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Robert Ervin Howard has created a true legacy through his famed character, Conan the Barbarian, and his works resound through the ages as some of the best publications of pulp fiction and sword and sorcery ever created. The People of the Black Circle is one of these books, and for anyone familiar with the works of De Camp, Carter and Jordan, you should prepare for something much more intense, fast paced and entertaining – a story that will make you think just as much as provide you with the thrilling events of the 1930s' pulps you may be used to.Although he has only lived until he was 30 years of age, and seldom left his home town of Cross Plains, Howard is still regarded as the father of modern day sword and sorcery. Alongside authors like Tolkien and Jack Vance, he managed to transform the genre, and give rise to an entire stream of later works that depicted the now well-known Barbarian, none of which have risen to the same level as some of Howard's best known novels, including The People of the Black Circle.The book is fast paced, and offers a view of Conan that we seldom see depicted in modern publications and TV shows. While most people are familiar with Conan as the mindless (and shirtless) brute who almost always ends up solving his problems with his sword and muscles, we find out from this book and many other of Howard's best known novels that Conan's intelligence and thinking ability matches his strength and cunning, the Barbarian being a much more complex character than he is given credit for.Anyone who likes sword and sorcery novels will simply love The People of the Black Circle, together with Howard's remarkably dynamic and rich narrative, and the intensely written plot that will keep your adrenaline levels high throughout the read.

"The People of the Black Circle" is an original storyabout Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. Its an action packed adventure filled with imagination. Any profits made from the sale of this book will go towards supporting the Freeriver Community project, a project that aims to support community and encourage well-being. To learn more about the Freeriver Community project please visit the website- www.freerivercommunity.com

From the age of nine he dreamed of becoming a writer of adventure fiction but did not have real success until he was 23. Thereafter, until his death by suicide at age 30, Howard's writings were published in a wide selection of magazines, journals, and newspapers, and he had become successful in several genres. Although a Conan novel was nearly published in 1934, his stories never appeared in book form during his lifetime. The main outlet for his stories was the pulp magazine Weird Tales.

" The People of the Black Circle" is a short story by Robert Ervin Howard. "The People of the Black Circle" is one of the original novellas about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine in three parts over the September, October and November 1934 issues. Howard earned $250 for the publication of this story. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan kidnapping a regal princess of Vendhya (pre-historical India) and foiling a nefarious plot of world domination by the Black Seers of Yimsha. Due to its epic scope and atypical Hindustan flavor, the story is considered an undisputed classic of Conan lore and is often cited by Howard scholars as one of his best tales. It is also one of the few Howard stories where the reader is treated a deeper insight on magic and magicians beyond the stereotypical Hyborian depiction as demon conjurer-illusionist-priests. This Conan story is set in mythical Hyborian versions of India–Pakistan (then united) and Afghanistan (Vendhya and Ghulistan respectively). The death of Bunda Chand, King of Vendhya, via a curse channeled to his soul through a lock of his hair leads to the ascension of his sister, Devi Yasmina, who vows to get revenge on his killers, the Black Seers of Yimsha. Conan, meanwhile, has become chief of a tribe of Afghuli hillmen. Seven of his men have been captured by the Vendhyans and Yasmina intends to use them as collateral to force Conan to kill the Seers. However, Conan infiltrates the border fort where they are held and kidnaps the Devi instead (with the intent of exchanging her for the seven men). The problems are complicated by Kerim Shah, an agent of King Yezdigerd of Turan, who arranged Bunda Chand's death in order to lead an army through the mountains and invade in the subsequent confusion and turmoil. His contact with the Black Seers, Khemsa, has fallen in love with the Devi's maid Gitara. They decide to strike out on their own, kill the seven hillmen and pursue Conan and Yasmina to kill them both as well. Conan escapes into the Afghuli villages of the Zaibar Pass and Himelian Mountains (Hyborian equivalents of the Khyber pass and Himalayas). Yar Afzal, chief of the Wazuli village, is killed by Khemsa and the people turn against Conan, yet he manages to escape again with Yasmina. Khemsa again catches up with the pair but his attack is interrupted by four Rakhshas from Yimsha. His original masters kill Khemsa and Gitara, stun Conan and kidnap Yasmina. Khemsa survives a fall from the mountain-side long enough to give Conan a warning and a magic girdle. Shortly after, Kerim Shah and a group of Irakzai (Iraqis), also intent on capturing the Devi for King Yezdigerd, encounter Conan. They join together to rescue Yasmina, both open about their private reasons for doing so, and approach the mountain of Yimsha. Most of the men are killed in the attempt but, following Khemsa's warnings, Conan succeeds in killing the Black Seers and rescuing Yasmina.

