The People of the Black Circle (version 2)

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. (3 hr 49 min)

Chapters

Death Strikes a King	13:09	Read by Phil Chenevert
A Barbarian from the Hills	20:27	Read by Phil Chenevert
Khemsa Uses Magic	17:12	Read by Phil Chenevert
An Encounter in the Pass	14:47	Read by Phil Chenevert
The Black Stallion	26:30	Read by Phil Chenevert
The Mountain of the Black Seers	29:40	Read by Phil Chenevert
On to Yimsha	20:14	Read by Phil Chenevert
Yasmina Knows Stark Terror	19:40	Read by Phil Chenevert
The Castle of the Wizards	44:49	Read by Phil Chenevert
Yasmina and Conan	22:57	Read by Phil Chenevert

Reviews

Chapter 9 uploaded again March 2

librivoxbooks

Chapter 9 was discovered to have an unedited gaffe that was discovered and fixed March 2. My apologies to anyone who had to listen to the unexpurgated version of this chapter. It may take a day or two for the files to rederive. -the person who recorded this story

(3 stars)

Christian Haworth

I see the appeal - Howard's a good storyteller amd his preference for "barbarism" over civilization is an interesting thematic perspective (despite its vague ahistoricity). But as a work of pulpy ephemera it naturally doesn't reward a very detailed inspection. The worldbuilding is of course fairly shallow and orientalized, and while Howard's favourite themes are interestingly encoded into the relationship between Conan and Yasmina it's still dominated by a pulpy gender dynamic that gets in the way of any deeper exploration of those ideas in more than two dimensions. I also thought the stakes and power of the Black Seers as described in the story didn't really match the ease of resolution. Still, an enjoyable read and a great insight into the early development of the fantasy genre.

Good story, well read.

(4 stars)

The Rhino

I really enjoyed this one. As barbarians go, Conan is the coolest. The story ends two chapters early for some reason.

Thanks for a fine read

(5 stars)

awmac3

Phil does a fine job of zealously relaying each thrust, arrow and, yes, kiss. Thanks.

I've listened like 100+ times

(5 stars)

Matthew ferrari

fantastic story and great reading, I enjoyed the gaffe too it was really funny

A Tale of Conan

(4 stars)

CMS of PA

Good story, good reader. Spoiler Alert: At the end of chapter nine, t