Description
Mercenary, thief, soldier, usurper... CONAN OF CIMMERIA As sword for hire for a mercenary troop, Conan finds himself in Sukhmet, a filthy backwater town south of the River Styx considered "the arse-end of Stygia." Serving in the company known as Zarallo's Free Companions, he fights alongside soldiers of fortune from Zingara, Koth, Shem, and other lands-a hard-handed band of killers loyal to anyone who pays them well. In a Sukhmet tavern he encounters one soldier in particular-Valeria of the Red Brotherhood, a veteran of freebooters with whom Conan also sailed, launching raids out of the Barachan Isles on the Western Sea. Valeria's reputation is that of a deadly swordswoman, a notoriety she quickly proves to be accurate. When she runs afoul of an exiled Stygian noble, however, things take a deadly turn, embroiling them both in the schemes of a priest of the serpent god Set. The first new Conan novel in more than a decade, Blood of the Serpent leads directly into one of Robert E. Howards's most famous sword-and-sorcery adventures, "Red Nails." As a bonus feature that story, as well, is included in this volume.
About the Author
A writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin, S. M. Stirling is a former lawyer, an amateur historian, and the New York Times bestselling author of numerous SF and fantasy novels including the popular "Nantucket" series that began with Island in the Sea of Time. He loves history, anthropology, and archaeology. Martial arts were his main physical hobby. Stirling lives in New Mexico, and tweets @Joatsimeon.
Reviews
"Exceptionally fast-paced, with lots packed in .. If Titan is giving us a new era of Conan books, high-octane with life-or-death stakes, then I'm in."-British Fantasy Society "This volume delivers an engaging and approachable new adventure along with one of the very best of the classic stories."-GrimDark Magazine Praise for Conan and Robert E. Howard: "Howard's writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks."-Stephen King "In Howard's grim and all too realistic view, the barbarians are always at the gate, and once a culture allows itself to grow soft, decadent or simply neglectful, it will be swept away by the primitive and ruthless."-Michael Dirda, The Washington Post "I read books, and I dreamed of Mars, and the planets in those books, and of the Hyborian Age of Robert E. Howard's Conan books..."-George R. R. Martin, author of A Game of Thrones "I adore these books. Howard had a gritty, vibrant style-broadsword writing that cut its way to the heart, with heroes who are truly larger than life."-David Gemmell, author of Legend "Those of us who believed in Conan at the right moment in our lives never stop believing. We might not grow up to become him, but we never grow out of him, either."-Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good Indians "Howard was a true storyteller-one of the first, and certainly among the best, you'll find in heroic fantasy."-Charles de Lint, author of The Wild Wood and The Onion Girl Praise for S.M. Stirling: "Utterly engaging. This is unquestionably Steve Stirling's best work to date, a page-turner that is certain to win the author legions of new readers and fans."-George R. R. Martin on Island in the Sea of Time "Stirling combines complex, believable characters, meticulous research, and a fascinating setup to produce a book you won't want to-and won't be able to-put down. An outstanding piece of work."-Harry Turtledove on Island in the Sea of Time "The novel's dual themes-myth and technology-should appeal to both fantasy and hard SF readers as well as to techno-thriller fans."-Publishers Weekly on Dies the Fire "Fans of apocalyptical thrillers like Stephen King's The Stand will find Dies the Fire absolutely riveting...a fantastic epic work."-Midwest Book Review "[A] richly realized story of swordplay and intrigue."-Entertainment Weekly on the novels of The Change "Richly detailed...His descriptions of beauty and horror, giv[e] this work a broad emotional palette."-Publishers Weekly on the New York Times bestseller The Sea Peoples "Strong characterizations, high historical scholarship, superior narrative technique, excellent battle scenes..."-Booklist for On the Oceans of Eternity
Book Information
ISBN 9781803361987
Author S. Stirling
Format Paperback
Page Count 464
Imprint Titan Books Ltd
Publisher Titan Books Ltd
About the Author
A writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin, S. M. Stirling is a former lawyer, an amateur historian, and the New York Times bestselling author of numerous SF and fantasy novels including the popular "Nantucket" series that began with Island in the Sea of Time. He loves history, anthropology, and archaeology. Martial arts were his main physical hobby. Stirling lives in New Mexico, and tweets @Joatsimeon.
Reviews
"Exceptionally fast-paced, with lots packed in .. If Titan is giving us a new era of Conan books, high-octane with life-or-death stakes, then I'm in."-British Fantasy Society "This volume delivers an engaging and approachable new adventure along with one of the very best of the classic stories."-GrimDark Magazine Praise for Conan and Robert E. Howard: "Howard's writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks."-Stephen King "In Howard's grim and all too realistic view, the barbarians are always at the gate, and once a culture allows itself to grow soft, decadent or simply neglectful, it will be swept away by the primitive and ruthless."-Michael Dirda, The Washington Post "I read books, and I dreamed of Mars, and the planets in those books, and of the Hyborian Age of Robert E. Howard's Conan books..."-George R. R. Martin, author of A Game of Thrones "I adore these books. Howard had a gritty, vibrant style-broadsword writing that cut its way to the heart, with heroes who are truly larger than life."-David Gemmell, author of Legend "Those of us who believed in Conan at the right moment in our lives never stop believing. We might not grow up to become him, but we never grow out of him, either."-Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good Indians "Howard was a true storyteller-one of the first, and certainly among the best, you'll find in heroic fantasy."-Charles de Lint, author of The Wild Wood and The Onion Girl Praise for S.M. Stirling: "Utterly engaging. This is unquestionably Steve Stirling's best work to date, a page-turner that is certain to win the author legions of new readers and fans."-George R. R. Martin on Island in the Sea of Time "Stirling combines complex, believable characters, meticulous research, and a fascinating setup to produce a book you won't want to-and won't be able to-put down. An outstanding piece of work."-Harry Turtledove on Island in the Sea of Time "The novel's dual themes-myth and technology-should appeal to both fantasy and hard SF readers as well as to techno-thriller fans."-Publishers Weekly on Dies the Fire "Fans of apocalyptical thrillers like Stephen King's The Stand will find Dies the Fire absolutely riveting...a fantastic epic work."-Midwest Book Review "[A] richly realized story of swordplay and intrigue."-Entertainment Weekly on the novels of The Change "Richly detailed...His descriptions of beauty and horror, giv[e] this work a broad emotional palette."-Publishers Weekly on the New York Times bestseller The Sea Peoples "Strong characterizations, high historical scholarship, superior narrative technique, excellent battle scenes..."-Booklist for On the Oceans of Eternity
Book Information
ISBN 9781803361987
Author S. Stirling
Format Paperback
Page Count 464
Imprint Titan Books Ltd
Publisher Titan Books Ltd
