loading . . . A Challenge Worth Smiling About: Tim Waggoner on Writing Conan |
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Tim Waggoner, and his upcoming novel _Conan: Spawn of the Serpent God_ (Titan Books, October 28, 2025)**
On a non-descript day I am intercepted on entering a coffee shop. It turns out to be a happy accident, an old colleague, eager to join me as I wait for my next interview to begin. The distraction is welcome but doesn’t help much. My interviewee isn’t late but they aren’t early either and I’m beginning to get nervous.
“You’re waiting for him, aren’t you?” the friend asks.
Neither of us mentioned his name because we didn’t have to. Some things, in certain contexts, go together like cheese and tortillas. With four Stoker Awards and many great novels to his name, Tim Waggoner has developed that kind of reputation in this part of Ohio. If Massachusetts is Lovecraft Country then downtown Dayton is Waggonerstan.
_[Click the images for Conan-sized versions.]_
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The _Nekropolis_ series by Tim Waggoner: _Nekropolis, Dead Streets_ , and
_Dark War_ (Angry Robot, 2009, 2010, and 2011). Covers by Vincent Chong**
“What’s the interview about?”
I swerve the question because this former colleague is a journalist too. When it comes to what Waggoner has to say about the novel we’ve come to talk about, I’d rather get it in _**Black Gate**_ first. A book the author later estimates is the 62nd or 63rd of his career.
That brief period of forbearance is soon rewarded when Waggoner arrives. I can tell he’s been busy cooking up something special with his new novel. It does not take long before coffee and talk of Conan begins to flow.
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_Old Monsters Never Die: A Story Collection_ by Tim Waggoner
(Winding Road Stories, May 24, 2024). Cover art uncredited**
### A Challenging, Dream Project
Anyone familiar with Waggoner’s literary career knows he’s worn many hats over the years, dipping his proverbial toe in one genre or another. There’s the _**Nekropolis** _series, the fantasy _Blade of the Flame_ novels, and award-winning books on the craft of writing such as _Writing in the Dark_. Even among those massive projects, trilogies, and the travails every writer faces, working on a Conan novel was a special challenge. In fact, that’s exactly why the first time opportunity came knocking he said no.
“My agent told me Titan was doing Conan and asked if I was interested. I just thought there was no way I could do it because it’s not just about Conan but also the world he inhabited. It’s a very realized world with multiple countries. I just didn’t know if I could do it. After saying no the first time, when I was asked again I just had to do it. I said yes and immersed myself in all the Conan stories I could,” Waggoner told me.
That meant diving deep into the lore of the famous barbarian, going back to the original stories and working his way up to Titan’s ongoing series. It’s clear, however, that like many fantasy fans Waggoner was not coming to Conan blind. This certainly wasn’t his first time in the Hyborian Age.
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Marvel Comics _Conan the Barbarian_ , issue #1 (Marvel Comics, October, 1970). Cover by Barry Windsor-Smith**
“Most of my experience with Conan had been with the comics. As a kid I knew him mostly through Marvel Comics. I had the very first issue for years and wish I’d kept it. I don’t know what happened to it. Probably fell apart I read it so often.”
Through cultural osmosis he learned more about the character through films and other comics. But going back to the original well of creativity that spawned one of fantasy’s greatest protagonists taught him a lot that would serve him well during the writing process. He listened to them on audiobook and read them at home. Waggoner also went on to read the King Kull stories, El Borak, and even Solomon Kane. But it was the stories about Conan that were most integral.
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Two Del Rey Robert E. Howard volumes:_Kull: Exile of Atlantis_ , and _El Borak and Other Desert_
_Adventures._ (October 31, 2006, and February 9, 2010). Covers by Justin Sweet, and Jim & Ruth Keegan**
“It really helped me because the one thing I didn’t get in the comics or in the movies is how much a part of the story the setting is,” he said. “It took me forever to get started on it. I couldn’t figure out where to start but eventually it clicked overall. But a big part of it was realizing the setting was a big part of the story.”
Writing the book was an experience Waggoner described as ‘intimidating’. Who can blame him? Even with decades of experience, taking on a character with such a rich history and fans spanning the globe would challenge anyone.
