One of the themes that Robert E. Howard returns to again and again in his Conan tales, is the idea that civilization is a temporary thing that must be wiped out by barbarianism.
That's nonsense, even in his own writing.
Conan on the other hand?
Well, as the protagonist, even when he should be dead multiple times over from a wide variety of sources, he changes the tide and sets the course.
If barbarianism had been the superior way, Conan would've died multiple times over because as often as he's written in the bowels of deep civilization, he's also against those with whom he shares more in common.
And because he's the protagonist, he's better at almost every single thing they do than they are.
Conan is a Cimmerian. It's hill country.
Try telling that to the dozens if not hundreds of Picts Conan has killed. Doesn't matter if he's ambushing them in the woods, his own hunting and woodcraft far outstripping 'barbarians' whose lifestyle Conan is emulating, or just outrunning them over open terrain and avoiding them shooting at him as he's climbing up a ledge and casually pulling arrows out of his legs.
It doesn't matter if he's on the frozen plains fighting against the Vanir. He's better than the Vanir at everything they do.
It doesn't matter if he's a Pirate off the coast and raiding countries that no civilized people even know about when he's fighting with and for the Kushites.
Barbarianism isn't the answer to civilization.
It's Conan.
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