20 MORE First Lines From Fantasy Books RANKED | 2 To Ramble #90

[@2ToRamble]

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[@francesccampos1343]

"Ash fell from the sky" It is a great first line imo because it sets the tone and the mistery of the series: -Why is ash falling from the sky? -Did something bad happen? -Certainly the tone of the book must be dark since it paints a very depresive picture as the starting point. In just 5 words Sanderson has set the mood of a 3 book saga, it is not a generic sentence, it is not a long descriptive exposition and yet it transmits so much.

[@mmker9772]

Agreed. Mistborn 1 isn’t perfect but the first line’s definitely not F tier imo and is honestly a great start as it already is. Had he made it more descriptive it would’ve probably been overbearing tbh.

[@ctom42]

Agreed, that line does much more for me than the Name of the Wind one. And getting the full page for Name of the Wind only knocked it down lower. Sometimes less is more.

[@mizutsunesbubbles]

It’s good but it’s not the best lol

[@FatherNovelty]

The paragraph to follow is what makes this good, you realize raining ash is as mundane as raining water for us.

[@SJisReading]

I couldn't get behind them thinking it was a bad line. It *immediately* drew me in

[@ZonathaN_611]

Interestingly enough, the first lines from the next two Mistborn books are the one that really stood out to me. "I write these words in steel, for anything not set in metal cannot be trusted" and "I am, unfortunately, the Hero of Ages."

[@koboldmartian4063]

To add to the Terry Goodkind narrative (and Austin, you will love this), Sanderson is quite critical and has openly spoken about his thoughts on Goodkind. I don't remember all the details, but Sanderson has a story where he wrote a fun little crossover arena battle royale scenario where he takes all the famous fantasy authors, and their characters and put them up against each other. It was silly and not serious and all the authors loved it. In it, he made a joke that a Terry Goodkind's character pops in but immediately, vanishes because "Terry Goodkind doesn't write fantasy" therefor he isn't supposed to be in the fantasy battle royale. APPARENTLY, this upset Goodkind enough, where he asked Sanderson to take the story down and ruined the fun story. I am of the opinion that just because somebody is dead doesn't mean you can no longer be critical of the person they were. Goodkind, at least publicly, was not a great person and unfortunately that's the legacy he left behind. Also his books are pretty mediocre apparently. EDIT: I found Sanderson's critical chat on Goodkind's story and the story I just brought up. Its from Episode 115 of The Intentionally Blank Podcast and its starts around the 44: 28 mark.

[@2ToRamble]

Ooo I must go listen to this - thankya! Never knew this about Goodkind, thats a shame

[@niallcarrick6456]

Do you have any idea where that short story can be found?

[@brianspengel4197]

​@niallcarrick6456 He wrote 2 cage matches. 1 that was just about a Goodkind character, the other about all characters involved in the cage match. Google these 2 things to find the stories 1. Sanderson suvudu how it really went down 2. Sanderson suvudu Vin Both are quite amusing (his knock on Rothfuss hits harder now considering it was written 13 years ago)

[@marklawrence8418]

An honour to feature (twice!) among such august company.

[@2ToRamble]

You saw this..oh thank goodness we were nice to you, we're not known for that 😂. Love your work, would love to have you on the pod sometime. What would be the best place to reach you?

[@alexe3700]

Ash fell from the sky is one of my favorites lol. I just get a super cool and vivid image for some reason.

[@reydarouaghi6288]

literally every time I remember that line I want to read mistborn again and I mean the full trilogy.

[@tomraineofmagigor3499]

also the Meme value of showing Ash Ketchum falling from the sky

[@about15hobos]

Literally every book I wanted to complain about y’all missing in the last episode is in this one 😂😂 Great work guys!

[@2ToRamble]

😁 thankya!

[@fedeclares1229]

I love how Sanderson turned The Way of King's first line into a meme. I wouldn't be surprised by now if I read "Szeth-son-son-Vallano wore white the morning he went to the grocery store".

[@Martionize]

My favourite first line from a Fantasy Novel is the one from City of Lies by Sam Hawke. "I was seven years old the first time my Uncle poisoned me."

[@2ToRamble]

Ooo good line

[@UltraLaidback]

Damn that's a banger!

