Conan and the Songs of the Dead »

The Cimmerian travels to the aid of an old ally in the wretched wastes of Stygia - a desert harboring wealth undreamed of, even for the barbarian. Soon his pursuit of the ancient treasure reveals a conniving spirit and undead guards. Dust from the desolate land meets blood, and a dark-hearted sorcerer brings forth strange abominations from this unholy mix. Only the cool head and cold steel of the Cimmerian can save all creation from the horror that awaits, and the blood-spattered conclusion will send shivers down the spines of even the most hardcore Conan fans!

Publishers Weekly

Two old pros have fun in this latest installment of the Conan saga. Robert E. Howard's muscle-bound barbarian is usually presented as a grim loner; thus, it's surprising when, coming upon the thief Alvazar buried in hot sand up to his neck, Conan jovially gives him a refreshing drink of dog's blood, then butchers the priests who were executing the man for stealing a sacred relic. This version of Conan needs a comic sidekick, and his banter with Alvazar enlivens the string of adventures as the two team up to track down a series of magical objects that they hope to sell for money, but that also could open the way for a malevolent elder god to re-enter this world. Along the way, the two rogues encounter wizards, animated mummies, demons and a very lusty djinn. Severed limbs and heads fill the air every few pages, but so do good-old-boy quips. Truman has been expert at drawing this kind of droll action-adventure since Grimjack, and Lansdale has honed a knack for sly, outrageous humor in his Hap & Leonardcrime novels . Their collaboration is a genuine, if somewhat guilty, pleasure. (Apr.)