Steve Harrison

Introduction

In a letter to H. P. Lovecraft from around September/October 1933 Howard wrote:

Lately I’ve been trying to write detective yarns, something entirely new for me, and haven’t had much success — in fact none, so far, except for a short yarn, “Talons in the Dark”, written in San Antonio last spring, and which Kline, as my agent, sold to a magazine called Strange Detective Stories. Kline has been a big help in teaching me the technique of detective story writing; whether I am able to profit by his teaching remains to be seen. (Kline marketed another yarn for me since I wrote the above.)1

He also wrote his friend Tevis Clyde Smith cirka October the same year:

How are your parents, and how is business? Kline cracked me into a new market — Strange Detective Stories; don’t know how it’ll pan out.

Strange Detecive Stories bought two Howard stories, “Talons in the Dark” (published in December 1933 under the title “Black Talons”) and “The Teeth of Doom” (published in February 1934 under the title “The Tomb’s Secret” and the byline “Patrick Ervin”) in September 1933, and another, “The People of the Serpent” (published in February 1934 under the title “Fangs of Gold”) in October.

Howard also wrote to August Derleth telling him how busy he has been hammering out “detectives”.

But as early as in June 1935 Howard wrote to August Derleth:

I’ve given up trying to write detective yarns — a job I despise anyway — and am concentrating on adventure stuff.

and again to H.P. Lovecraft on May 13, 1936:

I find it more and more difficult to write anything but western yarns. I have definitely abandoned the detective field, where I never had any success anyway, and which represents a type of story I actively detest. I can scarcely endure to read one, much less write one.

It was pretty clear that according to his letters he didn’t like this genre even though he did several of them very well. It is perhaps excactly the reason these stories have so much appeal, Howard’s instincts fight against the genre and we get a far different sort of tale.

Steve Harrison is the name of the detective that Howard is known for. Brock Rollins is a name that the editors of Strange Detective Stories came up with for volume 5 number 3 (1934) when two Harrison stories were published in the same issue. He operates mainly on River Street and often on the Chinese quarter.

Not your average detective, Steve Harrison is more likely to tear into a fight wth his fists than a gun. More often than not the stories also strays further afield from standard detective fare, adding weird menace and more adventure. Also, few private eyes could boast of a recurring enemy, never mind one as diabolical and evil as Erlik Khan, a descendent of Genghis Khan.


A COMPLETE LIST OF STORIES WHERE Steve Harrison APPEARS:

TitleSummaryFeaturingWrittenPublishedGenreIncome
The Black Moon

“The Black Moon” is a captivating detective story by Robert E. Howard, featuring the character Steve Harrison, a tough and savvy detective. The narrative is steeped in an exotic setting that blends mystery with a touch of the supernatural, typical of Howard’s ability to intertwine the gritty realism of detective fiction with elements of the fantastical.

Steve Harrison, Wang Yun, Pan Chau, William D. Feodor, HoolihanDetective
Fangs of Gold

“Fangs of Gold” is a gripping tale that entwines elements of mystery, horror, and adventure, set against the backdrop of a menacing swamp. The story follows Steve Harrison, a determined and rugged detective, as he ventures into the treacherous swamp in pursuit of a criminal named Woon Shang. See “People of the Serpent” for more information.

Steve Harrison, Woon Shang, Rogers, Joe Corley, Celia Pompoloi1934-02-00Detective$85.00
Graveyard Rats

Graveyard Rats. Published in the February 1936 issue of STRANGE DETECTIVE STORIES. Featuring Steve Harrison.

Steve Harrison, Saul Wilkinson, Joel Middleton, Peter Wilkinson, John Wilkinson, Richard Wilkinson, Joash Sullivan1936-02-00Detective$ ?
Graveyard Rats (draft)

Graveyard Rats draft. Featuring Steve Harrison.

