Kothar
#9823.27 adjusted 3.81 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 3 books Status Complete 1969–1970 Reading commitment Medium Gardner Fox Last reviewed 2026-11-02
Overview
Kothar is a sword-and-sorcery series by American writer Gardner Fox, published as paperbacks in 1969 and 1970. Kothar is a blond barbarian swordsman who carries a magic sword called Frostfire and rides a gray warhorse, Greyling. The books were written in the manner of Robert E. Howard's Conan stories, and follow Kothar through adventures against wizards, demons and gods. Five volumes appeared, two of them collections of linked stories; the remaining three are full novels. Fox later wrote a separate barbarian series about Kyrik.
Sword & sorcery · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (3 works) counts toward ranking
Kothar Gardner Fox
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kothar and the Demon Queen | 1969 | 1 | core | 3.40 (88 ratings) | |
| Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse | 1970 | 2 | core | 3.30 (70 ratings) | |
| Kothar and the Wizard Slayer | 1970 | 3 | core | 3.13 (92 ratings) |
Barbarian swordsman Kothar and his magic sword Frostfire in five Conan-style paperbacks, of which three are full novels.
Quick answers
- How many books are in Kothar? Kothar's Core Canon is 3 books.
- What is the reading order for Kothar? Publication order, starting with Kothar and the Demon Queen. Full list and years in the Core Canon table above.
- Is Kothar finished? Complete (1969–1970).
- How much reading does Kothar take? Medium reading commitment (estimated from 3 Core Canon books).
- How is Kothar ranked? #982 in this site's official ranking, based on 250 reader ratings across 3 Core Canon books. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #982?
Ranked #982 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.27 across 3 core books.
- A smaller readership (250 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- 0.33 behind #981, The Atlan Saga.
- Below the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Modestly rated · 3 books · Complete · 250 ratings · Ranks #982 overall
Good choice if you want a moderate-length sword-and-sorcery universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
Publication order (3 Core Canon books)
- Kothar and the Demon Queen (1969)
- Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse (1970)
- Kothar and the Wizard Slayer (1970)
Documented internal/story chronology is recorded for every Core Canon book here, and matches publication order exactly, with no divergence to show separately.
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
You might also like
Suggestions computed from what Kothar and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
- Brak the Barbarian Sword & sorcery · Unfinished · Medium commitment · 3.35
- Capitale du Sud Epic fantasy / Sword & sorcery · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.28
- The Gentleman Bastards Sword & sorcery · Ongoing · Medium commitment · 4.27
- Night Angel Trilogy Epic fantasy / Sword & sorcery · Complete · Medium commitment · 4.21
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.27 across 250 ratings on 3 Core Canon books. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon Extension: 28 universes; 3 candidates ruled out accepted 2026-11-02
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Sword & Sorcery of Gardner F. Fox Tier 2
- Black Gate: Kyrik and Kothar Novels Tier 2
- Worlds Without End Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
Rule: Core Canon = Kothar and the Demon Queen (1969), Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse (1970) and Kothar and the Wizard Slayer (1970); the story collections Kothar: Barbarian Swordsman and Kothar of the Magic Sword are excluded.