The alternate title for tis review was also lifted from the text: 'To Greet the Rising Sun Forever'

In this tale of adventure, greed and horror, Howard etches a story set in a deteriorating mixed-race kingdom. Colonial politics of the day were often woven into adventure fiction in Howard’s time. But, as always, he goes a step further into the metaphysics of race and the linkage of a people’s cultural narrative with its ultimately mysterious origins. As with most of Howard's fiction blacks are viewed as the puppets of conniving mixed-race villains.

At 44 minutes Conan is exposed as a murdering, thieving, sexist brute—a real man for the ages. The exchange between Conan and the slave girl demonstrates a keen grasp of human behavior. The shrine and the oracle that this adventure revolves around is based on Alexander's trip to the Egyptian Oasis of Siwa to consult Zeus-Amon. Howard's take on priests and the nature of religious institutions is cynical and sardonic. The slave girl Muriella is a piteous creature that mainstream literary critics and feminists would have stricken from all fiction. However, she is the most realistic character in the story.

The reading grew on me until I began to favor this reader over the others.