[@GetmanTheGod]

Szeth Son-Son Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a King. Still my favorite opening line of all time.

[@emersonwright5390]

I genuinely would love that “inferior version of an audiobook”.

[@2ToRamble]

😁

[@ASHLEY.397]

Red sister first line is really iconic

[@ewitsdonovan]

"'Death is a part of life,' Orka whispered into her son's ear." - Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne This one stuck with me for whatever reason

[@BooksToAshes]

I’m currently reading Shadow of the Gods. So good so far

[@Annatar.Sauron]

Shadow of the Gods kind of disappointed me. It was still good, but it didn’t live up to my expectations. His prose is also annoying as heck.

[@IbbyMelbourne]

I just rememberd another funny Goodkind story I heard recently on Sanderson's podcast. Back in his early days, Tor asked Brandon to write a goofy short story on their website, about different characters from their top authors crossing over with each other. Brandon wrote a single line about how Goodkind's characters couldn't make it, because they're above considering themselves fantasy characters. He later got a call from Goodkind's editor, saying Terry was really upset and demanded the line to be removed from the story.

[@corbanbausch9049]

😂😂 The ego on that guy…

[@Why_do_I_do_this.]

There is an amazing one from a Dresden Files book that goes .... "The building was on fire, and it wasn't my fault" 😂😂

[@rkgrkg]

Aw, I'm so glad you included the Eustace Clarence Scrubb line. It has long been one of my favourite opening lines. Along with The Hobbit and Harry Potter openings.

[@abbeyroche2983]

“I was picking you over the dead person you were making fun of” 😂 friends to lovers arc fully realized

[@true_emu8333]

I just found this channel about a week ago and I’m already addicted. Keep up the good work guys

[@2ToRamble]

Thankyou 😁

[@thomassteenkamp4575]

Ok now we need a tier list where us as the viewers get to submit the first lines of our books and you rank them 😂

[@2ToRamble]

We did have an episode way back where we judged our patrons first lines - maybe another similar video is due 🤓

[@alexe3700]

Yes!

[@maawri3739]

@@2ToRamblei think you should do it… like next video

[@IbbyMelbourne]

The entire buildup to Terry Goodkind's segment was pure gold. I couldn't stop laughing when you read the line.

[@JARHuygebaert]

A 2ToRamble discussion about Harry Potter would be soooo much fun!

[@veronicaa4173]

yes please that would be amazingggg

[@user-vv7oh9im1d]

So glad to hear you guys talk about Earthsea!

[@OmnivorousReader]

There is a definite English writing element to both Harry Potter and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. That almost prim ability of Brits to cut you to the bone whilst being tewibbly understated.

[@madison60542]

This is quickly becoming my favorite podcast

[@2ToRamble]

🥲😁

[@milescataldo8808]

We need a Terry Goodkind tier as the bottom rank for the next list 😂

[@2ToRamble]

😂😂 great idea

[@andrejbanit373]

Guys. I found out about your channel pretty recently, but I love your approach and content! Great job! Greetings from Slovakia

[@2ToRamble]

Greetings! Thanks for watching our stuff!

[@Bucko99]

Don't know if it counts as a book but here's how Watchmen (my favorite) starts: "Rorschac's journal, October 12th, 1985: Dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. This city is afraid of me. I have seen it's true face."

[@BooksToAshes]

It would be kind of fun to do this for subscribers first lines in their novels. As someone writing fantasy, it would be a good time

[@2ToRamble]

We do have an earlier video where we did that - maybe time for another!

[@peteinfernicous5865]

My personal favourite opening line is from a hundred years of solitude: "Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice."

[@tonkabeanicecream5698]

What you said about Sanderson is exactly how I feel, I am relentlessly loyal to him because of his transparency, the way he deals with fans, what he does for everyone and then his amazing books and work rate on top of that.

[@UsesElevators]

You guys should rank 20 fictional worlds. Like Roshar, Hogwarts, Red Rising, Star Wars?, etc.

[@2ToRamble]

OOOO. Great idea

[@2ToRamble]

We will be doing this one day, just wrote it down - will shout you out when we do it!

