The Hour of the Dragon

While Howard wrote several Conan stories, this was the only full-length novel of Conan that he wrote. It's later in Conan's career, when he has been the king of Aquilonia, and takes advantage of the character's past history to fill out and inform parts of the story. It's also interesting to see how different parts of Hyborian society react to the barbarian king. But mostly, it's more of Howard's rip-roaring action with a health dose of intrigue and magic involved. A lot of fun!

One of Howard's best in the Conan sagas. Ad I have to answer to the female reviewer here who disliked it because fo it's sexism. The story is true to it's tiem, set in an ancient earth. although this story does not feature the strong female charachter she wants, it is true to the time the story would be set in. It's just sad the story couldn't be written today because it would be considered politically correct. Check out some of the other stories in the Conan saga that Howard wrote. There are strong female leads in a couple of them. This story however is one of Howard's best. enough plot twists to keep it interesting and solid action in the right places.

The best Conan story by far, mostly because the author has enough room to develope details often left out of shorter works. It is, as suggested, a very macho male work, but since the average reader is looking for exactly that kind or tale it's hardly a criminal act to write or read it, as has also been suggested. There is, or should be, room for all forms of writing Howards creation still stands head and shoulders above all other swords-and-sorcery heros.

The hour of the dragon, one of the finest tale from the Conan chronicles. Written in the 1930's it is outdate Lord of the Rings. Robert E. Howard did a stunning job in creating one of the most famous character in genre of fantasy.

Out of the original 26 short stories of Conan written by Howard, Hour of the Dragon is the longest, itself is a book instead of a short story. The story is loosely based on other stories in the Conan chronicles such as:Scarlet Citadel, Phoneix on the Sword.etc..

Howard's writing is lively, colourful and descriptive. Despite the casual hints of sexism. However the reader should keep in mind that the book was written in the 1930's, when sexism was racism was norm to the society. Even though by today's standard, the story and its depiction of such discrimination could be controversial, however Howard's creative imagination and transending writing style is still as fresh, exiciting as ever.

Do not discredit the entire Conan chronicle because of these imperfections. When one looks beyond these flaws the Conan chronicles truly stand out as one of the best fantasy character in the genre.

Do not miss this one!

this was NOT a classic read. Even for a book written in the 1930's, it was incredibly annoyingly macho-male to the very end. The female roles were all pretty-girls with no brains who took the back seat; the book in itself was kinda dry and absolutely conventional. Wouldn't read it if I were you.

The classic fantasy novel, full length. Conan isn't just muscles in action, the author gives him some depth, and the story is better than some of today's writing in the genre. Howard's experience with pulp, and thus, the need to write crisp and still colourful, helped him making a book that is never boring and packs scores of landscape and action, magic and struggle for power. Even a small love story is part of the plot, but it will only show at the very end.
I will not give full points because I think Michael Moorcock writes even better fantasy.