and phoenix-marked swords that can hurt demons.
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* UnknownRival: In the Howard stories Conan and Thoth-amon never actually meet or even knowingly act against each other. In ''Sword On the Phoenix'' Thoth-amon sends a demon not after King Conan but after his former master who is trying to assassinate Conan, thus inadvertantly saving his life, although since Thoth-amon also told the demon to kill everyone with his master he also inadvertantly puts him in danger again. In ''The God In the Bowl'' Conan just happens to be robbing the museum where a deadly gift intended for a rival of Thoth-amon's is being stored and gets loose. In ''The Black Stranger'' the object of Thoth-amon's wrath is one of several parties including Conan after a pirate's treasure treasure. Once again, Conan just happens to get in the way. In ''Hour of the Dragon'' Thoth-amon is merely mentioned by a group of Stygian priests looking for a weapon to use against him since his return to Stygia that Conan happens to encounter.
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* UnknownRival: In the Howard stories Conan and Thoth-amon Thoth-Amon never actually meet or even knowingly act against each other. In ''Sword On the Phoenix'' Thoth-amon sends a demon not after King Conan but after his former master who is trying to assassinate Conan, thus inadvertantly saving his life, although since Thoth-amon Thoth-Amon also told the demon to kill everyone with his master he also inadvertantly puts him in danger again. In ''The God In the Bowl'' Conan just happens to be robbing the museum where a deadly gift intended for a rival of Thoth-amon's Thoth-Amon's is being stored and gets loose. In ''The Black Stranger'' the object of Thoth-amon's Thoth-Amon's wrath is one of several parties including Conan after a pirate's treasure treasure. Once again, Conan just happens to get in the way. In ''Hour of the Dragon'' Thoth-amon Thoth-Amon is merely mentioned by a group of Stygian priests looking for a weapon to use against him since his return to Stygia that Conan happens to encounter.
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** Tsotha-lanti promises Seth five hundred if he'll defeat Conan.
** In ''The Hour of the Dragon'' Xaltotun carries a virgin to an alter with the intent to sacrifice her, but he is stopped by an old witch and a Priest of Ashura who are allied with Conan.
** In ''The Hour of the Dragon'' Xaltotun carries a virgin to an alter with the intent to sacrifice her, but he is stopped by an old witch and a Priest of Ashura who are allied with Conan.
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** Tsotha-lanti promises Seth Set five hundred of these if he'll help him defeat Conan.
** In ''The Hour of the Dragon'' Xaltotun carries a virgin to analter altar with the intent to sacrifice her, but he is stopped by an old witch and a Priest of Ashura who are allied with Conan.
** In ''The Hour of the Dragon'' Xaltotun carries a virgin to an
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* WorldHalfEmpty: Let's see: the civilizations are decadent empires that don't give a damn about their people, anybody living in a city with a sorcerer in residence is at risk of being kidnapped and taken to their secret tower and never seen again. Barbarians are crazy savages who want to destroy civilization, some of them are cannibals as well. The only thing that keeps Conan at his "hero" rather than "BloodKnight" status is that he's usually fighting some of the most hideously evil people of his time-- and that's mainly just because they have the best loot.
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* WorldHalfEmpty: Let's see: the civilizations are decadent empires that don't give a damn about their people, anybody living in a city with a sorcerer in residence is at risk of being kidnapped and taken to their secret tower and never seen again. Barbarians are crazy savages who want to destroy civilization, some of them are cannibals as well. The only thing that keeps Conan at his "hero" rather than "BloodKnight" status is that he's usually fighting some of the most hideously evil people of his time-- time -- and that's mainly just because they have the best loot.
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* AllThereInTheScript: In the 1982 ''Conan the Barbarian'' film, Valeria's name is never mentioned once.
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*** ''Conan: The Ravagers out of Time'' (1992). Crossover with RedSonja and {{Kull}}. Involves TimeTravel.
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*** ''Conan: The Ravagers out of Time'' (1992). Crossover with RedSonja Comicbook/RedSonja and {{Kull}}. Involves TimeTravel.
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Just as some of Howard's non-Conan stories were [[DolledUpInstallment reworked for inclusion in the Conan books]], the character of RedSonja was created for Marvel loosely based on two of Howard's other characters from his historical fiction - Red Sonya of Rogatino and Dark Agnes, both {{Action Girl}}s from the 16th century.
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Just as some of Howard's non-Conan stories were [[DolledUpInstallment reworked for inclusion in the Conan books]], the character of RedSonja Comicbook/RedSonja was created for Marvel loosely based on two of Howard's other characters from his historical fiction - Red Sonya of Rogatino and Dark Agnes, both {{Action Girl}}s from the 16th century.
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* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Valeria, Bêlit, RedSonja in the Marvel comics.
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* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Valeria, Bêlit, RedSonja Comicbook/RedSonja in the Marvel comics.
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* SpinOff: ''RedSonja''.
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* SpinOff: ''RedSonja''.''Comicbook/RedSonja''.
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[[quoteright:330:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/conan_frazetta_3199.jpg]]
->''"Know, o prince, that between the years when the oceans drank {{Atlantis}} and [[ShiningCity the gleaming cities]], and the years of the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars - Nemedia, Ophir, Brythunia, Hyperborea, Zamora with its dark-haired women and towers of spider-haunted mystery, Zingara with its [[KnightInShiningArmor chivalry]], Koth that bordered the pastoral lands of Shem, Stygia with its shadow-guarded tombs, Hyrkania whose riders wore steel and silk and gold. But the proudest kingdom of the world was Aquilonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west. Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian; black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet."''
-->-- The Nemedian Chronicles, as quoted in ''Literature/ThePhoenixOnTheSword'', the very first Conan story by Creator/RobertEHoward.
The star of a gritty HeroicFantasy series of stories set in the Hyborian Age, an age before modern history. Created in the [[TheThirties 1930s]] for ''WeirdTales'' magazine, '''Conan''' of Cimmeria quickly became Creator/RobertEHoward's (1906-1936) most famous and popular creation. When people think [[BarbarianHero 'barbarian']], they often picture Conan.
Not at all influenced by the concept of the 'NobleSavage', Conan represented the ever-present danger posed to civilization by humanity's warlike nature (or vice versa). Howard's stories frequently relied on pulp formulas, much to Howard's chagrin. Howard would try to subvert these formulas wherever possible, especially where they required him to include a perfunctory sex scene. He took great delight in the publication of 'Beyond the Black River', precisely because it left out sex entirely.
Conan is strong, courageous and [[ChivalrousPervert oddly respectful]] of women. He is not an [[DumbMuscle idiot]], but neither is he of a scholastic disposition -- he is mostly practical and naturally cunning, though he is also knowledgable, able to speak, read and write a dozen languages, and even puzzle out ancient scripts in one story. He is a defining example of the type of barbarian who has the principles of a snake.
It is possible to see him as a MartyStu in the sense of being an idealised version of the author. He reflects Howard's [[AuthorAppeal preferences]] and [[ValuesDissonance prejudices]]; black people are poorly portrayed most of the time, Conan likes women with "skin as white as alabaster" and "a supple waist". And snakes, Howard must have been [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes scared of snakes]], huge [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent "loathsome serpents"]] turn up [[ScaledUp continually]], although this could also have to do with his friendship with Creator/HPLovecraft (the original Conan stories are actually a [[CanonWelding peripheral part]] of the CthulhuMythos.) Yet in ''Beyond the Black River'', Howard included a character that was explicitly stated in one of his letters to be an AuthorAvatar, and he was shown to be inferior to Conan in many ways.
Two Conan movies were made in the eighties: the first, ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' put [[NietzscheWannabe Nietzschean (Wannabe) philosophy]] together with rubber snakes and an epic tale of revenge. While [[InNameOnly it wasn't very accurate]] to the original Howard stories, hewing more to [[BroadStrokes Oliver Stone's ideas]] filtered through [[CrackPairing John Milius' direction]] regarding both plot and themes, it has become a CultClassic on its own merits. Its [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome awesome music]], epic feel, and interesting plot helped launch Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger's acting career. The second movie, ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'', took a more [[LighterAndFluffier comical and lighthearted tone]], wasn't as successful and got a critical negative reception. Plans for at least another movie fell through. There were rumors in the early 2000s about a new movie were Arnie would have reprised the role as an aged Conan, now king of Aquilonia, but all plans were scrapped when he entered politics.
A third Conan movie, again titled ''Film/{{Conan the Barbarian|2011}}'' was released in August 2011. A ContinuityReboot, it was supposed to be more faithful to Howard. It wasn't.
In October of 2012, it was announced that Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger will be starring in ''The Legend of Conan'', which is set for a Summer 2014 release. The film will be a sequel to the 1982 film and will [[CanonDiscontinuity completely disregard ''Conan the Destroyer'' as well as the 2011 reboot]]. It will center around an aging Conan who seeks one last adventure before he dies (the film's producer is describing it as "Conan's ''Film/{{Unforgiven}}''").
There has [[AgeOfConan also been an]] {{MMORPG}}, notable for being unusually bloody for the genre, and several other adaptations in various media. A British game company named Mongoose Publishing, creators of, among other things, ''{{Infernum}}'' and two successive ''JudgeDredd'' {{Role Playing Game}}s, created a Conan role-playing-game using the D20 ruleset.
Not to be confused with ConanOBrien. Also not to be confused with ''DetectiveConan'' or ''FutureBoyConan''.
----
[[foldercontrol]]
!!The Conan literature
[[folder:Robert E. Howard]]
[[index]]
From 1932-1936, Robert E. Howard completed one novel and 20 shorter stories about Conan. Some of these were first published posthumously. In order of writing, these are:
* "Literature/ThePhoenixOnTheSword". First published in December, 1932.
* "Literature/TheFrostGiantsDaughter" (a.k.a. Gods of the North) Written in 1932, but not published. A version modified by Howard appeared in March, 1934. A version modified by Creator/LSpragueDeCamp appeared in 1953. The original version was first published in 1976.
* "Literature/TheGodInTheBowl". Written in 1932 or 1933, but not published. A version edited by L. Sprague de Camp was first published in September, 1952. The original version was first published in 1975.
* "Literature/TheTowerOfTheElephant". First published in March, 1933.
* "Literature/TheScarletCitadel". First published in January, 1933.
* "Literature/QueenOfTheBlackCoast". First published in May, 1934.
* "Literature/BlackColossus". First published in June, 1933.
* "Literature/IronShadowsInTheMoon" (a.k.a. "Shadows in the Moonlight"). First published in April, 1934.
* "Literature/XuthalOfTheDusk" (a.k.a. "The Slithering Shadow"). First published in September, 1933.
* "Literature/ThePoolOfTheBlackOne". First published in October, 1933.
* "Literature/RoguesInTheHouse". First published in January, 1934.
* "Literature/TheValeOfLostWomen". Written in 1933 or 1934, but not published. First published in Spring, 1967.
* "Literature/TheDevilInIron". First published in August, 1934.
* "Literature/ThePeopleOfTheBlackCircle". Novella. Published in three parts, from September to November, 1934.
* ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon''. Novel. Published in 5 parts, from December, 1935 to April, 1936.
* "Literature/AWitchShallBeBorn". First published in December, 1934.
* "Literature/TheServantsOfBitYakin" (a.k.a. "Jewels of Gwahlur"). First published in March, 1935.
* "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver". Published in 2 parts, from May to June, 1935.
* "Literature/TheBlackStranger" (a.k.a. "The Treasure of Tranicos"). There are 3 versions of this story. Two by Howard, and one by L. Sprague de Camp. The original version was written in 1934 or 1935, first published in 1987. The second version by Howard was written c. 1936, and was first published in 1976. The de Camp version was first published in 1953, and further modified in 1967.
* "Literature/ManEatersOfZamboula" (a.k.a. "Shadows in Zamboula"). First published in November, 1935.
* "Literature/RedNails". Novella. Published in 3 parts, from July to October, 1936.
[[/index]]
Howard also left some stories unfinished or in synopsis form. The titled ones, in no particular order, are:
* "Drums of Tombalku". Left in fragmentary form, first published in 1986. L. Sprague de Camp created a completed version, first published in 1966.
* "The Hall of the Dead". Left in synopsis form, first published in November 1974. L. Sprague de Camp created a completed version, first published in February, 1967.
* "The Hand of Nergal". Left in fragmentary form, first published in 1976. Lin Carter created a completed version, first published in 1968.
* "The Snout in the Dark". Left in fragmentary form, first published in 1979. L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter co-wrote a completed version of the story, first published in 1969.
* "Wolves Beyond the Border". Left in two surviving drafts, first published between 2001 and 2005. L. Sprague de Camp created a completed version, first published in 1967.
He wrote a few other Conan-related pieces, like "[[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Hyborian_Age The Hyborian Age]]", [[AllThereInTheManual an essay about his fictional setting]], and the poem "Cimmeria", evoking Conan's homeland.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Other authors]]
Over the decades, many other authors have written official [[FanFic fanfics]] - or more formally, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastiche pastiches]] - of Conan. There are more [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_%28books%29 Conan stories by other writers]] combined than Howard himself ever wrote.
Their ranks include [[Literature/TheWheelOfTime Robert Jordan]] and HarryTurtledove, but the most significant of them was the {{showrunner}}-of-sorts back in the day, Creator/LSpragueDeCamp (1907-2000). He wrote several pastiches with the frequent collaboration of another author, Lin Carter (1930-1988). Both were prolific fantasy and SF authors in their own right, but they are perhaps most associated with Conan today.
Besides writing pastiches, De Camp edited Howard's stories, which often meant [[ReTool retooling the text altogether.]] De Camp and/or Carter also produced full versions of stories Howard left unfinished, and reworked some of Howard's unrelated fiction [[DolledUpInstallment to make them Conan tales.]] The De Camp-supervised books featured pastiche stories together with Howard's edited originals until finally they ran out of the latter, in which case the books became complete pastiches.
The Conan books published by Lancer Books and Ace Books from 1966-1977 are among those supervised by De Camp, and they are perhaps most famous for their cover art by FrankFrazetta.
For years, the pastiches and modified versions of Howard's stories were all considered {{Canon}} while the unedited originals were allowed to fall out of print. Nowadays however, Howard's unedited stories are available on the market again (and provided they're in public domain, the Internet), while the pastiches and modified texts [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes are mostly out of print]].
Though the dozens of pastiches are of varying quality, they are not without merit. If they wish, readers of today may relegate these stories to ExpandedUniverse status or just [[FanonDisContinuity ignore them altogether.]]
However, the status of Lin Carter and L. Sprague De Camp's works can be considered a [[LooseCanon secondary]] {{Canon}} of sorts, due to de Camp's decades-long control of the franchise and efforts to "reconcile" the original works. (Not to mention the sheer preponderance of in-universe works written posthumous to Howard's ShorterThanTheyThink series.)
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Novels and short stories by other authors]]
* "Conan of the Isles" (1968) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Novel, chronologically the last Conan tale. Conan is about 65 years old when abdicating the throne of Aquilonia and heading to the Western Ocean for one last adventure.
* "Black Sphinx of Nebthu" (July, 1973) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Sequel to "The Witch of the Mists".
* "Black Tears" (1968) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Partly inspired from the {{Medusa}} legend of ClassicalMythology.
* "Conan and the Amazon" (April, 1995) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. Conan and an Amazon are in search of the lost city of Jangar, which was the battleground between sorcerers and gods. But the current incarnation of the city is a perilous place and there were reasons for its isolation.
* "Conan and the Death Lord of Thanza" (January, 1997) by Roland Green. Novel. Conan joins a force of rangers, active in the mountainous borders between Aquilonia and Nemedia. Their mission is to face the groups of bandits active in the area. A seemingly simple mission. Until a local bandit leader seeks a magical artifact which grants power over death.
* "Conan and the Emerald Lotus" (November, 1995) by John C. Hocking. Novel. A sorcerer has gotten two of his rival magic users addicted to a drug. It amplifies their powers when used, but has nasty withdrawal symptoms. He then cut off their supply, waiting for results. The two afflicted magic users intend to use Conan as a pawn to get them their drug. He has no choice on the matter as their spells threaten his own life.
* "Conan and the Gods of the Mountain" (May, 1993) by Roland Green. Sequel to "Red Nails". Conan and Valeria continue wandering the Black Kingdoms (Africa), stumbling on a conflict between the Speakers of Spirits and the God-Men.
* "Conan and the Grim Grey God" (November, 1996) by Sean A. Moore. Novel. Conan is searching for the statue of an ancient deity, reputed to be priceless. But there are others searching for the statue, since another version of its tales speaks of its great power. The power to end the reign of light and begin the rule of darkness.
* "Conan and the Manhunters" (October, 1994) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. Conan is leading bandits in the deserts between Shem and Turan. He has the idea to steal a valuable treasure from a temple of Ahriman. Consequently he and his group have the Cult of the deity and a group of extraordinary manhunters following their trail.
* "Conan and the Mists of Doom" (August, 1995) by Roland Green. Novel, follows shortly after "The People Of The Black Circle". Conan has left Afghulistan with a number of tribesmen loyal to him. He intends to lead them to Koth. But in the Kezankian Mountains, the Mist of Doom drains travelers of their lifeforce. Conan's group has to join with other groups to ensure their survival.
* "Conan and the Shaman's Curse" (January, 1996) by Sean A. Moore. Novel. The opening scene has Conan on a battlefield, the last survivor of both groups of opponents. A dying shaman uses his last breath to curse him. Soon Conan realizes the effects of the curse. He has become a [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Werebeast]], subject to periodic transformations.
* "Conan and the Sorcerer" (October, 1978) by Andrew J. Offutt. Novel, features intrigues in Zamora and Zamboula.
* "Conan and the Spider God" (December, 1980) by L. Sprague de Camp. Novel, features Conan facing the priests of Yezud, a city which worships a Spider God.
* "Conan and the Treasure of Python" (November, 1993) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel, partly based on "Literature/KingSolomonsMines" (1885) by Creator/HRiderHaggard. Conan is hired to return to DarkestAfrica, where he had spend several years of his life, and lead an expedition through the wilderness. They are supposedly looking for the missing brother of his employer. But more accurately searching for the treasure that both brothers had been seeking.
* "Conan at the Demon's Gate" (November, 1994) by Roland Green. Novel. Set in the period that Conan is the chief of the Bamulas, an African tribe. Serves as a prequel to "The Vale of Lost Women". A CoolGate transports Conan and his tribesmen to the Pictish Winderland. And the locals are not welcoming.
* "Conan of the Red Brotherhood" (February, 1993) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Sequel to "Shadows in the Moonlight". Covers the period of Conan serving the Red Brotherhood, pirates of Vilayet Sea, and having Turan and its rulers as enemies.
* "Conan of Venarium" (July, 2003) by HarryTurtledove. Novel. Depicts events mentioned in passing during "Beyond the Black River", but never depicted in detail. Aquilonia attempts to colonize areas of Cimmeria, building the fortress of Venarium to control the area. The Cimmerians eventually storm the fortress and drive the invaders away. A very young Conan, barely a teenager, participates in his first battle.
* "Conan the Barbarian" (July, 2011) by Michael A. Stackpole. Novelization of the film.
* "Conan the Barbarian" (May, 1982) by L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter, and Catherine Crook de Camp. Novelization of the film. First credited collaboration for Catherine, though she is thought likely to have co-written, revised or otherwise contributed to several previous novels.
* "Conan the Bold" (April, 1989) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. A youthful Conan is contemplating marriage when his would-be-bride is slaughtered with most of her family. Conan swears vengeance. He follows the trail of the one responsible across several countries over a period of years.
* "Conan the Buccaneer" (1971) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Novel, featuring political intrigues over the throne of Zingara.
* "Conan the Champion" (April, 1987) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. Conan's career as a pirate of the Vilayet Sea ends in a shipwreck. His attempt to find mercenary work results in Conan being at the center of a three-way war between city-states.
* "Conan the Defender" (December, 1982) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features unrest and political conspiracies within Nemedia.
* "Conan the Defiant" (October, 1987) by Steve Perry. Novel. Conan's seeks vengeance against a {{Necromancer}}. But will have to face an army of AnimateDead to get to his opponent.
* "Conan the Destroyer" (July, 1984) by Robert Jordan. Novelization of the film.
* "Conan the Fearless" (February, 1986) by Steve Perry. Novel. A young girl with ElementalPowers is being targeted by more experienced magic users. Conan becomes her reluctant protector. A secondary antagonist is a nymphomaniac witch who needs Conan's heart to power up a {{Sexbot}}
* "Conan the Formidable" (November, 1990) by Steve Perry. Novel, features a youthful Conan entering Zamora for the first time. But instead of reaching civilization, Conan becomes the unwilling "guest" of a race of giants. And he gets his introduction to the Vargs, a race of Green Dwarves who feast on other humanoids, and to the members of a freak show seeking new recruits.
* "Conan the Free Lance" (February, 1990) by Steve Perry. Novel. Having recently parted with his traveling companions, Conan spends some time with the Tree Folk. That is a forest tribe living on top of the trees. His visit coincides by an attack on the tribe by the forces of a sorcerer, who needs the Tree Folk's Sacred Seed to ensure his own survival. Without the Seed the tribe and its forest face extinction. conan volunteers to help retrieve the Seed.
* "Conan the Gladiator" (January, 1995) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan has joined a traveling circus as their strongman, crossing various countries. But their idea to perform in Stygia results in their introduction to GladiatorGames... as unwilling participants.
* "Conan the Great" (April, 1990) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan, King of Aquilonia defeats an invasion by the combined troops of Nemedia and Ophir. Among the prisoners of war is a court jester who gladly switches allegiance. What Conan doesn't know is that the jester is the representative of a god, aiming to unite Hyboria under a single ruler. And Conan has unwittingly volunteered for the position. Meanwhile Koth has just entered a new expansion phase.
* "Conan the Guardian" (January, 1991) by Roland Green. Novel. Conan serves as the bodyguard of a young Argosian noblewoman. His role gives him insight into a culture dominated by wealthy merchants. And to the ruthlessness and deadly intrigues underlying the civilized veneer.
* "Conan the Hero" (February, 1989). Novel, serves as a sequel to "The City of Skulls". Conan and Juma still serve in the army of Turan. But their emperor is about to be betrayed by his foreign allies and members of his own court.
* "Conan the Hunter" (January, 1994) by Sean A. Moore. Novel. Conan buys a bracelet as a gift to a girlfriend. But the bracelet belonged to a recently-murdered princess and was apparently stolen from her corpse. His possession of it makes him a suspect in the high-profile murder case. Someone set him up. Conan seeks to find answers and clear his name, while facing complex conspiracies.
* "Conan the Indomitable" (October, 1989) by Steve Perry. Novel, a sequel to "Conan the Defiant". Conan, his lover Elashi, and a number of new companions are trapped BeneathTheEarth. In an underground realm ruled by a sorcerer and a sorceress in constant battle with each other. The various sentient races serving them are on the verge of a rebellion. The humans are soon caught up in a bizarre conflict.
* "Conan the Invincible" (June, 1982) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features Conan's encounters with a bandit queen.
* "Conan the Liberator" (February, 1979) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Novel, features Conan leading the rebellion against the King of Aquilonia. Events which lead him to the throne.
* "Conan the Magnificent" (May, 1984) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features Conan as a thief in Shadizar. Having recently been outperformed by a female thief, Conan decides to track her down and beat her in her own game. But both thieves are unwittingly following a perilous expedition into the wilderness.
* "Conan the Marauder" (January, 1988) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. A Hyrkanian warlord attempts to unite all the tribes and create an Empire. A Turanian sorcerer attempts to place this army under his own control. Conan is caught up in the resulting conflicts.
* "Conan the Mercenary" (January, 1981) by Andrew J. Offutt. Novel, covers a missing period between "Conan and the Sorcerer" and "The Sword of Skelos".
* "Conan the Outcast" (April, 1991) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Takes place within the city-states of eastern Shem, a desert area. The city of Sark is in decline, consequence of a prolonged drought. A priest convinces its monarchs that a sacrifice to his god could reverse the situation. But not just any sacrifice, but that of another city-state and every life within it. Said city is Qjara, a vibrant city which serves as part of a significant trade route. Currently living in Qjara is Conan, stranded there for months while waiting for a caravan to Zamora.
* "Conan the Raider" (October, 1986) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan joins a tomb-robbing expedition in Stygia. A subplot involving a precious gem has the story serving as a sequel to "Shadows in Zamboula" and a prequel to "The Star of Khorala".
