Settings and Stories

[Aholibamah]

What are some of the best stories/novels about the setting, that describe places and peoples best? For example what's the best story set in Stygia? I think that "Hour of the Dragon" is the best for western Hyboria personally.

 

[Clovenhoof]

Isn't HotD also the only story that visits Stygia?

 

[decker423]

Are you talking about only IN Stygia ONLY or concerning parts of Stygia?

The story of "Xuthal of the Dusk" has Conan going through parts of Stygia and the story of "Black Colossus" mentions a "rebel" Stygian prince and some Stygian mercenaries joining up with the main bad guy and his motley army (Shemites, Kushites, mercenaries, etc.).

 

[Aholibamah]

Concering parts of Stygia works well too. Which book is "Xuthal of the Dusk" in again?

And yeah, I remember Prince Kutamon in "Black Colossus" (which is probably my third favourite Conan story).

 

[Clovenhoof]

Hmm... I remember the story where Conan enters the lost city of Xuthal, meets its inhabitants, drinks the golden wine, and then proceeds to kill a demon. Right, now that you mention it they speak some form of Stygian there. But that doesn't help a lot, because it doesn't give you any clues of how to play in Stygia proper.

The Black Colossus... I've read it but it eludes me. Which one was that again?
Ah never mind, I looked it up. Yes, that one was quite enjoyable. I love stories of routing armies.

 

[decker423]

Concering parts of Stygia works well too. Which book is "Xuthal of the Dusk" in again? .

I have all of the "old school" black Tor books with the cool artwork covers in storage. In the 3 consolidated books the stories are in "The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian". The other 2 books are "The Bloody Crown of Conan" and "The Conquering Sword of Conan". All of the Robert E. Howard stories are collected in those books.

I also read the "Kull of Atlantis" book which included unnamed or unfinished drafts and short excerpts. Worth the money.

 

[treeplanter]

Hmm... I remember the story where Conan enters the lost city of Xuthal, meets its inhabitants, drinks the golden wine, and then proceeds to kill a demon. Right, now that you mention it they speak some form of Stygian there. But that doesn't help a lot, because it doesn't give you any clues of how to play in Stygia proper.

Well he does meet Thalis the stygian tough, but that the only Stygian thing in the novel

 

[rabindranath72]

In the Xuthal story we also learn about the religious practices of Derketo.

 

[decker423]

Thalis was of the "Old Stygian" blood AKA Acheronian. Read about her past, she was descended from a king and her white was as that of the Brythunian chick.

 

[lcgyy]

The Black Colossus... I've read it but it eludes me. Which one was that again?
Ah never mind, I looked it up. Yes, that one was quite enjoyable. I love stories of routing armies.



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[Supplement Four]

Not sure if I'd call it "The Best", but I certainly enjoyed it: Conan The Rebel, by Poul Anderson is set, mostly, in Stygia, and it describes various and diverse groups of peoples (not just one type of "Stygian" as some books will do) and places in that ancient land.

It's a good book, not only for the story, but for anyone interested in learning more about that part of Conan's world.

Also, this story takes place between the pages of Howard's story, Queen of the Black Coast. That is--Anderson sets his story after QotBC begins but before it ends. He fleshes out some of the adventuring (skipped over by Howard) that Conan does with Belit.

Anderson's not afraid to tell much of his story centered on people besides Conan, too, which is refreshing. Poul spens a lot of time with the Stygians (and more than one "type" of Stygian, too!)