LEGIONS OF THE DEAD

"Legions of the Dead" is a Conan short story written by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter (possibly along with de Camp's wife, Catherine Crook de Camp, who herself was also a sci-fi and fantasy author, having gone uncredited) which was first published in Conan the Swordsman in 1978. This is the first pastiche I've read for the chronology- the first of several authors writing as though they were Howard. In addition to de Camp and Carter's short story, I also re-read the Roy Thomas adaption in Savage Sword #39, published one year later. The cover art for that issue, by Earl Norem, is also the excellent cover for volume 4. 

In terms of the chronology of Conan's life, the way this story is written feels like it might belong prior to "The Frost-Giant's Daughter," but there are some problems with that. Conan seems even younger in his characterization here than he does in that story, and is explicitly treated as a subordinate youth by the older members of the Aesir raiders he's with in the narrative. He is explicitly referred to as "the boy." Additionally, though, there's another text that makes me think this story was at least intended to be the first Conan tale chronologically.  The very beginning of "The Thing in the Crypt," which is a direct sequel to "Legions of the Dead," begins with a short recap of Conan's life up to that point. It mentions only a few events, none of which are the plot of "The Frost-Giant's Daughter." It lists Conan's birth and the fact that he was a "fighter" before he was even 15, the siege of an Aquilonian outpost at Venarium, Conan's return to Cimmeria, and then joining with the Aesir raiders with whom he spends this story. 

The major problem with placing "Front-Giant" after "Legions" and its direct sequel, "The Thing in the Crypt," is that Conan ends that last story by heading south, probably to Zamora, where the the period of his life usually referred to as "the thief stories" begins. With that in mind, I suppose "Frost-Giant" has to take place prior to this story, and the prologue simply fails to mention it.

Conan is hunting with the Aesir (or Æsir if you want to be really exact) raider led by Njal at the beginning of this story up in Asgard (spelled "Aesgard" sometimes), following the kidnapping of 30 of Njal's best hunters, including his daughter, Rann. At the castle Haloga, Njal, Conan, and the others see the bodies of their party members strung up, dead.

Conan, not fully the hero we're used to him being, is still a very skilled young person and in his brashness, sets out alone to rescue Rann in the middle of the night. The castle is watched over by Vammatar the Cruel, a villain I wish we got to see a little more of. She does command her undead hordes herself, which is fun, but she doesn't get to take up much space on the page. She definitely falls into a trope I've seen in what feels like every other Conan story: a beautiful but evil witch. The vast majority of women characters in Conan stories either fit that description or the damsel princess in distress, with a few exceptions like everyone's favorite pirate queen, Bêlit. 

Speaking of women bucking the stereotype given to them, Rann is a fun character, and a capable sword wielder. She was very exciting for a brief moment before Conan literally picks her up against her will to carry her away. 

The battle that ensues between the Aesir raiders and Vammatar's legions of the dead is pretty fun, mostly as Conan and the Aesir hack away to their astonishment that the zombies keep shambling forth. It's not quite as fun as the first half of the story in which Conan sneaks into Haloga and breaks Rann out. In the end, Conan trades his freedom for Rann's and ends up in the clutches of Vammatar, which is just a little before where "The Thing in the Crypt" will pick up the story. ​

I really dig the art in the Savage Sword adaption done by Sal Buscema. Sal is the brother of John Buscema, who is one of the greatest Marvel artists to ever do it.

"Legions of the Dead" is a fun story, and I can see someone listing it as the first chronological story. I like the villain and I'm pretty much always a fan of zombies showing up, but honestly, I prefer to read about an older, more experienced Conan, so I wouldn't put this up there with my favorites. Additionally, it feels like there were some missed opportunities. When Conan sneaks into the castle, he does so pretty much unopposed, going straight to Rann and rescuing her easily. I know Vammatar saw the whole thing and sends the legions of zombies after them, but it would have been nice to have a little more action during the rescue mission. 

I'm assigning star ratings out of five over on the progress page, and I'm giving this one a three-star review. By my meaning, three stars means I enjoyed it but that it might not be anything special. Four stars is really great, and I'm trying to save five-star reviews for the absolute best of the bunch.

​"The Thing in the Crypt" is next!

​★★★☆☆