Conan le Conquérant Pre-owned book

Conan the Usurper: when the barbarian stops knocking and kicks down the throne room door

He’s been a thief, mercenary, pirate, gladiator… and now, finally, a king. But this isn’t your usual rise to royalty. No destiny. No prophecy. Conan the Usurper takes the throne the old-fashioned way — with a sword in one hand and the former monarch’s throat in the other.

Originally published in the 1960s, Conan the Usurper collects tales by Robert E. Howard, some posthumously completed by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter, exploring a more calculated, seasoned Conan, ready to shape kingdoms as easily as he once cleaved skulls.

The key arc? His rise in Aquilonia, where he topples the mad King Numedides and claims the crown by sheer force. No trials, no coronations. Just raw will, unyielding steel, and zero interest in diplomacy.

This version of Conan is ruthless but introspective. He doesn’t just swing his sword — he wields power. And in the comics, especially through Marvel’s runs and modern Glénat versions, this era becomes a playground of intrigue, sorcery, rebellion, and brutal conquest.

He’s no longer just a myth of survival — he is a force of political upheaval. A king from the outside who rewrites the rules of civilization one decapitated noble at a time.

Because Conan doesn’t follow royal lineage.

He carves his own.