Black Colossus

What It's About

In the ruins of Kuthchemes, a thief disturbs the 3,000-year-old tomb of the sorcerer Thugra Khotan, unwittingly setting an ancient evil loose upon the world. As the shadowy power known as Natohk, "the Veiled One," gathers desert tribes to his banner, the kingdom of Khoraja finds itself leaderless and afraid. Guided by a vision from the god Mitra, Princess Yasmela seeks out Conan, a barbarian mercenary drinking in a local tavern, and offers him command of her demoralized army. What follows is a tale of dark sorcery, desperate warfare, and a reluctant leader forced to prove himself against overwhelming odds.

Key Concepts

This is considered one of the strongest early entries in the Conan canon, often credited with cementing the character's appeal as both a warrior and a leader of men, rather than just a wandering adventurer. Howard blends military strategy with horror and the supernatural, and several critics have noted structural parallels between Yasmela's call to Conan and the Biblical story of Moses being chosen, against his own doubts, to lead Israel.

About the Author

Robert E. Howard (1906–1936) was an American writer from Cross Plains, Texas, best known as the creator of Conan the Barbarian and a major contributor to the pulp magazine Weird Tales. Writing prolifically across horror, adventure, and fantasy, he helped define the sword and sorcery genre before his death by suicide at the age of 30.