* "Conan the Rebel" (July, 1980) by Poul Anderson. Novel, features Conan and Belit involved in a Stygian provincial rebellion.
* "Conan the Relentless" (April, 1992) by Roland Green. Novel. Conan attempts to cross the Border Kingdoms, heading for other areas as usual. But he soon ends up in a war zone, with the Kingdoms no longer the relatively peaceful area of his experience. When he recognizes Raihna (an old ally from "Conan the Relentless") among the combatants, Conan starts getting interested in his surroundings.
* "Conan the Renegade" (April, 1986) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Features mercenary adventures in the borders of Koth and Khoraja. Serves as a sequel to "Black Colossus" and "Shadows in the Dark".
* "Conan the Rogue" (November, 1991) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel, partly based on "RedHarvest" (1929) and "Film/TheMalteseFalcon" (1930), both by DashiellHammett. Conan has just ended a stint as a mercenary to the army of Nemedia. He has already lost his entire pay and most of his equipment gambling. So he gladly accepts a new job offer, searching for a mysterious and valuable item. Said job leads him to Sicas, an Aquilonian city increasingly dominated by organized crime. A MobWar between the five main gangs, and several minor factions, is ongoing. Deciding that this city of rogues is his kind of place, Conan soon uses the conflict to his own advantage. Meanwhile several parties in the War are also after the MacGuffin.
* "Conan the Savage" (November, 1992) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan has recently escaped from the mines of Brythunia, where he spent a period as a convict. He has retreated to the wilderness and joined a fairly isolated tribe. He is GoingNative. But Brythunian armies destroy the tribe and its village. Conan seeks vengeance against the Brythunian ruler. Who is actually a victim of DemonicPossession.
* "Conan the Triumphant" (October, 1983) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features Conan leading a group of freelance mercenaries within Ophir, a country about to enter a civil war.
* "Conan the Unconquered" (April, 1983) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features the activities of a necromantic cult in Turan and Hyrkania.
* "Conan the Valiant" (October, 1988) by Robert Green. Novel. Conan serves as an officer of the Turanian Army. When the secret service arranges for him to join a sorceress in a mission. They are to take out a sorcerer whose plans threaten Turan and its empire.
* "Conan the Valorous" (September, 1985) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. Conan is hired by a Stygian Sorceress to transport certain items to the sacred mountain of Crom in Cimmeria. The relatively "simple" mission turns up to be part of a conflict between sorcerers.
* "Conan the Victorious" (November, 1984) by Robert Jordan. Novel. Conan flees Turan after becoming the main suspect in a high-profile murder investigation. He also suffers from poisoning and enters Vendhya in search for a cure. He instead finds himself involved in complex political intrigues.
* "Conan the Warlord" (March, 1988) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan finds himself trapped within a Nemedian prison. He is offered freedom in exchange for a job. Becoming the political decoy to a Nemedian noble who resembles him in appearance. But there are multiples threats surround himself and his employers. Who have some secrets of their own.
* "Conan, Lord of the Black River" (April, 1996) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. To face an undead sorceress, Conan has to experience a journey to the underworld. His chance to return among the living depends on victory over the nightmares of the realm.
* "Conan, Scourge of the Bloody Coast" (April, 1994) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel, sequel to "Conan of the Red Brotherhood". Conan is still leading the Red Brotherhood in ravaging the coasts of the Vilayet Sea. He is trying to instigate conflict between the two powers of the region, Turan and Hyrkania, to weaken them. But a magic user seeks to undermine all three naval powers.
* "Hawks Over Shem", also known as "Hawks Over Egypt". Novella written by L. Sprague de Camp, first published in October, 1955. Based on an Diego de Guzman tale by Robert E. Howard. The original story was set in 1021 Cairo. The antagonist was the Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, a Fatimid Caliph (reigned 996-1021) who reputedly went insane.
* "Legions of the Dead" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. There are arguments that Catherine Crook de Camp was an uncredited co-writer in this tale.
* "Moon of Blood" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. A sequel to "Beyond the Black River".
* "Red Moon of Zembabwei" (July, 1974) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Sequel to "The Witch of the Mists, and the "Black Sphinx of Nebthu".
* "Shadows in the Dark" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. A sequel to the "Black Colossus".
* "Shadows in the Skull" (February, 1975) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Sequel and conclusion to the storyline of "The Witch of the Mists, the "Black Sphinx of Nebthu", and the "Red Moon of Zembabwei".
* "The Blood-Stained God", also known as "The Curse of the Crimson God". Novella written by Creator/LSpragueDeCamp, first published in 1955. Based on a Kirby O'Donnell tale by Robert E. Howard. The original story was set in 1930s Afghanistan.
* "The Castle of Terror" (1969) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The City of Skulls" (1967) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The Curse of the Monolith" (1968) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The Flame Knife", also known as "Three-Bladed Doom". Novella written by L. Sprague de Camp, first published in 1955. Based on an El Borak tale by Robert E. Howard. The original story was set in 1930s Afghanistan.
* "The Gem in the Tower" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Based on "Black Moonlight" (November, 1976), a Thongor Tale by Lin Carter.
* "The Ivory Goddess" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Sequel to "Jewels of Gwahlur". There are arguments that Catherine Crook de Camp was an uncredited co-writer in this tale.
* "The Lair of the Ice Worm" (1969) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The People of the Summit" (December, 1970) by Björn Nyberg. Revised by L. Sprague de Camp in 1978.
* "The Return of Conan" (1957). Novel mainly written by Björn Nyberg, edited and slightly revised by L. Sprague de Camp.
* "The Road of Kings" (October, 1979) by Edward Wagner. Novel, features intrigues over the throne of Zingara.
* "The Road of the Eagles", also known as "Conan, Man of Destiny". Novella written by L. Sprague de Camp, first published in December, 1955. Based on an Ivan Sablianka tale by Robert E. Howard. The original story was set in 1595 Caucasus, with Cossacks active in the border areas of the Ottoman Empire.
* "The Star of Khorala" (August, 1978) by Björn Nyberg and L. Sprague de Camp. A sequel to the "Shadows in Zamboula". Also serves as an origin tale to a supporting character from the "The Hour of the Dragon".
* "The Sword of Skelos" (May, 1979) by Andrew J. Offutt. Novel, sequel to "Conan and the Sorcerer".
* "The Thing in the Crypt" (1967) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The Witch of the Mists" (August, 1972) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Age of Conan, Hyborian Adventures novels]]
Novels which take place in the familiar Hyborian Age but do not actually feature Conan himself as a major character. His activities as King of Aquilonia are mentioned however.
* "A Soldier's Quest" trilogy
** "The God in the Moon" (July, 2006) by Richard A. Knaak.
** "The Eye of Charon" (September, 2006) by Richard A. Knaak.
** "The Silent Enemy" (November, 2006) by Richard A. Knaak.
* "Anok, Heretic of Stygia" trilogy
** "Scion of the Serpent" (September, 2005) by J. Steven York.
** "Heretic of Set" (October, 2005) by J. Steven York.
** "Venom of Luxur" (November, 2005) by J. Steven York. Also known "Venom of Luxor". The city of the title is typically spelled "Luxor" in Conan stories, but not in the cover of the first edition.
* "Legends of Kern" trilogy
** "Blood of Wolves" (May, 2005) by Loren L. Coleman.
** "Cimmerian Rage" (June, 2005) by Loren L. Coleman.
** "Songs of Victory" (July, 2005) by Loren L. Coleman.
* "Marauders"trilogy.
** "Ghost of the Wall" (January, 2006) by Jeff Mariotte.
** "Winds of the Wild Sea" (March, 2006) by Jeff Mariotte.
** "Dawn of the Ice Bear" (May, 2006) by Jeff Mariotte.
[[/folder]]
!!Adaptations
[[folder:Comic Books]]
[[ComicBook/ConanTheBarbarian The character has had a long history in comics]] over the decades. At first handled by MarvelComics, the license has since been acquired by Creator/DarkHorseComics. The Dark Horse series is the most faithful of all adaptations to date and is endorsed by the Robert E. Howard Foundation. It started out with Kurt Busiek on script and Cary Nord on pencils. It's currently written by Timothy Truman and drawn by Tomas Giorello.
* The Dark Horse franchise includes (not including reprints)
** :''Conan #0: The Legend'' (2003). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan'' (2004-2008). 50 issues.
** ''Conan And the Daughters of Midora'' (2004). One-Shot publication.
** ''Conan And the Jewels of Gwahlur'' (2005). 3 issues.
** ''Conan And the Demons of Khitai'' (2005-2006). 4 issues.
** ''Conan: Book of Thoth'' (2006). 4 issues.
** ''Conan: Free Comic Book Day Edition'' (2006). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan And the Songs of the Dead'' (2006). 5 issues.
** ''Hyborian Adventures: SDCC Free Giveaway'' (2006). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan And the Midnight God'' (2007). 5 issues.
** ''Conan the Cimmerian'' (2008-2010). 26 issues.
** ''Conan: The Weight of the Crown'' (2010). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan: Road of Kings'' (2010-2012). 12 issues.
** ''King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel'' (2011). 4 issues.
** ''Conan: Island of No Return'' (2011). 2 issues.
** ''King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword'' (planned for 2012). 4 issues.
** ''Conan the Barbarian'' vol. 3 (ongoing, planned for 2012).
* The Marvel franchise includes (not including reprints):
** ''Conan the Barbarian'' vol. 1 (1970-1993). 275 issues.
** ''Savage Tales'' vol. 1 (1971-1974). Anthology title, Conan was the main character for 5 issues.
** ''Conan Annual'' (1973-1987). 12 issues.
** ''The Savage Sword of Conan'' (1974-1995). 235 issues.
** ''Giant-Size Conan'' (1984-1975). 5 issues.
** ''King Conan'' (1980-1983), later renamed ''Conan the King'' (1984-1989). 55 issues.
** ''Conan the Barbarian Movie Special'' (1982). 2 issues.
** Graphic novels (1985-1992). 7 issues.
*** ''The Witch Queen of Acheron'' (1985)
*** ''Conan the Reaver'' (1987)
*** ''Conan of the Isles'' (1988)
*** ''Conan: The Skull of Set'' (1989)
*** ''Conan the Barbarian: The Horn of Azoth'' (1990). Based on a rejected script for the film ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer''.
*** ''Conan the Rogue'' (1991)
*** ''Conan: The Ravagers out of Time'' (1992). Crossover with RedSonja and {{Kull}}. Involves TimeTravel.
** ''The Handbook of the Conan Universe'' (1986). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan the Adventurer'' (1994-1995). 14 issues.
** ''Conan'' (1995-1996). 11 issues.
** ''Conan the Savage'' (1995-1996). 10 issues.
** ''Conan vs. Rune'' (1995). One-shot publication. Crossover with TheUltraverse,
** ''Conan the Barbarian'' vol. 2 (1997). 3 issues.
** ''Conan the Barbarian: The Usurper'' (1997-1998). 3 issues.
** ''Conan: The Lord of the Spiders'' (1998). 3 issues.
** ''Conan: River of Blood'' (1998). 3 issues.
** ''Conan Return of Styrm'' (1998). 3 issues.
** ''Conan Scarlet Sword'' (1998-1999). 3 issues.
** ''Conan: Death Covered in Gold'' (1999). 3 issues.
** ''Conan: Flame and the Fiend'' (2000). 3 issues.
Just as some of Howard's non-Conan stories were [[DolledUpInstallment reworked for inclusion in the Conan books]], the character of RedSonja was created for Marvel loosely based on two of Howard's other characters from his historical fiction - Red Sonya of Rogatino and Dark Agnes, both {{Action Girl}}s from the 16th century.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film and television]]
* The films ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' (1982) and ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'' (1984). Both had Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger as Conan, and MakoIwamatsu as Akiro, his KWONICLER. The first film also had JamesEarlJones as Thulsa Doom, and Sandahl Bergman as Valeria. It was co-written by John Milius and Oliver Stone, directed by Milius alone. The second film had Grace Jones as Zula, Olivia d'Abo as Jehnna, Sarah Douglas as Taramis, Pat Roach as Toth-Amon, Wilt Chamberlain (yes, ''that'' WiltChamberlain) as Bombaata, and an uncredited AndreTheGiant as the monster Dagoth. It was written by Stanley Mann, and directed by Richard Fleischer.
* ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'' (1992-1993) was an animated cartoon based on elements from the various Conan stories, but it was so very much LighterAndSofter. It takes only a few elements from the original. Decent on its own terms, despite the "kiddification" (e.g. [[PollyWantsAMicrophone a talking phoenix]] that lived in Conan's shield and was obsessed with pomegranates). Run for 65 episodes.
* ''Conan and the Young Warriors'' (1994). Continuation of the above. This had Conan leading kids around. Having defeated his enemies, Conan was contemplating retirement. Fate, in the form of Epimetrius the Sage, has other plans and the Cimmerian becomes mentor to [[TheChosenOne The Chosen Ones]], three siblings with magical powers who are destined to rule the Hyborian world. All three are blonde, and blue-eyed. Draegen, the eldest boy, summons an InstantArmor with magical qualities. He has also been trained to WhipItGood in battle. Brynne, middle child and only girl, is a MasterOfIllusion. She has also had training as a thief and [[TheArcher Archer]]. Navah, the youngest boy, is a TheBeastmaster of the group. He has had training as a slinger. This show was never particularly successful. A total of 13 episodes were released.
* ''Series/ConanTheAdventurer'' (1997-1998) was a live-action ''Conan'' series starring Ralf Moeller. It was one of many failed attempts to match the success of ''HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' and ''XenaWarriorPrincess''. It makes superficial use of Conan's name and elements from the movies and animated series, as well as Robert Jordan's Conan novels, but otherwise was Howard's character in name only. A total of 22 episodes were released.
* The film ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian2011'' (2011) was ContinuityReboot, starrs Jason Momoa as Conan. It featured Rachel Nichols as Tamara , Stephen Lang as the villain Khalar Zym, RoseMcGowan as witch Marique, and RonPerlman as Corin, Conan's father. The script was written by Thomas Dean Donnelly, Sean Hood, and Joshua Oppenheimer. Directed by Marcus Nispel.
* There's been an animated adaptation of ''Red Nails'' starring RonPerlman and MarkHamill in the works for some time, but it seems to be stuck in DevelopmentHell.
* ''The Legend of Conan'', which is a sequel to the 1982 film, is set for a Summer 2014 release and will feature the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''[[http://www.mobygames.com/game/conan-hall-of-volta Conan: Hall of Volta]]'' (1984). A platformer with puzzle elements for AppleII, [[Atari8BitComputers Atari]] and {{Commodore64}}.
* ''[[http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/conan-the-cimmerian Conan: The Cimmerian]]'' (1991) an RPG with side-scrolling action game elements for MS-DOS.
* ''AgeOfConan'' (2008)
* ''Conan'' (2004), also known as ''Conan: The Dark Axe''. An action-adventure game for the Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Microsoft Windows that was released only in Europe.
* ''Conan'' (2007), for the PlayStation3 and XBox360. More or less a ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' clone, based on elements from Howard's stories.
* The infamous ''Conan: Mysteries of Time'' (1991) for {{NES}} (in reality DolledUpInstallment based on ''[[http://www.mobygames.com/game/myth-history-in-the-making Myth: History in the Making]]'', which was considered a classic on Commodore 64 and ZXSpectrum, although the NES version was [[PortingDisaster entirely different story]]).
[[/folder]]
----
!! The Conan franchise provides examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:A-G]]
* AbdicateTheThrone: In "The Scarlet Citadel", Conan is [[BuyThemOff offered freedom and gold]] if he will do this. Conan, in characteristic fashion, tells the villains who captured him to [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules go to hell]].
* AbsurdlySharpBlade: Conan's swords can cut through nearly anything. Hardly a fight scene goes by that doesn't have the Cimmerian casually hewing off limbs and heads, plunging a sword through chainmail like wet paper or rotten fruit or some other metaphor for softness, and occasionally bisecting still-helmeted skulls and whole torsos. In "The People Of The Black Circle," he chops through a ''door'' with his sword. And yet it's still always described as "razor-sharp".
** It's worth noting here the awesome physical power that Conan was able to put ''behind'' his sword work.
** The story "The Thing in the Crypt" (which inspired a similar scene in the movie) has Conan finding a sword in a ancient tomb, before having to use it to fight the titular "thing". It may or may not explain the absurd sharpness.
* ActionGirl: Belit, Nanaia.
* AdaptationDistillation: The Dark Horse comic book series and the first Conan film. The quality of their distillations is debated, to say the least.
** To the extent that the first film captured the "Frank Frazetta feel", and had assorted story elements from both Howard and pastiche, it was an Adaptation Distillation; but its plot and themes are [[http://theblogthattimeforgot.blogspot.com/2010/03/comparison-of-howard-quotient-in-conan.html incompatible at worst]] with Howard's Conan. Of course, one may enjoy it on its own, regardless of the source material.
** The 2011 film manages to feel the most like Howard's original story, right down to the pulpy feel and escapist action. It helps that they made sure to write around established stories and events from the Howard canon instead of just rewriting Conan's life to fit their movie plot like the '82 film.
* AdaptationDyeJob: Schwarzenegger, Ralf Moeller, and Jason Momoa have dark brown hair instead of plain black.
* AdvancedAncientAcropolis
* AfterActionPatchup: How we learn most of how Salome usurped the throne in ''A Witch Shall Be Born''; the {{Denouement}} of ''The Phoenix on the Sword''
* AfterTheEnd: The Hyborian Era is AfterTheEnd with respect to the previous civilizations {{Atlantis}}, Valusia, and Acheron. Our own era is after the collapse of the Hyborian Age.
* AlienGeometries
* AllJustADream
* AllMythsAreTrue: The gods of the Hyborian Age go on to be the gods of later cultures. The Cimmerian deities Crom, Lir, Babd, Macha and Nemain are all Celtic deities, Mitra god of the Hyborians becomes the Persian Mithra (some art represent him as Jesus), the Shemite Ishtar becomes the Babylonian Ishtar and Set seems to have characteristics of both the Egyptian Set and Apep, just to name a few. Perhaps best exemplified in the twin Nordheimir tribes Conan encounters in "The Frost Giant's Daughter." They're called the Aesir and the Vanir, and they worship Ymir, the Frost Giant. The implication is that they themselves will be worshipped as the Norse pantheon further down the line.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: There are no good Picts, no good Stygians, no good Snake people.
** Technically, Jogar Sag of the Picts was evil. The Picts tend to be neutral, and are only seen as evil by the civilized people that encroach on their territory, and the Cimmerian who hates them because they're among the regular enemies of his people. The Stygians tend to be evil because they worship a Lovecraftian horror.
** We only meet one (reborn) character from Acheron, as it's an extinct civilization, but all its rulers seem to have been evil.
*** Conan is actually fairly even-handed about the Picts. Near the beginning of the story he says that the dead Aquilonians pretty much had it coming by virtue of being TooDumbToLive, that instead of humiliating Jogar Sag by imprisoning him they should have either bought him off or given him a quick, clean death. He also says that if the Aquilonians would just break up some of the monstrously oversized estates of their nobles they wouldn't need to be pushing into Pict territory.
** Conan had at least one Pictish ally/friend at one point in the comic magazines. Possibly just for the sake of subverting the trope, but it also pretty much showed both Conan and the other guy that they were NotSoDifferent.
** The only good Stygian in Howard's world is a poor fisherman who is kidnapped by Conan in ''Hour of the Dragon''. He's not only spared, but even rewarded with a hatful of gold!
** The negative portrayal of the Picts is all the odder because a) the Picts had been allies of Kull, who was supposedly Conan's earlier incarnation, and b) Howard wrote an essay concerning his longtime particular ''admiration'' for the historical Picts (despite there not being much detailed information available).
-->In reading of the Picts, I mentally took their side against the invading Celts and Teutons, whom I knew to be my type, and indeed my ancestors.
* AmbitionIsEvil
** In "A Witch Shall Be Born", Salome rejected the study of ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow for using BlackMagic for power.
-->''"He said I was but an earthly sprite, knowing naught of the deeper gulfs of cosmic sorcery. Well, this world contains all I desire -- power, and pomp, and glittering pageantry, handsome men and soft women for my paramours and my slaves.''
** In "The Hour of the Dragon" and "The Phoenix on the Sword," more than one conspirator wanted the throne. (At least two wanted the same throne, that of Aquilonia, which gets awkward.)
* AnachronicOrder: While Howard didn't write the stories in chronological order, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_chronologies several different outlines]] have been devised if one wishes to read them this way - pastiches included or not.
* AncientAfrica: Kush, Keshan, Darfar, Punt, Zembabwei, Atlaia, Amazon and the other "Black Kingdoms" to the south of Stygia where Conan managed to lead a tribe for a few months. Possibly also the second movie featuring Grace Jones as a [[HeroicSociopath psychotic tribeswoman]] (as one of the ''heroes'').
* AncientAstronauts: ''The Tower of the Elephant'' features an only survivor.
* AncientConspiracy: The Sect of the Fire Knife, the Serpent Men.
* AndTheAdventureContinues: The end of ''Conan of the Islands'', being more than 60 years old he headed his ship for Mayapan (America).
* AnimatedAdaptation: Two of them, actually.
* AnimatedArmor - Conan once fought one of these guys, realising he was screwed as even though he could chop the arm and the head of the armor off, the thing could still attack. Thankfully the Wench of the Week shone some light into the priest controlling it, following which it collapsed like a sack of potatoes.
* AntiHero: Conan varies from [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III to Type V]]
** At worst, he's a thief, a reaver, a slayer... and pretty much everything else you can think of where there's an opportunity for violence, wenches and loot. Including piracy, assassination, mercenary work and becoming warrior-king of the richest country on the continent. At best, then? The archetype of a ChaoticGood hero. He never kills anyone who doesn't deserve it or isn't trying to kill him, keeps his word, and goes out of his way to help the weak and helpless - ''if'' they're hot women. He even states this bluntly in "The Vale of Lost Women." Once he does become king he becomes pretty much the best one Aquilonia has ever had. However, he can be seen less as Type V and more as [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type IV]] with occasional dips into [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III.]] The movie Conan is more solidly a Type III while the Marvel Comics version was mostly [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type II]] with dips into III. [[Creator/DarkHorseComics Dark Horse's]] version is more back to the original IV.
** In ''Hour of the Dragon'', he is aghast at the thought of what his foes will do to his kingdom, and resists the temptation to return to adventure because he needs to save his kingdom.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Several conspirators in "The Phoenix on the Sword."
* ArrangedMarriage:
** In "The People of the Black Circle," Conan laughs at Yasmina's offer of reward.
-->''"Would you make me your king?" he asked sardonically.\\
"Well, there are customs --" she stammered, and he interrupted her with a hard laugh.\\
"Yes, civilized customs that won't let you do as you wish. You'll marry some withered old king of the plains, and I can go my way with only the memory of a few kisses snatched from your lips. Ha!"''
** In "Shadows in the Moonlight" Olivia was MadeASlave for refusing this.
* ArtifactOfDoom - In ''The Hour of the Dragon'', the Heart of Ahriman. Even one of the evil conspirators tries to get it from the EvilSorcerer.
* AscendedExtra: Thoth-Amon becomes the arch-enemy of Conan in pastiches and comic adaptations, though they never even meet in the original stories and the one time he puts Conan in danger, he does so unintentionally. The movie version of Thulsa Doom is more like him than the original Thulsa Doom, who was a Kull villain (and looked like Skeletor before Skeletor existed). An {{Expy}} of him named Wrath-Amon was in the first cartoon.
* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: "The Scarlet Citadel" and "A Witch Shall Be Born" in particular, the most famous visual example being FrankFrazetta's iconic illustration for Conan the Adventurer.
* AttackAttackAttack
** In "The Phoenix on the Sword," Conan does not even fight a defensive battle when outnumbered twenty-to-one.
-->''He was no defensive fighter; even in the teeth of overwhelming odds he always carried the war to the enemy.''
** In "The Slithering Shadow", the forces of Xuthal nearly overcame him though they aren't good fighters because of this and their [[ZergRush numbers]].
* AttemptedRape: In "Red Nails" Olmec tries this on Valeria. [[spoiler:The rescue is even worse.]]
** ''The Frost-Giant's Daughter'' is one of the rare examples of Conan himself being the aggressor. The lady in question was Atali, daughter of the Frost Giant Ymir, who appeared to the wounded and dying to taunt them and lure them to their deaths at the hands of her giant brothers.
