Some discoveries change everything. For best-selling author James Lovegrove, it happened in a bookshop, standing before a rack of Conan novels with a book token in hand. 

“It was like, if you’ve been drinking decaffeinated coffee and for the first time in your life, you have actually caffeinated coffee,” he recalls of that first encounter. “It blew my mind.” That moment of literary awakening would echo through decades, eventually leading Lovegrove from eager reader to a literary custodian of Howard’s legacy. 

Now, with “Cult of the Obsidian Moon,” Lovegrove ventures into one of the darkest corners of the Hyborian Age. His tale finds Conan – still haunted by the loss of Belit – facing horrors that would chill even Howard’s blood. 

As part of the ambitious Battle of the Black Stone event, this novel proves that after nearly a century, the Cimmerian’s adventures continue to evolve while remaining true to their savage roots. 

James Lovegrove’s Journey to the Hyborian Age

Like many who would later become devoted followers of the Cimmerian, James Lovegrove’s first encounter with Conan came through Marvel’s comic adaptations in the early 1970s. Yet it was a simple book token – a gift that would prove fateful – that truly opened the gates to Howard’s world. Standing in a bookshop, young Lovegrove found himself face-to-face with the first six Sphere editions of Conan, their covers adorned with Frank Frazetta’s legendary artwork.

“It was partly the Frazetta covers,” Lovegrove recalls, his enthusiasm still palpable decades later. “I mean, they are amazing and they are so evocative and they just drag you in.” Upon opening the pages, Lovegrove discovered something transformative. “I tore straight through them,” he admits, describing an experience that would shape his literary journey.

That initial collection grew steadily over the years. Today, Lovegrove’s shelves hold editions stretching all the way to number thirty, including the later Robert Jordan entries – treasured artifacts he “wouldn’t part with for anything.” The combined impact of Frazetta’s visceral artistry and Howard’s prose left an indelible mark that would ultimately guide Lovegrove’s own creative path.

After establishing himself as an author with “probably about 20 books” published through Titan Books, Lovegrove’s opportunity to contribute to the Conan legacy finally materialized. Yet with this dream come true came the weight of responsibility. “I approached it with trepidation,” he confesses, acknowledging the passionate investment of Howard’s fanbase. “Robert E Howard fans are incredibly passionate about Conan and all the other characters and they’re not shy in telling you what they think about what you’ve done.”

This deep respect for both the source material and its devoted followers would prove essential as Lovegrove ventured into the perilous territory of crafting his own tale set in the Hyborian Age – a story that would need to balance reverence for Howard’s creation with the dark and deadly challenges awaiting the Cimmerian in the Rotlands.

Crafting “Cult of the Obsidian Moon”

Deep within Howard’s Hyborian Age lies a new realm of terror: the Rotlands, a landscape where death lurks in every shadow. This hostile environment, where “all the flora and fauna basically want to kill you,” draws inspiration from diverse sources – from the deadly reputation of Australia’s wilderness to the otherworldly horrors of Jeff Vandermeer’s Area X and Harry Harrison’s Death World series. Yet its most profound influence stems from Lovecraft’s “The Colour Out of Space,” where cosmic corruption transforms the very earth itself into an instrument of horror.

At the heart of this lethal expanse stands Ghut, a city forgotten by time. “It’s one of those sort cities where it’s been isolated for decades, possibly centuries,” Lovegrove explains, describing a metropolis whose isolation has bred both physical and social decay through generations of inbreeding. Like the infamous city in Howard’s “Red Nails,” Ghut serves as a monument to civilization’s inevitable corruption when cut off from the world.

The Rotlands presents a challenge even for Conan – a landscape where supernatural horror meets primal survival. Yet within this deadly setting, Lovegrove crafts a deeply personal journey for Howard’s legendary barbarian. Set mere months after “Queen of the Black Coast” in Shem – Belit’s homeland – we find a Conan marked by loss but unconquered by it. “He is still in mourning, he’s kind of in shock,” Lovegrove reveals. “It hasn’t stopped him drinking and wenching and still being Conan, but he does it with a certain amount of melancholy.”

While “the mourning for Belit thing has been done quite a lot,” Lovegrove approaches this vulnerable period in Conan’s life with fresh eyes. Rather than simply depicting grief, he explores how a warrior driven by “a dread of dullness” processes loss. “He was never more alive than when at risk of death,” Lovegrove observes, setting the stage for a tale where personal healing and mortal peril intertwine. Into this complex emotional landscape steps Hunwulf and his family, whose presence forces Conan to confront not only external threats but the very nature of human connection in a world where death walks in many forms.

How ‘Cult of the Obsidian Moon’ Expands the Howardverse

While “Cult of the Obsidian Moon” stands firmly as a compelling Conan adventure, beneath its surface runs a deeper current connecting it to the larger, acclaimed Battle of the Black Stone event. “[What] I wanted to do was write what appears to be a straight Conan adventure,” Lovegrove explains, “but nonetheless has references and things that tie in to the Black Stone event.” This connection manifests most intriguingly through the integration of James Allison, a character whose ability to recall past lives serves as both framing device and narrative bridge.

Through Allison’s unique perspective emerges Hunwulf, a character first introduced in Howard’s “The Garden of Fear.” The parallels between Hunwulf and Conan’s experiences prove haunting – particularly in their encounters with winged monstrosities. “When you’re talking about the winged monsters,” Lovegrove notes, “Belit’s just been killed by a winged monster and Hunwulf encounters a winged monster.” This symmetry isn’t coincidence but rather, as Lovegrove suggests, “the workings of fate… this is what’s brought the two men together almost.”

The mystical elements extend beyond monster-slaying. Hunwulf possesses not only the ability to glimpse his past lives but also demonstrates precognitive gambling abilities – powers that echo the corrupting influence of the Black Stone itself. This supernatural thread weaves seamlessly into Howard’s broader mythology while expanding its boundaries.

The approach extends to characterization as well. “People often make the mistake of thinking that [Conan] just like thumps people,” Lovegrove points out. “He doesn’t. He analyses situations.” This attention to character depth carries through to the introduction of Hunwulf’s family unit – Gudrun and Bjorn – adding contemporary resonance to Howard’s traditional themes.

Perhaps most fascinating is how the story draws upon the real-life relationship between Howard and Lovecraft. Though “they weren’t friends,” but rather “long-standing correspondents,” their creative exchange – “Howard is a romantic and Lovecraft is a rationalist” – influenced both writers’ works. Howard’s contributions to the Cthulhu mythos through stories like “Children of the Night” and “Worms of the Earth” demonstrate this cross-pollination, which Lovegrove honors in his own fusion of sword and sorcery with cosmic horror.

Read “Cult of the Obsidian Moon” Today!

Lovegrove’s passion for the Hyborian Age radiates through every page of “Cult of the Obsidian Moon” – a novel written in a mere six weeks of creative fever. “I was so thrilled to get the opportunity,” he shares, “and I was so thrilled to do something that I probably wanted to do since I was about 10 or 11 years old.” This lifelong devotion to Howard’s creation transforms what could have been simply another Conan tale into something far more profound.

The novel’s dual nature proves one of its greatest strengths. “First and foremost, I just want them to read it as a straight Conan story,” Lovegrove emphasizes. Yet he quickly adds, “Beyond that, if you know the Battle of the Black Stone story, and if you’re not reading them, why aren’t you reading them? Because they’re amazing.” This ensures both newcomers and longtime fans will find something compelling within its pages – a testament to how carefully Lovegrove has woven his contribution into Howard’s corpus of work.

His enthusiasm hasn’t dimmed with completion. “I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more,” Lovegrove admits, and this joy has sparked further ambitions. With four additional Conan stories already pitched and dreams of tackling both El Borak and Solomon Kane tales, Lovegrove’s vision extends far beyond the Rotlands. “I pray to Crom that I’m going to get a chance to have another go at some point,” he says.

For now, “Cult of the Obsidian Moon” stands as proof that Howard’s creation remains as vital as ever. In its pages, readers will find not just adventure and horror, but a reminder of why Conan’s world continues to captivate generations of fans, including those who dream of someday adding their own chapters to the legend.

Ready to venture into the Rotlands with Conan? “Cult of the Obsidian Moon” hits shelves on November 19, but you can secure your copy today.