This is my complete audiobook narration of The Pool of the Black One — a high-seas Conan adventure written by Robert E. Howard and first published shooter in Weird Tales in October 1933.
In this tale, Conan finds himself among pirates in the Western Ocean, only to stumble upon an uncharted island that hides something far older and more terrible than mere treasure. What begins as a raid for plunder quickly becomes a descent into jungle-shrouded horror, as the crew discovers a strange black pool — and the grotesque beings connected to it.
Unlike some of Conan’s more political or sorcery-heavy adventures, The Pool of the Black One leans into raw pulp atmosphere: lost islands, mutated horrors, and the kind of creeping dread that feels almost Lovecraftian in tone. The story carries the briny taste of sea spray and the oppressive humidity of unexplored lands — and beneath it all, the sense that humanity has intruded upon something not meant for mortal hands.
This is classic sword-and-sorcery fused with weird horror, showcasing Howard’s ability to blend savage action with unsettling mystery.
With its steady pacing and immersive setting, this narration is both an exhilarating pulp adventure and a great audiobook to fall asleep to — if you don’t mind drifting into dreams of cubs vs braves dark waters and watching eyes beneath the surface.
Author: Robert E. Howard (1933)
First publication: Weird Tales, October 1933
Narration/Adaptation: Kristof Fruru (Miniature Mythos)
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The ocean hides many things.
Some treasures are best left beneath evan gold the surface.
Enter The Pool of the Black One.
