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Title: Conan and the Emerald Lotus by John C. Hocking ISBN: 0-8125-9061-9 Publisher: Tor Fantasy Pub. Date: 15 September, 1999 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent Conan by any standards
Comment: For fans of Conan and Robert E. Howard who have been deeply disappointed with the recent "Conan" novels, or who don't even want to pick one up (and in most cases, I can't blame you), THIS is the one read. This is excellent Conan, as good as many of Robert Jordan's early work and easily the best Conan from Tor I've read in a long time. To put it simply, "Conan and the Emerald Lotus" is thrilling. After a slightly slow beginning, the narrative rockets into a real Howardian roller-coaster ride. It's clear the author had a fun time writing it, and the reader consequently feels his enthusiasm.
Mr. Hocking has solved one of the principle problems of the recent Conan books: he actually builds to a climax. Instead of hurling countless subplots and villains at the reader and then dropping them all before a boring conclusion, Hocking gives us one hell of an apocalyptic curtain closer. It more than satisfies the reader's expectations. In general, the gradual build of action is perfectly pitched. After page 85 or so, I guarantee you'll be reading compulsively. There are plenty of other treats, such as a true human heartbeat to the story when dealing with sorceress Zelandra's addiction to the lotus. Hocking shows a believable decline and desperation in the character (and, to a lesser extent, in villain Ethram-fal). It's rare to see a modern Conan author find an emotional core to the story, the same way the REH did in his best work, and I applaud Mr. Hocking for this bit of attractive gloss to his adventure story.
In many ways, "Conan and the Emerald Lotus" is less true Howard than it is an homage to all of the Weird Tales authors, especially Clark Ashton Smith, August Derleth, H. P. Lovecraft, and most clearly Robert Bloch. Mr. Hocking remembers that Conan originally appeared in a magazine of the weird, unusual, and often horrific, and appropriately ladens his story with creepy dark fantasy and terror. The Emerald Lotus, inspired from the sensational Clark Ashton Smtih story "The Seed from the Sepulcher", is a particularly gruesome nasty. The author has also given us a good vision of the wilderness of Stygia, where ancient temples lie in wait and long dead sorcerers can still stalk benighted halls in ghoul-form before the faceless sphinx of Nyarlathotep.
Conan himself is in fine form. He's in his thirties, a hardened veteran, and he uses his skills in tactics, stealth, and tracking at every point. He's still a softer character than REH's, but at least he's smart and wry and still tough as hell. His relationship with Neesa is a bit routine (you gotta love the way the girl hurls a dagger though!), but his bond with mute Heng Shih is one of the better male-buddy relationship I've read in a non-Howard work.
Altogether, this is fine adventure, and Howard fans should all read it, even if they claim to hate pastiches. I want to read more from Mr. Hocking, so I hope to see more people reading his novel.
Rating: 5
Summary: One of the BEST non-Howard Conan books ever!!!
Comment: This book is a thrill ride from beginning to end, with Conan very much the Barbarian as presented by Robert E. Howard. His motivations are true Conan, lust and a desire to rid himself of the influence of sorcery. He has a noble streak, a very wide violent streak, and a wry humor throughout. It's nice to see an author who doesn't treat Conan as a mindless killing machine, but someone who, while "uneducated", has more insight into human behavior than the characters around him. Plus, the plot moves along quickly with lots of swordplay and a welcome touch of weird, Lovecraftian horror that adds to the Howardesque atmosphere of the novel. A great read!
Rating: 2
Summary: no loutus dream
Comment: i lie howard's stories. ut his "successors"..... Well, this could actually have been good. good descriptions and suspenceful at times. but there are too many pages where nothing happens. and it is not necessary to use so much time to explain the intrigue through lengthy dialogue, we get it. and towards the end, it doesn't deliver. the ending should have been better and more a natural link to the story.
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Title: Conan and the Grim Grey God by Sean A. Moore ISBN: 0812590627 Publisher: Tor Fantasy Pub. Date: 15 November, 1997 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Conan and the Gods of the Mountain by Roland Green ISBN: 0812514149 Publisher: Tor Fantasy Pub. Date: 15 May, 1993 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Conan : The Savage by Leonard Carpenter ISBN: 0812514122 Publisher: Tor Fantasy Pub. Date: 15 August, 1993 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Conan and the Amazon by John Maddox Roberts ISBN: 0812524934 Publisher: Tor Fantasy Pub. Date: 15 April, 1995 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Conan The Outcast by Leonard Carpenter ISBN: 0812509285 Publisher: Tor Fantasy Pub. Date: 15 April, 1991 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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