The Phoenix on the Sword Contents Plot summary Adaptation See also References External links Navigation menuConan the Barbarian Annual #2The Phoenix on the SwordConan the Barbarian at AmratheLion.comConan.com: The Official Websiteee
Conan (books)Beyond the Black RiverBlack ColossusThe Black StrangerCimmeriaThe Devil in IronDrums of TombalkuThe Frost-Giant's DaughterThe God in the BowlThe Hall of the DeadThe Hand of NergalThe Hour of the DragonJewels of GwahlurThe People of the Black CircleThe Phoenix on the SwordThe Pool of the Black OneQueen of the Black CoastRed NailsRogues in the HouseThe Scarlet CitadelShadows in the MoonlightShadows in ZamboulaThe Slithering ShadowThe Snout in the DarkThe Tower of the ElephantThe Vale of Lost WomenA Witch Shall be BornWolves Beyond the BorderBlack Sphinx of NebthuBlack TearsThe Blood-Stained GodThe Castle of TerrorThe City of SkullsConan and the AmazonConan and the Death Lord of ThanzaConan and the Emerald LotusConan and the Gods of the MountainConan and the Grim Grey GodConan and the ManhuntersConan and the Mists of DoomConan and the Shaman's CurseConan and the SorcererConan and the Spider GodConan and the Treasure of PythonConan at the Demon's GateConan, Lord of the Black RiverConan of the IslesConan of the Red BrotherhoodConan of VenariumConan, Scourge of the Bloody CoastConan the BarbarianConan the BarbarianConan the BoldConan the BuccaneerConan the ChampionConan the DefenderConan the DefiantConan the DestroyerConan the FearlessConan the FormidableConan the Free LanceConan the GladiatorConan the GreatConan the GuardianConan the HeroConan the HunterConan the IndomitableConan the InvincibleConan the LiberatorConan the MagnificentConan the MarauderConan the MercenaryConan the OutcastConan the RaiderConan the RebelConan the RelentlessConan the RenegadeConan the RogueConan the SavageConan the TriumphantConan the UnconqueredConan the ValiantConan the ValorousConan the VictoriousConan the WarlordThe Curse of the MonolithDeath-Song of Conan the CimmerianThe Flame KnifeThe Gem in the TowerHawks over ShemThe Ivory GoddessThe Lair of the Ice WormLegions of the DeadMoon of BloodThe People of the SummitRed Moon of ZembabweiThe Return of ConanThe Road of KingsThe Road of the EaglesShadows in the DarkShadows in the SkullThe Star of KhoralaThe Sword of SkelosThe Thing in the CryptThe Witch of the MistsBlack ColossusThe Bloody Crown of ConanThe Coming of ConanThe Coming of Conan the CimmerianThe Complete Chronicles of ConanConanThe Conan ChroniclesThe Conan ChroniclesThe Conan Chronicles, 1The Conan Chronicles 2The Conan Chronicles, 2The Conan Chronicles IIConan of AquiloniaConan of CimmeriaConan the AdventurerConan the AvengerConan the BarbarianConan the BarbarianConan the FreebooterConan the SwordsmanConan the UsurperConan the WandererConan the WarriorThe Conquering Sword of ConanThe Devil in IronThe Essential ConanThe Further Chronicles of ConanJewels of GwahlurKing ConanThe People of the Black CircleThe Pool of the Black OneQueen of the Black CoastRed NailsRogues in the HouseSagas of ConanThe Sword of ConanTales of ConanThe Tower of the ElephantThe Treasure of TranicosThe Blade of ConanThe Conan GrimoireThe Conan ReaderThe Conan SwordbookThe Spell of ConanRobert E. HowardPoul AndersonLeonard CarpenterLin CarterL. Sprague de CampRoland J. GreenJohn C. HockingRobert JordanSean A. MooreBjörn NybergAndrew J. OffuttSteve PerryJohn Maddox RobertsMichael A. StackpoleRoy ThomasHarry TurtledoveKarl Edward WagnerConan the Adventurer (animated series)Conan and the Young WarriorsConan the Adventurer (TV series)Conan the BarbarianConan the DestroyerKull the ConquerorConan the BarbarianConan (comics)Conan (Marvel Comics)Conan (Dark Horse Comics)Conan the BarbarianSavage Sword of ConanConan Unchained!Conan Against Darkness!Conan: Hall of VoltaConan Role-Playing GameGURPS ConanConan: The Mysteries of TimeConan (2004)Conan: The Roleplaying GameConan Collectible Card GameConan (2007)Age of ConanRise of the GodslayerConan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed OfConan ExilesBêlitConan the BarbarianKulan GathQueen TaramisRed SonjaSerpent MenThoth-AmonThulsa DoomValeriaVammatarXaltotunZenobiaCromMitraSetHyborian AgeAquiloniaCimmeriaAcheron EmpireThe Hyborian AgeConan chronologiesThurian AgeThe Shadow of the VultureCohen the BarbarianConan the LibrarianBy This Axe I Rule!Exile of AtlantisThe Mirrors of Tuzun ThuneThe Shadow KingdomKing KullKull the Conqueror