[@jonsadenwasser4246]

“The Snow is falling faster than the normal snow” is equivalent to Sanderson’s 🤣

[@2ToRamble]

😂😂

[@s.p.8508]

I love The Name of the Wind so much. Why did it have to be written by a scammer. WHY?!?!? Also, did Richard just mention Pendragon? As in Pendragon by D. J. MacHale? I loved that series! I’ve never heard anyone else ever mention it.

[@2ToRamble]

Richard and I binged that series as kids!

[@thinkinggingerbeard2556]

Why is he a scammer? I enjoyed his books.

[@s.p.8508]

@@2ToRamble same! I believe that’s the first series I read after Eragon!

[@s.p.8508]

@@thinkinggingerbeard2556 firstly he hasnt released book 3 after 11 years, and every time someone asks about it he yells at them and is just generally rude to them. But that’s not why he’s a scammer, he’s a scammer because he told fans that if they cross a certain donation milestone he’s release the first chapter of Doors of Stone. Milestone was crossed, still hasn’t released it. It’s been like a year+. We can have the debate on whether he owes his fans book 3 (I believe he does), but people donated lots of money to get that chapter. He’s a scammer. I’m not reading anything from him again after I read Doors of Stone.

[@UltraLaidback]

​@@s.p.8508wow I didn't know that! Holy crap

[@jefffenton5932]

Loved this. Fun idea, and you two are hilarious. And good rankings too!

[@CarlozKingz]

I was waiting for Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. "Ask me not if God exists, but why he's such a prick." His Nevernight one is also great "People often shit themselves when they die."

[@2ToRamble]

Oo nice opening

[@lewisfranielczyk5756]

Yes, lads! I could happily watch a ten part series of this haha

[@2ToRamble]

Dont temp us lol

[@MoviesNStuff]

​​​@@2ToRamble *whispers "Do it...."

[@willh9104]

Honestly the first line of The Way of Kings prologue might be the best first line of all time. It got me so hooked into the book from the very beginning.

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

you guys keep up this excellent work and you will def get to interview Sando anytime!

[@2ToRamble]

😁

[@justinjosie5417]

“Oh that’s neat” I was dying 😂

[@jaimemiceli4629]

Recently stumbled upon your channel, and absolutely love it! Love the back and forth between you two, and great (and relatable for me) sense of humor. The opening of you guys yelling out the LOTR song gets me every time.😂 Fiancee and I are making our way through your back catalog 🤙

[@2ToRamble]

Ahhh cheers! Thanks for watching and tolerating the singing lol

[@jaimemiceli4629]

@@2ToRamble haha, more singing! 🤣

[@pearlh841]

You read the whole first page of The Name of The Wind!!! I’m subscribing!!

[@clawstruckwizard9847]

I believe without a shadow of a doubt you guys could co narrate an audiobook

[@clawstruckwizard9847]

Also you guys should do the greenbone saga

[@2ToRamble]

Read it or narrate it 🤓

[@clawstruckwizard9847]

@@2ToRamble Which ever one doesn't get you into legal trouble

[@emersonwright5390]

Thank you for bleeping the spoilers! Currently halfway through "The Way of Kings"

[@emersonwright5390]

I'm a slow reader

[@2ToRamble]

Everyone is at their own pace. Enjoy the book as you want to. 😁

[@emersonwright5390]

@@2ToRamble I know, but I still wish my words per minute were at the average speed.

[@ben55jags]

Please read the sword of shannara , it’s very close to lord of the rings but very different in its own way. There is a war, a quest , it’s got great characters and it’s the beginning of a huge series.

[@Akatsuu]

How is “Ash fell from the sky” worse than the like 3-4 books in B tier saying “The forest this morning was boring and bland”??? The most interesting of the environmental scenic first lines which are like a full 1/2 of B tier.

[@veronicaa4173]

just started watching you guys and I’m an instant fan. haven’t read most of these books but your energy and enthusiasm for so many of them definitely makes me want to! Plus I love the back and forth haha

[@2ToRamble]

!! Thank you a bunch

[@Amanda_D]

Personally, I think you were a little unfair to Mistborn's first line. "Ash fell from the sky" isn't amazing by any means, but it still provides a little bit of intrigue. Why is ash falling from the sky? Where is it coming from? Is this normal for this world? And in general it sets a vibe. This is not a light-hearted, cheery story. I guess in my mind F tier means the line provides none of that. D tier at least, imo.