** Of course, Atali is a supernatural entity whose beauty causes men to go insane with lust, so it could be said that Conan wasn't really himself in that story.
* AuthorAvatar: Howard made one appearance in a story. Was he an [[GodModeSue unstoppable killing machine]]? No. Was he a [[BigDamnHeroes hero to rival Conan]]? No. He was killed along with the self-insert of his dog, Patches, by Picts in "Beyond the Black River". He was still [[HeroicSacrifice pretty awesome]] in his own way though. Enough that Conan swore to personally avenge him (and his dog).
* AnAxeToGrind: While Conan generally uses swords as his weapon of choice, he has used the battleaxe from time to time in Howard's stories, such as in the first Conan story, "The Phoenix on the Sword," which has King Conan taking one to the assassins trying to kill him in his bedchamber after breaking his sword. King Kull, another Howard creation, famously used the axe, with his catchphrase being "With This Axe I Rule!"
* BackFromTheDead: In the Savage Sword of Conan comics, Boraq D' Sharaq did this so often that Conan remarked during his later appearances that the former pirate had more lives than a cat. He even returned to life after being turned into [[TakenForGranite a glass statue]].
* BadassBoast: In "Shadows of Zamboula", Conan beats a cultist strangler, [[ScaryBlackMan a black guy who's even larger than him]], at his own game - ''while being strangled himself'':
-->"Did you deem yourself strong, because you were able to twist the heads off civilized folk, poor weaklings with muscles like rotten string? Hell! Break the neck of a wild Cimmerian bull before you call yourself strong. I did that, before I was a full-grown man — like this!"
* BadassBookworm:
** The archenemy of Conan, Thoth-Amon.
** Pelias, [[SidekickExMachina a sorcerer who became a friend of Conan]] -- albeit it not in the Howard story where he appeared -- he didn't mind using his magic to directly fight his enemies.
* BadassCreed: As summed up in the poem ''The Road of Kings''
-->''Gleaming shell of an outworn lie, fable of Right Divine''
-->''You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine''
-->''The throne I won by blood and sweat, by Crom I will not sell''
-->''For promise of valleys filled with gold, or threat of the Halls of Hell!''
-->''When I was a fighting man, the kettle-drums they beat''
-->''The people scattered gold dust before my horse's feet''
-->''But now I am a great king; the people hound my track''
-->''With poison in my wine cup and daggers at my back.''
-->''What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie?''
-->''I who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky.''
-->''The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing.''
-->''Rush in and die, dogs -- I was a man before I was a king!''
* BadassInDistress: Conan has gotten captured more than once in his day. He usually escapes by some measure of guile, trickery or luck.
* BadassLongHair: One of Conan's trademarks since FrankFrazetta did the legendary illustrations is his long black mane, a look that was used in virtually all adaptations. Howard consistently describes Conan's hairdo as a "''square-cut'' black mane"; Creator/LSpragueDeCamp [[http://www.rehupa.com/?p=272 objected]] to Frazetta's shoulder-length interpretation and [[WhatCouldHaveBeen might have had the art replaced if he hadn't been overruled]].
* BadassNormal: Conan, again. Sorcerers, demons, apemen, demi-goddess witches, he's fought them all and won.
* TheBait
* BalefulPolymorph
* BarbarianHero: You saw it occasionally in myths (it's as old as civilization, before that they were just "heroes"), but Conan the Barbarian [[TropeCodifier made it what it is now]].
* BarbarianTribe: The Picts in the "screaming hide covered" variety, while the Cimmerians, Æsir and Vanir are closer to the ProudWarriorRaceGuy type.
* BarBrawl
* BeamMeUpScotty:
** The term "Conan the Barbarian" never occurs in the original Howard stories. Instead Conan tends to be called "Conan the Cimmerian", "Conan of Cimmeria", etc. However, "Conan the Barbarian" was in use at least as far back as 1954 (as a book title) and probably earlier. And of course, one of the Marvel Comics series and the first movie use it.
** While the Age of Conan is called the "Hyborian Age" in the stories, [[http://tinyurl.com/cimmerian-contra-hyboria his world is not called "Hyboria"]] contrary to official merchandise.
* BeardOfBarbarism: Many Aesir, Vanir and other barbarians have full beards. Conan himself, however, averts the trope with being clean shaven in pretty much all his incarnations.
** Ironically, he grows mustaches and beard only long after becoming King of Aquilonia.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo
* BedsheetLadder
* BerserkButton: If you threaten an innocent woman (or even not-so-innocent if she happens to be Conan's love interest) in Conan's presence, YOU WILL DIE.
* BestHerToBedHer: Red Sonja in the comics. Also in ''Queen of the Black Coast'', the pirate princess Belit becomes Conan's lover after witnessing him single-handedly slay hordes of her crew.
* BettyAndVeronica
* BigBad: Thoth-Amon is the most prominent, with [[SorcerousOverlord Xaltotun]] and [[YellowPeril Yah Chieng]] briefly taking the scene for themselves. Maybe [[BiggerBad Set]] as well.
** Don't forget Yezdigerd, king of Turan whose ambitions in multiple stories are thwarted by Conan's existence.
* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: One appears in ''The Hour of the Dragon'' as the witch's familiar. Pelias can turn into one.
* BigBadassWolf: Again, another of the witch's familiars.
* BigBadFriend: Thoth Amon to Kalanthes in the Comics.
* BigDamnHeroes
* BittersweetEnding: "Queen of the Black Coast" ends with Conan having overcome his enemies, but having lost perhaps his greatest love.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: Very much so in the original stories. Lightened somewhat in the movies and later books. In the original stories, Conan was often little more than a thug of some manner (pirate, bandit, hired sword, whichever) who was going up against fiendishly evil sorcerers, mad kings, or occasionally both. On the other hand he gets a much more sympathetic portrayal when he is king of Aquilonia, all of his foes being scheming aristocrats or ambitious rival kings and Conan himself the benevolent ruler defending his throne.
** AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Conan repeatedly does the right thing at personal expense, such as [[spoiler: saving the girl rather than the gems of Gwahlur]] or [[spoiler: giving two orphans enough money to lead a comfortable life]]. It gets to the point where Conan is, arguably, a barbarian version of TheCape.
* BlackMagic: Nearly all magic in the Conan universe is this, requiring some seriously nasty material components.
* BladeOnAStick: Albeit rarely, he used a spear in some occasions.
* BlindedByTheLight
* BlingBlingBang
* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Valeria, Bêlit, RedSonja in the Marvel comics.
* BlondesAreEvil
* BloodBath: When the [[TheCaligula malicious]] King Numedides expressed a desire to become immortal, he enlisted the services of the EvilSorcerer Thulandra Thuu, and together they sacrificed young women in order for Numedides to bathe in their blood.
* BloodKnight
* BloodMagic
* BlueBlood
* BoisterousBruiser: Conan took this role in the earlier books, but later writers often made him [[TheStoic grim]].
* BrainFever
* BreakoutVillain: Thoth-Amon the sorcerer appears exactly once in Howard's stories (though he's name-dropped in a few others), never meets Conan, and is at best a tangential antagonist in the story. In later adaptations, however, Thoth-Amon and his various Expies are usually the BigBad.
* BreakTheHaughty
* BreastPlate: Red Sonja... and Conan! Sonja wears very little armour in her original comic book, whereas Conan averts this in the original stories (but [[ContemptibleCover not their illustrations]]) by wearing whatever suits the job or climate. In Sonja's movie, she wears a lot more armour, and Conan spends most of the first movie at least shirtless, and by the second movie he is both shirtless and pantsless almost all the time.
* BroadStrokes: When he was still "in charge", Creator/LSpragueDeCamp included the {{novelization}}s of the movies in "Conan the Indestructible", [[http://hyboria.xoth.net/history/conan_indestructible.htm a scheme of the canonical "Conan saga" circa 1984]] -- but didn't confirm every detail.
** The canon as a whole could be considered BroadStrokes, given various attempts to reconcile it, with or without the pseudocanonical works.
* BrokeEpisode: Often. Conan likes [[MoneySink the good life]], and when he actually has cash will spend money like water. One novel starts with Conan having gambled away almost literally everything he owns at dice. He ponders gambling with his sword (the only thing he has left besides the clothes on his back), then decides not to... after all, it's what he'll use to go out and get more money!
* BurnBabyBurn[=/=]VikingFuneral: Belit in "Queen of the Black Coast".
* BurnTheWitch
* BuyThemOff: In "The Scarlet Citadel", to Conan. Works worse than usual.
* CainAndAbel
* TheCaligula: When he wasn't killing {{Evil Sorcerer}}s or [[ScaledUp Big Fucking Snakes]], Conan was often killing mad kings.
* CallForward
* CallOnMe
* CatchPhrase: Conan's habit of exclaiming "Crom!" when he was surprised by something in the non-literature versions of his adventures.
* CavalryBetrayal: Inverted in ''The Scarlet Citadel''. Conan ''is'' the cavalry - but it turns out both supposedly fighting kings are waiting for him.
* CelestialDeadline
* TheChainsOfCommanding
* TheChosenOne: In ''The Phoenix On The Sword'' Conan is visited by the spirit of the sage Epemitreus. During their conversation Epemitreus implies that Conan was destined to become the king of Aquilonia and save the world from the cult of Set.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder
* TheCityNarrows: The Maze quarter of Murilo
* ClingyMacGuffin
* ClothingDamage
* ColdBloodedTorture
* ColdFlames
* CombatPragmatist: While he [[HeroesPreferSwords often uses swords]], Conan may also use pretty much whatever else is at hand. This includes other weapons like [[AnAxeToGrind axes,]] [[BladeOnAStick spears]], daggers, [[TheArcher bows and arrows]] (though he only learns archery after leaving Cimmeria), and [[ImprovisedWeapon improvised ones]] - like a stool in "Rogues in the House". He can also fight dirty, as when he gouges someone's eyes out in "The God in the Bowl".
* ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike
* ConservationOfNinjutsu
* ConspicuousConsumption
* ContinuitySnarl: Started with the original stories, as Howard tended to pastiche his ''own'' work for additional stories.
* CoolHorse
* CoolMask
* CoolShip: The Dragon-ships of Ptahuacan, Conan get one of them.
** The Tigress from "Queen of the Black Coast" and the Marvel Comics set during that period of Conan's life.
* CoolSword: In the original stories by Howard, Conan didn't really have a [[WeaponOfChoice signature sword]] (or indeed, any other signature weapon) unlike some other fictional characters, and weapons tended to be nondescript. More apparent in derivative works like the swords from the 1982 film (especially the Jody Samson-designed Atlantean and Father swords) and the [[ThunderboltIron "starmetal"]] sword from the cartoon.
** The one time he gets a cool magic sword in the original tales, namely in ''The Phoenix on the Sword'', it promptly breaks in combat, and he grabs an axe instead (the story was a rewrite of a King Kull one called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin By This Axe, I Rule!]]''). Still, he uses its hilt-shard to save the day.
* CorruptChurch
* CrossingTheDesert
* CrucifiedHeroShot: Conan was crucified in "A Witch Shall Be Born". He got rescued.
* CrystalBall
* CrystalDragonJesus: Inverted with [[http://conan.wikia.com/wiki/Mitra Mitra.]] He's essentially the Judaeo-Christian {{God}} under a different name. He bears very little similarity to the classical descriptions of Mithra. His followers are monolatristic and believe in Heaven and Hell and He is most at odds with Set, a GodOfEvil and slight {{Satan}} analogue.
* CrystalPrison
* CthulhuMythos: The Howard version is set there. No, really.
** [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu According to Howard, anything in the Cthulhu mythos can be beaten to death barehanded.]]
** [[RunOrDie Except when your only choice is RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!!]] Conan himself does it in "Pool of the Black One" and "Shadows in the Moonlight."
* CunningLinguist: Conan can speak several languages. In addition to Cimmerian, he also knows how to speak Aquilonian, Stygian, Zamoran, Kushite, Kothic, Nemedian, Vendhyan, Hyrkanian, and several more.
* CuriosityIsACrapshoot
* {{Curse}}
* DeadExMachina: Happens with Belit.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt
* DealWithTheDevil
* DeathOfTheOldGods
* DeathSeeker: Conan in "Queen of the Black Coast" after Belit's death. He gets over it once revenge is taken.
* DecapitationPresentation
* DeceptiveDisciple
* DefrostingIceQueen
* {{Determinator}}: Even [[Creator/HPLovecraft Lovecraftian monsters]] have learnt at their own cost that no one escapes Conan's wrath if they mess with a girl who is the object of his love.
* DeusExitMachina: Frequently, but perhaps strongest of all in ''A Witch Shall Be Born''. Also in "The Return of Conan".
* DiamondsInTheBuff
* [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu Did You Just Free Cthulhu From Lifelong Torture And Help Him Enact His Revenge]]: ''The Tower of the Elephant''. Probably the only story ever where the EldritchAbomination is also TheWoobie and surprisingly good natured.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Happens occasionally in the literature, given the author's friendship with Creator/HPLovecraft; happens frequently in media adaptations.
* DistinguishingMark: In "A Witch Shall Be Born", the EvilTwin villain has a crescent-moon birthmark on her chest.
* DistressedDamsel: Many. {{Flanderization}}, however, has put a scantily-clad buxom maiden at Conan's feet being menaced by someone or something on ''every'' cover, bar none, regardless of story content. She could be an ActionGirl in the story, she might be a background characters who never meets Conan face to face, but on the cover it's always StrictlyFormula: 1.) [[FurryLoincloth Loincloth]], 2.) monster and/or ravening horde of savages, 3.) hot half-naked chick sprawled between Conan's legs [[TouchOfTheMonster looking terrified]] at [=#2=].
** This started in Howard's own lifetime: Margaret Brundage, the resident illustrator of Weird Tales, was particularly fond of depicting barely-clad women (hey, [[AllMenArePerverts who]] [[MostWritersAreMale isn't?]]), especially being menaced by monsters or engaging in a little sadomasochism. Howard sought to exploit that predilection by inserting some cheesecake into the stories, in order to get the extra money the cover story includes.
** Note that many of the books' original covers did indeed have somewhat faithful renditions of Conan fighting enemies, to be replaced with the damsel in distress scene in reprints. The chance of a Damsel cover being the original cover is inversely proportional to how much skin she is showing. A prime example is the cover of Conan the Buccaneer, which originally had Conan, in mail pants and a horned helmet, losing his axe in a battle against overwhelming numbers, to be replaced with Conan striking a pose while a woman in a golden thong bikini looks scared, astride a giant snake. Possibly the latter is inspired by a DungeonsAndDragons supplement based on the book which has a halfway cover, where Conan is actually fighting the snake while a woman in a long blue dress lifts up her skirt to expose one leg. Best not to speculate if they're before and after scenes.
* DistressedDude: See BadassInDistress above.
* DividedWeFall
* DivineParentage: In "Shadows in the Moonlight"
* TheDragon: Bombaata to Queen Taramis in the second movie.
* DreamingOfTimesGoneBy: In "Queen of the Black Coast", "Shadows In the Moonlight" and "The Devil in Iron."
* DrivenToSuicide
* DroppedABridgeOnHim: Zarono the Black, hands off. He's been depicted as a charming character and skilled warrior, a pirate who can easly rival with Conan himself and even allies/work for [[BigBad Thoth-Amon]] himself. Then, in the second story he appears in (''The Treasure of Tranicos''), he gets unceremoniously killed by an anonymous Pict axeman while he's trying to get up and fight back.
* DueToTheDead
* DumbMuscle: Some of the side characters, (like, say, anyone dumb enough to [[AttackAttackAttack keep attacking him]]) but ''not Conan''. See Flanderization. (even in TheMovie he's somewhat articulate, he just doesn't say much).
* DungeonPunk: In "Rogues in the House" Nabonidus who, rather than the typical EvilSorcerer is more like the evil offspring of Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli uses clockwork tech to defend his abode.
* EldritchAbomination: Despite being one of the first to use the trope, the Conan stories [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] this trope by making the Abominations take on a ''very'' [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith non-eldritch aspect when descending to Hyboria]]. Despite numerous encounters Conan repeatedly comes out on top through superior fighting skills or by exploiting an AchillesHeel -- except when he doesn't and resorts to RunOrDie.
* EnemyCivilWar
* EnemyMine
* EvilFormerFriend: Thoth Amon and Kalanthes (his prime rival) were actually pretty good friends at one point. Then Thoth discovered Set's magic and it all went downhill.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Toth-Amon wishes to create an evil empire of sorcery for the glory of father Set, but he'll never let loose the Snake People again on the world.
* EverybodyHatesHades: Set is seen at his worst and confused/merged with Apep.
* EverybodysDeadDave: By the end of ''Red Nails'', [[spoiler:Conan and Valeria are the only two people still alive in the whole city]].
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses
* EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry
* EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor
* EvilSorcerer: Xaltotun, Thoth-Amon, Thugra Khotan, and others. Conan's made a career out of killing {{Sorcerous Overlord}}s (excepting Thoth-Amon, though, since they never even met in the original stories).
* EvolutionaryLevels: In Howard's essay ''The Hyborian Age'' evolution is fast and fluctuating. Several peoples "[[HollywoodEvolution regress to apedom]]" and back to humanity, including the Cimmerians, Conan's people. [[EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys Ape-men]] are at least as common antagonists as snakes in his stories.
* ExactEavesdropping
* ExactWords
* TheExile
* ExpandedUniverse: Under other authors, Conan's personal history has expanded to the point where he must have lived just over four hundred years to account for all his adventures.
* ExposedToTheElements
* ExpositoryThemeTune: The ''Conan the Adventurer'' cartoon.
* EyeOfNewt: Sorcerers usually have to do some horrible things before they can work their dark craft.
* FakeKing: In "A Witch Shall Be Born," the Queen's EvilTwin, an evil witch, takes over the country by impersonating her, while keeping the real queen locked in a dungeon. Conan isn't fooled.
* FakingAndEntering
* FamedInStory
* {{Fanservice}}: And how! It seems most of the women of the Hyborian Age where always young, beautiful, and have almost no dress, same if you are the kind of woman who loves strong muscled warriors with swords. This is undoubtedly Howard pandering to the audience (and illustrator), since he's shown himself perfectly capable of writing more realistic women.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Hyborian nations derive their names and cultures from many different points of history, so that Howard could place a consistent series character in different milieus whenever he wanted to tell a particular type of adventure. Hence how Conan could be in a pirate yarn one story, and a frontier tale the next. The Hyborian Age itself was born as a solution to Howard's love for historical fiction, but lack of time to properly research the settings - rather than worry about getting the details wrong, he simply created a fictional version of the setting with the SerialNumbersFiledOff.
* FantasyPantheon: The Shemites have the most expansive pantheon, though Mitra has his "heavenly host" and the Cimmerians have a pantheon of dark gods.
* FateWorseThanDeath
* FauxDeath
* FeatheredFiend
* FingerInTheMail: In "Rogues in the House", Murilo is given a recognizable ear as a hint.
* {{Flanderization}} : The original Conan is clever and surprisingly book-smart and almost always had something worthwhile to say. Despite this he has become the stereotypical "[[DumbMuscle dumb barbarian]]" of pop culture. Consider the ''Queen of the Black Coast'' quote on the [[Quotes/ConanTheBarbarian quotes page.]]
** Oddly, though, Howard stated in a letter that he preferred to write stupid characters, so he wouldn't have to dream up clever ways of getting them out of their predicaments: just punch, stab, or shoot. [[{{Irony}} The implication is that he '''thought''' he was writing Conan as DumbMuscle rather than a GeniusBruiser.]]
* FranchiseKiller: The second film, ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'', undid all the lingering good will from John Milius' first film. It wasn't even the negative critical reception of the second movie that killed the franchise; it actually was successful at the box office, just less than the first one. This prompted the production of the ''Film/RedSonja'' movie - now ''that'' was a big flop. Schwarzenegger called it [[OldShame "the worst movie I've ever made"]] and may have had a hand in making him move on to other projects - when a third Conan movie was considered, he was already busy with ''Film/{{Predator}}''.
** The 2011 film too, as it tried to revive the franchise, [[StillbornFranchise but bombed.]]
* FrazettaMan
* FriendOrIdolDecision
* FullFrontalAssault: More than once but very memorably in the non-Howard ''Sword of Skelos''. Joe Lansdale does it too, in ''Conan and the Songs of the Dead.'' Done by a subverted DamselInDistress in ''Red Nails''. [[ItsPersonal They made her angry.]]
* FunctionalMagic: Primarily Rules Magic, usually with the magician's power focused in a device of some kind like Thoth-amon's ring. Epimetrius may have used Theurgy in his battles with Set. Alchemy also plays a big role, espcially powders and potions extracted from the black lotus and it's varycolored siblings. Regardless, it is almost always BlackMagic, at least in the Howard stories. the movies have some good magicians.
* GalleySlave
* GardenOfEvil
* GemEncrusted
* GeniusBruiser: In the original stories, he uses both brain and brawn to get through hardships.
* GenreKiller
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan
* GetItOverWith
* GiantSpider: A pig-sized one in ''Tower of the Elephant'' and a bull-sized one in ''Conan and the Spider God''... along with her babies. And let's not forget the black jade beads in ''People of the Black Circle'', worn by the priestesses of Yezud when they dance for the spider god. Yar Afzal picks up such a bead, then drops dead, and Conan later takes a few minutes to figure out what happened.
* AGodAmI: Some of Conan's enemies had this as their motivation. One of them even actually succeeds in becoming an aspect of her goddess due to a magical artifact that's enhancing everyone's perceptions, ''without even intending to''. Also implied to be Conan himself's fate at the end of the crossover with Thor in the pages of ''What If...?'', where Conan is climbing Crom's mountain to either deliver Mjolnir or [[CallingTheOldManOut deliver a beatdown]] depending on how he felt when reaching the summit.
* GodOfEvil: Set, even more so in works by other writers, most of all in the cartoon.
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: When the evil witch Salome steals the throne by assuming the identity of her twin sister in ''A Witch Shall Be Born'', she quickly becomes the most cruel and sadistic tyrant imaginable. Some of her atrocities include raising taxes so high that rich and poor alike are starved, disbanding the royal guard and replacing them with cruel mercenaries who are given free reign to rape and brutalize, killing men of fighting age to prevent any possible rebellions, forcing women old and young to participate in degrading orgies, and feeding hundreds of innocent people to her pet monster.
* GoldAndWhiteAreDivine: In "Shadows In the Moonlight"
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Lots. Although, in most case it's over quickly.
* GoodHairEvilHair: A bit of this by courtesy of some of the Villains Conan has to face in some of his adventures.
* TheGoodKing: Conan is one of these. He rules with the support of the outlying barons as well as the common people. During his reign he lowers taxes, institutes freedom of religion, and curbs the abuses of commoners by the nobility. When he is temporarily deposed in ''The Hour of the Dragon'' he is tempted to abandon his quest to reclaim his throne and return to the exciting life of a wandering adventurer, but he quickly decides that he can not leave his people in the hands of a tyrant.
-->'''Conan:''' I found Aquilonia in the grip of a pig like you--one who traced his genealogy for a thousand years. The land was torn with the wars of the barons, and the people cried out under oppression and taxation. Today no Aquilonian noble dares maltreat the humblest of my subjects, and the taxes of the people are lighter than anywhere else in the world.
* {{Gotterdammerung}}
* GrandFinale: The only full-length novel, "Hour of the Dragon" seems to serve as this for the Conan cycle.
* GraveRobbing
* GreenEyedMonster
[[/folder]]
[[folder:H-M]]
* HalfHumanHybrid
* HatOfPower: The Cobra Crown from ''Conan the Buccaneer'', which grants magic powers to its wearer.
* HiddenDepths:
--> "Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is an illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and I am content."
* TheHighQueen: In ''A Witch Shall Be Born'', Queen Taramis is beloved by her people for being a kind, compassionate, and virtuous ruler.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard
* HoneyTrap
* HornyVikings: The Vanir and Aesir, who use horned helms (unlike their real-world descendants). Conan wears one himself in some stories.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen
* HulkSpeak: In the books, Conan has a much bigger vocabulary than the average reader -- much less the stereotypical barbarian. But in the films, some of the barbarian side-characters get this treatment.
--> "Sit -- here. Sit HERE!"
** Could be justified by a subtle translation convention going on. "Sit here!" may have been some of the only words of Cimmerian the man knew, and he ''was'' effectively talking to a child in the body of an adult. Most other conversations occur after Conan's education, when he might actually be expected to speak the more common languages.