Robert Ervin Howard (1906-1936) was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. He is well known for having created the character Conan the Cimmerian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond. Voracious reading, along with a natural talent for prose writing and the encouragement of teachers, conspired to create in Howard an interest in becoming a professional writer. One by one he discovered the authors that would influence his later work: Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. It's clear from Howard's earliest writings and the recollections of his friends that he suffered from severe depression from an early age. Friends recall him defending the act of suicide as a valid alternative as early as eighteen years old, while many of his stories and poems have a suicidal gloom and intensity that seem prescient in hindsight, describing such an end not as a tragedy but as a release from hell on earth.

Robert Ervin Howard (1906-1936) was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. He is well known for having created the character Conan the Cimmerian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond. Voracious reading, along with a natural talent for prose writing and the encouragement of teachers, conspired to create in Howard an interest in becoming a professional writer. One by one he discovered the authors that would influence his later work: Jack London and Rudyard Kipling. It's clear from Howard's earliest writings and the recollections of his friends that he suffered from severe depression from an early age. Friends recall him defending the act of suicide as a valid alternative as early as eighteen years old, while many of his stories and poems have a suicidal gloom and intensity that seem prescient in hindsight, describing such an end not as a tragedy but as a release from hell on earth.

The People of the Black Circle is the eleventh of the Conan stories published by Weird Tales in three parts in the fall of 1934. Set in the mythical Hyborian Age in the south Asian regions of Vendhya and Ghulistan (now India-Pakistan and Afghanistan), the story centers around Conan’s kidnapping of princess Devi Yasmina of Vendhya and thwarting an attempt at world domination by the Black Seers of Yimsha. The action begins when Conan, chief of a tribe of hillmen, sets out to rescue seven of his men that have been captured and held by the princess to force him into killing her enemies. Conan instead kidnaps the princess, but the two are set upon by Kerim Shah, agent of the King of Turan, intent upon invading Vendhya. They escape into the mountains, followed by Kemsha, who catches up with them just as he is attacked by Rakhshas from Yimsha, who kill him and capture Devi. Enter a group of Irakzai, who team up with Conan to rescue the princess. All are eventually rescued by the Vendhyan army and join forces to defeat the Turanians.The inevitable attraction between Conan and the princess smolders but never catches fire as forces inexorably draw them apart. The action-packed story is considered one of the finest in the Conan canon due to its epic sweep and insights into magical powers.

How is this book unique?Font adjustments & biography includedUnabridged (100% Original content)Formatted for e-readerIllustratedAbout The People of the Black Circle by Robert Ervin Howard"The People of the Black Circle" is one of the original novellas about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert Ervin Howard. Plot Summary: This Conan story is set in mythical Hyborian versions of India–Pakistan and Afghanistan. The death of Bunda Chand, King of Vendhya, via a curse channeled to his soul through a lock of his hair leads to the ascension of his sister, Devi Yasmina, who vows to get revenge on his killers, the Black Seers of Yimsha. Conan, meanwhile, has become chief of a tribe of Afghuli hillmen. Seven of his men have been captured by the Vendhyans and Yasmina intends to use them as collateral to force Conan to kill the Seers. However, Conan infiltrates the border fort where they are held and kidnaps the Devi instead (with the intent of exchanging her for the seven men). The problems are complicated by Kerim Shah, an agent of King Yezdigerd of Turan, who arranged Bunda Chand's death in order to lead an army through the mountains and invade in the subsequent confusion and turmoil. His contact with the Black Seers, Khemsa, has fallen in love with the Devi's maid Gitara. They decide to strike out on their own, kill the seven hillmen and pursue Conan and Yasmina to kill them both as well. Conan escapes into the Afghuli villages of the Zaibar Pass and Himelian Mountains.