[@2ToRamble]

Fair enough! Maybe we felt pressured bc we didnt have any F tiers yet

[@Repti-verse]

Throne of Glass is technically the first book of the series, but Assassian’s Blade should be read first in my opinion because its a prequel that sets up the series.

[@IzzyZil20]

Ash fell from the sky is a personal favorite of mine but that may be because Mistborn was my first Sanderson novel

[@eclipse5342]

Keep up the great content ya'll! More tier lists! Love the structure. One idea could be tier ranking magic systems? Alien Species?

[@2ToRamble]

Great ideas! Thankyou!

[@emmaroberts1932]

I love the idea of reading a page at the end of each video!

[@veagrace]

I’ve literally only read like two or three of all of these books so from an almost completely unbiased opinion, many of these ratings have no rhyme or reason 😂 but I very much enjoyed the energy y’all have

[@2ToRamble]

😂 we’ll take it

[@barmy8219]

Another really good one is: "On this day of days there was an unfamiliar stirring deep inside the dozing heart of the Hayholt, in the castle's bewildering warren of quiet passages and overgrown, ivy-choked courtyards, in the monk's holes and damp, shadowed chambers." From The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams

[@gabrielhammons4365]

I really don't base books off of the first line. Thats almost as bad as judging a book by the cover. I base books off of who recommended them. The more I trust the person, the further I will read before I give up if I don't immediately get hooked.

[@2ToRamble]

This is definitely the case, first lines can be fun though - but not nearly as important as word of mouth

[@lathspell87]

One of the best: "The building was on fire, and it wasn't my fault."

[@giuli_raffin]

Try the first line from A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens. It’s not fantasy or sci-fi but it has one of the best first lines I’ve ever read.

[@brightwatcher3757]

This episode brought me comfort and a lot of coughing.😂 Thanks for getting my week off to a great start!

[@2ToRamble]

Coughing 😂 dont die on us

[@frantexmor8681]

The Mistborn one would be so funny if someone thought that it was talking about a character named Ash

[@dakotapettit4894]

Please do 25 parts of this series 🙏 🙏

[@mattiOTX]

If there is one thing ive noticed is that first lines really set the tone for a story. I have a story where fighting is very prominent and some of the themes are centered around that and that was something I tried to do myself. The opening line or 2 is someone training for a fight though in my own not humble opinion I think its not bad. Not terry goodkind kind of not humble though, I dont have that level of unfounded confidence.

[@StuffRead]

At the risk of outing myself as a quasi intellectual boomer and also technically not a fantasy novel, one of my favorite first line is from Kafka's Metamorphosis: "As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect." His opening of "The Trial" (yes, I know, also not a fantasy novel) also pretty good: "Somebody must have made a false accusation against Joseph K., for he was arrested one morning without having done anything wrong.".

[@PistachioGold]

I watched the first part ages ago and come back for more ❤❤ 3:12 so cheeky 😂😂

[@Namrhof]

Meanwhile, If I had an hour of GRRMs time I would be in heaven. Poor George, Neat-O!

[@itskatehill]

It's not a fantasy book per se...but my favorite opening line is from Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese: Salem was meant to be a new beginning, a place where the sharp scent of cinnamon and tea perfumed the air with hope; a place where the colors could be safe and alive within me.

[@crissydv1]

I just borrowed Red Sister because of this!! TY

[@AndiBfishbowlwoman]

*THANK YOU* for numbering the Narnia books correctly!! It hurts when I see the "new," incorrect numbering.

[@2ToRamble]

👊

[@samm8190]

3:15 OK. That’s the funniest 💩 I’ve seen this week!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@stephenlogsdon8266]

Incase you missed in your previous: Chapter one title: “A Contradiction in Prowess.” First line: “The morning brought a crispness in the still air that made him fill his lungs to their fullest.”

[@nathanaelyigzaw9908]

I found out about this channel through red rising. I was wondering when you guys were going to do a podcast on light bringer?

[@2ToRamble]

I am currently reading it. Austin is finished, and I am catching up.

[@jtk5605]

@@2ToRambleLooking forward to it!

