The People of the Black Circle

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

42259

Title

The People of the Black Circle

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this swashbuckling fantasy, Conan the Cimmerian rescends the princess of Vendhya from sorcerous clutches in the treacherous Himelian mountains. Facing ancient wizards and tribal warfare, Conan must navigate cosmic magic and political intrigue to save his new ally and reclaim his honor among the barbarian tribes.

Summary up to 500 words

In Robert E. Howard's "The People of the Black Circle," the narrative begins with the mysterious death of the King of Vendhya. His soul is being dragged by Himelian wizards to be trapped in a demon's body, a necromancy ritual dictated by the cosmic alignment of the stars. The princess, Yasmina, and her wazam are helpless against this sorcery. Meanwhile, Conan, a barbarian chief from the Cimmerian hills, guards seven captured Afghulis at the border fortress of Peshkhauri. When Yasmina arrives at the fortress, she is drawn into the conflict, seeking to raise a following of human beings rather than war with wizards. Conan and Yasmina venture into the dangerous Himelian peaks, encountering Khemsa, a sorcerer serving the Black Seers of Yimsha. Khemsa attempts to use hypnotic magic to control Conan, but the Cimmerian's alien heritage renders him immune to the mesmerist's influence. However, Khemsa's masters, four Rakhshas, appear and threaten to destroy him unless he surrenders his love for Gitara. The Rakhshas use magic to torment Gitara, causing her to fall to her death. This tragedy breaks Khemsa's will; the ledge collapses, and Khemsa falls to his death. Conan and Yasmina escape the subsequent magical assault. Later, Conan and Yasmina are ambushed by Turanian forces hunting Conan. As the Turanians trap Conan's Afghulis in a gorge, the Vendhyan army arrives to aid Conan. Conan fights his way through the melee, reuniting his men with the Vendhyans. Together, they defeat the Turanians. The story concludes with Conan and Yasmina reconciling. Conan declares his loyalty to her despite his barbarian nature, rejecting the constraints of civilized customs. He asserts that he desires her as a woman of flesh and blood, not a queen bound by throne and court, promising to lead her into the steppes if necessary. The tale highlights themes of sorcery versus barbaric resilience, the power of love against dark magic, and the clash between civilized law and the lawless freedom of the hills.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction