Conan - Beyond the Black River REMASTERED

[@TheCybrarian]

Thanks to everyone who attended our premier last night, lots of fun chat. However, we did notice a small error in our remaster mix so we're amending it. The previous upload is being deleted to be replaced with this one, all playlists shall be updated, and as many of the links to the prev version removed. We apologise for the confusion. Enjoy.x

[@Samppaol1987]

❤❤

[@Samppaol1987]

❤

[@Samppaol1987]

😊

[@Samppaol1987]

😊

[@Samppaol1987]

X

[@ericswain70]

I think this is my favorite one. So many on the edge of the seat and goosebump moments. Love the lore of the Picts. Ancient, enduring and truly savage. They are true barbarians. The story really shows how Howard wanted the Cimmerian to be thought of to me. Wild, intelligent, grim, experienced and barbaric. REH conveys the awe and respect Conan commands and nails it. The way you voice Conan reflects so well these attributes. Just superb content all around. Many thanks for these.

[@TheCybrarian]

You're very welcome. A couple more remasters and a new yarn coming soon.

[@saleemwaheed9956]

I agree.(Trying to sons like the Barbarian!)

[@JayAr709]

Far better rendition of this, one of the very best Howard stories, than some other attempts by KZbin content providers.

[@IamPapaShaw]

Definitely my favorite Conan story. I’ve read it several times.

[@adarchulo3932]

This was the first Conan story I ever read and remains my favorite to this day!

[@willadeefriesland5107]

I always love the part when the settler woman is relieved that Conan is fetching her man... Conan the Hero.

[@TheCybrarian]

that is testiment to Conans skill, though she might not be aware of the number of people, both allies and enemies, that die all around Conan

[@gregdales8627]

Gone

[@graysontheovercomer]

I like how this is essentially a western, with a fort full of civilized men falling prey to native warriors, and Conan is the Clint Eastwood figure, a loner and savage in his own right.

[@TheCybrarian]

oh, totally a western, even taking the young gunslinger (Balthus) under his wing, it's great

[@jeffanon1772]

Pretty much a variation on The Last of the Mohicans movie...

[@damnyankee3558]

Well REH lived in Texas if I remember correctly so it kind of makes sense

[@graysontheovercomer]

@@damnyankee3558 he did. I grew up in Texas as well. The Texan attitude runs deep with Conan!

[@dkkpollock]

@@jeffanon1772 No, not at all. Their is no love interest in Howard's story. While Cooper depicted the NAI as brutal in their savagery, they were nothing on the level of the Picts as Howard depicts them. But I would not say that Howard was not influenced by the Book. Howard wrote this story in 1935. The Last of the Mohicans 1826. Western novel influences on Howard, Oh yes, him being of Texas.

[@willadeefriesland5107]

REH wrote himself into this story. He had said in interviews that the character of Balthus was based on him. He once said, this was his own self meeting the Cimmerian...

[@TheCybrarian]

ye, love the parts talking about his fathers dogs, we keep trying variant voice tpes for the character but don't seem to have it right yet.

[@jamiescott1080]

I did not know that. I tip my hat mate. Impressive scholarship.

[@ScoundrelSFB]

In memory of Balthus and Slasher. Damn that actually made me kinda sad.

[@TheCybrarian]

We drink to their ghosts. 🍻

[@JaraKex]

I'll drink to his shade and the shade of the dog!

[@AcidPhos69]

Featured comment being a spoiler kinda sucks. Not your fault but damn.

[@curtcoeurdelion]

Gone down like true warriors.

[@typhoidkroyf471]

Thank you. That was a great flashback to my youth.

[@mikewilliams4443]

Thank you for doing these masterpieces justice.

[@coreythompsonTheOneandOnly]

This is some of the best narration I have ever heard in my life. You make life more awesome, your work makes life worth living God bless the cybrarian (you👇🏾) and all the subscribers too 🙏

[@willowwobble]

Excellent narration in an exciting story. I smile when within the first few minutes of all the Conan stories there is a description of a warrior male 'naked except for a loincloth'! It's like looking for the cameo appearance of Alfred Hitchcock at the start of each of his movies! Thanks for posting the entertaining audio plays.

