The Sword of Skelos

The Sword of Skelos is a fantasy novel written by Andrew J. Offutt featuring Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian, the third and final volume in a trilogy beginning with Conan and the Sorcerer and continuing with Conan the Mercenary (which was actually published after The Sword of Skelos,^[1] though relating events prior to it). It was first published in paperback in May 1979 by Bantam Books, and reprinted in August 1981. Later editions were issued by Ace Books (September 1987, reprinted May 1991) and Tor Books (February 2002). The first British edition was published by Sphere Books in 1989.^[2]

Reception

Reviewer Lagomorph Rex finds the novel "interesting in that, instead of the standard map which nearly every pastiche dating back to the Lancers had in the front, it has its very own location specific map, which illustrates some what the route which Conan and Khassek and later Conan and Isparana take to arrive in Zamboula." His primary comments are in regard to mapping and speculation on how the Cimmerian had picked up a speaking knowledge of Turanian so early in his career.^[3]

Notes

References

• Fantastic Fiction entry for The Sword of Skelos