The story begins with James Allison, lying on his deathbed, reminiscing about his past lives. He believes he has lived through many incarnations, always as a member of the Aryan or Nordheimer race. Allison recalls a specific life as Niord, a powerful warrior, and his encounter with a horrific, demonic entity known as the Worm.
The story opens with James Allison, who, upon encountering a mysterious woman, is sent on a visionary journey into the past. He becomes Hialmar, a member of the Æsir, a group of powerful, golden-haired warriors. This transformation leads Hialmar and his fellow Æsir on a remarkable journey that spans diverse landscapes and confronts various civilizations.
“The Garden of Fear” explores reincarnation, anthropology, theology, and evolution, through the quest of James Allison as Hunwulf, living a life that was once his own. It’s a riveting tale of primordial love and cosmic memory, set in a landscape both surreal and dangerous.
“Brachen the Kelt” narrates the past life of James Allison, who remembers himself as Brachan, a Kelt from an ancient, undiluted Aryan race. This story, set in a primordial world, unfolds through Allison’s vivid recollections of his previous incarnation. Unfinished story
“Akram the Mysterious” is an unfinished story by Robert E. Howard, which tells the tale of Hengibar, a physically formidable and fiercely independent character from an ancient and primitive time. The story is narrated by James Allison, who possesses the unique ability to remember his past lives, including that of Hengibar.
The Tower of Time. A fragment. Lin Carter completed this for Fantastic Sword & Sorcery and Fantasy Stories June 1975.
Alternate title: AKRAM THE MYSTERIOUS.
The Thing on the Roof first appeared in the February 1932 issue of Weird Tales. Howard sold it to Weird Tales for $40.00, but later said he would have let it go for free, just to see it in print. He was quite fond of it. The story is set in the early 1930’s, and focuses on the legend surrounding the Temple of the Toad God. Howard’s occult tome, Nameless Cults plays a big part in the story.
“Swords of the Purple Kingdom” was never published in Howard’s lifetime. It was first printed in King Kull by Lancer in 1967.
A very short story ‘The Striking of the Gong’ or ‘The Chiming of the Gong’ as Howard referred to in a letter was presented to Argosy, but didn’t sell.
