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Post by alexander on Oct 9, 2020 11:26:47 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I've just started to read Conan the hunter by Sean A. Moore. According to the timeline established by William Gray this story is supposed to happen very early in Conan's career, just a little after "the thing in the crypt". Yet on page 8 there is a clear reference to the events that happened in "legions of the dead" "less than a decade ago". On the same page Mr Moore adds that Conan planned to "return" to Zamora crossing through Brythunia. Obviously Conan the hunter cannot occur before the Tower of the Elephant. It seems to me it's more around Conan the savage and Conan the defender (the story happens - at least starts - in Brythunia).
I understand few of you are interested in pastiches, but if anyone has any suggestion as to the right place this tory should be in Conan timeline, I'd be interested - so that I can order conan's adventures correctly on my book shelf :-). Thank you
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Post by boot on Oct 18, 2020 20:08:59 GMT -5
It's been years since I read that one. I remember really liking it. I also remember thinking that it didn't fit where Gray had placed it, as you describe. It's been so long, though, I remember little about the book (only that we leave Brythunia and end up, IIRC, east of Zamora some place.
I need to re-read that one.
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Post by alexander on Oct 23, 2020 10:21:12 GMT -5
I do like Sean A. Moore's other Conan novels. Most Conan pastiches have the same basic plot: an evil wizard is bent on world domination and Conan accidentally stumbles on his plan and stop them. Moore's stories were original in that sense. There's even a typical REH plot (Conan looking for a treasure in a ruined - and incidently cursed - city)
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Post by themirrorthief on Oct 24, 2020 4:39:39 GMT -5
Sean Moore did a decent job IMO
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Post by boot on Oct 25, 2020 13:46:29 GMT -5
Sean Moore did a decent job IMO Yeah, I like most Conan pastiches. The ones to stay away from, imo, are Leonard Carpenter, Roland Green, and Steve Perry. Perry writes well. He just doesn't know Conan. Perry's novels might as well have Forgotten Realms stamped on the cover. Carpenter focuses on details, and writes well enough for a research paper, but I just get so bored reading his Conan tales (and I think he's the most prolific Tor Conan writer). Rolan Green's Conan stories are just awful. Reading them is like running through a swimming pool of molasses. He doesn't really know Conan, either. Like Perry's stuff, Rolan's work reminds me of more straight forward fantasy rather than heroic swords and sorcery--except Perry writes much, much better. I tend to like almost all other Conan pastiche authors, with a few specific stories here and there (I generally like L. Sprague de Camp's stuff, but I pass on Conan and the Spider God--though it's a better read than any of the stories from Carpenter, Green, or Perry). My favorites, among the pastiche, are John Maddox Roberts and Robert Jordan.
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Post by Lonewolf on Oct 28, 2020 9:14:54 GMT -5
Sean Moore did a decent job IMO Yeah, I like most Conan pastiches. The ones to stay away from, imo, are Leonard Carpenter, Roland Green, and Steve Perry. Perry writes well. He just doesn't know Conan. Perry's novels might as well have Forgotten Realms stamped on the cover. Carpenter focuses on details, and writes well enough for a research paper, but I just get so bored reading his Conan tales (and I think he's the most prolific Tor Conan writer). Rolan Green's Conan stories are just awful. Reading them is like running through a swimming pool of molasses. He doesn't really know Conan, either. Like Perry's stuff, Rolan's work reminds me of more straight forward fantasy rather than heroic swords and sorcery--except Perry writes much, much better. I tend to like almost all other Conan pastiche authors, with a few specific stories here and there (I generally like L. Sprague de Camp's stuff, but I pass on Conan and the Spider God--though it's a better read than any of the stories from Carpenter, Green, or Perry). My favorites, among the pastiche, are John Maddox Roberts and Robert Jordan. I actually have really enjoyed the pastiches I have read by Leonard Carpenter (I really liked Conan The Savage) and the Roland Green I have read were ok. I have only read one Steve Perry and thought it came across as "Saturday morning cartoon" version of Conan. John Maddox Roberts is my favorite, but wasn't that impressed with the one Robert Jordan I read (Invincible).
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Post by boot on Oct 28, 2020 13:42:35 GMT -5
Oh, man! Jordan's Invincible is one of my all-time favorite Conan pastiches!
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Post by headlessvulture on Mar 9, 2021 19:06:35 GMT -5
Conan the Hunter may be my un-favorite Conan pastiche. Lemme 'splain.
Another pastiche writer, Leonard Carpenter, made Conan somewhat less than the invincible warrior of REH's creation. That bothered me a bit when I read Conan the Raider, but I got used to it. In fact, Carpenter's humanization of Conan got to be kind of refreshing after a couple of books.
But Sean A. Moore made Conan downright wimpy ... so wimpy that I wondered if he hadn't written it as a send-up. I know Conan's young and callow in the story, but Moore made him so frail-boned that a guard captain could break his wrist just by grabbing it and holding on. And so clumsy that he seems to trip over his own feet every time he gets in a fight, and ends up nearly as helpless as the proverbial damsel in distress.
RIP, Mr. Moore ... but ... bleh.
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Vertigo
Wanderer
Playing hockey in Vanaheim.
Posts: 2
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Post by Vertigo on Jul 2, 2022 10:39:49 GMT -5
I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I noticed the original question hasn't been answered. What is Conan the Hunter's proper place within the Galen Gray chronology?It's obvious to me that it doesn't belong between Defiant and Indomitable as the characters, settings, and events in the latter appear to immediately proceed the conclusion of the former. is there a somewhat agreed upon placing of this novel in the span of the long pastiche chronology? I'm not prepared to debate it as I have not read a lot of the pastiche novels (yet). Anyone care to offer a well-thought out suggestion? Or maybe point me to that place on the internet I have not yet discovered that answers the question for me Cheers chaps!