* HumanSacrifice: Often.
* ICannotSelfTerminate
* IfICantHaveYou
* IGaveMyWord
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[YouHaveBeenWarned spoilers]]
* InelegantBlubbering
* InformedAbility: Sorcerers like Xaltotun and Yah Chieng, who were powerful enough to wipe out armies with quakes and plagues fail to find a proper spell to deal with Conan himself and end up toasted.
* InHarmsWay: Conan takes over Aquilonia, gets bored ruling it and then jumps at the chance for excitement when rebels attempt to oust him from power.
* InvincibleHero: More so in the later books. Conan rarely loses. When he does, he comes back and wins or just leaves. Howard himself seemed to be aware of Conan's sheer impressiveness might hurt the dramatic tension, since in many tales he adds a secondary protagonist to function as the dramatic foil/romantic lead, then he finds a clever way to scoot Conan out of the story for a time.
** He also tends to prevail for polar reasons: if his opponent is a skilled fighter or a soldier or something, he wins thanks to his "wild spirit and upbringing". If he's confronted by strong savages or monsters he wins because of his skills.
* ItsASmallWorldAfterAll
* JerkassGods: Crom's not particularly merciful or caring toward his worshipers, although bravado apparently amuses him.
* KaleidoscopeEyes
* KangarooCourt
* KlingonPromotion
* TheLadysFavour
* LargeHam: There's nobody in the movies that ''isn't'' a large ham. Despite the acting often being at odds with the very subtle direction and music, [[NarmCharm for some reason it works]].
* LeaveYourQuestTest: "Hour of the Dragon".
* LeonineContract: A slave taunts Conan with the prospect of one in "The Scarlet Citadel"
* LightningBruiser: Conan is repeatedly described as very fast and agile despite his size, as in "Xuthal of the Dusk":
-->"He was never motionless or in the same place an instant; springing, side-stepping, whirling, twisting, he offered a constantly shifting target for their swords, while his own curved blade sang death about their ears."
* LiteraryAgentHypothesis: Not exactly; though Howard wrote [[http://books.google.com/books?id=kQCohrOGHOsC&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=In+writing+these+yarns+I%27ve+always+felt+less+as+creating+them+than+as+if+I+were+simply+chronicling+his+adventures+as+he+told+them+to+me.&source=bl&ots=XN0UqDDYCK&sig=vkUrljTlFyuzQRv7mbE97ihq_1E&hl=en&ei=X9_8TJ6OJYn0ca75_fMO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=In%20writing%20these%20yarns%20I%27ve%20always%20felt%20less%20as%20creating%20them%20than%20as%20if%20I%20were%20simply%20chronicling%20his%20adventures%20as%20he%20told%20them%20to%20me.&f=false in a 1936 letter to a friend,]] "I've always felt less as ''creating'' [the stories] than as if I were simply ''chronicling'' his adventures as he told them to me," he also wrote a disclaimer in "The Hyborian Age", published that same year: "[This article] is simply a fictional background for a series of fiction-stories."
* LivingShadow: The [[NightmareFuel nightmarish]] monster from ''Xuthal of the Dusk'', Thog.
* LoinCloth: In many adaptations and some of the original stories although Howard more often has him dressing as appropriate to the culture and circumstances he finds himself in.
* LooseCanon: [[http://hyboria.xoth.net/history/conan_indestructible.htm According to L. Sprague de Camp]], Conan's backstory in ''Conan the Barbarian'' (being a child slave and gladiator, etc.) is an alternative account of his early years, though of uncertain validity Still, it's depicted with BroadStrokes (no Thulsa Doom or Riddle of Steel).
* LostInImitation: Howard's Conan in the live-action TV series, which was influenced by [[InkStainAdaptation the movies]] in several aspects. Conan is played by a German actor, is outfitted in LoinCloth and headband like ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'', and has a similar WheelOfPain backstory and Atlantean sword. Still, the series was even further from the original stories than was ''Destroyer'', with Conan becoming Crom's [[TheChosenOne Chosen One]] fighting the EvilEmpire.
* LotusEaterMachine: All the inhabitants of Xuthal are heavily drugged by Black Lotus.
* {{Lunacy}}
* MacGuffinGuardian: More than once.
* MadeASlave: Plenty of instances in the original works, just not applying to Conan until the first movie.
* MadeOfIron: Conan often survives wounds that would kill a small army. The apotheosis of this is the crucifixion scene in "A Witch Shall Be Born".
** He actually came really close to the very end in the story ''Xuthal of the Dusk'' after defeating [[EldritchAbomination Thog]].
* MagicIsEvil: Nostly. Even Pelias in the original stories was on Conan's side and nevertheless managed to creep him out so badly that Conan felt no [[FireForgedFriends friendship]] for him after, a circumstance so odd that Conan muses on it. In ''Hour of the Dragon'' the priests of Asura and the witch woman Conan meets in the hills are ay least neutral. Epimetheus, or his spirit at least is the only absolutely clear example of white magic although, being opposed to Set and Thoth Amon it can be inferred that the offscreen priest of Ibis in "The God in the Bowl" is a good guy.
* ManlyTears: When finding his son Conn after he was kidnapped by a witch.
* MarsNeedsWomen
* MasterSwordsman: Played straight and subverted. Unlike in the Arnold films, the original Conan does not receive formal training in swordsmanship, being a barbarian. But he is able to defeat certified Master Swordsmen ''because'' he is a barbarian. Spelled out in the story "The Pool of the Black One":
-->"Zaporavo was the veteran of a thousand fights by sea and by land. There was no man in the world more deeply and thoroughly versed than he in the lore of swordcraft. But he had never been pitted against a blade wielded by thews bred in the wild lands beyond the borders of civilization. Against his fighting-craft was matched blinding speed and strength impossible to a civilized man. Conan's manner of fighting was unorthodox, but instinctive and natural as that of a timber wolf. The intricacies of the sword were as useless against his primitive fury as a human boxer's skill against the onslaughts of a panther."
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane
* MementoMacGuffin
* TheMenFirst
* MightyWhitey: Played with. A few of the stories are about black people getting defeated by a quasi-Celtic white guy, who is [[NobleSavage pretty savage]]. He also recurrently fights against the Picts, described as having white skin but not considered white by their neighbors for being [[CannibalTribe painted, cannibalistic savages]]. Many of his longer-term enemies were also Stygian (Egyptian equivalent), not least Thoth-Ammon, with more than a handful of clashes against white Hyboreans to even the scales. And the lily-white Vanir are the Cimmerians' worst blood enemy, whom they'd gladly cross a glacier to kill, though Conan eventually becomes more tolerant of a ''few'' of them.
* MineralMacGuffin
* MistakenForGranite: In ''Conan the Buccaneer'', the shrine of Tsathoggua the Toad God contains a stone statue of the god, watching over the treasure. If someone step around the temple, the statue comes back to life (still remaining stone) and chase them.
* ModestRoyalty: As King of Aquilonia, Conan doesn't dress in the ostentation of various other kings of the land.
* MosesInTheBullrushes
* MurderTheHypotenuse
* MusicMagic
[[/folder]]
[[folder:N-S]]
* {{Necromancer}}
* TheNeedForMead
* NemeanSkinning: happened in the Marvel comics.
* {{Ninja}}: The followers of Louhi are Hyperborean wearing form-fitting black suits, blank masks and wielding platinum-tipped sticks. Yeah, that's right, Finnish Ninjas.... Finnjas.
* NobleSavage: Conan himself certainly fits the bill, although other uncivilized types like the Picts are portrayed as AlwaysChaoticEvil. Quite forcefully ''averted'' in the original stories, however. In Howard's own words, "I have no idyllic view of barbarism - as near as I can learn it's a grim, bloody, ferocious and loveless condition. I have no patience with the depiction of the barbarian of any race as a stately, god-like child of Nature, endowed with strange wisdom and speaking in measured and sonorous phrases." Conan is simply far too busy enjoying his life of bloody adventure to bother with such high-minded nonsense.
* NoblewomansLaugh: In one case, [[MindScrew it came]] [[NightmareFuel from the lips of]] a [[BlobMonster gelatinous, tentacled, toad headed monstrosity]].
* NotQuiteDead
* ObfuscatingDisability: In "A Witch Shall Be Born", Salome tossed the head of a murdered man to a deaf beggar — who proves to be Valerius, who heard that the true queen is prisoner there.
* OffWithHisHead
* OnlySaneMan
* OurGiantsAreBigger: Averted by Atala, who's human sized. Her brothers though are very large.
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Akivasha in ''Hour of the Dragon''.
* OutlivedItsCreator
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Poor Valerius... he risk a lot and fight like a lion to save his beloved queen, slays the evil witch, escape from a giant toad demon.. and the Conan arrives with TheCavalry, orders them to shot down the beast and gets all the thanks of the queen [[UngratefulBitch (who totally ignores Valerius)]].
** This was corrected in the MarvelComics adaptation, where Conan took a more active role.
* PantheraAwesome
* PapaWolf: He really loves his family. He goes against the four most powerful magicians of his time in order to rescue his son.
* PeopleOfHairColor: Most notably the northern barbarians. The Vanir are uniformly red-haired, the Aesir blond-haired, and the Cimmerians black-haired.
* PhysicalGod: In Olivia's dream in "Shadows in the Moonlight."
** Set himself appears briefly as a [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever gigantic serpent]] in ''The Red Moon of Zembabwei''.
* {{Pirate}}: Conan has been a pirate more than once in his career, in many different organizations, including the Red Brotherhood, the Zingaran Freebooters, and the infamous Black Corsairs.
* PirateGirl: One of his greatest loves, Belit, the Queen of the Black Coast, was the most feared pirate of the Hyborian Age -- at least, until the legend of Amra. Valeria was also one of these.
* PlanetOfHats: In many istances: almost every Stygian is an evil sorcerer/priest worshipping Set, all Picts are wild, bloodthirsty barbarians and woodsmen, Zamorians are sniveling thieves, Aesir and Vanir are [[HornyVikings viking-like]] BoisterousBruiser warriors, Khitans and Eastern people are enigmatic fatalists, Zuagirs are noble sand raiders with a strict code of honor and Hyperboreans are skinny, evil people worshipping a sorceress. Furthermore, all those "isolated and decadent" type of people living in remote cities tends to be depraved and decadent psychos.
* PlotArmor: In "A Witch Shall be Born" he is hung on a cross in the middle of a desert, which the villain of the tale supposed would be enough to kill him -- luckily, he is rescued. When an assassination attempt is made on him in a later story, "The Phoenix on the Sword" the would-be assassins fail only because a wizard finds a ring that he has lost for almost a hundred years by total accident (though since it's a magic ring, one wonders if it was an accident at all). Talk about luck.
* PollyWantsAMicrophone: The ancient talking parrot in ''Iron Shadows in the Moon''.
* PowerOfTrust
* {{Precursors}}
* ThePromise
* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Whenever we see Conan, he's acting honourably towards people he ''knows''. Offscreen, as a barbarian, mercenary and pirate, he has no qualms at all about pillaging peaceful villages and merchant shipping.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy
* PullingThemselvesTogether: Tsotha-lanti.
* PurpleProse: Robert E. Howard probably reached for his thesaurus more times in a paragraph than most writers do in writing a whole novel. This results in a kind of epic cheesiness that is the written equivalent of the Frank Frazetta painting on the cover.
** TropesAreNotBad: Howard (and his friend H.P. Lovecraft) is a rare example of how to do PurpleProse ''well''.
* RandomEventsPlot
* RapeDiscretionShot: Queen Taramis' rape by Constantius in "A Witch Shall Be Born."
* RatedMForManly: But of course.
* RealAfterAll: In ''The Frost Giant's Daughter'' and ''The Phoenix on the Sword'' there are people who initially disbelieve Conan's stories about clashes with supernatural beings. But then Conan produces physical proof of his encounter, immediately silencing the disbelievers.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
** Conan gives one of these to Constantius in "A Witch Shall Be Born" while the latter is hanging on a cross.
-->"Seven months ago, Constantius," said Conan, "it was I who hung there, and you who sat here."
-->[...]
-->"You are more fit to inflict torture than to endure it," said Conan tranquilly. "I hung there on a cross as you are hanging, and I lived, thanks to circumstances and a stamina peculiar to barbarians. But you civilized men are soft; your lives are not nailed to your spines as are ours. Your fortitude consists mainly in inflicting torment, not in enduring it. You will be dead before sundown. And so, Falcon of the desert, I leave you to the companionship of another bird of the desert."
* {{Reincarnation}}: Howard implied more than once that Conan was the reincarnation of {{Kull}}. In "People of the Black Circle" the Master of Yimsha forces Yasmina to relive the humiliations of her past lives as punishment for defying him. "A Witch Shall Be Born" centres around a witch who keeps being reincarnated in the same family.
* ReligionOfEvil: Played straight with the followers of Set. Subverted with the followers of Asura, a mysterious and shadowy cult feared by the followers of Mitra, who turn out to be decent folks.
* ReligiousRussianRoulette: "To hell with you! (Crom) I'll do it myself!"
** Not a very dramatic example as Crom never helps his people or answers prayers anyway and never offers any kind of heaven.
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Sometimes it seems that Howard's notion of otherworldly, terrifying evil began ''and'' ended with "giant snake." [[FridgeLogic Including at least one that was sealed in a ruined temple and huge pythons with poisonous fangs.]] Oh, and the Snake Men, who antagonized both Conan and King Kull.
* RescueSex: When Conan saves Princess Yasmela from an evil wizard at the end of ''Black Colossus'', she immediately insists that he ravish her atop the very alter that she going to be sacrificed on.
* RetiredBadass: Conan's grandfather, who did some WalkingTheEarth of his own before settling down with Conan's tribe. His stories of the outside world inspired Conan's wanderlust.
* {{Revenge}}:
** In "A Witch Shall Be Born", Conan is crucified after he realizes the EvilTwin of a queen he's serving has taken her place. He survives to lead an invasion against the impostor, while the queen is rescued by a secondary protagonist.
** In "Iron Shadows in the Moon", a fugitive Conan comes by chance upon a warlord who had recently slaughtered a mercenary band he served in (about to rape the [[GirloftheWeek Girl of the Story]]) - and, with a [[PreAsskickingOneLiner Pre Asskicking Monologue]], kills him in turn.
-->..."Oh, I've dreamed of such a meeting as this, while I crawled on my belly through the brambles, or lay under rocks while the ants gnawed my flesh, or crouched in the mire up to my mouth - I dreamed, but never hoped it would come to pass. Oh, gods of Hell, how I have yearned for this!"
-->[...]
-->..."Shah Amurath, the great Lord of Akif! Oh, damn you, how I love the sight of you - you, who fed my comrades to the vultures, who tore them between wild horses, blinded and maimed and mutilated them all, you dog, you filthy dog!" His voice rose to a maddened scream, and he charged.
* TheRival
* SlippingAMickey: In the newspaper comic, Conan's ale is drugged by the tavern wench Renea, who then sells Conan to slavers while he is unconscious.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:T-Z]]
* TheMagicGoesAway: Pelias informed Conan that due his actions the world is entering in a new age of reason and logic and without magic.
* RevengeByProxy
* RoyalBlood
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: After becoming king, Conan embodies this trope. When Aquilonia goes to war, you can be sure that Conan will personally be leading his army into battle (something that he most certainly enjoys, considering his love of combat and the fact that he occasionally complains about how boring sitting on a throne is).
* RunOrDie: Yes, Conan himself when up against some {{Eldritch Abomination}}s
* ScaledUp: Giant. Snakes.
* SceneryPorn: Many people have credited the revival of the Conan series to the use of Frank Frazetta's artwork on the covers. The ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' movie tried to copy Frazetta's paintings as much as possible for the scenery and art direction.
* ScienceDestroysMagic: According to the good sorcerer Pelias, Conan's kingdom brought forth an age of logic and science which is slowly destroying the magic.
* ScienceMarchesOn: The concept of continental drift was new and little-understood at the time Howard was writing, so the idea that the European landmass could have been vastly different merely thousands of years ago wasn't as unlikely as it seems to today's reader. We also know a great deal more today about anthropology and ancestry than what was incorporated into the stories.
* ScreamDiscretionShot: The rape of Queen Taramis in "A Witch Shall Be Born."
* SealedEvilInACan
* SeenItAll: He's traveled from Asgard and Vanaheim (Scandinavia) in the north to the tribal lands south of Kush(central Africa), from West of the Baracha Isles (Azores or Canary Islands) to Vendhya (India) in the east (and in other authors' work to Khitai (China)). He's been a mercenary, a thief, a pirate, a bandit, a tribal chieftain in four distinct geographical areas, a Captain of the Guard, a wilderness scout , a General and finally a king. He's fought men, beasts (especially snakes) and demons. He's discovered lost civilizations and the ruins of lost civilizations. This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Thulsa Doom in one of the later Savage Sword of Conan stories, when Conan recounts his experiences. Thulsa Doom calls Conan a liar, stating that no one could have lived through so many adventures over the thirty-odd years that Conan had been alive.
* SelfMadeMan: "King by his own hand."
* {{Sexbot}}: In ''Conan the Fearless'', a witch whom no man can satisfy tries to make one. The only missing component is a really brave man's heart...
* SexSlave: Conan's rescued a few of these in his day, including Olivia from "Iron Shadows in the Moon."
** Arguably he himself is bought as one for [[AmazonianBeauty the Amazon Queen]].
** Conan himself is rescued by one of these in ''The Hour of the Dragon''. Her name is Zenobia and she is a slave in the King of Nemedia's harem, although she admits that the King of Nemedia has never touched her (probably due to the fact that his harem contains dozens, if not hundreds of girls). [[spoiler:After she helps Conan escape the royal palace of Nemedia, he rewards Zenobia by marrying her and making her the queen of Aquilonia.]]
* ShroudedInMyth
* SilverHasMysticPowers: And is the only thing other than fire that can hurt demons.
* SinisterScimitar: Both played straight by Conan's many enemies and subverted by Conan himself, who often used scimitars and sabers in battle.
* SorcerousOverlord: Conan made the BarbarianHero and SorcerousOverlord go together like a sword and a scabbard (and yes, the sorcerer is the scabbard).
* SpaceJews: The folowers of Asura, a secretive group, persecuted by the followers of [[CrystalDragonJesus Mitra]] but protected by Conan because no one can prove any of the accusations against them (and who aid him in ''Hour of the Dragon'') might be this.
** Asura being ancient demigods of India, Hyborian Asura-followers would seem to be proto-Hindus. They speak of their ancestors as coming from Vendhya (India). This may be an example of HistoryMarchesOn. Howard didn't know it, probably just pulled the name "Asura" from an encyclopedia; but it is now known that the historical Asura deities began as good guys who developed a bad reputation, just as the Hyborian ones did.
* SpinOff: ''RedSonja''.
* TheStoic: Conan, to a degree.
* StopWorshippingMe: Crom is said to send doom, not fortune, to those who receive his attention.
* AStormIsComing
* SuccessionCrisis
* {{Synchronization}}: Zogar Sag and his demonic half-brother in "Beyond The Black River"
* TakenForGranite: The Medusa like vampire and the water in the pool of the "Black People".
* TakeOverTheWorld:
** Yezdigerd, king of Turan, he managed to convert his empire into the biggest one of the Hyborian Age, his foreign policy seems to be directed ultimately to this.
** Also the ultimate plan of Thoth-Amon and his council of sorcerers and worshipers of Set.
** Virata, one of the lords of the Flame Knife cult may have had this as its main plans.
* TakingYouWithMe: Conan, without hesitation, pretty much every time he thinks he'll die. It's a defining characteristic.
* TalkingInYourDreams
* TaughtByExperience
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Conan does this to great effect in ''Black Colossus''.
* ThunderboltIron: Starmetal swords (in some adaptations.)
* TomeOfEldritchLore
* TooKinkyToTorture: Andrew J. Offut's Isparana, implied.
* TurnCoat
* {{Ubermensch}}: Possibly. The trope definition is complex and Conan ticks some boxes and misses others. He has the right kind of primal charisma. He works to his own rules. He is very strong -- in flesh and in spirit. He is a larger than life character. But in the films he is religious and he is sociable, two things an ubermensch is not. Also, he does not want to set up a new society -- whereas the Ubermensch often does.
* UngratefulBastard
* UnknownRival: In the Howard stories Conan and Thoth-amon never actually meet or even knowingly act against each other. In ''Sword On the Phoenix'' Thoth-amon sends a demon not after King Conan but after his former master who is trying to assassinate Conan, thus inadvertantly saving his life, although since Thoth-amon also told the demon to kill everyone with his master he also inadvertantly puts him in danger again. In ''The God In the Bowl'' Conan just happens to be robbing the museum where a deadly gift intended for a rival of Thoth-amon's is being stored and gets loose. In ''The Black Stranger'' the object of Thoth-amon's wrath is one of several parties including Conan after a pirate's treasure treasure. Once again, Conan just happens to get in the way. In ''Hour of the Dragon'' Thoth-amon is merely mentioned by a group of Stygian priests looking for a weapon to use against him since his return to Stygia that Conan happens to encounter.
* TheVamp: Appears several times in Howard's Conan stories. There's Thalis the Stygian from ''Xuthal of the Dusk'', Belit from ''The Queen of the Black Coast'', Tascela from ''Red Nails'', Atali from ''The Frost Giant's Daughter'', and Akivasha from ''The Hour of the Dragon'' who is a vamp in the most literal sense (i.e. the blood-sucking undead kind)
* VictoryIsBoring: Conan discovers this after becoming King of Aquilonia. He takes any opportunity to visit new countries, and travelled far as king, though happily (for him) the political turmoil of the Hyborian nations meant his kingship wasn't exactly quiet. The movies also briefly touch on it.
* ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend: Belit from ''The Queen of the Black Coast''.
-->'''Belit''': "...My love is stronger than any death! I have lain in your arms, panting with the violence of our love; you have held and crushed and conquered me, drawing my soul to your lips with the fierceness of your bruising kisses. My heart is welded to your heart, my soul is part of your soul! Were I still in death and you fighting for life, I would come back from the abyss to aid you--aye, whether my spirit floated with the purple sails on the crystal sea of paradise, or writhed in the molten flames of hell! I am yours, and all the gods and all their eternities shall not sever us!"
** And the fact that ''she really does come back from the afterlife to aid Conan'' shows that she wasn't kidding.
* VirginSacrifice:
** Tsotha-lanti promises Seth five hundred if he'll defeat Conan.
** In ''The Hour of the Dragon'' Xaltotun carries a virgin to an alter with the intent to sacrifice her, but he is stopped by an old witch and a Priest of Ashura who are allied with Conan.
* WaitHere
* WalkingTheEarth
* WeaponOfChoice: Conan [[HeroesPreferSwords most commonly uses swords]] in all media, and is described as "sword in hand" right away in his very first appearance. But in contrast to his film and TV versions (which had the Atlantean and Starmetal swords), the original Conan used nondescript swords - not magical, let alone [[NamedWeapons named]] - and he's not particularly attached to them. He's also just as comfortable with other weapons like spears and axes.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** As mentioned above, the classic FrankFrazetta covers adorned Creator/LSpragueDeCamp's [[LooseCanon semi-canonical]] Conan stories. De Camp, not known as a [[BroadStrokes continuity zealot]], objected to the [[InkstainAdaptation clearly inaccurate but thoroughly memetic]] depictions of Conan as a long-haired, loincloth-wearing savage, and wanted Frazetta fired... in which case the famous image of Conan would have never come to light.
** Besides [[Series/StargateAtlantis Jason Momoa]], the other two main contenders for the lead in the Conan reboot were [[Literature/{{Twilight}} Kellan Lutz]] and [[Series/{{Supernatural}} Jared Padalecki.]]
** Around 2001 and 2002, John Milius (the man who wrote and directed the 1982 film) wrote a script titled ''King Conan: Crown of Iron'' that was intended to be a ''true'' sequel to the original film (as opposed to ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'', which was considered a disappointment to most fans of the original). The film entered the pre-production stages and Schwarzenegger was set to star in it. However, when Schwarzenegger was elected Governer of California in 2003 the project was put on indefinite hiatus and eventually canceled.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse
* WhatYearIsThis
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Magic, even WhiteMagic, is a definite corruptive force in Conan's world. Use it at your peril.
* WizardDuel: Pelias had some of these when he was younger, and helped Conan to deal with Tsotha-Lanti.
* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask
* WorldHalfEmpty: Let's see: the civilizations are decadent empires that don't give a damn about their people, anybody living in a city with a sorcerer in residence is at risk of being kidnapped and taken to their secret tower and never seen again. Barbarians are crazy savages who want to destroy civilization, some of them are cannibals as well. The only thing that keeps Conan at his "hero" rather than "BloodKnight" status is that he's usually fighting some of the most hideously evil people of his time-- and that's mainly just because they have the best loot.
* AWorldHalfFull: Thanks to... Conan, sure, he is not TheMessiah, but he sees this as a world full of adventures and treasures and inspires those under his command encouraging them to triumph over impossible odds, he eliminated many tyrants allowing more benevolent governors to ascend to the thrones of many countries, after ascended to the throne of Aquilonia he becomes a good and righteous monarch ensuring the prosperity and justice to the Aquilonian Empire, bringing hope to his people and defending even the weakest of them, also he saves the world from the machinations of evil sorcerers and their dark gods ensuring an age where BlackMagic is vanquished. In his last adventure, he [[spoiler: overthrows the evil priests ruling the Antillian Isles, and then navigates to the continent of Mayapan (America) where he becomes Kukulcan/Quetzalcoatl, the god who gave the mesoamericans the knowledge to cultivate corn, make books and calendars.]]
* WorldOfHam: The films manage to achieve this with conservative amounts of dialogue; See LargeHam.
* WouldntHitAGirl: Actually, Conan might knock down a woman and would certainly [[SpankTheCutie slap her behind]], but he tries to avoid killing them. A woman who betrayed him to the police on one occasion was simply dropped into a cesspit as punishment, while Conan disembowelled her new boyfriend without a second thought.
* WretchedHive: Tortage, the pirate city of the Barachan Islands. The MMO based on the series, Age of Conan, allows you to join a Resistance that overthrows a brutal dictator ruling Tortage, and your character is able to leave Tortage a little better than he found it. Also the thieves' quarter of Shadizar, capital of Zamora, known as The Maul. Arguably Shadizar itself since it's frequently referred to as "Shadizar the Wicked".
* YouCantFightFate
* YouImaginedIt: Conan gets this a lot when he encounters supernatural things, which not many other people believe in. See ''The Phoenix On The Sword'' and ''The Frost Giant's Daughter''. Usually the protagonist does have some physical evidence that proves him right, like the title mark on his broken sword or a scrap of cloth from the title character's clothing.
[[/folder]]
----
->''"Know, o prince, that between the years when the oceans drank {{Atlantis}} and [[ShiningCity the gleaming cities]], and the years of the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars - Nemedia, Ophir, Brythunia, Hyperborea, Zamora with its dark-haired women and towers of spider-haunted mystery, Zingara with its [[KnightInShiningArmor chivalry]], Koth that bordered the pastoral lands of Shem, Stygia with its shadow-guarded tombs, Hyrkania whose riders wore steel and silk and gold. But the proudest kingdom of the world was Aquilonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west. Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian; black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet."''
-->-- The Nemedian Chronicles, as quoted in ''Literature/ThePhoenixOnTheSword'', the very first Conan story by Creator/RobertEHoward.
The star of a gritty HeroicFantasy series of stories set in the Hyborian Age, an age before modern history. Created in the [[TheThirties 1930s]] for ''WeirdTales'' magazine, '''Conan''' of Cimmeria quickly became Creator/RobertEHoward's (1906-1936) most famous and popular creation. When people think [[BarbarianHero 'barbarian']], they often picture Conan.
Not at all influenced by the concept of the 'NobleSavage', Conan represented the ever-present danger posed to civilization by humanity's warlike nature (or vice versa). Howard's stories frequently relied on pulp formulas, much to Howard's chagrin. Howard would try to subvert these formulas wherever possible, especially where they required him to include a perfunctory sex scene. He took great delight in the publication of 'Beyond the Black River', precisely because it left out sex entirely.
Conan is strong, courageous and [[ChivalrousPervert oddly respectful]] of women. He is not an [[DumbMuscle idiot]], but neither is he of a scholastic disposition -- he is mostly practical and naturally cunning, though he is also knowledgable, able to speak, read and write a dozen languages, and even puzzle out ancient scripts in one story. He is a defining example of the type of barbarian who has the principles of a snake.
It is possible to see him as a MartyStu in the sense of being an idealised version of the author. He reflects Howard's [[AuthorAppeal preferences]] and [[ValuesDissonance prejudices]]; black people are poorly portrayed most of the time, Conan likes women with "skin as white as alabaster" and "a supple waist". And snakes, Howard must have been [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes scared of snakes]], huge [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent "loathsome serpents"]] turn up [[ScaledUp continually]], although this could also have to do with his friendship with Creator/HPLovecraft (the original Conan stories are actually a [[CanonWelding peripheral part]] of the CthulhuMythos.) Yet in ''Beyond the Black River'', Howard included a character that was explicitly stated in one of his letters to be an AuthorAvatar, and he was shown to be inferior to Conan in many ways.
Two Conan movies were made in the eighties: the first, ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' put [[NietzscheWannabe Nietzschean (Wannabe) philosophy]] together with rubber snakes and an epic tale of revenge. While [[InNameOnly it wasn't very accurate]] to the original Howard stories, hewing more to [[BroadStrokes Oliver Stone's ideas]] filtered through [[CrackPairing John Milius' direction]] regarding both plot and themes, it has become a CultClassic on its own merits. Its [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome awesome music]], epic feel, and interesting plot helped launch Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger's acting career. The second movie, ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'', took a more [[LighterAndFluffier comical and lighthearted tone]], wasn't as successful and got a critical negative reception. Plans for at least another movie fell through. There were rumors in the early 2000s about a new movie were Arnie would have reprised the role as an aged Conan, now king of Aquilonia, but all plans were scrapped when he entered politics.
A third Conan movie, again titled ''Film/{{Conan the Barbarian|2011}}'' was released in August 2011. A ContinuityReboot, it was supposed to be more faithful to Howard. It wasn't.
In October of 2012, it was announced that Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger will be starring in ''The Legend of Conan'', which is set for a Summer 2014 release. The film will be a sequel to the 1982 film and will [[CanonDiscontinuity completely disregard ''Conan the Destroyer'' as well as the 2011 reboot]]. It will center around an aging Conan who seeks one last adventure before he dies (the film's producer is describing it as "Conan's ''Film/{{Unforgiven}}''").
There has [[AgeOfConan also been an]] {{MMORPG}}, notable for being unusually bloody for the genre, and several other adaptations in various media. A British game company named Mongoose Publishing, creators of, among other things, ''{{Infernum}}'' and two successive ''JudgeDredd'' {{Role Playing Game}}s, created a Conan role-playing-game using the D20 ruleset.
Not to be confused with ConanOBrien. Also not to be confused with ''DetectiveConan'' or ''FutureBoyConan''.
----
[[foldercontrol]]
!!The Conan literature
[[folder:Robert E. Howard]]
[[index]]
From 1932-1936, Robert E. Howard completed one novel and 20 shorter stories about Conan. Some of these were first published posthumously. In order of writing, these are:
* "Literature/ThePhoenixOnTheSword". First published in December, 1932.
* "Literature/TheFrostGiantsDaughter" (a.k.a. Gods of the North) Written in 1932, but not published. A version modified by Howard appeared in March, 1934. A version modified by Creator/LSpragueDeCamp appeared in 1953. The original version was first published in 1976.
* "Literature/TheGodInTheBowl". Written in 1932 or 1933, but not published. A version edited by L. Sprague de Camp was first published in September, 1952. The original version was first published in 1975.
* "Literature/TheTowerOfTheElephant". First published in March, 1933.
* "Literature/TheScarletCitadel". First published in January, 1933.
* "Literature/QueenOfTheBlackCoast". First published in May, 1934.
* "Literature/BlackColossus". First published in June, 1933.
* "Literature/IronShadowsInTheMoon" (a.k.a. "Shadows in the Moonlight"). First published in April, 1934.
* "Literature/XuthalOfTheDusk" (a.k.a. "The Slithering Shadow"). First published in September, 1933.
* "Literature/ThePoolOfTheBlackOne". First published in October, 1933.
* "Literature/RoguesInTheHouse". First published in January, 1934.
* "Literature/TheValeOfLostWomen". Written in 1933 or 1934, but not published. First published in Spring, 1967.
* "Literature/TheDevilInIron". First published in August, 1934.
* "Literature/ThePeopleOfTheBlackCircle". Novella. Published in three parts, from September to November, 1934.
* ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon''. Novel. Published in 5 parts, from December, 1935 to April, 1936.
* "Literature/AWitchShallBeBorn". First published in December, 1934.
* "Literature/TheServantsOfBitYakin" (a.k.a. "Jewels of Gwahlur"). First published in March, 1935.
* "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver". Published in 2 parts, from May to June, 1935.
* "Literature/TheBlackStranger" (a.k.a. "The Treasure of Tranicos"). There are 3 versions of this story. Two by Howard, and one by L. Sprague de Camp. The original version was written in 1934 or 1935, first published in 1987. The second version by Howard was written c. 1936, and was first published in 1976. The de Camp version was first published in 1953, and further modified in 1967.
* "Literature/ManEatersOfZamboula" (a.k.a. "Shadows in Zamboula"). First published in November, 1935.
* "Literature/RedNails". Novella. Published in 3 parts, from July to October, 1936.
[[/index]]
Howard also left some stories unfinished or in synopsis form. The titled ones, in no particular order, are:
* "Drums of Tombalku". Left in fragmentary form, first published in 1986. L. Sprague de Camp created a completed version, first published in 1966.
* "The Hall of the Dead". Left in synopsis form, first published in November 1974. L. Sprague de Camp created a completed version, first published in February, 1967.
* "The Hand of Nergal". Left in fragmentary form, first published in 1976. Lin Carter created a completed version, first published in 1968.
* "The Snout in the Dark". Left in fragmentary form, first published in 1979. L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter co-wrote a completed version of the story, first published in 1969.
* "Wolves Beyond the Border". Left in two surviving drafts, first published between 2001 and 2005. L. Sprague de Camp created a completed version, first published in 1967.
He wrote a few other Conan-related pieces, like "[[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Hyborian_Age The Hyborian Age]]", [[AllThereInTheManual an essay about his fictional setting]], and the poem "Cimmeria", evoking Conan's homeland.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Other authors]]
Over the decades, many other authors have written official [[FanFic fanfics]] - or more formally, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastiche pastiches]] - of Conan. There are more [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_%28books%29 Conan stories by other writers]] combined than Howard himself ever wrote.
Their ranks include [[Literature/TheWheelOfTime Robert Jordan]] and HarryTurtledove, but the most significant of them was the {{showrunner}}-of-sorts back in the day, Creator/LSpragueDeCamp (1907-2000). He wrote several pastiches with the frequent collaboration of another author, Lin Carter (1930-1988). Both were prolific fantasy and SF authors in their own right, but they are perhaps most associated with Conan today.
Besides writing pastiches, De Camp edited Howard's stories, which often meant [[ReTool retooling the text altogether.]] De Camp and/or Carter also produced full versions of stories Howard left unfinished, and reworked some of Howard's unrelated fiction [[DolledUpInstallment to make them Conan tales.]] The De Camp-supervised books featured pastiche stories together with Howard's edited originals until finally they ran out of the latter, in which case the books became complete pastiches.
The Conan books published by Lancer Books and Ace Books from 1966-1977 are among those supervised by De Camp, and they are perhaps most famous for their cover art by FrankFrazetta.
For years, the pastiches and modified versions of Howard's stories were all considered {{Canon}} while the unedited originals were allowed to fall out of print. Nowadays however, Howard's unedited stories are available on the market again (and provided they're in public domain, the Internet), while the pastiches and modified texts [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes are mostly out of print]].
Though the dozens of pastiches are of varying quality, they are not without merit. If they wish, readers of today may relegate these stories to ExpandedUniverse status or just [[FanonDisContinuity ignore them altogether.]]
However, the status of Lin Carter and L. Sprague De Camp's works can be considered a [[LooseCanon secondary]] {{Canon}} of sorts, due to de Camp's decades-long control of the franchise and efforts to "reconcile" the original works. (Not to mention the sheer preponderance of in-universe works written posthumous to Howard's ShorterThanTheyThink series.)
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Novels and short stories by other authors]]
* "Conan of the Isles" (1968) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Novel, chronologically the last Conan tale. Conan is about 65 years old when abdicating the throne of Aquilonia and heading to the Western Ocean for one last adventure.
* "Black Sphinx of Nebthu" (July, 1973) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Sequel to "The Witch of the Mists".
* "Black Tears" (1968) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Partly inspired from the {{Medusa}} legend of ClassicalMythology.
* "Conan and the Amazon" (April, 1995) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. Conan and an Amazon are in search of the lost city of Jangar, which was the battleground between sorcerers and gods. But the current incarnation of the city is a perilous place and there were reasons for its isolation.
* "Conan and the Death Lord of Thanza" (January, 1997) by Roland Green. Novel. Conan joins a force of rangers, active in the mountainous borders between Aquilonia and Nemedia. Their mission is to face the groups of bandits active in the area. A seemingly simple mission. Until a local bandit leader seeks a magical artifact which grants power over death.
* "Conan and the Emerald Lotus" (November, 1995) by John C. Hocking. Novel. A sorcerer has gotten two of his rival magic users addicted to a drug. It amplifies their powers when used, but has nasty withdrawal symptoms. He then cut off their supply, waiting for results. The two afflicted magic users intend to use Conan as a pawn to get them their drug. He has no choice on the matter as their spells threaten his own life.
* "Conan and the Gods of the Mountain" (May, 1993) by Roland Green. Sequel to "Red Nails". Conan and Valeria continue wandering the Black Kingdoms (Africa), stumbling on a conflict between the Speakers of Spirits and the God-Men.
* "Conan and the Grim Grey God" (November, 1996) by Sean A. Moore. Novel. Conan is searching for the statue of an ancient deity, reputed to be priceless. But there are others searching for the statue, since another version of its tales speaks of its great power. The power to end the reign of light and begin the rule of darkness.
* "Conan and the Manhunters" (October, 1994) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. Conan is leading bandits in the deserts between Shem and Turan. He has the idea to steal a valuable treasure from a temple of Ahriman. Consequently he and his group have the Cult of the deity and a group of extraordinary manhunters following their trail.
* "Conan and the Mists of Doom" (August, 1995) by Roland Green. Novel, follows shortly after "The People Of The Black Circle". Conan has left Afghulistan with a number of tribesmen loyal to him. He intends to lead them to Koth. But in the Kezankian Mountains, the Mist of Doom drains travelers of their lifeforce. Conan's group has to join with other groups to ensure their survival.
* "Conan and the Shaman's Curse" (January, 1996) by Sean A. Moore. Novel. The opening scene has Conan on a battlefield, the last survivor of both groups of opponents. A dying shaman uses his last breath to curse him. Soon Conan realizes the effects of the curse. He has become a [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Werebeast]], subject to periodic transformations.
* "Conan and the Sorcerer" (October, 1978) by Andrew J. Offutt. Novel, features intrigues in Zamora and Zamboula.
* "Conan and the Spider God" (December, 1980) by L. Sprague de Camp. Novel, features Conan facing the priests of Yezud, a city which worships a Spider God.
* "Conan and the Treasure of Python" (November, 1993) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel, partly based on "Literature/KingSolomonsMines" (1885) by Creator/HRiderHaggard. Conan is hired to return to DarkestAfrica, where he had spend several years of his life, and lead an expedition through the wilderness. They are supposedly looking for the missing brother of his employer. But more accurately searching for the treasure that both brothers had been seeking.
* "Conan at the Demon's Gate" (November, 1994) by Roland Green. Novel. Set in the period that Conan is the chief of the Bamulas, an African tribe. Serves as a prequel to "The Vale of Lost Women". A CoolGate transports Conan and his tribesmen to the Pictish Winderland. And the locals are not welcoming.
* "Conan of the Red Brotherhood" (February, 1993) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Sequel to "Shadows in the Moonlight". Covers the period of Conan serving the Red Brotherhood, pirates of Vilayet Sea, and having Turan and its rulers as enemies.
* "Conan of Venarium" (July, 2003) by HarryTurtledove. Novel. Depicts events mentioned in passing during "Beyond the Black River", but never depicted in detail. Aquilonia attempts to colonize areas of Cimmeria, building the fortress of Venarium to control the area. The Cimmerians eventually storm the fortress and drive the invaders away. A very young Conan, barely a teenager, participates in his first battle.
* "Conan the Barbarian" (July, 2011) by Michael A. Stackpole. Novelization of the film.
* "Conan the Barbarian" (May, 1982) by L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter, and Catherine Crook de Camp. Novelization of the film. First credited collaboration for Catherine, though she is thought likely to have co-written, revised or otherwise contributed to several previous novels.
* "Conan the Bold" (April, 1989) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. A youthful Conan is contemplating marriage when his would-be-bride is slaughtered with most of her family. Conan swears vengeance. He follows the trail of the one responsible across several countries over a period of years.
* "Conan the Buccaneer" (1971) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Novel, featuring political intrigues over the throne of Zingara.
* "Conan the Champion" (April, 1987) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. Conan's career as a pirate of the Vilayet Sea ends in a shipwreck. His attempt to find mercenary work results in Conan being at the center of a three-way war between city-states.
* "Conan the Defender" (December, 1982) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features unrest and political conspiracies within Nemedia.
* "Conan the Defiant" (October, 1987) by Steve Perry. Novel. Conan's seeks vengeance against a {{Necromancer}}. But will have to face an army of AnimateDead to get to his opponent.
* "Conan the Destroyer" (July, 1984) by Robert Jordan. Novelization of the film.
* "Conan the Fearless" (February, 1986) by Steve Perry. Novel. A young girl with ElementalPowers is being targeted by more experienced magic users. Conan becomes her reluctant protector. A secondary antagonist is a nymphomaniac witch who needs Conan's heart to power up a {{Sexbot}}
* "Conan the Formidable" (November, 1990) by Steve Perry. Novel, features a youthful Conan entering Zamora for the first time. But instead of reaching civilization, Conan becomes the unwilling "guest" of a race of giants. And he gets his introduction to the Vargs, a race of Green Dwarves who feast on other humanoids, and to the members of a freak show seeking new recruits.
* "Conan the Free Lance" (February, 1990) by Steve Perry. Novel. Having recently parted with his traveling companions, Conan spends some time with the Tree Folk. That is a forest tribe living on top of the trees. His visit coincides by an attack on the tribe by the forces of a sorcerer, who needs the Tree Folk's Sacred Seed to ensure his own survival. Without the Seed the tribe and its forest face extinction. conan volunteers to help retrieve the Seed.
* "Conan the Gladiator" (January, 1995) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan has joined a traveling circus as their strongman, crossing various countries. But their idea to perform in Stygia results in their introduction to GladiatorGames... as unwilling participants.
* "Conan the Great" (April, 1990) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan, King of Aquilonia defeats an invasion by the combined troops of Nemedia and Ophir. Among the prisoners of war is a court jester who gladly switches allegiance. What Conan doesn't know is that the jester is the representative of a god, aiming to unite Hyboria under a single ruler. And Conan has unwittingly volunteered for the position. Meanwhile Koth has just entered a new expansion phase.
* "Conan the Guardian" (January, 1991) by Roland Green. Novel. Conan serves as the bodyguard of a young Argosian noblewoman. His role gives him insight into a culture dominated by wealthy merchants. And to the ruthlessness and deadly intrigues underlying the civilized veneer.
* "Conan the Hero" (February, 1989). Novel, serves as a sequel to "The City of Skulls". Conan and Juma still serve in the army of Turan. But their emperor is about to be betrayed by his foreign allies and members of his own court.
* "Conan the Hunter" (January, 1994) by Sean A. Moore. Novel. Conan buys a bracelet as a gift to a girlfriend. But the bracelet belonged to a recently-murdered princess and was apparently stolen from her corpse. His possession of it makes him a suspect in the high-profile murder case. Someone set him up. Conan seeks to find answers and clear his name, while facing complex conspiracies.
* "Conan the Indomitable" (October, 1989) by Steve Perry. Novel, a sequel to "Conan the Defiant". Conan, his lover Elashi, and a number of new companions are trapped BeneathTheEarth. In an underground realm ruled by a sorcerer and a sorceress in constant battle with each other. The various sentient races serving them are on the verge of a rebellion. The humans are soon caught up in a bizarre conflict.
* "Conan the Invincible" (June, 1982) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features Conan's encounters with a bandit queen.
* "Conan the Liberator" (February, 1979) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Novel, features Conan leading the rebellion against the King of Aquilonia. Events which lead him to the throne.
* "Conan the Magnificent" (May, 1984) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features Conan as a thief in Shadizar. Having recently been outperformed by a female thief, Conan decides to track her down and beat her in her own game. But both thieves are unwittingly following a perilous expedition into the wilderness.
* "Conan the Marauder" (January, 1988) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. A Hyrkanian warlord attempts to unite all the tribes and create an Empire. A Turanian sorcerer attempts to place this army under his own control. Conan is caught up in the resulting conflicts.
* "Conan the Mercenary" (January, 1981) by Andrew J. Offutt. Novel, covers a missing period between "Conan and the Sorcerer" and "The Sword of Skelos".
* "Conan the Outcast" (April, 1991) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Takes place within the city-states of eastern Shem, a desert area. The city of Sark is in decline, consequence of a prolonged drought. A priest convinces its monarchs that a sacrifice to his god could reverse the situation. But not just any sacrifice, but that of another city-state and every life within it. Said city is Qjara, a vibrant city which serves as part of a significant trade route. Currently living in Qjara is Conan, stranded there for months while waiting for a caravan to Zamora.
* "Conan the Raider" (October, 1986) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan joins a tomb-robbing expedition in Stygia. A subplot involving a precious gem has the story serving as a sequel to "Shadows in Zamboula" and a prequel to "The Star of Khorala".
* "Conan the Rebel" (July, 1980) by Poul Anderson. Novel, features Conan and Belit involved in a Stygian provincial rebellion.
* "Conan the Relentless" (April, 1992) by Roland Green. Novel. Conan attempts to cross the Border Kingdoms, heading for other areas as usual. But he soon ends up in a war zone, with the Kingdoms no longer the relatively peaceful area of his experience. When he recognizes Raihna (an old ally from "Conan the Relentless") among the combatants, Conan starts getting interested in his surroundings.
* "Conan the Renegade" (April, 1986) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Features mercenary adventures in the borders of Koth and Khoraja. Serves as a sequel to "Black Colossus" and "Shadows in the Dark".
* "Conan the Rogue" (November, 1991) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel, partly based on "RedHarvest" (1929) and "Film/TheMalteseFalcon" (1930), both by DashiellHammett. Conan has just ended a stint as a mercenary to the army of Nemedia. He has already lost his entire pay and most of his equipment gambling. So he gladly accepts a new job offer, searching for a mysterious and valuable item. Said job leads him to Sicas, an Aquilonian city increasingly dominated by organized crime. A MobWar between the five main gangs, and several minor factions, is ongoing. Deciding that this city of rogues is his kind of place, Conan soon uses the conflict to his own advantage. Meanwhile several parties in the War are also after the MacGuffin.
* "Conan the Savage" (November, 1992) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan has recently escaped from the mines of Brythunia, where he spent a period as a convict. He has retreated to the wilderness and joined a fairly isolated tribe. He is GoingNative. But Brythunian armies destroy the tribe and its village. Conan seeks vengeance against the Brythunian ruler. Who is actually a victim of DemonicPossession.
* "Conan the Triumphant" (October, 1983) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features Conan leading a group of freelance mercenaries within Ophir, a country about to enter a civil war.
* "Conan the Unconquered" (April, 1983) by Robert Jordan. Novel, features the activities of a necromantic cult in Turan and Hyrkania.
* "Conan the Valiant" (October, 1988) by Robert Green. Novel. Conan serves as an officer of the Turanian Army. When the secret service arranges for him to join a sorceress in a mission. They are to take out a sorcerer whose plans threaten Turan and its empire.
* "Conan the Valorous" (September, 1985) by John Maddox Roberts. Novel. Conan is hired by a Stygian Sorceress to transport certain items to the sacred mountain of Crom in Cimmeria. The relatively "simple" mission turns up to be part of a conflict between sorcerers.
* "Conan the Victorious" (November, 1984) by Robert Jordan. Novel. Conan flees Turan after becoming the main suspect in a high-profile murder investigation. He also suffers from poisoning and enters Vendhya in search for a cure. He instead finds himself involved in complex political intrigues.
