THE CHRONOLOGY
There are several competing chronologies that try to map out the life of Conan the Barbarian. There's a great Wikipedia page for it. Most of them have some similarities, but they also disagree on the placement (or even inclusion) of other stories. I have and continue to read as many Conan stories as I can- blogging about them and placing them in an attempt at timeline order.
Below is my current, full chronology in which I've placed every story I've read, regardless of author. I've broken Conan's life into sections based on common activities he's doing during that period, since the stories naturally fit into a few periods.
I'd recommend reading this post I wrote when I finished my initial chronology to help explain certain placements. Click on a story's title to be taken to its post. I also placed every issue of Savage Sword into chronological order! Read that here.
Below is my current, full chronology in which I've placed every story I've read, regardless of author. I've broken Conan's life into sections based on common activities he's doing during that period, since the stories naturally fit into a few periods.
I'd recommend reading this post I wrote when I finished my initial chronology to help explain certain placements. Click on a story's title to be taken to its post. I also placed every issue of Savage Sword into chronological order! Read that here.
1. The Hyborian Age (essay)
2. Cimmeria (poem)
Conan of Cimmeria
These stories comprise Conan's early days after leaving Cimmeria.
3. The Frost-Giant's Daughter - ★★★★☆
4. Legions of the Dead - ★★★☆☆
5. The Thing in the Crypt - ★★★★☆
6. Lethal Consignment - ★★★☆☆
Conan the Thief
These stories comprise Conan's thief period. He is young, penniless, and new to civilization.
7. The God in the Bowl - ★★★☆☆
8. Rogues in the House - ★★★★★
9. The Tower of the Elephant - ★★★★★
10. Spawn of the Serpent God - ★★☆☆☆
11. Conan and the Sorcerer - ★★★★☆
12. The Horn of Azoth - ★★★☆☆
13. The Hall of the Dead - ★★★★☆
14. Conan the Reaver - ★★★☆☆
Conan the Mercenary
These stories comprise Conan's mercenary period for the empire of Turan.
15. The Hand of Nergal - ★★★☆☆
16. The City of Skulls - ★★☆☆☆
17. The People of the Summit - ★★★★☆
18. The Curse of the Monolith - ★★★☆☆
19. Conan and the Spider God - ★★★★☆
20. The Blood-Stained God - ★★★★☆
21. The Lair of the Ice Worm - ★★☆☆☆
Conan the Privateer
These stories comprise Conan's first pirate period which takes him far to the south. He then acts as a mercenary, gradually working his way back north.
22. Queen of the Black Coast - ★★★★★
23. Terror from the Abyss - ★★★☆☆
24. The Vale of Lost Women - ★☆☆☆☆
25. The Castle of Terror - ★★☆☆☆
26. The Snout in the Dark - ★★★☆☆
Conan of the Meadowlands
These stories comprise Conan's time in the middle of the Hyborian Age map, spending some time in Shem and northern Stygia.
27. Conan and the Emerald Lotus - ★★★★☆
28. Black Starlight - ★★★★☆
29. Conan and the Living Plague - ★★★★☆
30. Cult of the Obsidian Moon - ★★★☆☆
31. Hawks Over Shem - ★★★☆☆
32. Black Colossus - ★★★★★
33. Shadows in the Dark - ★★★★☆
Conan the Raider
These stories comprise Conan's time as a kozaki: his second pirate period and his time as a Zuagir raider in the desert.
34. The Road of Kings - ★★★☆☆
35. The Skull of Set - ★★★★☆
36. Iron Shadows in the Moon - ★★☆☆☆
37. The Ravagers Out of Time - ★★★☆☆
38. The Road of the Eagles - ★★★★☆
39. A Witch Shall Be Born - ★★★☆☆
40. Black Tears - ★★★☆☆
41. Shadows in Zamboula - ★☆☆☆☆
42. The Star of Khorala - ★★★★☆
43. The Witch Queen of Acheron - ★★☆☆☆
Conan the Commander
These stories comprise Conan's time commanding in the military and outlaw groups.
44. Xuthal of the Dusk - ★★★☆☆
45. Drums of Tombalku - ★★☆☆☆
46. The Child - ★★★☆☆
47. The Devil in Iron - ★★★☆☆
48. The Shadow of Vengeance - ★★★★☆
49. The Flame Knife - ★★★★☆
50. The People of the Black Circle - ★★★★★
Conan the Buccaneer
These stories comprise Conan's third pirate period and the other stories that say in the text Conan is recently of his Barachan pirate crew.
51. The Gem in the Tower - ★★★☆☆
52. The Pool of the Black One - ★★★☆☆
53. Conan the Buccaneer - ★★★☆☆
54. Red Nails - ★★★★★
55. Jewels of Gwahlur - ★★★☆☆
56. The Ivory Goddess - ★★☆☆☆
57. The Halls of Immortal Darkness - ★★★★★
58. Lord of the Mount - ★★★☆☆
Conan of Aquilonia
These stories comprise Conan's time in Aquilonia, from a simple scout in the wilderness to becoming king.
59. Beyond the Black River - ★★★★★
60. Moon of Blood - ★★☆☆☆
61. The Treasure of Tranicos - ★★★★★
62. Wolves Beyond the Border - ★★☆☆☆
63. Conan the Liberator - ★★☆☆☆
King Conan
These stories comprise Conan's first few years as king of Aquilonia.
64. The Phoenix on the Sword - ★★★★☆
65. The Scarlet Citadel - ★★★★☆
66. The Hour of the Dragon - ★★★☆☆
67. The Return of Conan - ★☆☆☆☆
68. Songs of the Slain - ★★☆☆☆
Old Man Conan
These stories comprise Conan's later kingship after a time skip of around 15 years. It includes his abdication of the throne of Aquilonia, to his disappearance over the western ocean, and his implied death.
69. The Witch of the Mists - ★★☆☆☆
70. Black Sphinx of Nebthu - ★☆☆☆☆
71. Red Moon of Zembabwei - ★★☆☆☆
72. Shadows in the Skull - ★★☆☆☆
73. Conan of the Isles - ★★★☆☆
74. Death-Song of Conan the Cimmerian (poem)
Below is the chronology with chronological notes for each of the stories as to their placement. Obviously, I go into a lot more detail in their individual posts.