[@stevencooney3347]

Name of the wind’s whole prologue is the opener and it’s the best.

[@2ToRamble]

It is amazing

[@UsesElevators]

I really gotta know the Way of Kings spoiler that you cut!

[@2ToRamble]

SPOILER WARNING (Up to and including Book 4 of Stormlight) … … Ok I think we’re in the clear - I was talking about how we still know so little about Szeth, and we think he is (it mightve been announced already, not sure) the flashback character we will get in Stormlight 5, and hopefully will find out about his backstory, what Shinovar is like, etc!

[@UsesElevators]

@@2ToRamble ♥️

[@ASHLEY.397]

@@2ToRambleyeah I’m pretty sure it is which I’m so excited for

[@crissydv1]

"hes not Goodkind he's a bad kind!" Hahaha 😂

[@phoenixtempleeviltruth8074]

"The sunrise was the colour of bad blood. It leaked out of the east and stained the dark sky red, marked the scraps of cloud with stolen gold. Underneath it the road twisted up the mountainside towards the fortress of Fontezarmo - a cluster of sharp towers, ash-black against the wounded heavens. The sunrise was red, black and gold. The colours of their profession." -Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie

[@HeronKij]

... I liked "Ash fell from the sky." To be fair, I always pair it with the heading paragraph which is a first-person excerpt from a diary about an apparent "chosen one," questioning if he's the right person to save the world. Then, immediately after that excerpt, "Ash fell from the sky." Like, nah buddy, I don't think you were the right person.

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh good point!

[@judahwagner2488]

Here’s a thought. If your opening sentence is a paragraph long… it’s not an opening sentence.

[@stellaisteeth]

Best first line is from A Wrinkle in Time: "It was a dark and stormy night"

[@crissydv1]

I know ya'll did Gardens of the Moon but the prologue opener to Deadhouse Gates is a banger!!!

[@2ToRamble]

Which book is that in the series?

[@TomOrange]

Quality list guys!

[@2ToRamble]

👊

[@Buzzbomb23]

Would love to argue the final empire ranking but yeah, Austin is righ haha. I kooked at my book and the prologue and chapter 1 both start with the same line.

[@Rumham7291]

i hate to be that guy, but your reaction to the first line of a book isn't genuine if you have read the book. lol - That opening section by Rothfuss is actually better than Dickens "best of times worst of times" nonsense, yet the later will always be considered a literary classic lol.

[@2ToRamble]

😅

[@Ruben86jz]

I’m here for 3 things: 1. New books to read 2. The beef-bromance between you 3. Don’t have to mention 3 (red rising)

[@2ToRamble]

Lightbringer review coming soon 😏 (READ FASTER RICHARD)

[@Ruben86jz]

@@2ToRamble I’m on page 400 of dark age so I need to speed up!

[@calmkat9032]

13:40 She kind of makes me think of "if JJ Abrams was an author". I get that "mystery box" energy from that opening.

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh ok, I don’t know Abrams works well enough but will trust your instinct on that

[@danielgwynne7266]

Now that I think about it technically the opening of malazan is this, the one you read is just the opening of the prologue and this bit is slightly before that. I also like this quite a bit more than the start of the prologue too and would probably put it middle of s tier on your list, it’s similar to the wheel of time opening for me except it’s only for book one and instead comes back in a book in a different way. “Now these ashes have grown cold, we open the old book. These oil-stained pages recount the tales of the Fallen, a frayed empire, words without warmth. The hearth has ebbed, its gleam and life’s sparks are but memories against dimming eyes - what cast my mind, what hue my thoughts as I open the Book of the Fallen and breathe deep the scent of history? Listen, then, to these words carried on that breath. These tales are the tales of us all, again yet again. We are history relived and that is all, without end that is all.”

