The People of the Black Circle is the eleventh of the Conan stories published by Weird Tales in three parts in the fall of 1934. Set in the mythical Hyborian Age in the south Asian regions of Vendhya and Ghulistan (now India-Pakistan and Afghanistan), the story centers around Conan’s kidnapping of princess Devi Yasmina of Vendhya and thwarting an attempt at world domination by the Black Seers of Yimsha.  The action begins when Conan, chief of a tribe of hillmen, sets out to rescue seven of his men that have been captured and held by the princess to force him into killing her enemies.  Conan instead kidnaps the princess, but the two are set upon by Kerim Shah, agent of the King of Turan, intent upon invading Vendhya.  They escape into the mountains, followed by Kemsha, who catches up with them just as he is attacked by Rakhshas from Yimsha, who kill him and capture Devi. Enter a group of Irakzai, who team up with Conan to rescue the princess. All are eventually rescued by the Vendhyan army and join forces to defeat the Turanians.The inevitable attraction between Conan and the princess smolders but never catches fire as forces inexorably draw them apart. The action-packed story is considered one of the finest in the Conan canon due to its epic sweep and insights into magical powers.