This book sees Conan's naivety come to light. He's interacting with "civilized man" and quickly learning their customs and ways of everyday life. It's all new to him and he makes some missteps along the way. He can't interact with these city-dwellers in the same way he interacted with his own townspeople. It doesn't take long to realize that civilization is sketchy as fuck.
There's a decent amount of Howard's social commentary on Barbarism vs. Civilization in this book. I really enjoy the way each story has its own personality and own point of view. Howard didn't just change the monster and change the wench and call it a new story, he changed perspective, too. And that's important for sustaining interest.
The Tower of the Elephant is a particularly good story. Lots of magic and fantasy. It's also depressing from an animal rights perspective, but retribution is delivered to those who deserve it, so it all works out in the end.
Lots of good lookin' ladies in this book. Conan's never short of a fine pair of breasts when he needs them. And of course, more gratuitous decapitation (which seems to be Conan's preferred method of dispatching his foes).
Another great book in a long line of great books about Conan the Cimmerian.
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