The Lair of the Ice Worm
| "The Lair of the Ice Worm" | |
|---|---|
| Author | L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Conan the Barbarian |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy |
| Published in | Conan of Cimmeria |
| Publication type | Collection |
| Publisher | Lancer Books |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Publication date | 1969 |
"The Lair of the Ice Worm" is a fantasy short story by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian created by Robert E. Howard. It was first published by Lancer Books in the paperback collection Conan of Cimmeria (1969),[1][2] which was reprinted several times, first by Lancer and later by Ace Books through 1993.[3] It has also been published by Sphere Books in the omnibus paperback collection The Conan Chronicles (1989).[4]
Plot summary
Conan the Cimmerian is traveling through the icy wastelands north of his home country, and finds himself protecting a girl he encounters. They take refuge in an ice cave, and after building a small fire, they make love and then sleep. Conan's sharp senses awaken him, and he finds the girl missing. Venturing further into the cave, he finds the girl spellbound by a monster he has heard legend about, an ice worm. The creature's trilling song mesmerizes its prey, leaving them helpless as they are devoured. Conan's iron will allows him to withstand the monster's siren song, and he retreats to his camp to prepare a weapon that can defeat the ice worm. Knowing the worm is a creature of intense cold, he fills his helmet with burning coals and heats his battle axe to red hot temperatures. Quickly returning to rescue the helpless girl, the Cimmerian battles the monster with his heated weapon, but delivers the coup de grace by hurling the red hot helmet down the monsters gullet.
Notes
External links
| Preceded by "The Frost-Giant's Daughter" |
Complete Conan Saga (William Galen Gray chronology) |
Succeeded by Conan the Relentless |