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Post by alexander on Dec 3, 2022 11:38:14 GMT -5
I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I noticed the original question hasn't been answered. What is Conan the Hunter's proper place within the Galen Gray chronology?It's obvious to me that it doesn't belong between Defiant and Indomitable as the characters, settings, and events in the latter appear to immediately proceed the conclusion of the former. is there a somewhat agreed upon placing of this novel in the span of the long pastiche chronology? I'm not prepared to debate it as I have not read a lot of the pastiche novels (yet). Anyone care to offer a well-thought out suggestion? Or maybe point me to that place on the internet I have not yet discovered that answers the question for me Cheers chaps! I now think that Conan the Hunter takes place before or after "Conan the savage" (depending on whether Conan is already in Brythnia at the start of Conan the Savage, I don't remember) - In Conan the Hunter it is said that the events related in "Legions Of The Dead" are less than a decade ago. So Conan must be c.26-27 max. 25 maybe - Sprague de Camp says Conan is. 24 at the start of "The Queen of the Black Coast" - Conan the savage takes place before that So it does not taotally fit but almost The next time Conan goes to Brythunia is in "Conan and the Amazon", which takes place well after "Shadows In The Moonlight" where Conan is nearing 30 according to Sprague de Camp, so it's too late. By the way I've just read Conan the Outcast and this one too is misplaved by William Grey. Conan is much older/experienced than he could be after the Sword of Skelos. I think it's better before Conan and the Amazon
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kev
Wanderer
Posts: 14
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Post by kev on Feb 4, 2023 12:43:44 GMT -5
I’ve just finished up re-reading Conan the Hunter by Sean A. Moore (first read almost 20 years ago). Here are a few of my random thoughts on the book:
First the Bookkeeping:
Multiple timelines I consulted listed this book as happening chronologically after Conan the Defiant (which I had just read). This would make Conan 16, still toting the sword from the ancient burial mound of the centuries dead chieftain. However right away this placement is revealed as incorrect as in the first chapter Moore states (1) Conan’s memory of captivity in Hyperborea was less than a decade old -- when it should have been a matter of weeks, or at most months old; (2) he had decide to “return” to Zamora due to the ripe pickings there – when Defiant states he was on his way to Zamora for the first time; and (3) he spoke Zamoran with “a rough accent but was none the less fluent in it”. I mark this story happening when Conan was in his mid-20’s.
The Strong:
The overall story has many facets to it. Different readers could say different things about it (a) it’s a simple revenge story; (b) it’s a McGuffin story; (c) it’s a story of international power plays; (d) it’s a quest adventure to slay an evil demoness; (e) it’s a story of palace intrigue, or (f) it’s a struggle between the gods. All the readers would be correct, it is all of those things.
Moore makes Brythunia a living breathing place. It’s a vast land, with a small army, surrounded by powerful neighbors who covet its land (a sort of Poland of the Hyborian Age). Moore describes various Brythunian border wars and intrigues and against it. Brythunia’s King Eldran (a common soldier who has risen above his station through a lifetime of heroic deeds) is merely trying to keep his land and people safe while his immediate advisors see him as weak and ineffectual for not wanting to confront border incursions and expand the borders. So, Moore has painted the setting wonderfully for us.
Moore provides supporting characters to Conan who you can really despise – a general attempting a coup, a Mutare Priestess who is willing to kill anyone that gets between her and immortality, a palace chamberlain so full of hubris that he thinks only he knows what is best for the country. And characters you will instantly respect and root for – a captain of the guards who is willing to put love of country before his own career, a priest of Mitra who has devoted his life to seeking out and vanquishing evil, a simple Kazakian Hillman soldier whose life of hardship makes him a brother from another mother to Conan. Not all these characters will make it out of the story alive, and you’ll be hoping it’s the ones you despise.
Moore also deftly subverts expectations, small characters and moments may change the course of the entire plot. A simple palace groundskeeper becomes an obstacle to Conan; and a barfight becomes deadly and turns the whole plot on its head, just to name a couple. Also, right when the jaded Conan reader has it in his head he knows exactly how the last 50 pages of the book will play out…well that reader would be wrong, as Moore chooses to tread a path less taken by introducing an ancient evil.
Moore has the gods themselves taking a hand in his story, but not so much as you’d say Conan is a pawn in their game. Rather it’s more of a case that the gods are real and have some involvement in the plot when their interests are involved. Mitra plays a large roll, and the ancient god Targol (who is no longer worshipped) has a moment in which he takes exception to intruders in his temple, almost steals the entire story.
Moore also writes Conan perfectly in character. He’s out for his own interests, but when honor demands he becomes involved in the affairs of nation states and demons, because another man saved his life (the captain of the guards) he is all in, and he will not be stopped no matter what he’s up against, until all wrongs have been avenged and all obligations discharged.
The Weak:
There is not a lot here but there is just enough for me to deduct one star.
First, Moore loses sight of Conan in the denouement and awkwardly devotes much ink to a supporting character while Conan is confronting the Mutare demon for all the marbles.
Secondly, Moore clumsily provides Conan just the right mystical item he needs, at just the moment he needs it. Providence (or Mitra?) provided him the simple object much earlier in the story. It’s a plot beat that borders on a deus ex machina.
All in all it’s a very solid outing by Moore. Hunter compares favorably with the efforts of Jordan and Offut (but not quite up there with JMR).
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