1932 short storiesConan the Barbarian stories by Robert E. HowardPulp storiesHorror short storiesFantasy short storiesWorks originally published in Weird Tales
short storiesConan the CimmerianRobert E. HowardKullBy This Axe I Rule!Gnome PressLancer BooksGollanczDel ReyHyborian AgeAquiloniaThoth-AmonphoenixMitraRoy Thomas
The Phoenix on the Sword
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| "The Phoenix on the Sword" | |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert E. Howard |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Conan the Cimmerian |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy |
| Published in | Weird Tales |
| Publication type | Pulp magazine |
| Publisher | Rural Publishing Corporation |
| Publication date | December 1932 |
| Followed by | "The Scarlet Citadel" |
"The Phoenix on the Sword" is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard, and first published in Weird Tales magazine, in December, 1932. The tale, in which Howard created the character of Conan, was a rewrite of the unpublished Kull story, "By This Axe I Rule!", with long passages being identical. The Conan version of the story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Usurper (Lancer Books, 1967). It has most recently been republished in the collections The Conan Chronicles Volume 2: The Hour of the Dragon (Gollancz, 2001) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933) (Del Rey, 2003). It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and details Conan foiling a nefarious plot to unseat him as king of Aquilonia.
It is noteworthy that the very first Conan story depicts him as a king - which means that when writing later stories placed earlier in Conan's life, as a thief, pirate, mercenary etc., Howard (and his readers) already knew that the character was ultimately destined to become a king.
Contents
1 Plot summary
2 Adaptation
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
Plot summary
Letter from Farnsworth Wright, editor of Weird Tales, to Robert E. Howard
"The Phoenix on the Sword" begins with a middle-aged Conan of Cimmeria attempting to govern the turbulent kingdom of Aquilonia.
Conan has recently seized the crown of Aquilonia from King Numedides after he strangled the tyrant upon his throne. However, his rule over Aqualonia is nonexistent, as Conan is more suited in swinging his broadsword than signing official documents with a stylus. The citizens of Aquilonia, who originally welcomed Conan as their liberator from Numedides' tyranny, have gradually turned against him due to his foreign Cimmerian blood. They have constructed a statue to Numedides' memory in the temple of Mitra, and priest burn incenses before their slain king, hailing it as the holy effigy of a saintly monarch who was done to death by a red-handed barbarian.
Desiring to give the Aquilonian crown to someone of royal blood, a daring band known as the Rebel Four is formed: Volmana, the dwarfish count of Karaban; Gromel, the giant commander of the Black Legion; Dion, the fat baron of Attalus; and Rinaldo, the hare-brained minstrel. The Rebel Four recruit the services of a southern outlaw named Ascalante. However, in secret, Ascalante plans on betraying his employers and claiming the crown for himself.
Ascalante has a slave named Thoth-Amon, formerly a powerful Stygian wizard, who has fallen on hard times since he lost a mystical ring. A thief had stolen his ring and left Thoth-Amon defenseless, forcing him to flee from Stygia. Disguised as a camel-driver, he was waylaid in Koth by Ascalante's reavers. While the rest of his caravan was slaughtered, Thoth-Amon saved himself by revealing his identity and swearing to serve Ascalante.
