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Quick answer: If you loved Conan the Barbarian, try The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian, Kull: Exile of Atlantis, Swords Against Death, Elric of Melniboné, Legend and The Lies of Locke Lamora. Each one offers sword-and-sorcery adventure, mighty heroes and dark magic.
Robert E. Howard created Conan the Cimmerian in pulp magazine stories starting in 1932. Conan is a barbarian warrior, thief and eventually king who wanders a prehistoric Hyborian Age, fighting sorcerers, monsters and kings. Howard's tales are fast, violent and full of strange cities and dark magic. Readers love their energy and their mood. These books share its swords, its sorcery and its larger-than-life heroes.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian | Robert E. Howard | Classic | readers who want the original stories |
| Kull: Exile of Atlantis | Robert E. Howard | Classic | readers who want more Howard |
| Swords Against Death | Fritz Leiber | Classic | readers who like rogue duos |
| Elric of Melniboné | Michael Moorcock | Classic | readers who like tragic antiheroes |
| Legend | David Gemmell | Heroic | readers who like last stands |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Modern | readers who like rogues |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Grimdark | readers who like gritty warriors |
| Kings of the Wyld | Nicholas Eames | Fun | readers who like old heroes |
| Tarzan of the Apes | Edgar Rice Burroughs | Pulp | readers who like pulp heroes |
| A Princess of Mars | Edgar Rice Burroughs | Pulp | readers who like planetary adventure |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Gritty | readers who like mercenaries |
| Jirel of Joiry | C.L. Moore | Classic | readers who want a heroine |
| Imaro | Charles R. Saunders | Classic | readers who want African sword and sorcery |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Epic | readers who like vast battles |
| The Sword of Shannara | Terry Brooks | Classic | readers who like quests |
1. The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard
Howard's first Conan stories, as he wrote them.
Best for: readers who want the original stories.
2. Kull: Exile of Atlantis by Robert E. Howard
A barbarian king rules ancient Valusia.
Best for: readers who want more Howard.
3. Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser roam Lankhmar.
Best for: readers who like rogue duos.
4. Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
A sickly emperor wields a soul-drinking sword.
Best for: readers who like tragic antiheroes.
5. Legend by David Gemmell
An aging warrior defends a fortress.
Best for: readers who like last stands.
6. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Thieves run cons in a fantasy city.
Best for: readers who like rogues.
7. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A barbarian and others are drawn into war.
Best for: readers who like gritty warriors.
8. Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
Retired mercenaries reunite.
Best for: readers who like old heroes.
9. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
A boy raised by apes becomes a hero.
Best for: readers who like pulp heroes.
10. A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
A soldier is transported to Mars.
Best for: readers who like planetary adventure.
11. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A mercenary band serves a dark lady.
Best for: readers who like mercenaries.
12. Jirel of Joiry by C.L. Moore
A warrior queen battles sorcery.
Best for: readers who want a heroine.
13. Imaro by Charles R. Saunders
A warrior roams a fantasy Africa.
Best for: readers who want African sword and sorcery.
14. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
An empire wages war with gods involved.
Best for: readers who like vast battles.
15. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
A young man must wield a legendary sword.
Best for: readers who like quests.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Conan the Barbarian: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Conan the Barbarian. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Start with The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian for Howard's original stories. For classic sword and sorcery, Swords Against Death and Elric of Melniboné are essential. Imaro and Jirel of Joiry bring fresh heroes to the genre. Modern readers who want the same grit should try The Blade Itself or The Black Company.
Related: Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Conan the Barbarian?
Robert E. Howard, in pulp stories from 1932.
Where should I start with Conan?
The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian collects Howard's first stories.
What is the Hyborian Age?
Howard's invented ancient era before recorded history.
Are there Conan novels by other writers?
Yes. Many writers continued Conan, but fans often prefer Howard's originals.
Is Conan suitable for teens?
It has violence and some mature content, so it suits older teens.
What is sword and sorcery?
A fantasy subgenre focused on personal adventures, swords and dark magic.
Is there a Conan movie?
Yes. The 1982 film starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.