“I had to try and think of what my version of Conan was because no matter what I knew I wouldn’t be able to write his,” said Waggoner in reference to Howard. “Part of what I did is work that out on the page. Here’s this guy who will critique civilization even as he is drawn to it. I asked myself, ‘why does he do that?’”
One aspect of Conan that fascinated Waggoner is his evolution over time, from thief to pirate to mercenary and eventually king. As the author explains, Cimmerians generally don’t travel outside Cimmeria. Finding out where that thirst for adventure came from was integral to understanding the character.
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Two more Del Rey Howards:_The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane_ and
_Bran Mak Morn: The Last King_ (July 2004 and June 2005). Covers by Gary Gianni**
“I did find out that in a letter Robert E. Howard wrote that Conan’s grandfather had traveled some, told him stories as a kid, and that was of what woke that in him. While he (Howard) never wrote it in a story that helped me see where part of that aspect of Conan came from. But part of that is just his nature too,” Waggoner explained.
The novel, according to Waggoner, will show readers two sides of the barbarian with the story focused on Conan’s life at 17 and 32. It’s a two-part story separated by 15 years, which helped the author show the titular character’s growth over time. This can be seen in his natural cursiotiy as a teenage thief as well as in his expansive knowledge of other languages and cultures later on. Conan’s interactions with religion and the origin of his unique sense of chivalry are also touched on in the book.
“That’s because when I write any kind of tie-in like this I try to imagine them as real people. If I’m trying to write about Conan being real then I have to ask myself why does he do these sorts of things and why are they so important to his character?”
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_The Best of Robert E. Howard_ , Volumes 1 & 2: _Crimson Shadows_ and _Grim Lands_
(Del Rey, August 31, 2009 and December 2007). Covers by Jim Keegan and Ruth Keegan**
Its an approach that has worked well in the past and allowed him to touch on a part of Conan a some have missed in the past.
“I think one thing some of the comics and movies miss is that while he (Conan) is dour and grim, that’s not all he is. Howard says in that one description ‘gigantic mirths and gigantic melancholies’. The mirth part you don’t see very much. I tried to put some of that in there. I also tried to show how he had a lot more anger and was quicker to violence at 17 than he was at 32. Over time, he becomes a lot more skilled.”
Of course, given the amount of time left between now and the book’s listed Oct. 27 publication date, things may change and edits might be made. Waggoner admits that some of what he wrote might be edited out though he is hopeful. Midway through the conversation I mention Conan’s connection to Cthulhu and Waggoner’s answer leaves me hopeful too.
“I tried to include some of that too,” he said with a smile.
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_The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard_ and _Sword Woman_ (Del Rey,
July 29, 2008 and January 25, 2011). Covers by Greg Staples and John Watkiss**
Regardless, its clear a ton of work has gone into making the novel as best as it can be. When _Conan: Spawn of the Serpent God_ does come out, it will be a welcome addition to many bookshelves around the world. And if Titan’s release schedule is anything to go by, the beloved sword-wielding warrior shows no signs of slowing down. Conan, its no exaggeration to say, is thriving.
“I think he’s endured so long because he’s the same sort of character, ultimately, as the lone gunslinger or the private eye. He’s the individual that is true to himself and can be himself in whatever society he’s in,” Waggoner said.
But there is one other ingredient the author feels separates Conan from the pack. One so important it leaves other legacy characters like Sam Spade and The Shadow in the dust.
“With Conan his motive ultimately is adventure. It’s living life and experiencing it absolutely to the fullest. You don’t see that in a lot of warrior type characters. You don’t see that in the lone gunslinger. The private eye is usually depressed. Conan, however, I don’t think we even know what happens to him at the end of his life because eventually he tells his son ’you be king, I’m out of here’ and just goes adventuring all over again,” Waggoner said with a laugh.
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_Ismail D. Soldan is an author, journalist, and poet. His work has previously appeared in_ Illustrated Worlds, LatineLit _, and_ The Acentos Review _among other publications. A proud explorer of both real and imagined worlds, his most recently published short story can be read in the January 2025 issue of_ Crimson Quill Quarterly _, and his last article for_**Black Gate** _wasNew Adventures for the World’s Favorite Barbarian._ https://www.blackgate.com/2025/05/11/a-challenge-worth-smiling-about-tim-waggoner-on-writing-conan/
