Supplement Four
Mongoose
I started my own Conan chronology several years ago. Thulsa even has a part of it posted on his site. I gave it up, though. Too many people have Conan chronologies, and too many things in the various Conan stories don't gell.
So, I started a new type of project: Conan stories shown geographically.
I'd love to see a big, beautiful map of Conan's time, punctuated with notes about where various adventures took place.
I don't have a big, beautiful map, so I started the project on a spreadsheet. I also started re-reading all of the Conan tales (some I've read before, and some I haven't), paying particular attention to where the stories are set (and if I see any recurring characters).
This has led me to another idea: Conan's Chains.
These are a string of Conan stories, all linked together by common elements. If someone wanted to start reading Conan for the first time, one of these chains might make for a good suggestive starting point.
For example:
The Tower of the Elephant (Howard)
Conan And The Sorcerer (Offutt)
Conan The Mercenary (Offutt)
Conan The Sword of Skelos (Offutt)
This chain fits because they all take place around the same time. Conan is young and fresh to civilization. He's learning his trade as thief.
Sorcerer picks up closely on the heels after Tower, and, really, Sorcerer is Offutt's re-telling of Tower. The two tales are similar (though Offutt does mention the events of Tower in his tale).
The three Offutt books are episodic, but tied together through the tale of the Eye of Erlik. Thus, string these four books together, and you've got a chain.
More stories could be added to that chain, depending on taste.
A Witch Shall Be Born (Howard) would be a good choice to tac onto the chain because it is set where much of Mercenary is set, in Khauran. Some of the same characters are mentioned eventhough Witch is set several years in the future.
The Man-Eaters of Zamboula (Howard) is another that could be part of that chain. Although set at least 15 years after Sorcerer, it takes place in the same city: Zamboula. And, some of the same characters are featured.
Witch could be put into an entirely different chain. It could be part of a series of stories that show Conan as a desert raider.
Man-Eaters, too, can start a chain of its own.
The Man-Eaters of Zamboula (Howard)
Conan The Raider (Carpenter)
The Star of Khorala (de Camp & Carter)
This chain focusses on the Star of Khorala plot line.
A chain of stories could be assembled featuring Conan in his native Cimmeria. A chain could be assembled that detail Conan's time in the Tuarian army. A chain could be assembled detailing Conan's time as king.
Can you think of any other Chains that would make for interesting reading? I try to ensure that at least one pure Howard story is included in each chain.
So, I started a new type of project: Conan stories shown geographically.
I'd love to see a big, beautiful map of Conan's time, punctuated with notes about where various adventures took place.
I don't have a big, beautiful map, so I started the project on a spreadsheet. I also started re-reading all of the Conan tales (some I've read before, and some I haven't), paying particular attention to where the stories are set (and if I see any recurring characters).
This has led me to another idea: Conan's Chains.
These are a string of Conan stories, all linked together by common elements. If someone wanted to start reading Conan for the first time, one of these chains might make for a good suggestive starting point.
For example:
The Tower of the Elephant (Howard)
Conan And The Sorcerer (Offutt)
Conan The Mercenary (Offutt)
Conan The Sword of Skelos (Offutt)
This chain fits because they all take place around the same time. Conan is young and fresh to civilization. He's learning his trade as thief.
Sorcerer picks up closely on the heels after Tower, and, really, Sorcerer is Offutt's re-telling of Tower. The two tales are similar (though Offutt does mention the events of Tower in his tale).
The three Offutt books are episodic, but tied together through the tale of the Eye of Erlik. Thus, string these four books together, and you've got a chain.
More stories could be added to that chain, depending on taste.
A Witch Shall Be Born (Howard) would be a good choice to tac onto the chain because it is set where much of Mercenary is set, in Khauran. Some of the same characters are mentioned eventhough Witch is set several years in the future.
The Man-Eaters of Zamboula (Howard) is another that could be part of that chain. Although set at least 15 years after Sorcerer, it takes place in the same city: Zamboula. And, some of the same characters are featured.
Witch could be put into an entirely different chain. It could be part of a series of stories that show Conan as a desert raider.
Man-Eaters, too, can start a chain of its own.
The Man-Eaters of Zamboula (Howard)
Conan The Raider (Carpenter)
The Star of Khorala (de Camp & Carter)
This chain focusses on the Star of Khorala plot line.
A chain of stories could be assembled featuring Conan in his native Cimmeria. A chain could be assembled that detail Conan's time in the Tuarian army. A chain could be assembled detailing Conan's time as king.
Can you think of any other Chains that would make for interesting reading? I try to ensure that at least one pure Howard story is included in each chain.