[@TheCybrarian]

yeah, not sure why people think conan is misogynist, there are more naked dudes than naked women

[@stephenrego6065]

Conan just be chuckin shit at everybody in this one

[@BenSHammonds]

was always a favorite story, growing up in northeast Texas, between the Red and Sulphur River bottoms I spent much time in the backwoods, same ones my ancestors enjoyed, and so the story and those set in this region always were ones I could really feel and relate to, knowing the dark backwoods, swamps and bayous of the Sulphur River area :D Coming from early frontier stock I can see much of such people as Daniel Boone in this story, of that type, woodsmen clad in buckskins etc.

[@TheCybrarian]

absolutly, a classic frontier setting where our grizzled veteran leads a young recruit into enemy territory

[@adamwoodhouse7865]

Wonderful (as always) thank you 🙏🏻

[@JaredGalbraith]

Just wanted to say thanks for the work you put into this. My son & I are enjoying it.

[@TheCybrarian]

Great to hear!

[@JeffMPalermo]

My favorite Conan story. I did a fairly in depth review on my channel some months back.

[@TheCybrarian]

yeah, we saw that here...kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYaqh5d5bbB-ZsU thank you for listening to ours

[@sixarms]

The voice over is perfect for reading Conan stories. Thank you

[@ethanhernandez9889]

Hey if you ever want someone to re-voice Balthus for you I’d love to do it, free of charge, I’ve got pretty good voice chops

[@michelelyons9410]

This was one of the very best of the Conan original stories. But it is one that left me feeling a bit sad. Usually readers do not get invested with any of the other characters than Conan in one of Howard's stories, but in this one he introduced the character of Balthus and his dog, Slasher. Both are good characters, and it is really sad when they are both killed near the end of the story.

[@TheCybrarian]

we drink to their shades

[@squamiger7720]

One of the best, because here Balthus is the reader's perspective, while Conan is just a force of nature, which makes the whole thing feel very serious and realistic

[@stephenrego6065]

This one was Sooooo good

[@frankiemarino779]

What a great production! Awesome stuff!

[@robbabcock_]

Fantastic! I listened to the original but it was worth a second viewing. Nice remaster!⚔🏹⚔

[@TheCybrarian]

Much appreciated! The Devil in Iron shall be getting the remaster treatment next.

[@robbabcock_]

Well, I just gave it a third viewing!

[@HAPYDUDE7]

I absolutely love all of your work, never listen to audiobooks but holy snap have you saved my boring work days

[@TheCybrarian]

we spent years listening to audiobooks at boring jobs, now we're trying to make it our job, glad your enjoying them

[@seanvolk4202]

Thanks for the upload

[@csd8204]

Very entertaining.

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

Here's to you, my friend Caleb, who passed away earlier this year. 🍷

[@TheCybrarian]

It is that time of year when we look back an honour our fallen.

[@nelsonparsifalcantebury5083]

Fantastic.

[@josephb3193]

I enjoyed this, thanks.

[@xxcoopcoopxx]

The Sword - The Black River was inspired by this story. The Black River: Great peril awaits us beyond the Black River Summoned by the beating of drums Our number is few and our errand is dire We do what must be done At the bidding of the high priest The tribes gather for war Evil sorcery is unleashed Upon the opposite shore Make your stand with great hound The frontier is lost Black waters lie before you Together you cross Take heart! Do not fear Though you know Your death nears We shall build you a cairn beyond the Black River Where no one will disturb you rest There you shall lay in your helm and your harness With your sword across your breast Now take a quick moment to answer this question As the ferry approaches the shore Will you have the coin to pay for your passage And the courage to take up the oar?

[@TheCybrarian]

thats great... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Znrdo6Cha8iFgKMsi=6d-HXtZ0aUvSLlrb

[@TBL-Badash]

Excellent work

[@pi8869]

Pourin one out for the boys, those that never came home. 😢

[@TheCybrarian]

We drink to their shade.