[@2ToRamble]

Oh that is great

[@mtverv]

2ToRamble Entire List Null and Void due to not even including the single greatest First Line of all time lol. The actual Greatest First Line comes from Book 12 of The Dresden Files, titled Changes. It goes as follows: I answered the phone and Susan Rodriguez said “They’ve taken our daughter.” I sat there for a long five count, swallowed, and said “Um. What?” That’s the best there is no competition lol

[@The-Sibling]

You know how you called the top line creme de la creme a few times? You should call the bottom line crem de la crem (as in crem from Roshar)

[@2ToRamble]

This is…genius

[@qwuzzy]

If this were about opening *passages*, name of the wind is undoubtedly off the charts, but alas

[@2ToRamble]

👆

[@Jan_ne]

I disagreed with so many things you said and still enjoyed this a lot. That is a difficult thing to do

[@2ToRamble]

Ahh we will take it! Thanks for enjoying 👊

[@stephenlogsdon8266]

Way of the wind was a great book, until the end where Rothfuss tacks on the battle scene, contrived as it was, with a wingless dragon? Finding Dena there was also … convenient, to say the least. Was it his choice, or was it the publisher’s, we will never know, all to make a book appear like a traditional might want to appear? Wise Man’s was superior. The second time reading the pair, I found a new trope, the “how stupid can one man be” trope, and I gnashed my teeth … but … by the end, with the ups and downs, lows and highs, it, they, except for the dragon scene, left an impression deep in my soul, a mark of greatness. A mark of genius. In his latest interview with Grimdark, he discounts conflict/climax, preferring tension. Said it was tension that made a story, and knowing this (and how right he is), one can, might, understand why I believe, the dragon scene was a last minute fix the book, by some standard only the publishing industry would want, to help sell a book.

[@tedy_ate_my_journal]

Ok but wait, I want more information. What's wrong with Prince of Thorns? Why was it not for Richard?

[@acurlyboi2944]

they’ve talked about it before. opening chapter had some really dark stuff and rich was not interested in reading more of a book where he wants the main character to die as soon as possible

[@tedy_ate_my_journal]

@acurlyboi2944 ah, haven't seen that episode I guess, thank you!

[@thefantasynerd93]

it's true it's not a book for everyone (the whole first half of the first book is kinda traumatizing tbh), but the series has the best character arc I've ever read in Jorg

[@thekylederek]

Hahah that f***ing knife!

[@Andrew.Downing]

How many hours per day do you guys spend reading?

[@2ToRamble]

I (austin) am more of a binge reader - some days 6-8 hours, others 0, but it probably averages put to around an hour a day. Mon-thursday won’t read at all but will then read 5 hours a day Fri-Sun for example. Definitely varies so much im a mess lol

[@8thelfchild585]

How did the Sword of Shannara one AND Twilight get above Mistborn??

[@2ToRamble]

👀 you may have a point lol

[@Valkrill]

Never read Name of The Wind, but those lines you read were extremely boring imo and made me uninterested immediately. 😅 it's like get to the point, seems like it would waste time with lots of fluff.

[@ASHLEY.397]

This was epic 😂

[@judsonbuckner8590]

The Traitor by Anthony Ryan is definitely worth the read. He's done much better on these sequels than those of Blood Song

[@2ToRamble]

Will have to check it out!

[@stephenlogsdon8266]

It made me buy red sister.

[@2ToRamble]

WOO

[@trennamcmullin9437]

Listening to these rankings, as an author, is anxiety inducing 😅. Opening lines are hard! I was somewhat conforted by the amount of disagreement in the comments though. Just goes to show, even if someone hates your line and gives it an F, others may love it.

[@2ToRamble]

Absolutely - very subjective!

[@koboldmartian4063]

NGL Ritchie got the Donald Trump hand movements down talking about Wheel of Time Season 2 episode 8 🤣

[@BlackHand531]

21:00 YOU GUYS ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT THIS! What kind of crazy ability do you need to make someone need 201 men to kill you.

[@hero4life15]

I'm deeply saddened by the lack of mention of the TITAN Robert E. Howard who is rarely if EVER mentioned by today's fantasy/sci-fi literature fans on booktube (or booktok or bookstagram). So, for him, I'll leave the first line of The Phoenix on the Sword: "KNOW, oh prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars-Nemedia, Ophir, Brythunia, Hyperborea, Zamora with its dark-haired women and towers of spider-haunted mystery, Zingara with its chivalry, Koth that bordered on the pastoral lands of Shem, Stygia with its shadow-guarded tombs, Hyrkania whose riders wore steel and silk and gold." And the remainder: "But the proudest kingdom of the world was Aquilonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west. Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen- eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet."