Non-Howard material.

The Road of Kings is a fantasy novel by Karl Edward Wagner, featuring Robert E. Howard’s sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in paperback by Bantam Books in October 1979. Later paperback editions were issued by Ace Books (1987) and Tor Books 2001. The first trade paperback edition was published by Warner Books in 1989. The first British edition was published by Sphere Books (1980, reissued 1986 and 1989). Aside from the Bantam and Tor editions, all other editions were issued under the variant title Conan: The Road of Kings.

Contents

•  The Road of Kings • (1979) • interior artwork by Tim Kirk
• 1 • The Road of Kings • [Conan Pastiches] • (1979) • novel by Karl Edward Wagner
• [211] • About the Author (The Road of Kings) • (1979) • essay by uncredited

Plot

The novel features Conan during his buccaneering days. After being sentenced to death for a duel in the turbulent kingdom of Zingara, he escapes and joins a group of rebels who plan to overthrow their tyrannical king. When the divided leadership foolishly turns to a wizard for aid, their cause becomes complicated by sorcery rooted in the lost kingdom of Acheron, and the result is not freedom but despotism. Conan helps in overthrowing the new regime. However, when he’s given an opportunity to take the throne for himself, Conan uncharacteristically turns down the offer.

Notes

“First published in Great Britan by/Sphere Books Ltd 1980” on copyright page; no statement of reprinting.
Interior art signed “Kirk”; “Illustrated by Tim Kirk” on title page.
Cover art not credited and no signature is visible.