* "Conan the Warlord" (March, 1988) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. Conan finds himself trapped within a Nemedian prison. He is offered freedom in exchange for a job. Becoming the political decoy to a Nemedian noble who resembles him in appearance. But there are multiples threats surround himself and his employers. Who have some secrets of their own.
* "Conan, Lord of the Black River" (April, 1996) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel. To face an undead sorceress, Conan has to experience a journey to the underworld. His chance to return among the living depends on victory over the nightmares of the realm.
* "Conan, Scourge of the Bloody Coast" (April, 1994) by Leonard Carpenter. Novel, sequel to "Conan of the Red Brotherhood". Conan is still leading the Red Brotherhood in ravaging the coasts of the Vilayet Sea. He is trying to instigate conflict between the two powers of the region, Turan and Hyrkania, to weaken them. But a magic user seeks to undermine all three naval powers.
* "Hawks Over Shem", also known as "Hawks Over Egypt". Novella written by L. Sprague de Camp, first published in October, 1955. Based on an Diego de Guzman tale by Robert E. Howard. The original story was set in 1021 Cairo. The antagonist was the Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, a Fatimid Caliph (reigned 996-1021) who reputedly went insane.
* "Legions of the Dead" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. There are arguments that Catherine Crook de Camp was an uncredited co-writer in this tale.
* "Moon of Blood" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. A sequel to "Beyond the Black River".
* "Red Moon of Zembabwei" (July, 1974) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Sequel to "The Witch of the Mists, and the "Black Sphinx of Nebthu".
* "Shadows in the Dark" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. A sequel to the "Black Colossus".
* "Shadows in the Skull" (February, 1975) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Sequel and conclusion to the storyline of "The Witch of the Mists, the "Black Sphinx of Nebthu", and the "Red Moon of Zembabwei".
* "The Blood-Stained God", also known as "The Curse of the Crimson God". Novella written by Creator/LSpragueDeCamp, first published in 1955. Based on a Kirby O'Donnell tale by Robert E. Howard. The original story was set in 1930s Afghanistan.
* "The Castle of Terror" (1969) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The City of Skulls" (1967) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The Curse of the Monolith" (1968) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The Flame Knife", also known as "Three-Bladed Doom". Novella written by L. Sprague de Camp, first published in 1955. Based on an El Borak tale by Robert E. Howard. The original story was set in 1930s Afghanistan.
* "The Gem in the Tower" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Based on "Black Moonlight" (November, 1976), a Thongor Tale by Lin Carter.
* "The Ivory Goddess" (August, 1978) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Sequel to "Jewels of Gwahlur". There are arguments that Catherine Crook de Camp was an uncredited co-writer in this tale.
* "The Lair of the Ice Worm" (1969) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The People of the Summit" (December, 1970) by Björn Nyberg. Revised by L. Sprague de Camp in 1978.
* "The Return of Conan" (1957). Novel mainly written by Björn Nyberg, edited and slightly revised by L. Sprague de Camp.
* "The Road of Kings" (October, 1979) by Edward Wagner. Novel, features intrigues over the throne of Zingara.
* "The Road of the Eagles", also known as "Conan, Man of Destiny". Novella written by L. Sprague de Camp, first published in December, 1955. Based on an Ivan Sablianka tale by Robert E. Howard. The original story was set in 1595 Caucasus, with Cossacks active in the border areas of the Ottoman Empire.
* "The Star of Khorala" (August, 1978) by Björn Nyberg and L. Sprague de Camp. A sequel to the "Shadows in Zamboula". Also serves as an origin tale to a supporting character from the "The Hour of the Dragon".
* "The Sword of Skelos" (May, 1979) by Andrew J. Offutt. Novel, sequel to "Conan and the Sorcerer".
* "The Thing in the Crypt" (1967) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
* "The Witch of the Mists" (August, 1972) by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Age of Conan, Hyborian Adventures novels]]
Novels which take place in the familiar Hyborian Age but do not actually feature Conan himself as a major character. His activities as King of Aquilonia are mentioned however.
* "A Soldier's Quest" trilogy
** "The God in the Moon" (July, 2006) by Richard A. Knaak.
** "The Eye of Charon" (September, 2006) by Richard A. Knaak.
** "The Silent Enemy" (November, 2006) by Richard A. Knaak.
* "Anok, Heretic of Stygia" trilogy
** "Scion of the Serpent" (September, 2005) by J. Steven York.
** "Heretic of Set" (October, 2005) by J. Steven York.
** "Venom of Luxur" (November, 2005) by J. Steven York. Also known "Venom of Luxor". The city of the title is typically spelled "Luxor" in Conan stories, but not in the cover of the first edition.
* "Legends of Kern" trilogy
** "Blood of Wolves" (May, 2005) by Loren L. Coleman.
** "Cimmerian Rage" (June, 2005) by Loren L. Coleman.
** "Songs of Victory" (July, 2005) by Loren L. Coleman.
* "Marauders"trilogy.
** "Ghost of the Wall" (January, 2006) by Jeff Mariotte.
** "Winds of the Wild Sea" (March, 2006) by Jeff Mariotte.
** "Dawn of the Ice Bear" (May, 2006) by Jeff Mariotte.
[[/folder]]
!!Adaptations
[[folder:Comic Books]]
[[ComicBook/ConanTheBarbarian The character has had a long history in comics]] over the decades. At first handled by MarvelComics, the license has since been acquired by Creator/DarkHorseComics. The Dark Horse series is the most faithful of all adaptations to date and is endorsed by the Robert E. Howard Foundation. It started out with Kurt Busiek on script and Cary Nord on pencils. It's currently written by Timothy Truman and drawn by Tomas Giorello.
* The Dark Horse franchise includes (not including reprints)
** :''Conan #0: The Legend'' (2003). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan'' (2004-2008). 50 issues.
** ''Conan And the Daughters of Midora'' (2004). One-Shot publication.
** ''Conan And the Jewels of Gwahlur'' (2005). 3 issues.
** ''Conan And the Demons of Khitai'' (2005-2006). 4 issues.
** ''Conan: Book of Thoth'' (2006). 4 issues.
** ''Conan: Free Comic Book Day Edition'' (2006). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan And the Songs of the Dead'' (2006). 5 issues.
** ''Hyborian Adventures: SDCC Free Giveaway'' (2006). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan And the Midnight God'' (2007). 5 issues.
** ''Conan the Cimmerian'' (2008-2010). 26 issues.
** ''Conan: The Weight of the Crown'' (2010). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan: Road of Kings'' (2010-2012). 12 issues.
** ''King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel'' (2011). 4 issues.
** ''Conan: Island of No Return'' (2011). 2 issues.
** ''King Conan: The Phoenix on the Sword'' (planned for 2012). 4 issues.
** ''Conan the Barbarian'' vol. 3 (ongoing, planned for 2012).
* The Marvel franchise includes (not including reprints):
** ''Conan the Barbarian'' vol. 1 (1970-1993). 275 issues.
** ''Savage Tales'' vol. 1 (1971-1974). Anthology title, Conan was the main character for 5 issues.
** ''Conan Annual'' (1973-1987). 12 issues.
** ''The Savage Sword of Conan'' (1974-1995). 235 issues.
** ''Giant-Size Conan'' (1984-1975). 5 issues.
** ''King Conan'' (1980-1983), later renamed ''Conan the King'' (1984-1989). 55 issues.
** ''Conan the Barbarian Movie Special'' (1982). 2 issues.
** Graphic novels (1985-1992). 7 issues.
*** ''The Witch Queen of Acheron'' (1985)
*** ''Conan the Reaver'' (1987)
*** ''Conan of the Isles'' (1988)
*** ''Conan: The Skull of Set'' (1989)
*** ''Conan the Barbarian: The Horn of Azoth'' (1990). Based on a rejected script for the film ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer''.
*** ''Conan the Rogue'' (1991)
*** ''Conan: The Ravagers out of Time'' (1992). Crossover with RedSonja and {{Kull}}. Involves TimeTravel.
** ''The Handbook of the Conan Universe'' (1986). One-shot publication.
** ''Conan the Adventurer'' (1994-1995). 14 issues.
** ''Conan'' (1995-1996). 11 issues.
** ''Conan the Savage'' (1995-1996). 10 issues.
** ''Conan vs. Rune'' (1995). One-shot publication. Crossover with TheUltraverse,
** ''Conan the Barbarian'' vol. 2 (1997). 3 issues.
** ''Conan the Barbarian: The Usurper'' (1997-1998). 3 issues.
** ''Conan: The Lord of the Spiders'' (1998). 3 issues.
** ''Conan: River of Blood'' (1998). 3 issues.
** ''Conan Return of Styrm'' (1998). 3 issues.
** ''Conan Scarlet Sword'' (1998-1999). 3 issues.
** ''Conan: Death Covered in Gold'' (1999). 3 issues.
** ''Conan: Flame and the Fiend'' (2000). 3 issues.
Just as some of Howard's non-Conan stories were [[DolledUpInstallment reworked for inclusion in the Conan books]], the character of RedSonja was created for Marvel loosely based on two of Howard's other characters from his historical fiction - Red Sonya of Rogatino and Dark Agnes, both {{Action Girl}}s from the 16th century.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film and television]]
* The films ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' (1982) and ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'' (1984). Both had Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger as Conan, and MakoIwamatsu as Akiro, his KWONICLER. The first film also had JamesEarlJones as Thulsa Doom, and Sandahl Bergman as Valeria. It was co-written by John Milius and Oliver Stone, directed by Milius alone. The second film had Grace Jones as Zula, Olivia d'Abo as Jehnna, Sarah Douglas as Taramis, Pat Roach as Toth-Amon, Wilt Chamberlain (yes, ''that'' WiltChamberlain) as Bombaata, and an uncredited AndreTheGiant as the monster Dagoth. It was written by Stanley Mann, and directed by Richard Fleischer.
* ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'' (1992-1993) was an animated cartoon based on elements from the various Conan stories, but it was so very much LighterAndSofter. It takes only a few elements from the original. Decent on its own terms, despite the "kiddification" (e.g. [[PollyWantsAMicrophone a talking phoenix]] that lived in Conan's shield and was obsessed with pomegranates). Run for 65 episodes.
* ''Conan and the Young Warriors'' (1994). Continuation of the above. This had Conan leading kids around. Having defeated his enemies, Conan was contemplating retirement. Fate, in the form of Epimetrius the Sage, has other plans and the Cimmerian becomes mentor to [[TheChosenOne The Chosen Ones]], three siblings with magical powers who are destined to rule the Hyborian world. All three are blonde, and blue-eyed. Draegen, the eldest boy, summons an InstantArmor with magical qualities. He has also been trained to WhipItGood in battle. Brynne, middle child and only girl, is a MasterOfIllusion. She has also had training as a thief and [[TheArcher Archer]]. Navah, the youngest boy, is a TheBeastmaster of the group. He has had training as a slinger. This show was never particularly successful. A total of 13 episodes were released.
* ''Series/ConanTheAdventurer'' (1997-1998) was a live-action ''Conan'' series starring Ralf Moeller. It was one of many failed attempts to match the success of ''HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' and ''XenaWarriorPrincess''. It makes superficial use of Conan's name and elements from the movies and animated series, as well as Robert Jordan's Conan novels, but otherwise was Howard's character in name only. A total of 22 episodes were released.
* The film ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian2011'' (2011) was ContinuityReboot, starrs Jason Momoa as Conan. It featured Rachel Nichols as Tamara , Stephen Lang as the villain Khalar Zym, RoseMcGowan as witch Marique, and RonPerlman as Corin, Conan's father. The script was written by Thomas Dean Donnelly, Sean Hood, and Joshua Oppenheimer. Directed by Marcus Nispel.
* There's been an animated adaptation of ''Red Nails'' starring RonPerlman and MarkHamill in the works for some time, but it seems to be stuck in DevelopmentHell.
* ''The Legend of Conan'', which is a sequel to the 1982 film, is set for a Summer 2014 release and will feature the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''[[http://www.mobygames.com/game/conan-hall-of-volta Conan: Hall of Volta]]'' (1984). A platformer with puzzle elements for AppleII, [[Atari8BitComputers Atari]] and {{Commodore64}}.
* ''[[http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/conan-the-cimmerian Conan: The Cimmerian]]'' (1991) an RPG with side-scrolling action game elements for MS-DOS.
* ''AgeOfConan'' (2008)
* ''Conan'' (2004), also known as ''Conan: The Dark Axe''. An action-adventure game for the Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Microsoft Windows that was released only in Europe.
* ''Conan'' (2007), for the PlayStation3 and XBox360. More or less a ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' clone, based on elements from Howard's stories.
* The infamous ''Conan: Mysteries of Time'' (1991) for {{NES}} (in reality DolledUpInstallment based on ''[[http://www.mobygames.com/game/myth-history-in-the-making Myth: History in the Making]]'', which was considered a classic on Commodore 64 and ZXSpectrum, although the NES version was [[PortingDisaster entirely different story]]).
[[/folder]]
----
!! The Conan franchise provides examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:A-G]]
* AbdicateTheThrone: In "The Scarlet Citadel", Conan is [[BuyThemOff offered freedom and gold]] if he will do this. Conan, in characteristic fashion, tells the villains who captured him to [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules go to hell]].
* AbsurdlySharpBlade: Conan's swords can cut through nearly anything. Hardly a fight scene goes by that doesn't have the Cimmerian casually hewing off limbs and heads, plunging a sword through chainmail like wet paper or rotten fruit or some other metaphor for softness, and occasionally bisecting still-helmeted skulls and whole torsos. In "The People Of The Black Circle," he chops through a ''door'' with his sword. And yet it's still always described as "razor-sharp".
** It's worth noting here the awesome physical power that Conan was able to put ''behind'' his sword work.
** The story "The Thing in the Crypt" (which inspired a similar scene in the movie) has Conan finding a sword in a ancient tomb, before having to use it to fight the titular "thing". It may or may not explain the absurd sharpness.
* ActionGirl: Belit, Nanaia.
* AdaptationDistillation: The Dark Horse comic book series and the first Conan film. The quality of their distillations is debated, to say the least.
** To the extent that the first film captured the "Frank Frazetta feel", and had assorted story elements from both Howard and pastiche, it was an Adaptation Distillation; but its plot and themes are [[http://theblogthattimeforgot.blogspot.com/2010/03/comparison-of-howard-quotient-in-conan.html incompatible at worst]] with Howard's Conan. Of course, one may enjoy it on its own, regardless of the source material.
** The 2011 film manages to feel the most like Howard's original story, right down to the pulpy feel and escapist action. It helps that they made sure to write around established stories and events from the Howard canon instead of just rewriting Conan's life to fit their movie plot like the '82 film.
* AdaptationDyeJob: Schwarzenegger, Ralf Moeller, and Jason Momoa have dark brown hair instead of plain black.
* AdvancedAncientAcropolis
* AfterActionPatchup: How we learn most of how Salome usurped the throne in ''A Witch Shall Be Born''; the {{Denouement}} of ''The Phoenix on the Sword''
* AfterTheEnd: The Hyborian Era is AfterTheEnd with respect to the previous civilizations {{Atlantis}}, Valusia, and Acheron. Our own era is after the collapse of the Hyborian Age.
* AlienGeometries
* AllJustADream
* AllMythsAreTrue: The gods of the Hyborian Age go on to be the gods of later cultures. The Cimmerian deities Crom, Lir, Babd, Macha and Nemain are all Celtic deities, Mitra god of the Hyborians becomes the Persian Mithra (some art represent him as Jesus), the Shemite Ishtar becomes the Babylonian Ishtar and Set seems to have characteristics of both the Egyptian Set and Apep, just to name a few. Perhaps best exemplified in the twin Nordheimir tribes Conan encounters in "The Frost Giant's Daughter." They're called the Aesir and the Vanir, and they worship Ymir, the Frost Giant. The implication is that they themselves will be worshipped as the Norse pantheon further down the line.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: There are no good Picts, no good Stygians, no good Snake people.
** Technically, Jogar Sag of the Picts was evil. The Picts tend to be neutral, and are only seen as evil by the civilized people that encroach on their territory, and the Cimmerian who hates them because they're among the regular enemies of his people. The Stygians tend to be evil because they worship a Lovecraftian horror.
** We only meet one (reborn) character from Acheron, as it's an extinct civilization, but all its rulers seem to have been evil.
*** Conan is actually fairly even-handed about the Picts. Near the beginning of the story he says that the dead Aquilonians pretty much had it coming by virtue of being TooDumbToLive, that instead of humiliating Jogar Sag by imprisoning him they should have either bought him off or given him a quick, clean death. He also says that if the Aquilonians would just break up some of the monstrously oversized estates of their nobles they wouldn't need to be pushing into Pict territory.
** Conan had at least one Pictish ally/friend at one point in the comic magazines. Possibly just for the sake of subverting the trope, but it also pretty much showed both Conan and the other guy that they were NotSoDifferent.
** The only good Stygian in Howard's world is a poor fisherman who is kidnapped by Conan in ''Hour of the Dragon''. He's not only spared, but even rewarded with a hatful of gold!
** The negative portrayal of the Picts is all the odder because a) the Picts had been allies of Kull, who was supposedly Conan's earlier incarnation, and b) Howard wrote an essay concerning his longtime particular ''admiration'' for the historical Picts (despite there not being much detailed information available).
-->In reading of the Picts, I mentally took their side against the invading Celts and Teutons, whom I knew to be my type, and indeed my ancestors.
* AmbitionIsEvil
** In "A Witch Shall Be Born", Salome rejected the study of ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow for using BlackMagic for power.
-->''"He said I was but an earthly sprite, knowing naught of the deeper gulfs of cosmic sorcery. Well, this world contains all I desire -- power, and pomp, and glittering pageantry, handsome men and soft women for my paramours and my slaves.''
** In "The Hour of the Dragon" and "The Phoenix on the Sword," more than one conspirator wanted the throne. (At least two wanted the same throne, that of Aquilonia, which gets awkward.)
* AnachronicOrder: While Howard didn't write the stories in chronological order, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_chronologies several different outlines]] have been devised if one wishes to read them this way - pastiches included or not.
* AncientAfrica: Kush, Keshan, Darfar, Punt, Zembabwei, Atlaia, Amazon and the other "Black Kingdoms" to the south of Stygia where Conan managed to lead a tribe for a few months. Possibly also the second movie featuring Grace Jones as a [[HeroicSociopath psychotic tribeswoman]] (as one of the ''heroes'').
* AncientAstronauts: ''The Tower of the Elephant'' features an only survivor.
* AncientConspiracy: The Sect of the Fire Knife, the Serpent Men.
* AndTheAdventureContinues: The end of ''Conan of the Islands'', being more than 60 years old he headed his ship for Mayapan (America).
* AnimatedAdaptation: Two of them, actually.
* AnimatedArmor - Conan once fought one of these guys, realising he was screwed as even though he could chop the arm and the head of the armor off, the thing could still attack. Thankfully the Wench of the Week shone some light into the priest controlling it, following which it collapsed like a sack of potatoes.
* AntiHero: Conan varies from [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III to Type V]]
** At worst, he's a thief, a reaver, a slayer... and pretty much everything else you can think of where there's an opportunity for violence, wenches and loot. Including piracy, assassination, mercenary work and becoming warrior-king of the richest country on the continent. At best, then? The archetype of a ChaoticGood hero. He never kills anyone who doesn't deserve it or isn't trying to kill him, keeps his word, and goes out of his way to help the weak and helpless - ''if'' they're hot women. He even states this bluntly in "The Vale of Lost Women." Once he does become king he becomes pretty much the best one Aquilonia has ever had. However, he can be seen less as Type V and more as [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type IV]] with occasional dips into [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type III.]] The movie Conan is more solidly a Type III while the Marvel Comics version was mostly [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type II]] with dips into III. [[Creator/DarkHorseComics Dark Horse's]] version is more back to the original IV.
** In ''Hour of the Dragon'', he is aghast at the thought of what his foes will do to his kingdom, and resists the temptation to return to adventure because he needs to save his kingdom.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Several conspirators in "The Phoenix on the Sword."
* ArrangedMarriage:
** In "The People of the Black Circle," Conan laughs at Yasmina's offer of reward.
-->''"Would you make me your king?" he asked sardonically.\\
"Well, there are customs --" she stammered, and he interrupted her with a hard laugh.\\
"Yes, civilized customs that won't let you do as you wish. You'll marry some withered old king of the plains, and I can go my way with only the memory of a few kisses snatched from your lips. Ha!"''
** In "Shadows in the Moonlight" Olivia was MadeASlave for refusing this.
* ArtifactOfDoom - In ''The Hour of the Dragon'', the Heart of Ahriman. Even one of the evil conspirators tries to get it from the EvilSorcerer.
* AscendedExtra: Thoth-Amon becomes the arch-enemy of Conan in pastiches and comic adaptations, though they never even meet in the original stories and the one time he puts Conan in danger, he does so unintentionally. The movie version of Thulsa Doom is more like him than the original Thulsa Doom, who was a Kull villain (and looked like Skeletor before Skeletor existed). An {{Expy}} of him named Wrath-Amon was in the first cartoon.
* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: "The Scarlet Citadel" and "A Witch Shall Be Born" in particular, the most famous visual example being FrankFrazetta's iconic illustration for Conan the Adventurer.
* AttackAttackAttack
** In "The Phoenix on the Sword," Conan does not even fight a defensive battle when outnumbered twenty-to-one.
-->''He was no defensive fighter; even in the teeth of overwhelming odds he always carried the war to the enemy.''
** In "The Slithering Shadow", the forces of Xuthal nearly overcame him though they aren't good fighters because of this and their [[ZergRush numbers]].
* AttemptedRape: In "Red Nails" Olmec tries this on Valeria. [[spoiler:The rescue is even worse.]]
** ''The Frost-Giant's Daughter'' is one of the rare examples of Conan himself being the aggressor. The lady in question was Atali, daughter of the Frost Giant Ymir, who appeared to the wounded and dying to taunt them and lure them to their deaths at the hands of her giant brothers.
** Of course, Atali is a supernatural entity whose beauty causes men to go insane with lust, so it could be said that Conan wasn't really himself in that story.
* AuthorAvatar: Howard made one appearance in a story. Was he an [[GodModeSue unstoppable killing machine]]? No. Was he a [[BigDamnHeroes hero to rival Conan]]? No. He was killed along with the self-insert of his dog, Patches, by Picts in "Beyond the Black River". He was still [[HeroicSacrifice pretty awesome]] in his own way though. Enough that Conan swore to personally avenge him (and his dog).
* AnAxeToGrind: While Conan generally uses swords as his weapon of choice, he has used the battleaxe from time to time in Howard's stories, such as in the first Conan story, "The Phoenix on the Sword," which has King Conan taking one to the assassins trying to kill him in his bedchamber after breaking his sword. King Kull, another Howard creation, famously used the axe, with his catchphrase being "With This Axe I Rule!"
* BackFromTheDead: In the Savage Sword of Conan comics, Boraq D' Sharaq did this so often that Conan remarked during his later appearances that the former pirate had more lives than a cat. He even returned to life after being turned into [[TakenForGranite a glass statue]].
* BadassBoast: In "Shadows of Zamboula", Conan beats a cultist strangler, [[ScaryBlackMan a black guy who's even larger than him]], at his own game - ''while being strangled himself'':
-->"Did you deem yourself strong, because you were able to twist the heads off civilized folk, poor weaklings with muscles like rotten string? Hell! Break the neck of a wild Cimmerian bull before you call yourself strong. I did that, before I was a full-grown man — like this!"
* BadassBookworm:
** The archenemy of Conan, Thoth-Amon.
** Pelias, [[SidekickExMachina a sorcerer who became a friend of Conan]] -- albeit it not in the Howard story where he appeared -- he didn't mind using his magic to directly fight his enemies.
* BadassCreed: As summed up in the poem ''The Road of Kings''
-->''Gleaming shell of an outworn lie, fable of Right Divine''
-->''You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine''
-->''The throne I won by blood and sweat, by Crom I will not sell''
-->''For promise of valleys filled with gold, or threat of the Halls of Hell!''
-->''When I was a fighting man, the kettle-drums they beat''
-->''The people scattered gold dust before my horse's feet''
-->''But now I am a great king; the people hound my track''
-->''With poison in my wine cup and daggers at my back.''
-->''What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie?''
-->''I who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky.''
-->''The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing.''
