Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Cimmerian stories first appeared in Weird Tales magazine between 1932 and 1936, and they remain the definitive standard against which all later sword-and-sorcery fiction is measured. The five picks below focus on the best available editions of Howard’s work and the most worthwhile supplementary reading, chosen for editorial quality, completeness, and the reading experience they provide.
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian (Del Rey) | Best first Conan book | 4.8/5 |
| The Bloody Crown of Conan (Del Rey) | Mid-series essential stories | 4.7/5 |
| The Conquering Sword of Conan (Del Rey) | Final Howard originals | 4.7/5 |
| Conan the Barbarian: The Original Comics (Marvel) | Visual adaptation of Howard | 4.5/5 |
| Conan: The Complete Chronicles (Penguin) | Single-volume best-of | 4.6/5 |
Del Rey “The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian” — Best First Conan Book
The Del Rey “The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian” collects the first group of Howard’s original Conan stories with new interior illustrations by Mark Schultz and excellent editorial notes by Patrice Louinet, who is among the foremost Howard scholars. The stories are presented in the order Howard intended, not the distorted chronological order imposed by later editors in older paperback editions. “The Tower of the Elephant” and “Rogues in the House” appear here and represent Howard at his peak. This is the edition to buy if you are new to Conan and want the most reliable version of the original texts.
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Del Rey “The Bloody Crown of Conan” — Best Mid-Series Collection
The second Del Rey volume covers Howard’s longer-form Conan stories, including “The People of the Black Circle,” widely considered the best Conan novella Howard ever wrote, along with “A Witch Shall Be Born” and “Jewels of Gwahlur.” These stories show Howard expanding the Hyborian world’s political complexity and giving Conan more varied roles beyond simple combat. Louinet’s notes provide context on Howard’s writing process and the pulp magazine market that shaped these stories. Essential for anyone who finishes the first Del Rey volume and wants to continue.
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Del Rey “The Conquering Sword of Conan” — Best Final Howard Volume
The third Del Rey volume completes the original Howard canon, including the posthumously published stories assembled from Howard’s manuscripts and outlines. Editorial notes are transparent about which sections were completed by others versus written entirely by Howard. “Beyond the Black River” is included here and stands as one of Howard’s most atmospheric and thematically rich Conan stories. This volume rounds out the complete set and is necessary for any reader who wants the full original Howard Conan experience without gaps.
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Marvel “Conan the Barbarian: The Original Marvel Years” — Best Visual Conan
Marvel’s collected editions of their 1970s Conan comics, scripted primarily by Roy Thomas with art by Barry Windsor-Smith and John Buscema, represent the most celebrated visual interpretation of Howard’s character. These comics introduced Conan to a generation of readers who had never encountered the original pulp stories and set the visual template that most people associate with the character today. The art quality varies across the long run, but the early Windsor-Smith issues are genuinely exceptional. A worthwhile companion to the prose originals or a standalone entry point for visual storytelling fans.
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Penguin Classics “Conan the Barbarian” — Best Single-Volume Edition
The Penguin Classics edition collects a curated selection of Howard’s Conan stories in a single volume with an introduction that places Howard’s work in literary and historical context. It is the most prestige-format edition of the Conan stories and the one most likely to be found in libraries and bookstores. Story selection prioritizes the most accessible and self-contained tales rather than attempting completeness, making it the best choice for casual readers who want a taste of Howard’s writing without committing to the full Del Rey three-volume set.
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How to Choose Conan Books
For the most authentic and complete experience, the Del Rey three-volume set is the definitive choice. For casual readers or those uncertain about commitment, the Penguin Classics single volume is a lower-risk starting point. Readers who want to move beyond Howard’s originals into pastiche territory should research specific authors before buying, as quality varies enormously. The Marvel comics collections are a valuable supplementary read but work better as companions to the prose originals than as standalone substitutes. Avoid heavily discounted older paperback editions that contain stories heavily rewritten by later editors.
For related reading, see best fantasy novels for beginners and best sword and sorcery books. Review our product evaluation process at /methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which Conan book should a first-time reader start with?+
New readers should start with the Penguin Classics edition of 'The Conan Chronicles' or the Del Rey 'The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian,' both of which collect original Robert E. Howard stories in chronological order with editorial notes. Avoid starting with the many pastiche novels written by later authors, as Howard's original voice and storytelling style are significantly stronger and define what Conan actually is.
How many original Conan stories did Robert E. Howard actually write?+
Robert E. Howard wrote 21 Conan stories that were published during his lifetime, plus several that were completed posthumously from outlines and fragments. The Del Rey three-volume set collects all the canonical Howard originals. Many additional Conan novels exist by later authors including L. Sprague de Camp, Lin Carter, and Robert Jordan, but these are pastiches and distinct from the Howard originals in quality and tone.