Steve Harrison, Peter Wilkinson, Richard Wilkinson, John Wilkinson, Joel MiddletonDetective
The House of Suspicion

In the Otis Adelbert Kline logs, the original title listed was “The House of Suspicion”, then “Suspicion” is struck out, and “Death” written above it; offered by OAK to STRANGE DETECTIVE, not sold; 

Steve Harrison, John Storley, Richard Stanton, William Blaine, Rachel, JoabDetective
Lord of the Dead

“Lord of the Dead” is a thrilling and atmospheric tale of intrigue and combat set against the shadowy backdrop of the criminal underworld, featuring Robert E. Howard’s character Steve Harrison. 

Steve Harrison, Erlik Khan, Amir Amin Izzedin, Richard Brent, Joan La Tour, Ali ibn Suleyman, Fang Yim, Ak BoghaDetective
The Mystery of Tannernoe Lodge

“The Mystery of Tannernoe Lodge” is an unfinished short story by Robert E. Howard, featuring his detective character Steve Harrison. Set in a secluded lodge, the narrative delves into the enigmatic circumstances surrounding a series of mysterious events and the involvement of various characters in a web of deceit and danger.

First published in Lord of the Dead, by Grant in 1981. It was then completed by Fred Blosser, based on a fragment by Howard.

Steve Harrison, Gutchluk Khan, Absolom Tannernoe, Ali, Akbar, Ahmed, Josef La TourDetective
Names in the Black Book

In “Names in the Black Book,” Steve Harrison, a tough detective, finds himself embroiled in a sinister plot involving a list of doomed individuals in a dangerous and mysterious quarter of the city. The story intertwines fear, intrigue, and dark forces as Harrison confronts a familiar enemy thought long dead.

Steve Harrison, Joan La Tour, Erlik Khan, Khoda Khan, Li-chin, Ibrahim ibn Achmet, Jacob Kossova, Ali ibn Suleyman1934-05-00Detective$85.00
People of the Serpent

“The People of the Serpent” is a gripping tale that entwines elements of mystery, horror, and adventure, set against the backdrop of a menacing swamp. The story follows Steve Harrison, a determined and rugged detective, as he ventures into the treacherous swamp in pursuit of a criminal named Woon Shang. Alternate title: “Fangs of Gold”.

Steve Harrison, Woon Shang, Rogers, Joe Corley, Celia PompoloiDetective
The Silver Heel

The Silver Heel. Featuring Steve Harrison. 

Steve Harrison, Jelner Kratz, Jack Bissett, Zaida Lopez, AhmedDetective
The Silver Heel (synopsis)

Synopsis of The Silver Heel. Featuring Steve Harrison. 

Steve Harrison, Jelner Kratz, Jack Bissett, Zaida Lopez, Ahmed, Joseph Lepstein, Ti WoonDetective
Teeth of Doom

Teeth of Doom. Received by Howard’s agent, Kline on August 31, 1933. Published as ‘The Tomb’s Secret’ under the name: Patrick Ervin. Featuring Steve Harrison. Howard sold the story for $100 and after Kline got his share, he received $85.

The February 1934 issue of STRANGE DETECTIVE STORIES carried two stories by REH: “The Tomb’s Secret” and “Fangs of Gold”. It appears that the story titles were inadvertently switched. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, kept a list of titles and the magazines that purchased them.

Steve Harrison, James Willoughby, Joey Glick, Yarghouz Barolass, Richard LynchDetective
The Voice of Death

The story begins with a near-fatal car accident involving Edward Willington, who loses control of his vehicle and almost hits his friend, James Clanton. Detective Steve Harrison, who happens to witness the accident, intervenes to help. Despite Edward’s panicked claims that he was compelled to harm James, Harrison reassures him that it was just a mechanical failure.

Steve Harrison, Edward Willington, James Clanton, Abner JeppardDetective
Untitled synopsis (Steve Harrison received a wire from Joan Wiltshaw.)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Steve Harrison received a wire from Joan Wiltshaw.)

Steve Harrison, Joan Wiltshaw, Brax Wiltshaw, John Richardson, William Richardson, Saul Richardson, Esau Richardson, Isabel Richardson, Dr. Dick Ellis, Joe BarwellDetective

Source and more information:

1.) Probably “The Teeth of Doom,” published as “The Tomb’s Secret.”