-->''Rush in and die, dogs -- I was a man before I was a king!''
* BadassInDistress: Conan has gotten captured more than once in his day. He usually escapes by some measure of guile, trickery or luck.
* BadassLongHair: One of Conan's trademarks since FrankFrazetta did the legendary illustrations is his long black mane, a look that was used in virtually all adaptations. Howard consistently describes Conan's hairdo as a "''square-cut'' black mane"; Creator/LSpragueDeCamp [[http://www.rehupa.com/?p=272 objected]] to Frazetta's shoulder-length interpretation and [[WhatCouldHaveBeen might have had the art replaced if he hadn't been overruled]].
* BadassNormal: Conan, again. Sorcerers, demons, apemen, demi-goddess witches, he's fought them all and won.
* TheBait
* BalefulPolymorph
* BarbarianHero: You saw it occasionally in myths (it's as old as civilization, before that they were just "heroes"), but Conan the Barbarian [[TropeCodifier made it what it is now]].
* BarbarianTribe: The Picts in the "screaming hide covered" variety, while the Cimmerians, Æsir and Vanir are closer to the ProudWarriorRaceGuy type.
* BarBrawl
* BeamMeUpScotty:
** The term "Conan the Barbarian" never occurs in the original Howard stories. Instead Conan tends to be called "Conan the Cimmerian", "Conan of Cimmeria", etc. However, "Conan the Barbarian" was in use at least as far back as 1954 (as a book title) and probably earlier. And of course, one of the Marvel Comics series and the first movie use it.
** While the Age of Conan is called the "Hyborian Age" in the stories, [[http://tinyurl.com/cimmerian-contra-hyboria his world is not called "Hyboria"]] contrary to official merchandise.
* BeardOfBarbarism: Many Aesir, Vanir and other barbarians have full beards. Conan himself, however, averts the trope with being clean shaven in pretty much all his incarnations.
** Ironically, he grows mustaches and beard only long after becoming King of Aquilonia.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo
* BedsheetLadder
* BerserkButton: If you threaten an innocent woman (or even not-so-innocent if she happens to be Conan's love interest) in Conan's presence, YOU WILL DIE.
* BestHerToBedHer: Red Sonja in the comics. Also in ''Queen of the Black Coast'', the pirate princess Belit becomes Conan's lover after witnessing him single-handedly slay hordes of her crew.
* BettyAndVeronica
* BigBad: Thoth-Amon is the most prominent, with [[SorcerousOverlord Xaltotun]] and [[YellowPeril Yah Chieng]] briefly taking the scene for themselves. Maybe [[BiggerBad Set]] as well.
** Don't forget Yezdigerd, king of Turan whose ambitions in multiple stories are thwarted by Conan's existence.
* BigBadassBirdOfPrey: One appears in ''The Hour of the Dragon'' as the witch's familiar. Pelias can turn into one.
* BigBadassWolf: Again, another of the witch's familiars.
* BigBadFriend: Thoth Amon to Kalanthes in the Comics.
* BigDamnHeroes
* BittersweetEnding: "Queen of the Black Coast" ends with Conan having overcome his enemies, but having lost perhaps his greatest love.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: Very much so in the original stories. Lightened somewhat in the movies and later books. In the original stories, Conan was often little more than a thug of some manner (pirate, bandit, hired sword, whichever) who was going up against fiendishly evil sorcerers, mad kings, or occasionally both. On the other hand he gets a much more sympathetic portrayal when he is king of Aquilonia, all of his foes being scheming aristocrats or ambitious rival kings and Conan himself the benevolent ruler defending his throne.
** AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Conan repeatedly does the right thing at personal expense, such as [[spoiler: saving the girl rather than the gems of Gwahlur]] or [[spoiler: giving two orphans enough money to lead a comfortable life]]. It gets to the point where Conan is, arguably, a barbarian version of TheCape.
* BlackMagic: Nearly all magic in the Conan universe is this, requiring some seriously nasty material components.
* BladeOnAStick: Albeit rarely, he used a spear in some occasions.
* BlindedByTheLight
* BlingBlingBang
* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Valeria, Bêlit, RedSonja in the Marvel comics.
* BlondesAreEvil
* BloodBath: When the [[TheCaligula malicious]] King Numedides expressed a desire to become immortal, he enlisted the services of the EvilSorcerer Thulandra Thuu, and together they sacrificed young women in order for Numedides to bathe in their blood.
* BloodKnight
* BloodMagic
* BlueBlood
* BoisterousBruiser: Conan took this role in the earlier books, but later writers often made him [[TheStoic grim]].
* BrainFever
* BreakoutVillain: Thoth-Amon the sorcerer appears exactly once in Howard's stories (though he's name-dropped in a few others), never meets Conan, and is at best a tangential antagonist in the story. In later adaptations, however, Thoth-Amon and his various Expies are usually the BigBad.
* BreakTheHaughty
* BreastPlate: Red Sonja... and Conan! Sonja wears very little armour in her original comic book, whereas Conan averts this in the original stories (but [[ContemptibleCover not their illustrations]]) by wearing whatever suits the job or climate. In Sonja's movie, she wears a lot more armour, and Conan spends most of the first movie at least shirtless, and by the second movie he is both shirtless and pantsless almost all the time.
* BroadStrokes: When he was still "in charge", Creator/LSpragueDeCamp included the {{novelization}}s of the movies in "Conan the Indestructible", [[http://hyboria.xoth.net/history/conan_indestructible.htm a scheme of the canonical "Conan saga" circa 1984]] -- but didn't confirm every detail.
** The canon as a whole could be considered BroadStrokes, given various attempts to reconcile it, with or without the pseudocanonical works.
* BrokeEpisode: Often. Conan likes [[MoneySink the good life]], and when he actually has cash will spend money like water. One novel starts with Conan having gambled away almost literally everything he owns at dice. He ponders gambling with his sword (the only thing he has left besides the clothes on his back), then decides not to... after all, it's what he'll use to go out and get more money!
* BurnBabyBurn[=/=]VikingFuneral: Belit in "Queen of the Black Coast".
* BurnTheWitch
* BuyThemOff: In "The Scarlet Citadel", to Conan. Works worse than usual.
* CainAndAbel
* TheCaligula: When he wasn't killing {{Evil Sorcerer}}s or [[ScaledUp Big Fucking Snakes]], Conan was often killing mad kings.
* CallForward
* CallOnMe
* CatchPhrase: Conan's habit of exclaiming "Crom!" when he was surprised by something in the non-literature versions of his adventures.
* CavalryBetrayal: Inverted in ''The Scarlet Citadel''. Conan ''is'' the cavalry - but it turns out both supposedly fighting kings are waiting for him.
* CelestialDeadline
* TheChainsOfCommanding
* TheChosenOne: In ''The Phoenix On The Sword'' Conan is visited by the spirit of the sage Epemitreus. During their conversation Epemitreus implies that Conan was destined to become the king of Aquilonia and save the world from the cult of Set.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder
* TheCityNarrows: The Maze quarter of Murilo
* ClingyMacGuffin
* ClothingDamage
* ColdBloodedTorture
* ColdFlames
* CombatPragmatist: While he [[HeroesPreferSwords often uses swords]], Conan may also use pretty much whatever else is at hand. This includes other weapons like [[AnAxeToGrind axes,]] [[BladeOnAStick spears]], daggers, [[TheArcher bows and arrows]] (though he only learns archery after leaving Cimmeria), and [[ImprovisedWeapon improvised ones]] - like a stool in "Rogues in the House". He can also fight dirty, as when he gouges someone's eyes out in "The God in the Bowl".
* ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike
* ConservationOfNinjutsu
* ConspicuousConsumption
* ContinuitySnarl: Started with the original stories, as Howard tended to pastiche his ''own'' work for additional stories.
* CoolHorse
* CoolMask
* CoolShip: The Dragon-ships of Ptahuacan, Conan get one of them.
** The Tigress from "Queen of the Black Coast" and the Marvel Comics set during that period of Conan's life.
* CoolSword: In the original stories by Howard, Conan didn't really have a [[WeaponOfChoice signature sword]] (or indeed, any other signature weapon) unlike some other fictional characters, and weapons tended to be nondescript. More apparent in derivative works like the swords from the 1982 film (especially the Jody Samson-designed Atlantean and Father swords) and the [[ThunderboltIron "starmetal"]] sword from the cartoon.
** The one time he gets a cool magic sword in the original tales, namely in ''The Phoenix on the Sword'', it promptly breaks in combat, and he grabs an axe instead (the story was a rewrite of a King Kull one called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin By This Axe, I Rule!]]''). Still, he uses its hilt-shard to save the day.
* CorruptChurch
* CrossingTheDesert
* CrucifiedHeroShot: Conan was crucified in "A Witch Shall Be Born". He got rescued.
* CrystalBall
* CrystalDragonJesus: Inverted with [[http://conan.wikia.com/wiki/Mitra Mitra.]] He's essentially the Judaeo-Christian {{God}} under a different name. He bears very little similarity to the classical descriptions of Mithra. His followers are monolatristic and believe in Heaven and Hell and He is most at odds with Set, a GodOfEvil and slight {{Satan}} analogue.
* CrystalPrison
* CthulhuMythos: The Howard version is set there. No, really.
** [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu According to Howard, anything in the Cthulhu mythos can be beaten to death barehanded.]]
** [[RunOrDie Except when your only choice is RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!!]] Conan himself does it in "Pool of the Black One" and "Shadows in the Moonlight."
* CunningLinguist: Conan can speak several languages. In addition to Cimmerian, he also knows how to speak Aquilonian, Stygian, Zamoran, Kushite, Kothic, Nemedian, Vendhyan, Hyrkanian, and several more.
* CuriosityIsACrapshoot
* {{Curse}}
* DeadExMachina: Happens with Belit.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt
* DealWithTheDevil
* DeathOfTheOldGods
* DeathSeeker: Conan in "Queen of the Black Coast" after Belit's death. He gets over it once revenge is taken.
* DecapitationPresentation
* DeceptiveDisciple
* DefrostingIceQueen
* {{Determinator}}: Even [[Creator/HPLovecraft Lovecraftian monsters]] have learnt at their own cost that no one escapes Conan's wrath if they mess with a girl who is the object of his love.
* DeusExitMachina: Frequently, but perhaps strongest of all in ''A Witch Shall Be Born''. Also in "The Return of Conan".
* DiamondsInTheBuff
* [[DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu Did You Just Free Cthulhu From Lifelong Torture And Help Him Enact His Revenge]]: ''The Tower of the Elephant''. Probably the only story ever where the EldritchAbomination is also TheWoobie and surprisingly good natured.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Happens occasionally in the literature, given the author's friendship with Creator/HPLovecraft; happens frequently in media adaptations.
* DistinguishingMark: In "A Witch Shall Be Born", the EvilTwin villain has a crescent-moon birthmark on her chest.
* DistressedDamsel: Many. {{Flanderization}}, however, has put a scantily-clad buxom maiden at Conan's feet being menaced by someone or something on ''every'' cover, bar none, regardless of story content. She could be an ActionGirl in the story, she might be a background characters who never meets Conan face to face, but on the cover it's always StrictlyFormula: 1.) [[FurryLoincloth Loincloth]], 2.) monster and/or ravening horde of savages, 3.) hot half-naked chick sprawled between Conan's legs [[TouchOfTheMonster looking terrified]] at [=#2=].
** This started in Howard's own lifetime: Margaret Brundage, the resident illustrator of Weird Tales, was particularly fond of depicting barely-clad women (hey, [[AllMenArePerverts who]] [[MostWritersAreMale isn't?]]), especially being menaced by monsters or engaging in a little sadomasochism. Howard sought to exploit that predilection by inserting some cheesecake into the stories, in order to get the extra money the cover story includes.
** Note that many of the books' original covers did indeed have somewhat faithful renditions of Conan fighting enemies, to be replaced with the damsel in distress scene in reprints. The chance of a Damsel cover being the original cover is inversely proportional to how much skin she is showing. A prime example is the cover of Conan the Buccaneer, which originally had Conan, in mail pants and a horned helmet, losing his axe in a battle against overwhelming numbers, to be replaced with Conan striking a pose while a woman in a golden thong bikini looks scared, astride a giant snake. Possibly the latter is inspired by a DungeonsAndDragons supplement based on the book which has a halfway cover, where Conan is actually fighting the snake while a woman in a long blue dress lifts up her skirt to expose one leg. Best not to speculate if they're before and after scenes.
* DistressedDude: See BadassInDistress above.
* DividedWeFall
* DivineParentage: In "Shadows in the Moonlight"
* TheDragon: Bombaata to Queen Taramis in the second movie.
* DreamingOfTimesGoneBy: In "Queen of the Black Coast", "Shadows In the Moonlight" and "The Devil in Iron."
* DrivenToSuicide
* DroppedABridgeOnHim: Zarono the Black, hands off. He's been depicted as a charming character and skilled warrior, a pirate who can easly rival with Conan himself and even allies/work for [[BigBad Thoth-Amon]] himself. Then, in the second story he appears in (''The Treasure of Tranicos''), he gets unceremoniously killed by an anonymous Pict axeman while he's trying to get up and fight back.
* DueToTheDead
* DumbMuscle: Some of the side characters, (like, say, anyone dumb enough to [[AttackAttackAttack keep attacking him]]) but ''not Conan''. See Flanderization. (even in TheMovie he's somewhat articulate, he just doesn't say much).
* DungeonPunk: In "Rogues in the House" Nabonidus who, rather than the typical EvilSorcerer is more like the evil offspring of Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli uses clockwork tech to defend his abode.
* EldritchAbomination: Despite being one of the first to use the trope, the Conan stories [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] this trope by making the Abominations take on a ''very'' [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith non-eldritch aspect when descending to Hyboria]]. Despite numerous encounters Conan repeatedly comes out on top through superior fighting skills or by exploiting an AchillesHeel -- except when he doesn't and resorts to RunOrDie.
* EnemyCivilWar
* EnemyMine
* EvilFormerFriend: Thoth Amon and Kalanthes (his prime rival) were actually pretty good friends at one point. Then Thoth discovered Set's magic and it all went downhill.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Toth-Amon wishes to create an evil empire of sorcery for the glory of father Set, but he'll never let loose the Snake People again on the world.
* EverybodyHatesHades: Set is seen at his worst and confused/merged with Apep.
* EverybodysDeadDave: By the end of ''Red Nails'', [[spoiler:Conan and Valeria are the only two people still alive in the whole city]].
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses
* EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry
* EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor
* EvilSorcerer: Xaltotun, Thoth-Amon, Thugra Khotan, and others. Conan's made a career out of killing {{Sorcerous Overlord}}s (excepting Thoth-Amon, though, since they never even met in the original stories).
* EvolutionaryLevels: In Howard's essay ''The Hyborian Age'' evolution is fast and fluctuating. Several peoples "[[HollywoodEvolution regress to apedom]]" and back to humanity, including the Cimmerians, Conan's people. [[EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys Ape-men]] are at least as common antagonists as snakes in his stories.
* ExactEavesdropping
* ExactWords
* TheExile
* ExpandedUniverse: Under other authors, Conan's personal history has expanded to the point where he must have lived just over four hundred years to account for all his adventures.
* ExposedToTheElements
* ExpositoryThemeTune: The ''Conan the Adventurer'' cartoon.
* EyeOfNewt: Sorcerers usually have to do some horrible things before they can work their dark craft.
* FakeKing: In "A Witch Shall Be Born," the Queen's EvilTwin, an evil witch, takes over the country by impersonating her, while keeping the real queen locked in a dungeon. Conan isn't fooled.
* FakingAndEntering
* FamedInStory
* {{Fanservice}}: And how! It seems most of the women of the Hyborian Age where always young, beautiful, and have almost no dress, same if you are the kind of woman who loves strong muscled warriors with swords. This is undoubtedly Howard pandering to the audience (and illustrator), since he's shown himself perfectly capable of writing more realistic women.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture: The Hyborian nations derive their names and cultures from many different points of history, so that Howard could place a consistent series character in different milieus whenever he wanted to tell a particular type of adventure. Hence how Conan could be in a pirate yarn one story, and a frontier tale the next. The Hyborian Age itself was born as a solution to Howard's love for historical fiction, but lack of time to properly research the settings - rather than worry about getting the details wrong, he simply created a fictional version of the setting with the SerialNumbersFiledOff.
* FantasyPantheon: The Shemites have the most expansive pantheon, though Mitra has his "heavenly host" and the Cimmerians have a pantheon of dark gods.
* FateWorseThanDeath
* FauxDeath
* FeatheredFiend
* FingerInTheMail: In "Rogues in the House", Murilo is given a recognizable ear as a hint.
* {{Flanderization}} : The original Conan is clever and surprisingly book-smart and almost always had something worthwhile to say. Despite this he has become the stereotypical "[[DumbMuscle dumb barbarian]]" of pop culture. Consider the ''Queen of the Black Coast'' quote on the [[Quotes/ConanTheBarbarian quotes page.]]
** Oddly, though, Howard stated in a letter that he preferred to write stupid characters, so he wouldn't have to dream up clever ways of getting them out of their predicaments: just punch, stab, or shoot. [[{{Irony}} The implication is that he '''thought''' he was writing Conan as DumbMuscle rather than a GeniusBruiser.]]
* FranchiseKiller: The second film, ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'', undid all the lingering good will from John Milius' first film. It wasn't even the negative critical reception of the second movie that killed the franchise; it actually was successful at the box office, just less than the first one. This prompted the production of the ''Film/RedSonja'' movie - now ''that'' was a big flop. Schwarzenegger called it [[OldShame "the worst movie I've ever made"]] and may have had a hand in making him move on to other projects - when a third Conan movie was considered, he was already busy with ''Film/{{Predator}}''.
** The 2011 film too, as it tried to revive the franchise, [[StillbornFranchise but bombed.]]
* FrazettaMan
* FriendOrIdolDecision
* FullFrontalAssault: More than once but very memorably in the non-Howard ''Sword of Skelos''. Joe Lansdale does it too, in ''Conan and the Songs of the Dead.'' Done by a subverted DamselInDistress in ''Red Nails''. [[ItsPersonal They made her angry.]]
* FunctionalMagic: Primarily Rules Magic, usually with the magician's power focused in a device of some kind like Thoth-amon's ring. Epimetrius may have used Theurgy in his battles with Set. Alchemy also plays a big role, espcially powders and potions extracted from the black lotus and it's varycolored siblings. Regardless, it is almost always BlackMagic, at least in the Howard stories. the movies have some good magicians.
* GalleySlave
* GardenOfEvil
* GemEncrusted
* GeniusBruiser: In the original stories, he uses both brain and brawn to get through hardships.
* GenreKiller
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan
* GetItOverWith
* GiantSpider: A pig-sized one in ''Tower of the Elephant'' and a bull-sized one in ''Conan and the Spider God''... along with her babies. And let's not forget the black jade beads in ''People of the Black Circle'', worn by the priestesses of Yezud when they dance for the spider god. Yar Afzal picks up such a bead, then drops dead, and Conan later takes a few minutes to figure out what happened.
* AGodAmI: Some of Conan's enemies had this as their motivation. One of them even actually succeeds in becoming an aspect of her goddess due to a magical artifact that's enhancing everyone's perceptions, ''without even intending to''. Also implied to be Conan himself's fate at the end of the crossover with Thor in the pages of ''What If...?'', where Conan is climbing Crom's mountain to either deliver Mjolnir or [[CallingTheOldManOut deliver a beatdown]] depending on how he felt when reaching the summit.
* GodOfEvil: Set, even more so in works by other writers, most of all in the cartoon.
* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: When the evil witch Salome steals the throne by assuming the identity of her twin sister in ''A Witch Shall Be Born'', she quickly becomes the most cruel and sadistic tyrant imaginable. Some of her atrocities include raising taxes so high that rich and poor alike are starved, disbanding the royal guard and replacing them with cruel mercenaries who are given free reign to rape and brutalize, killing men of fighting age to prevent any possible rebellions, forcing women old and young to participate in degrading orgies, and feeding hundreds of innocent people to her pet monster.
* GoldAndWhiteAreDivine: In "Shadows In the Moonlight"
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Lots. Although, in most case it's over quickly.
* GoodHairEvilHair: A bit of this by courtesy of some of the Villains Conan has to face in some of his adventures.
* TheGoodKing: Conan is one of these. He rules with the support of the outlying barons as well as the common people. During his reign he lowers taxes, institutes freedom of religion, and curbs the abuses of commoners by the nobility. When he is temporarily deposed in ''The Hour of the Dragon'' he is tempted to abandon his quest to reclaim his throne and return to the exciting life of a wandering adventurer, but he quickly decides that he can not leave his people in the hands of a tyrant.
-->'''Conan:''' I found Aquilonia in the grip of a pig like you--one who traced his genealogy for a thousand years. The land was torn with the wars of the barons, and the people cried out under oppression and taxation. Today no Aquilonian noble dares maltreat the humblest of my subjects, and the taxes of the people are lighter than anywhere else in the world.
* {{Gotterdammerung}}
* GrandFinale: The only full-length novel, "Hour of the Dragon" seems to serve as this for the Conan cycle.
* GraveRobbing
* GreenEyedMonster
[[/folder]]
[[folder:H-M]]
* HalfHumanHybrid
* HatOfPower: The Cobra Crown from ''Conan the Buccaneer'', which grants magic powers to its wearer.
* HiddenDepths:
--> "Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is an illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and I am content."
* TheHighQueen: In ''A Witch Shall Be Born'', Queen Taramis is beloved by her people for being a kind, compassionate, and virtuous ruler.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard
* HoneyTrap
* HornyVikings: The Vanir and Aesir, who use horned helms (unlike their real-world descendants). Conan wears one himself in some stories.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen
* HulkSpeak: In the books, Conan has a much bigger vocabulary than the average reader -- much less the stereotypical barbarian. But in the films, some of the barbarian side-characters get this treatment.
--> "Sit -- here. Sit HERE!"
** Could be justified by a subtle translation convention going on. "Sit here!" may have been some of the only words of Cimmerian the man knew, and he ''was'' effectively talking to a child in the body of an adult. Most other conversations occur after Conan's education, when he might actually be expected to speak the more common languages.
* HumanSacrifice: Often.
* ICannotSelfTerminate
* IfICantHaveYou
* IGaveMyWord
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[YouHaveBeenWarned spoilers]]
* InelegantBlubbering
* InformedAbility: Sorcerers like Xaltotun and Yah Chieng, who were powerful enough to wipe out armies with quakes and plagues fail to find a proper spell to deal with Conan himself and end up toasted.
* InHarmsWay: Conan takes over Aquilonia, gets bored ruling it and then jumps at the chance for excitement when rebels attempt to oust him from power.
* InvincibleHero: More so in the later books. Conan rarely loses. When he does, he comes back and wins or just leaves. Howard himself seemed to be aware of Conan's sheer impressiveness might hurt the dramatic tension, since in many tales he adds a secondary protagonist to function as the dramatic foil/romantic lead, then he finds a clever way to scoot Conan out of the story for a time.
** He also tends to prevail for polar reasons: if his opponent is a skilled fighter or a soldier or something, he wins thanks to his "wild spirit and upbringing". If he's confronted by strong savages or monsters he wins because of his skills.
* ItsASmallWorldAfterAll
* JerkassGods: Crom's not particularly merciful or caring toward his worshipers, although bravado apparently amuses him.
* KaleidoscopeEyes
* KangarooCourt
* KlingonPromotion
* TheLadysFavour
* LargeHam: There's nobody in the movies that ''isn't'' a large ham. Despite the acting often being at odds with the very subtle direction and music, [[NarmCharm for some reason it works]].
* LeaveYourQuestTest: "Hour of the Dragon".
* LeonineContract: A slave taunts Conan with the prospect of one in "The Scarlet Citadel"
* LightningBruiser: Conan is repeatedly described as very fast and agile despite his size, as in "Xuthal of the Dusk":
-->"He was never motionless or in the same place an instant; springing, side-stepping, whirling, twisting, he offered a constantly shifting target for their swords, while his own curved blade sang death about their ears."