The story revolves around the conspirator's attempt in assassinating King Conan when he is unprepared and defenseles. However, two unforeseen events ultimately thwart their plan. Conan is forewarned of an impending coup by the arrival of a long-dead sage named Epemitreus, who marks Conan's sword with a mystical phoenix representing Mitra, a Hyborian god. Meanwhile, Thoth-Amon murders Dion and recovers his lost ring of power, while summoning a fanged ape-like demon into slaying Ascalante. Conan slays the three remaining members of the Rebel Four, breaking his sword upon the helm of Gromel and using a battle-axe against the rest of his would-be assassins. Conan hesitates to kill Rinaldo, whose songs once deeply touched the King's heart - a scruple which costs Conan dearly, as Rinaldo manages to stab him before being finally killed.
Ascalante, seeing his goal within reach, moves to finish off the wounded king. But before Ascalante can strike, he is set upon and killed by Thoth-Amon's demon, which is then slain by Conan with the shard of his enchanted sword.
Adaptation
The story was adapted by writer Roy Thomas and artists Vicente Alcázar & Yong Montano in Conan the Barbarian Annual #2 (1976).[1]
See also
- Robert E. Howard bibliography
References
^ Conan the Barbarian Annual #2 at the Grand Comics Database
External links
 | Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Phoenix on the Sword |
The Phoenix on the Sword at Project Gutenberg Australia- Conan the Barbarian at AmratheLion.com
- Conan.com: The Official Website
| Preceded by none | Original Howard Canon (publication order) | Succeeded by "The Scarlet Citadel" |
| Preceded by "Wolves Beyond the Border" | Original Howard Canon (Dale Rippke chronology) | Succeeded by "The Scarlet Citadel" |
| Preceded by Conan the Liberator | Complete Conan Saga (William Galen Gray chronology) | Succeeded by "The Scarlet Citadel" |
Categories:
- 1932 short stories
- Conan the Barbarian stories by Robert E. Howard
- Pulp stories
- Horror short stories
- Fantasy short stories
- Works originally published in Weird Tales
(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function()mw.config.set("wgPageParseReport":"limitreport":"cputime":"0.176","walltime":"0.249","ppvisitednodes":"value":1383,"limit":1000000,"ppgeneratednodes":"value":0,"limit":1500000,"postexpandincludesize":"value":91520,"limit":2097152,"templateargumentsize":"value":1083,"limit":2097152,"expansiondepth":"value":8,"limit":40,"expensivefunctioncount":"value":1,"limit":500,"unstrip-depth":"value":0,"limit":20,"unstrip-size":"value":432,"limit":5000000,"entityaccesscount":"value":0,"limit":400,"timingprofile":["100.00% 151.130 1 -total"," 23.88% 36.090 1 Template:Infobox_short_story"," 23.32% 35.240 1 Template:Conan"," 20.84% 31.490 1 Template:Infobox"," 20.65% 31.203 1 Template:Navbox_with_collapsible_groups"," 10.26% 15.509 3 Template:S-bef"," 9.56% 14.452 1 Template:Wikisource"," 9.09% 13.738 6 Template:Navbox"," 7.77% 11.745 1 Template:Sister_project"," 7.15% 10.813 1 Template:Reflist"],"scribunto":"limitreport-timeusage":"value":"0.040","limit":"10.000","limitreport-memusage":"value":2337582,"limit":52428800,"cachereport":"origin":"mw1324","timestamp":"20190529113414","ttl":2592000,"transientcontent":false););"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","name":"The Phoenix on the Sword","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phoenix_on_the_Sword","sameAs":"http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2512207","mainEntity":"http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2512207","author":"@type":"Organization","name":"Contributors to Wikimedia projects","publisher":"@type":"Organization","name":"Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.","logo":"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.wikimedia.org/static/images/wmf-hor-googpub.png","datePublished":"2005-07-19T12:52:41Z","dateModified":"2018-12-05T23:43:47Z","headline":"Conan novelette by Robert E. Howard"(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function()mw.config.set("wgBackendResponseTime":385,"wgHostname":"mw1324"););
