History Literature / TheHourOfTheDragon

* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Akivasha is a legend of a woman granted eternal youth and beauty in a paradisaical afterlife, essentially a tale of TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth (in some tellings that she blows off as the words of "fools"; other tales of her are apparently far less benign). In reality, she's a lonely vampire lurking in the subterranean bowls of a Stygian temple, commanding nameless horrors who dwell in its darkness, tossed the odd virgin sacrifice to slake her blood thirst. She wants Conan mainly because she wants to taste male blood again, partly because she wants a vampire mate to spend eternity with her.

* PlotIrrelevantVillain: The vampire princess Akivasha is just one obstacle that Conan faces on his adventure, she has no ties with Xaltotun or his conspirators whatsoever. Conan doesn't even kill her, he flees her lair and she isn't even referenced ever again at the end.

* TurnCoat: Publio promises to aid Conan, since Conan used to a pirate not sanctioned by the government of Argos, and Publio did business with him, and if it comes it would cost both of them their heads. Publio decides it would be better for some assassins to eliminate Conan to remove the threat of his ties to the pirate ever being uncovered.

[[caption-width-right:350:Cover by Creator/FrankFrazetta for Lancer Books]]

''[[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Hour_of_the_Dragon The Hour of the Dragon]]'' is the only full length Literature/ConanTheBarbarian novel by Creator/RobertEHoward. Published in 5 parts, from December, 1935 to April, 1936.

* BigBad: Xaltotun, the ancient EvilSorceror, raised to help the consiprators fulfill their ambitions before they learn EvilIsNotAToy.

* TheStarscream: Almaric wanted to manipulate his allies in order to become the emperor of the hyborian kingdoms.

!!Tropes include:

* ReligionOfEvil: Inverted with the cult of Asura, an eastern deity whose followers were accused during Conan´s reign of performing human sacrifices, eating human flesh and casting black magic. Being a man who knows a lot about actual evil sorcerers, he did not believe any of it and ordered the priests of Mitra to leave them alone. That gesture turned all followers of Asura unto [[UndyingLoyalty inconditional followers]] [[spoiler: whose help will end being crucial against his enemies]].

* AnAxeToGrind: Conan uses an unwieldy headman's axe as a weapon against Albiona's executioners, and in the climactic battle he fights on foot alongside his army's pikemen, using a battleaxe to fight off the Nemedian cavalry.

* DistressedDamsel and HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Countess Albiona. One of Conan's fiercely loyal subjects. Very young, innocent, with a "proud, rebellious spirit," so Valerius steals her lands, [[GirlInTheTower locks her up in The Iron Tower]], AndNowYouMustMarryMe. She quite sensibly refuses, so she's about to be [[OffWithHisHead beheaded]]. Fortunately, Conan finds out and rescues her, assisted by the Asura priests. Safe in Count Trocero's palace in Poitain, she verifies what she and Conan found out from the Asura devotees about Xaltotun's longevity and power.

* ElCidPloy: When Conan is disabled by sorcery before the first battle, his advisers try this (over Conan's objections; Conan himself asked them to strap him into his saddle so he could still lead the charge). [[spoiler:It fails, because the stand-in doesn't have Conan's battle experience and falls for a trap -- just as Xaltotun planned.]]

* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Akivasha is a legend of a woman granted eternal youth and beauty in a paradisaical afterlife, essentially a tale of TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth. In reality, she's a lonely vampire lurking in the subterranean bowls of a Stygian temple, commanding nameless horrors who dwell in its darkness, tossed the odd virgin sacrifice to slake her blood thirst. She wants Conan mainly because she wants to taste male blood again, partly because she wants a vampire mate to spend eternity with her.

* TheCaligula: Valerius' reign as false king of Aquilonia is known for such debauchery and decadence that even his own allies tell him that he's overdoing it. What they don't realize [[ManipulativeBastard he's intentionally doing it]].

* BackFromTheDead: Xaltotun at the beginning of the story.

* BigBad: Xaltotun.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7fcda333ac8ad35ee096688f59d4371d.jpg]]

* MacGuffin: The Heart of Ahriman.

* OminousFog: Valerius curses it.

* OurGhoulsAreCreepier
* OurLichesAreDifferent: Xaltotun
* OurOrcsAreDifferent: The grey ape kept as an executioner in Nemedian jails.
* OurVampiresAreDifferent

* {{Seers}}: A cryptic one.

* TurnCoat: Publio.

* TheEmpire: The luckly long-fallen dark realm of Acheron.

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Xaltotun of Python.

* CoolOldLady: Zelata.
* CoolSword: A good, practical one.

* BloodMagic: Xaltotun takes his sweet time using his sorcery to influence the final battle, and when challenged about it explains that blood empowers great sorcery, and he'd rather conserve his strength. Apparently, it doesn't matter if the blood is enemy or ally, as the army Xaltotun supports takes heavy casualties while we waits to his magic.

* BloodMagic: Why Xaltotun lets his allies die.

* EvilIsNotWellLit: They imprison Conan there.

Creator/MarvelComics began their adaptation of the story in their ''Conan the Barbarian'' comic book and finished it in the ''Savage Sword of Conan'' magazine. Creator/DarkhorseComics would make their own comic adaptation years later. Creator/Ablaze, as of 2022, have taken to adapting the story as well.

Creator/MarvelComics began their adaptation of the story in their ''Conan the Barbarian'' comic book and finished it in the ''Savage Sword of Conan'' magazine. Creator/DarkhorseComics would make their own comic adaptation years later.

Creator/MarvelComics attempted an adaptation in their ''Conan the Barbarian'' comic book, but it was never completed. They had more success in their ''Savage Sword of Conan'' magazine. Creator/DarkhorseComics would make their own comic adaptation years later.

* VillainOpeningScene: With the conspirators as they bring Xalotun back to life.