* LiteraryAgentHypothesis: Not exactly; though Howard wrote [[http://books.google.com/books?id=kQCohrOGHOsC&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=In+writing+these+yarns+I%27ve+always+felt+less+as+creating+them+than+as+if+I+were+simply+chronicling+his+adventures+as+he+told+them+to+me.&source=bl&ots=XN0UqDDYCK&sig=vkUrljTlFyuzQRv7mbE97ihq_1E&hl=en&ei=X9_8TJ6OJYn0ca75_fMO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=In%20writing%20these%20yarns%20I%27ve%20always%20felt%20less%20as%20creating%20them%20than%20as%20if%20I%20were%20simply%20chronicling%20his%20adventures%20as%20he%20told%20them%20to%20me.&f=false in a 1936 letter to a friend,]] "I've always felt less as ''creating'' [the stories] than as if I were simply ''chronicling'' his adventures as he told them to me," he also wrote a disclaimer in "The Hyborian Age", published that same year: "[This article] is simply a fictional background for a series of fiction-stories."
* LivingShadow: The [[NightmareFuel nightmarish]] monster from ''Xuthal of the Dusk'', Thog.
* LoinCloth: In many adaptations and some of the original stories although Howard more often has him dressing as appropriate to the culture and circumstances he finds himself in.
* LooseCanon: [[http://hyboria.xoth.net/history/conan_indestructible.htm According to L. Sprague de Camp]], Conan's backstory in ''Conan the Barbarian'' (being a child slave and gladiator, etc.) is an alternative account of his early years, though of uncertain validity Still, it's depicted with BroadStrokes (no Thulsa Doom or Riddle of Steel).
* LostInImitation: Howard's Conan in the live-action TV series, which was influenced by [[InkStainAdaptation the movies]] in several aspects. Conan is played by a German actor, is outfitted in LoinCloth and headband like ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'', and has a similar WheelOfPain backstory and Atlantean sword. Still, the series was even further from the original stories than was ''Destroyer'', with Conan becoming Crom's [[TheChosenOne Chosen One]] fighting the EvilEmpire.
* LotusEaterMachine: All the inhabitants of Xuthal are heavily drugged by Black Lotus.
* {{Lunacy}}
* MacGuffinGuardian: More than once.
* MadeASlave: Plenty of instances in the original works, just not applying to Conan until the first movie.
* MadeOfIron: Conan often survives wounds that would kill a small army. The apotheosis of this is the crucifixion scene in "A Witch Shall Be Born".
** He actually came really close to the very end in the story ''Xuthal of the Dusk'' after defeating [[EldritchAbomination Thog]].
* MagicIsEvil: Nostly. Even Pelias in the original stories was on Conan's side and nevertheless managed to creep him out so badly that Conan felt no [[FireForgedFriends friendship]] for him after, a circumstance so odd that Conan muses on it. In ''Hour of the Dragon'' the priests of Asura and the witch woman Conan meets in the hills are ay least neutral. Epimetheus, or his spirit at least is the only absolutely clear example of white magic although, being opposed to Set and Thoth Amon it can be inferred that the offscreen priest of Ibis in "The God in the Bowl" is a good guy.
* ManlyTears: When finding his son Conn after he was kidnapped by a witch.
* MarsNeedsWomen
* MasterSwordsman: Played straight and subverted. Unlike in the Arnold films, the original Conan does not receive formal training in swordsmanship, being a barbarian. But he is able to defeat certified Master Swordsmen ''because'' he is a barbarian. Spelled out in the story "The Pool of the Black One":
-->"Zaporavo was the veteran of a thousand fights by sea and by land. There was no man in the world more deeply and thoroughly versed than he in the lore of swordcraft. But he had never been pitted against a blade wielded by thews bred in the wild lands beyond the borders of civilization. Against his fighting-craft was matched blinding speed and strength impossible to a civilized man. Conan's manner of fighting was unorthodox, but instinctive and natural as that of a timber wolf. The intricacies of the sword were as useless against his primitive fury as a human boxer's skill against the onslaughts of a panther."
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane
* MementoMacGuffin
* TheMenFirst
* MightyWhitey: Played with. A few of the stories are about black people getting defeated by a quasi-Celtic white guy, who is [[NobleSavage pretty savage]]. He also recurrently fights against the Picts, described as having white skin but not considered white by their neighbors for being [[CannibalTribe painted, cannibalistic savages]]. Many of his longer-term enemies were also Stygian (Egyptian equivalent), not least Thoth-Ammon, with more than a handful of clashes against white Hyboreans to even the scales. And the lily-white Vanir are the Cimmerians' worst blood enemy, whom they'd gladly cross a glacier to kill, though Conan eventually becomes more tolerant of a ''few'' of them.
* MineralMacGuffin
* MistakenForGranite: In ''Conan the Buccaneer'', the shrine of Tsathoggua the Toad God contains a stone statue of the god, watching over the treasure. If someone step around the temple, the statue comes back to life (still remaining stone) and chase them.
* ModestRoyalty: As King of Aquilonia, Conan doesn't dress in the ostentation of various other kings of the land.
* MosesInTheBullrushes
* MurderTheHypotenuse
* MusicMagic
[[/folder]]
[[folder:N-S]]
* {{Necromancer}}
* TheNeedForMead
* NemeanSkinning: happened in the Marvel comics.
* {{Ninja}}: The followers of Louhi are Hyperborean wearing form-fitting black suits, blank masks and wielding platinum-tipped sticks. Yeah, that's right, Finnish Ninjas.... Finnjas.
* NobleSavage: Conan himself certainly fits the bill, although other uncivilized types like the Picts are portrayed as AlwaysChaoticEvil. Quite forcefully ''averted'' in the original stories, however. In Howard's own words, "I have no idyllic view of barbarism - as near as I can learn it's a grim, bloody, ferocious and loveless condition. I have no patience with the depiction of the barbarian of any race as a stately, god-like child of Nature, endowed with strange wisdom and speaking in measured and sonorous phrases." Conan is simply far too busy enjoying his life of bloody adventure to bother with such high-minded nonsense.
* NoblewomansLaugh: In one case, [[MindScrew it came]] [[NightmareFuel from the lips of]] a [[BlobMonster gelatinous, tentacled, toad headed monstrosity]].
* NotQuiteDead
* ObfuscatingDisability: In "A Witch Shall Be Born", Salome tossed the head of a murdered man to a deaf beggar — who proves to be Valerius, who heard that the true queen is prisoner there.
* OffWithHisHead
* OnlySaneMan
* OurGiantsAreBigger: Averted by Atala, who's human sized. Her brothers though are very large.
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Akivasha in ''Hour of the Dragon''.
* OutlivedItsCreator
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Poor Valerius... he risk a lot and fight like a lion to save his beloved queen, slays the evil witch, escape from a giant toad demon.. and the Conan arrives with TheCavalry, orders them to shot down the beast and gets all the thanks of the queen [[UngratefulBitch (who totally ignores Valerius)]].
** This was corrected in the MarvelComics adaptation, where Conan took a more active role.
* PantheraAwesome
* PapaWolf: He really loves his family. He goes against the four most powerful magicians of his time in order to rescue his son.
* PeopleOfHairColor: Most notably the northern barbarians. The Vanir are uniformly red-haired, the Aesir blond-haired, and the Cimmerians black-haired.
* PhysicalGod: In Olivia's dream in "Shadows in the Moonlight."
** Set himself appears briefly as a [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever gigantic serpent]] in ''The Red Moon of Zembabwei''.
* {{Pirate}}: Conan has been a pirate more than once in his career, in many different organizations, including the Red Brotherhood, the Zingaran Freebooters, and the infamous Black Corsairs.
* PirateGirl: One of his greatest loves, Belit, the Queen of the Black Coast, was the most feared pirate of the Hyborian Age -- at least, until the legend of Amra. Valeria was also one of these.
* PlanetOfHats: In many istances: almost every Stygian is an evil sorcerer/priest worshipping Set, all Picts are wild, bloodthirsty barbarians and woodsmen, Zamorians are sniveling thieves, Aesir and Vanir are [[HornyVikings viking-like]] BoisterousBruiser warriors, Khitans and Eastern people are enigmatic fatalists, Zuagirs are noble sand raiders with a strict code of honor and Hyperboreans are skinny, evil people worshipping a sorceress. Furthermore, all those "isolated and decadent" type of people living in remote cities tends to be depraved and decadent psychos.
* PlotArmor: In "A Witch Shall be Born" he is hung on a cross in the middle of a desert, which the villain of the tale supposed would be enough to kill him -- luckily, he is rescued. When an assassination attempt is made on him in a later story, "The Phoenix on the Sword" the would-be assassins fail only because a wizard finds a ring that he has lost for almost a hundred years by total accident (though since it's a magic ring, one wonders if it was an accident at all). Talk about luck.
* PollyWantsAMicrophone: The ancient talking parrot in ''Iron Shadows in the Moon''.
* PowerOfTrust
* {{Precursors}}
* ThePromise
* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Whenever we see Conan, he's acting honourably towards people he ''knows''. Offscreen, as a barbarian, mercenary and pirate, he has no qualms at all about pillaging peaceful villages and merchant shipping.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy
* PullingThemselvesTogether: Tsotha-lanti.
* PurpleProse: Robert E. Howard probably reached for his thesaurus more times in a paragraph than most writers do in writing a whole novel. This results in a kind of epic cheesiness that is the written equivalent of the Frank Frazetta painting on the cover.
** TropesAreNotBad: Howard (and his friend H.P. Lovecraft) is a rare example of how to do PurpleProse ''well''.
* RandomEventsPlot
* RapeDiscretionShot: Queen Taramis' rape by Constantius in "A Witch Shall Be Born."
* RatedMForManly: But of course.
* RealAfterAll: In ''The Frost Giant's Daughter'' and ''The Phoenix on the Sword'' there are people who initially disbelieve Conan's stories about clashes with supernatural beings. But then Conan produces physical proof of his encounter, immediately silencing the disbelievers.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
** Conan gives one of these to Constantius in "A Witch Shall Be Born" while the latter is hanging on a cross.
-->"Seven months ago, Constantius," said Conan, "it was I who hung there, and you who sat here."
-->[...]
-->"You are more fit to inflict torture than to endure it," said Conan tranquilly. "I hung there on a cross as you are hanging, and I lived, thanks to circumstances and a stamina peculiar to barbarians. But you civilized men are soft; your lives are not nailed to your spines as are ours. Your fortitude consists mainly in inflicting torment, not in enduring it. You will be dead before sundown. And so, Falcon of the desert, I leave you to the companionship of another bird of the desert."
* {{Reincarnation}}: Howard implied more than once that Conan was the reincarnation of {{Kull}}. In "People of the Black Circle" the Master of Yimsha forces Yasmina to relive the humiliations of her past lives as punishment for defying him. "A Witch Shall Be Born" centres around a witch who keeps being reincarnated in the same family.
* ReligionOfEvil: Played straight with the followers of Set. Subverted with the followers of Asura, a mysterious and shadowy cult feared by the followers of Mitra, who turn out to be decent folks.
* ReligiousRussianRoulette: "To hell with you! (Crom) I'll do it myself!"
** Not a very dramatic example as Crom never helps his people or answers prayers anyway and never offers any kind of heaven.
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Sometimes it seems that Howard's notion of otherworldly, terrifying evil began ''and'' ended with "giant snake." [[FridgeLogic Including at least one that was sealed in a ruined temple and huge pythons with poisonous fangs.]] Oh, and the Snake Men, who antagonized both Conan and King Kull.
* RescueSex: When Conan saves Princess Yasmela from an evil wizard at the end of ''Black Colossus'', she immediately insists that he ravish her atop the very alter that she going to be sacrificed on.
* RetiredBadass: Conan's grandfather, who did some WalkingTheEarth of his own before settling down with Conan's tribe. His stories of the outside world inspired Conan's wanderlust.
* {{Revenge}}:
** In "A Witch Shall Be Born", Conan is crucified after he realizes the EvilTwin of a queen he's serving has taken her place. He survives to lead an invasion against the impostor, while the queen is rescued by a secondary protagonist.
** In "Iron Shadows in the Moon", a fugitive Conan comes by chance upon a warlord who had recently slaughtered a mercenary band he served in (about to rape the [[GirloftheWeek Girl of the Story]]) - and, with a [[PreAsskickingOneLiner Pre Asskicking Monologue]], kills him in turn.
-->..."Oh, I've dreamed of such a meeting as this, while I crawled on my belly through the brambles, or lay under rocks while the ants gnawed my flesh, or crouched in the mire up to my mouth - I dreamed, but never hoped it would come to pass. Oh, gods of Hell, how I have yearned for this!"
-->[...]
-->..."Shah Amurath, the great Lord of Akif! Oh, damn you, how I love the sight of you - you, who fed my comrades to the vultures, who tore them between wild horses, blinded and maimed and mutilated them all, you dog, you filthy dog!" His voice rose to a maddened scream, and he charged.
* TheRival
* SlippingAMickey: In the newspaper comic, Conan's ale is drugged by the tavern wench Renea, who then sells Conan to slavers while he is unconscious.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:T-Z]]
* TheMagicGoesAway: Pelias informed Conan that due his actions the world is entering in a new age of reason and logic and without magic.
* RevengeByProxy
* RoyalBlood
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: After becoming king, Conan embodies this trope. When Aquilonia goes to war, you can be sure that Conan will personally be leading his army into battle (something that he most certainly enjoys, considering his love of combat and the fact that he occasionally complains about how boring sitting on a throne is).
* RunOrDie: Yes, Conan himself when up against some {{Eldritch Abomination}}s
* ScaledUp: Giant. Snakes.
* SceneryPorn: Many people have credited the revival of the Conan series to the use of Frank Frazetta's artwork on the covers. The ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' movie tried to copy Frazetta's paintings as much as possible for the scenery and art direction.
* ScienceDestroysMagic: According to the good sorcerer Pelias, Conan's kingdom brought forth an age of logic and science which is slowly destroying the magic.
* ScienceMarchesOn: The concept of continental drift was new and little-understood at the time Howard was writing, so the idea that the European landmass could have been vastly different merely thousands of years ago wasn't as unlikely as it seems to today's reader. We also know a great deal more today about anthropology and ancestry than what was incorporated into the stories.
* ScreamDiscretionShot: The rape of Queen Taramis in "A Witch Shall Be Born."
* SealedEvilInACan
* SeenItAll: He's traveled from Asgard and Vanaheim (Scandinavia) in the north to the tribal lands south of Kush(central Africa), from West of the Baracha Isles (Azores or Canary Islands) to Vendhya (India) in the east (and in other authors' work to Khitai (China)). He's been a mercenary, a thief, a pirate, a bandit, a tribal chieftain in four distinct geographical areas, a Captain of the Guard, a wilderness scout , a General and finally a king. He's fought men, beasts (especially snakes) and demons. He's discovered lost civilizations and the ruins of lost civilizations. This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by Thulsa Doom in one of the later Savage Sword of Conan stories, when Conan recounts his experiences. Thulsa Doom calls Conan a liar, stating that no one could have lived through so many adventures over the thirty-odd years that Conan had been alive.
* SelfMadeMan: "King by his own hand."
* {{Sexbot}}: In ''Conan the Fearless'', a witch whom no man can satisfy tries to make one. The only missing component is a really brave man's heart...
* SexSlave: Conan's rescued a few of these in his day, including Olivia from "Iron Shadows in the Moon."
** Arguably he himself is bought as one for [[AmazonianBeauty the Amazon Queen]].
** Conan himself is rescued by one of these in ''The Hour of the Dragon''. Her name is Zenobia and she is a slave in the King of Nemedia's harem, although she admits that the King of Nemedia has never touched her (probably due to the fact that his harem contains dozens, if not hundreds of girls). [[spoiler:After she helps Conan escape the royal palace of Nemedia, he rewards Zenobia by marrying her and making her the queen of Aquilonia.]]
* ShroudedInMyth
* SilverHasMysticPowers: And is the only thing other than fire that can hurt demons.
* SinisterScimitar: Both played straight by Conan's many enemies and subverted by Conan himself, who often used scimitars and sabers in battle.
* SorcerousOverlord: Conan made the BarbarianHero and SorcerousOverlord go together like a sword and a scabbard (and yes, the sorcerer is the scabbard).
* SpaceJews: The folowers of Asura, a secretive group, persecuted by the followers of [[CrystalDragonJesus Mitra]] but protected by Conan because no one can prove any of the accusations against them (and who aid him in ''Hour of the Dragon'') might be this.
** Asura being ancient demigods of India, Hyborian Asura-followers would seem to be proto-Hindus. They speak of their ancestors as coming from Vendhya (India). This may be an example of HistoryMarchesOn. Howard didn't know it, probably just pulled the name "Asura" from an encyclopedia; but it is now known that the historical Asura deities began as good guys who developed a bad reputation, just as the Hyborian ones did.
* SpinOff: ''RedSonja''.
* TheStoic: Conan, to a degree.
* StopWorshippingMe: Crom is said to send doom, not fortune, to those who receive his attention.
* AStormIsComing
* SuccessionCrisis
* {{Synchronization}}: Zogar Sag and his demonic half-brother in "Beyond The Black River"
* TakenForGranite: The Medusa like vampire and the water in the pool of the "Black People".
* TakeOverTheWorld:
** Yezdigerd, king of Turan, he managed to convert his empire into the biggest one of the Hyborian Age, his foreign policy seems to be directed ultimately to this.
** Also the ultimate plan of Thoth-Amon and his council of sorcerers and worshipers of Set.
** Virata, one of the lords of the Flame Knife cult may have had this as its main plans.
* TakingYouWithMe: Conan, without hesitation, pretty much every time he thinks he'll die. It's a defining characteristic.
* TalkingInYourDreams
* TaughtByExperience
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Conan does this to great effect in ''Black Colossus''.
* ThunderboltIron: Starmetal swords (in some adaptations.)
* TomeOfEldritchLore
* TooKinkyToTorture: Andrew J. Offut's Isparana, implied.
* TurnCoat
* {{Ubermensch}}: Possibly. The trope definition is complex and Conan ticks some boxes and misses others. He has the right kind of primal charisma. He works to his own rules. He is very strong -- in flesh and in spirit. He is a larger than life character. But in the films he is religious and he is sociable, two things an ubermensch is not. Also, he does not want to set up a new society -- whereas the Ubermensch often does.
* UngratefulBastard
* UnknownRival: In the Howard stories Conan and Thoth-amon never actually meet or even knowingly act against each other. In ''Sword On the Phoenix'' Thoth-amon sends a demon not after King Conan but after his former master who is trying to assassinate Conan, thus inadvertantly saving his life, although since Thoth-amon also told the demon to kill everyone with his master he also inadvertantly puts him in danger again. In ''The God In the Bowl'' Conan just happens to be robbing the museum where a deadly gift intended for a rival of Thoth-amon's is being stored and gets loose. In ''The Black Stranger'' the object of Thoth-amon's wrath is one of several parties including Conan after a pirate's treasure treasure. Once again, Conan just happens to get in the way. In ''Hour of the Dragon'' Thoth-amon is merely mentioned by a group of Stygian priests looking for a weapon to use against him since his return to Stygia that Conan happens to encounter.
* TheVamp: Appears several times in Howard's Conan stories. There's Thalis the Stygian from ''Xuthal of the Dusk'', Belit from ''The Queen of the Black Coast'', Tascela from ''Red Nails'', Atali from ''The Frost Giant's Daughter'', and Akivasha from ''The Hour of the Dragon'' who is a vamp in the most literal sense (i.e. the blood-sucking undead kind)
* VictoryIsBoring: Conan discovers this after becoming King of Aquilonia. He takes any opportunity to visit new countries, and travelled far as king, though happily (for him) the political turmoil of the Hyborian nations meant his kingship wasn't exactly quiet. The movies also briefly touch on it.
* ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend: Belit from ''The Queen of the Black Coast''.
-->'''Belit''': "...My love is stronger than any death! I have lain in your arms, panting with the violence of our love; you have held and crushed and conquered me, drawing my soul to your lips with the fierceness of your bruising kisses. My heart is welded to your heart, my soul is part of your soul! Were I still in death and you fighting for life, I would come back from the abyss to aid you--aye, whether my spirit floated with the purple sails on the crystal sea of paradise, or writhed in the molten flames of hell! I am yours, and all the gods and all their eternities shall not sever us!"
** And the fact that ''she really does come back from the afterlife to aid Conan'' shows that she wasn't kidding.
* VirginSacrifice:
** Tsotha-lanti promises Seth five hundred if he'll defeat Conan.
** In ''The Hour of the Dragon'' Xaltotun carries a virgin to an alter with the intent to sacrifice her, but he is stopped by an old witch and a Priest of Ashura who are allied with Conan.
* WaitHere
* WalkingTheEarth
* WeaponOfChoice: Conan [[HeroesPreferSwords most commonly uses swords]] in all media, and is described as "sword in hand" right away in his very first appearance. But in contrast to his film and TV versions (which had the Atlantean and Starmetal swords), the original Conan used nondescript swords - not magical, let alone [[NamedWeapons named]] - and he's not particularly attached to them. He's also just as comfortable with other weapons like spears and axes.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** As mentioned above, the classic FrankFrazetta covers adorned Creator/LSpragueDeCamp's [[LooseCanon semi-canonical]] Conan stories. De Camp, not known as a [[BroadStrokes continuity zealot]], objected to the [[InkstainAdaptation clearly inaccurate but thoroughly memetic]] depictions of Conan as a long-haired, loincloth-wearing savage, and wanted Frazetta fired... in which case the famous image of Conan would have never come to light.
** Besides [[Series/StargateAtlantis Jason Momoa]], the other two main contenders for the lead in the Conan reboot were [[Literature/{{Twilight}} Kellan Lutz]] and [[Series/{{Supernatural}} Jared Padalecki.]]
** Around 2001 and 2002, John Milius (the man who wrote and directed the 1982 film) wrote a script titled ''King Conan: Crown of Iron'' that was intended to be a ''true'' sequel to the original film (as opposed to ''Film/ConanTheDestroyer'', which was considered a disappointment to most fans of the original). The film entered the pre-production stages and Schwarzenegger was set to star in it. However, when Schwarzenegger was elected Governer of California in 2003 the project was put on indefinite hiatus and eventually canceled.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse
* WhatYearIsThis
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Magic, even WhiteMagic, is a definite corruptive force in Conan's world. Use it at your peril.
* WizardDuel: Pelias had some of these when he was younger, and helped Conan to deal with Tsotha-Lanti.
* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask
* WorldHalfEmpty: Let's see: the civilizations are decadent empires that don't give a damn about their people, anybody living in a city with a sorcerer in residence is at risk of being kidnapped and taken to their secret tower and never seen again. Barbarians are crazy savages who want to destroy civilization, some of them are cannibals as well. The only thing that keeps Conan at his "hero" rather than "BloodKnight" status is that he's usually fighting some of the most hideously evil people of his time-- and that's mainly just because they have the best loot.
* AWorldHalfFull: Thanks to... Conan, sure, he is not TheMessiah, but he sees this as a world full of adventures and treasures and inspires those under his command encouraging them to triumph over impossible odds, he eliminated many tyrants allowing more benevolent governors to ascend to the thrones of many countries, after ascended to the throne of Aquilonia he becomes a good and righteous monarch ensuring the prosperity and justice to the Aquilonian Empire, bringing hope to his people and defending even the weakest of them, also he saves the world from the machinations of evil sorcerers and their dark gods ensuring an age where BlackMagic is vanquished. In his last adventure, he [[spoiler: overthrows the evil priests ruling the Antillian Isles, and then navigates to the continent of Mayapan (America) where he becomes Kukulcan/Quetzalcoatl, the god who gave the mesoamericans the knowledge to cultivate corn, make books and calendars.]]
* WorldOfHam: The films manage to achieve this with conservative amounts of dialogue; See LargeHam.
* WouldntHitAGirl: Actually, Conan might knock down a woman and would certainly [[SpankTheCutie slap her behind]], but he tries to avoid killing them. A woman who betrayed him to the police on one occasion was simply dropped into a cesspit as punishment, while Conan disembowelled her new boyfriend without a second thought.
* WretchedHive: Tortage, the pirate city of the Barachan Islands. The MMO based on the series, Age of Conan, allows you to join a Resistance that overthrows a brutal dictator ruling Tortage, and your character is able to leave Tortage a little better than he found it. Also the thieves' quarter of Shadizar, capital of Zamora, known as The Maul. Arguably Shadizar itself since it's frequently referred to as "Shadizar the Wicked".
* YouCantFightFate
* YouImaginedIt: Conan gets this a lot when he encounters supernatural things, which not many other people believe in. See ''The Phoenix On The Sword'' and ''The Frost Giant's Daughter''. Usually the protagonist does have some physical evidence that proves him right, like the title mark on his broken sword or a scrap of cloth from the title character's clothing.
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