Robert Jordan's Conan

[kev]

I poked through all of these threads and didn't see one dedicated to Robert Jordan, which is a shame because on balance he did a really good job.   There is a thread dedicated specifically to Conan the Magnificent but I haven't read it...so I thought I'd start a thread just for Robert Jordan from my notes.

To kick it off here are my notes on his first Conan novel Conan the Invincible:

This is a story from Conan’s youth in Zamora, the “thief phase” if you will. Conan is 18 or perhaps 19 and therein lies the problem – more on this in a bit.

Jordan has crafted a well told story, however it is a well worn one as well, the so called McGuffin Tale. Multiple factions are after the same object, two sorcerers, a group of bandits (led by a Red Sonjaesque Bandit Queen), Conan (the thief), a troop of Zamorian cavalry (the authorities), and to top it all off the Kezankian Mountain Hillman who would like them all dead and gone.

Pros:

*Jordan introduces some supporting characters who are likable and when it was done, I’d like to see again. And indeed there is a strong possibility of that, as this was the first of seven Conan novels he wrote, so I expect to see one or more of them again.

*Jordan keeps the story moving without resorting to a lot of exposition or information dumps.

*Jordan seems to have a firm understanding of the Hyborian Age and where this tale fits in Conan’s timeline.

Cons:

*Given his age, this should be an inexperienced Conan and yet he seems to have all the answers and counsels characters much older & experienced then himself on what is happening, and what should be done. I would have liked to have seen him be a bit more impulsive and reckless. And perhaps take note of what the “grownups” did right or wrong.

*Jordan appears to have leaned heavily on a thesaurus as the story is littered with 10 cent words when simpler ones would have sufficed - thaumaturgical, callimastian to name a couple, but there are so, so many more. They are distracting and tended to take me out of the story.

In the end this was a good enough first attempt that I am willing to read more of Jordan’s Conan.  3 Stars

[kev]

Conan the Defender:

This was the second Conan novel that Robert Jordan wrote and represents Conan at roughly 23 years of age after his “smuggler phase” on the Vilayet Sea but prior to his meeting up with Belit. While most of these Conan pastiches stand on their own this is a sequel of sorts to Jordan’s Conan the Invincible. And even though two or three of Jordan’s novels happen chronologically between it and Invincible (and are not necessary to be read prior to Defender) I would highly recommend that you read Invincible prior to Defender as a couple of the central characters and their motives are established in Invincible.

As to Defender itself, it is a well worn tale by Howard (both in Conan & Kull) of a cabal of nobles seeking the overthrow of the King (Nemedia this time around) by bringing the country to a low point by pushing on the stress points – crime, food shortages, and the economy. Then when the masses rise they will give the revolution the “guidance” it needs that will leave them in charge.

If Defender had played out in the manner of Howard’s stories, it would be a rather unremarkable effort. However, while the overall plot itself will seem very familiar to any Conan reader, Jordan deftly adds multiple factions which add variety to the plot; each group believes they are the ones with the “true” scheme.

Of particular note is a group of artisans who play at “coffeehouse revolutionaries” and though they talk much, like the Decemberists of Russia they are nowhere to be found when the shooting starts. Jordan really excelled at portraying these effete intellectual ne’re-do-wells with their grand ideas but completely lacking in the ability to implement them.

Jordan also adds twists to the plot by not having the conspiracy run smoothly, with the plotters having to alter their plans when events, other parties, or even the plotters themselves interfere. And of course, no Conan novel is complete without a bit of sorcery thrown in, this time in the form of an ensorcelled sword and a clay golem who bears a striking resemblance to…ah but that would be spoiling.

As in his other novels Jordan seems to excel at creating interesting supporting characters, however in this one he created a few too many. Several characters seem like they are going to take center stage only to be rushed off with a sudden demise. Jordan likely needed another 50 pages of space to accommodate all these characters, and likely should have edited two or three out. It is the biggest strike against this novel.

When the dust settled, I enjoyed this conspiratorial visit to Nemedia.   4 Stars

[kev]

Conan the Unconquered:

This story comes chronologically on the heels of Conan the Victorious just following Conan’s “smuggler phase” on the Vilayet Sea. Conan is 20 years old give or take a year.

This was the third Conan novel Jordan penned and the third of which I have read (and the best of the three). At this point Jordan had a good grip on Conan and the Hyborian Age as well. The story roams from the Capital of Turan, out to the Hykarian Steppes, and back again.

Jordan has Conan encounter all manner of colorful and memorable characters as the journey unfolds – thieves from Zamora, a father out to avenge the murder of his daughter, an octogenarian astrologer looking for one adventure to capstone his life, a princess tired of her pampered life, Hykarian nomads on a mission of vengeance, Vilayet smugglers, and even freed galley slaves. One by one they hitch their stars to Conan’s wagon and become his bedraggled colorful band which stands between a world beating Cult of Doom and their ambitions. In the end Jordan leaves you hoping you will see one or more of these characters again in his future novels.

