The sweeping and thrilling novel about the world's most beloved swordsman: Conan the Barbarian. First published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales, The Hour of the Dragon, also known as "Conan the Conqueror," is Robert E. Howard's only full-length novel featuring Conan the Barbarian. It is considered by many to be one of the author's best works. During Conan's reign as King of Aquilonia, a group of conspirators plot to depose him in favor of Valerius, heir to Conan's predecessor, Numedides, whom the swordsman had slain to gain the throne. To accomplish their goal they resort to resurrecting Xaltotun, an ancient sorcerer from the pre-Hyborian empire of Acheron. With Xaltotun's aid, the Aquilonian army is defeated by that of the rival kingdom and occupied. Conan is captured and slated for execution—until the slave girl Zenobia risks her life to free him. Now, Conan's quest will take him across the lands of Hyboria. The Hour of the Dragon is a testament to a writer who has been coined the inventor of the sword and sorcery genre. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.