The story in one page
Conan sits comfortably on the throne of Aquilonia until four ambitious men use the Heart of Ahriman to wake Xaltotun, a wizard dead for three thousand years. In a single battle, sorcery collapses the Aquilonian lines, and Conan is hauled off to a dungeon in chains. While the wizard begins restoring the ancient, cruel empire of Acheron, Conan escapes his cell with the help of Zenobia, a slave girl. He embarks on a desperate chase across half the world to reclaim the stolen jewel, the only power capable of neutralizing Xaltotun’s magic before the invaders cement their rule through terror.
Who's who
- Conan
The Cimmerian king of Aquilonia who loses his throne to sorcery.
- Xaltotun
A resurrected high priest of Acheron who wields world-altering dark magic.
- Zenobia
A palace slave who risks her life to free Conan from captivity.
- Hadrathus
A priest of Mitra who coordinates the secret resistance against the wizard.
- Tarascus
The Nemedian king who holds Conan’s crown through a shaky alliance.
What it's really about
- Sorcery vs. Steel
- A king's raw strength pitted against ancient, unnatural powers.
- Legitimacy
- Conan's right to rule compared to the sorcerer's archaic claims.
Why it's memorable
- A withered mummy expanding and breathing as a jewel touches its chest.
- Conan fighting a giant man-eating ape in the pitch-black pits of a dungeon.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Conan defeats King Tarascus on the battlefield while Hadrathus uses the jewel to banish Xaltotun, after which Conan names the slave Zenobia as his queen.
For your book club
- Whether Conan’s kingship is defined by his crown or his refusal to be broken.
- The role of ancient history in shaping the political conflicts of the Hyborian world.