18-God in the Bowl

About this book

A murdered collector, a locked temple of rarities and a barbarian caught standing over the body. Robert E. Howard's classic sword-and-sorcery tale drops Conan of Cimmeria into the glittering, treacherous city of Numalia in Nemedia. At midnight, watchman Arus finds the corpse of Kallian Publico, the wealthy and feared owner of a vast museum and antique house known as the Temple. Before him stands a towering young stranger with burned brown skin, smouldering blue eyes and a sword at his belt. He admits he came to steal, but swears he did not kill. The city's cold-eyed Inquisitor, Demetrio, must decide whether the Cimmerian is a murderer or merely a thief in the wrong place at the wrong time. Part murder mystery, part dark fantasy, this early adventure shows the young Conan as a thief out of his depth, facing civilised intrigue he barely understands and dangers that are far from ordinary. Howard's vivid prose, shadowy corridors, strange idols and fast pacing make it a rewarding read for fans of the Hyborian Age and pulp adventure. At around 8,000 words it is a quick, atmospheric read, ideal for newcomers and long-time Conan collectors alike. Start reading online instantly in your browser, right after purchase.

Author

Robert E. Howard

Length

~29 pages

Reading time

34 min

Chapters

1

Released

October 24, 2026

Languages

🇬🇧 EN · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇧🇷 PT-BR · 🇲🇽 ES-MX · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇺🇦 UK · 🇨🇿 CS · 🇸🇰 SK · 🇬🇷 EL · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇧🇬 BG · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇷🇸 SR · 🇸🇮 SL · 🇱🇹 LT · 🇱🇻 LV · 🇪🇪 ET · 🇸🇪 SV · 🇩🇰 DA · 🇳🇴 NB · 🇫🇮 FI · 🇯🇵 JA · 🇰🇷 KO · 🇨🇳 ZH · 🇹🇼 ZH-TW · 🇮🇩 ID · 🇻🇳 VI · 🇹🇭 TH · 🇮🇳 HI · 🇸🇦 AR · 🇮🇱 HE

Formats

eBook

Print format

Paperback, 13.5 × 21 cm, 40 pages

Age rating

Teen 13+