Jordan adds veracity to the Cult of Doom by making it reminiscent of the cults in the 1970’s in which children of the rich were seduced to turn on their parents and give away their worldly possessions. Their Leader is perhaps not the greatest villain ever created, but Jordan does his best to make him more than a simple mustache twirler. Jordan had to operate within the page count confines all these pastiches were shackled with.

While Unconquered is not REH, it is top shelf Conan pastiche, and ranks right up there with any written by John Maddox Roberts, John Hocking, or Karl Wagner. If you like a good Conan yarn I highly recommend this one.  5 Stars

[kev]

Conan the Triumphant:

This was the fourth of Robert Jordan’s seven Conan books and it has complexities as far as its reading order. Chronologically this is the oldest Conan Jordan wrote - approximately 24 years of age prior to heading off to Argos and meeting up with Belit. Triumphant follows directly on the heels of Jordan’s Conan the Defender but more importantly it marks the end of the Karela the Red Hawk “trilogy” along with Conan the Invincible, & Conan the Defender (in that order). So, while each book stands on its own, if you want to follow the career of the Bandit Queen Karela you should not start here but rather with Invincible.

As for Triumphant, this may be Jordan’s finest book. He brought it all together here. Conan leading a company of mercenaries (which he raised in Conan the Defender), at the time of royal succession in Ophir. As if he did not have enough trouble just seeing to the needs of his company, he must keep his men employed by the proper faction in that succession struggle, deal with his “frenemie” Karela (who is just as likely to lay with him as drive a dagger into his back), and finally he has an employer who wants to resurrect an ancient god (not demon) no less.

Jordan also deals with a subject not normally touched upon in these usually shallow pastiches – sex as a weapon. As in using sex to subjugate and gain power over the opposite sex. It appears the priapic god Al Kirr has everyone “lusting” after power. Jordan tackles the subject with just a tinge of misogyny and misandry at the same time. It’s truly a battle of the sexes in this one. Even Conan finds himself acting on impulses which he acknowledges are abnormal for him.

As usual Jordan provides some supporting characters you hope will survive the cataclysmic conclusion - he seemed to excel at it.

Triumphant is truly a triumph and a must read for fans of Conan.  5 Stars

[kev]

Conan the Victorious:

This is a story from Conan’s young adulthood which follows on after Howard’s Rogues in the House. Here he has graduated from thief to smuggler on the Vilayet Sea.

While set early in Conan’s life this is the last of the seven Conan novels that Robert Jordan wrote, as such I was expecting a better effort.

Unfortunately “Victorious” was a bit of a let down for me. Jordan has many players, most of them with evil designs to either be on the Throne, or be the Power Behind the Throne of Vendhya. Jordan lays the groundwork for a fairly intricate web of intrigues and spying & counter spying, but at only 178 pages there simply isn’t enough room for all these subplots to bloom. Just when things were starting to take shape Jordan has all the players just meet up at the ruins of a lost Vendhian city where everything is hashed out in the last 21 pages -to include not one, not two, but three reveals of actual identities and motives.

Pros:

*Jordan has a firm handle on the Hyborian Age and is good with the action scenes.

Cons:

*Truncated feel to the overall story. Supporting characters that are interchangeable and not memorable (which was a strong point for Jordan in “Invincible”).

In the end this was a passable story coming in for me at 2 ½ stars – I’ve rounded up to 3 solely due to the goodwill Jordan generated with me in his other efforts.  3 Stars

[Von K]

Thanks for the reviews Kev - these are great to have on the forum!

[Jason Aiken]

Indeed, what Von K said.

[kev]

Dec 9, 2023 16:28:43 GMT -5 Jason Aiken said:

Indeed, what Von K said.

Thanks for the sentiments to Von K and Jason. 


I've read so many more of the pastiches, but it only occurred to me a few years ago to keep some notes - which is what you see above on Jordan.  Sadly, that was after I had read most of JMR's efforts.   So now when JMR comes up all I can say is, "I can't give any specifics, but I have a general recollection his works were really excellent."      

[elegos7]

Dec 8, 2023 12:30:31 GMT -5 kev said:

Conan the Triumphant:

Triumphant is truly a triumph and a must read for fans of Conan.  5 Stars

I agree this is a very good story, maybe the best pastiche Conan I have read. The plot has similarities to the second Conan movie. As Jordan has penned the novelization of that movie, maybe he took the resurrection of an ancient god plot element from that one. The novelization of the seccond movie is also very good.