[@timothykalamaros2954]

Scottish accent is fun for this, considering how REH tied the Picts of Hyborian age to those who came later

[@jeffanon1772]

The voice of Balthus sounds like a very old Mako from the movie Conan the Barbarian

[@TheCybrarian]

yeah, thht is something we've been meaning to fix for a while. we made an error with the character who is from Tauren in the west, but we mistook it for Turan in the east. we'll need to rerecord and edit all his dialogue, its on our to-do list.

[@swedichboy1000]

Is there a continuation from this story?

[@TheCybrarian]

not directly (well, not by REH) our playlist has REH Conan stories set after this but not immediatly following-on (but you'll prob find other authors have done direct sequals)

[@paulpatterson372]

Great telling of the story, liked the sound effects and different voices, Howard was a good story teller but knew little of actual armor. You never wear plate or chain against the bare skin, blunt force trauma can break bones thru the armor

[@goatman3057]

Zogar reminds me so much of Gran Hechicero

[@TheCybrarian]

hadn't heard of, but had a look, and you're right, the paint, the beard, the charming beasts with melodic chanting

[@sebastiandiaconu1221]

Weird choice for balthus voice. He's a healthy strong dashing young man not a sickly elder.

[@TheCybrarian]

yes, we going to fix this, it's on our to-do list

[@kaijukoopa1248]

I shall name my aquilonian ranger on age of Conan in his honor

[@TheCybrarian]

We shall drink to his shade, and slashers

[@MypurpleMoonLake]

This channel and its Readers are hands down the best I have ever heard! TY for these audio book 📕 readings

[@TheCybrarian]

Glad you like them!

[@MrKatzinski]

... 👍👍👍...

[@tauras3108]

Great stuff but the voice of Baltus was a bit off to say the least.

[@RoyAnderson]

Several parts were incorrect, i.e., Conan's voice speaking Balthus' lines and vice versa. Some missing lines too. Also, Balthus' voice drove me batsh1t. OK, I think im not the biggest fan of this rendition lol I did love the sound effects though!

[@TheCybrarian]

ye, this one needs fixed again, balthus voice all wrong, made a mistake mixing up Turan and Tuaren, it will be getting fixed

[@spartif]

Why does Balthus a character described as young and blonde get voiced with an elderly Asian accent?

[@TheCybrarian]

Balthus is from the Tauran, which borders Hyrkania, which is meant to be an Asian analogous continent. Unfortunately he sounds old because the voice actor is a smoker in his 40's. We've tried to EQ and pitch change it to make it sound younger, it's the best we could do without auditioning and a complete re-record.

[@hdgofno]

@@TheCybrarian You've got this wrong. Balthus is from Tauran, which is a western region in Aquilonia. ("The people on the Tauran were closer to the primitive than most AQUILONIANS", "I've seen good woodsmen from the Tauran. But the Bossonians have sheltered YOU AQUILONIANS [...]" What you are thinking of is Turan and a completly different area. Balthus is definetly supposed to be a european analogue. He is also likely supposed to be somewhat of a Howard self insert, being from a border region from Aquilonia he is more barbarian than most civilized Aquilonians but he is not nearly as barbarian as the "true barbarians" like Conan or the Picts. This is somewhat like Howard saw himself, being from a small rural Texas town he was more "wild" than most americans (especially the ones in the big cities on the east and west coast) but as a modern person he also wasn't a real barbarian like people in the past.

[@TheCybrarian]

@@hdgofno uh oh, yup, you are correct, one letter of difference and it's two complete different places. damn well, we are going to be moving our long stories to another page, we may be able to do a rerecord for balthus before that premier thanks for letting us know

[@jeffwinkler1137]

​@@TheCybrarian damn good tale but you sure hes not a 70 ish HEAVY SMOKING ASIAN LOL?

[@tauras3108]

Why did you choose that voice for Baltas . It’s not right at all. Great work apart from that portrayal of a good character.

[@TheCybrarian]

You're right, it's all wrong, as stated in many comments, we mistook Tauran (an Aquilonian state) with Turan (a land to the east near Hyrkania). We will rerecord the voice at some point soon.