Introduction
Francis Xavier Gordon, better known by his nickname “El Borak,” is another interesting character created by Robert E. Howard.
Howard was only 10 years old when he thought up the character, but he didn’t see print until the publication of “The Daughter of Erlik Khan” in the December 1934 issue of Top-Notch.
Howard may have drawn inspiration for the character of El Borak from real-life figures such as Richard Francis Burton, John Nicholson, “Chinese” Gordon, and T.E. Lawrence (also known as Lawrence of Arabia), as well as from the works of authors such as Talbot Mundy.
El Borak is a Western adventurer who is equally at home in the deserts of Arabia and the wilds of Afghanistan, and who uses his quick wits, expert marksmanship, and fighting skills to navigate a dangerous and treacherous world. As mentioned, El Borak made his first appearance in a short story titled “The Daughter of Erlik Khan,” which was published in the magazine Top-Notch in 1934.
One of the things that makes El Borak unique among Howard’s characters is his ability to operate in both the Western and Eastern worlds. He is a Texan by birth, but his travels have taken him to places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, where he has learned to speak several languages and gained valuable knowledge about the local customs and politics.
El Borak is also notable for his physical prowess. He is an expert swordsman, a skilled marksman, and a formidable hand-to-hand combatant. His fighting skills are the result of years of training, as well as a natural talent for violence.
In many ways, El Borak represents the classic pulp hero: brave, resourceful, and unafraid to take risks in order to achieve his goals. He is a man of action, always ready to leap into the fray and take on any challenge that comes his way. But he is also a man of principle, with a strong sense of justice and a willingness to fight for what he believes in.
Despite his popularity, El Borak has never achieved the same level of fame as some of Howard’s other characters, like Conan the Barbarian or Solomon Kane. Nevertheless, he remains a compelling and exciting figure in the world of pulp fiction, and his stories continue to be read and enjoyed by fans of the genre.
The name
El Borak is Arabic for “The Swift”. It is the name given to him in Afghanistan due to his speed and quickness (similar to Buraq, the swift flying steed who carried the Prophet Muhamad).
This name is said to be whispered with awe, reverence and fear in Afghanistan particularly by those “who would by force or guile take what was not rightfully theirs.” This is most often represented as his speed in drawing his pistol or attacks with another weapon but can also represent his mental agility as well. Both are the defining traits of the character.
Physical appearance
As a pulp fiction character, El Borak was often described in broad strokes that allowed readers to easily envision him in their minds. Here is a more detailed description of his appearance based on various sources:
El Borak is typically depicted as having a compact and slender figure and is shorter than other characters. He is also very strong. His skin is tanned from years of exposure to the sun. His defining physical ability, however, is the quickness that inspired his pseudonym. El Borak describes his ancestry as Highland Scot and Black Irish, he has black hair but has black eyes instead of the blue typical of the Black Irish.
Overall, El Borak’s appearance reflects his dual identity as a Western adventurer and an Eastern traveler. He is a man who can blend in with the locals in order to get what he needs, but who also carries with him the tools and weapons of a seasoned fighter. His look is one of practicality and efficiency, designed to help him survive in the dangerous world he inhabits.
Recurring characters
Yar Ali Khan is a recurring character in the stories of El Borak. He is a Pathan, a member of the Pashtun ethnic group who inhabit the region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Khan is portrayed as a loyal friend and ally of El Borak, often accompanying him on his adventures and serving as a valuable ally in battles against their enemies. He is a skilled warrior and marksman, and he shares El Borak’s code of honor and bravery.
In many of the stories, Yar Ali Khan acts as a foil to El Borak’s character, providing a counterpoint to his friend’s brash and impulsive nature with his own more measured and thoughtful approach. Together, they form a formidable duo, capable of overcoming even the most dangerous foes and challenging obstacles in their path.
Another character connected with Howard is the Sikh Lal Singh. He was one of REH’s primal heroes, created before both Kull or Conan. Howard brought Lal Singh back when he returned to writing tales of Francis X. Gordon.
Lal Singh is featured in the following stories:
| Title | Summary |
|---|---|
| Drag | A 160 words unfinished story. Alternate title: untitled story (It was a strange experience, and I don’t expect anyone . . .) |
| El Borak (2) | “El Borak” is an unfinished tale by Robert E. Howard that blends adventure and intrigue in the deserts of the Middle East. It features two of Howard’s recurring characters, El Borak, known for his sharp mind and deadly skills, and Stephen Angus Allison, also known as The Sonora Kid, who navigates his own moral code in foreign lands. |
| The Further Adventures of Lal Singh | The Further Adventures of Lal Singh is a short story by Robert E. Howard. First printed in English in the chapbook The Adventures of Lal Singh (1985). It was not published in Howard’s lifetime. |
| Lal Singh, Oriental Gentleman | Lal Singh, Oriental Gentleman. Submitted to Weird Tales and Chicago Ledger, but was not published in either. |
| The Tale of the Rajah’s Ring | “The Tale of the Rajah’s Ring” is a story set in the vibrant backdrop of Meerut, featuring Lal Singh, a bold and cunning Sikh warrior embroiled in a dangerous quest involving a precious ring belonging to a local rajah. |
| Three-Bladed Doom | An El Borak story titled “Three Bladed Doom” had a short (24.000 words) and a long (42.000 words) version. |
| Untitled story (It was a strange experience, and I don’t expect anyone . . .) | UNTITLED STORY (It was a strange experience, and I don’t expect anyone . . .). A 160 words unfinished story. |
Complete list of stories featuring El Borak
| Title | Summary | Featuring | Written | Published | Genre | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood of the Gods | “Blood of the Gods” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the July 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. A group of soldiers of fortune seek a set of matched rubies called the Blood of the Gods, owned by al Wazir. To find it, they capture an Arab who they believe knows the location of al Wazir, who has become a desert hermit. After the Arab agrees to help them, despite his fear of el Borak, a friend of al Wazir who leads the caravan to al Wazir’s hermitage and reveals al Wazir’s location at the Caves of El Khour, the Arab is shot by one of el Borak’s other allies, Salim. | El Borak | 1935-01-00 | 1935-07-00 | Desert Adventure | $ ? |
| The Coming of El Borak | “The Coming of El Borak” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. First printed in English in the chapbook The Coming of El Borak (September 1987), it was not published in Howard’s lifetime. | El Borak, Frank Gordon, Khoda Khan, Mullah Hassan, Marion Sommerland, Kulam Khan, Yar Ali Khan, Abdullah Din, Mahommed Ali, Yar Hyder, Colonel Sommerland | ||||
| The Coming of El Borak – draft | “The Coming of El Borak” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. This draft was first presented in The Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletter Winter 2009 as a typescript. | El Borak | ||||
| The Country of the Knife | “Country of the Knife” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the August 1936 issue of the pulp magazine Complete Stories. The story is also known as “Sons of the Hawk”. | El Borak | 1935-06-00 | 1936-08-00 | Desert Adventure | $ 120.00 |
| The Daughter of Erlik Khan | “The Daughter of Erlik Khan” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the December 1934 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. | El Borak | 1934-12-00 | Desert Adventure | $195.50 | |
| El Borak (1) | Never published in Howard’s lifetime. Alternate Title: UNTITLED STORY (“I emptied my revolver . . .”) | El Borak | ||||
| El Borak (2) | “El Borak” is an unfinished tale by Robert E. Howard that blends adventure and intrigue in the deserts of the Middle East. It features two of Howard’s recurring characters, El Borak, known for his sharp mind and deadly skills, and Stephen Angus Allison, also known as The Sonora Kid, who navigates his own moral code in foreign lands. | El Borak, The Sonora Kid, Steve Allison, Frank Gordon, El Bahr, Ahmed Habib, Ghopal Ramm, Yar Ali Khan, Rustum Bey, Lal Singh | ||||
| Hawk of the Hills | HAWK OF THE HILLS is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the June 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. | El Borak | 1935-06-00 | Desert Adventure | $ ? | |
| Intrigue in Kurdistan | “Intrigue in Kurdistan” is an unfinished narrative by Robert E. Howard that plunges into the volatile geopolitical tensions in Kurdistan. It centers around Frank Gordon, known also as El Borak, an American caught up in the complex interplay of tribal allegiances and colonial ambitions. | El Borak, Frank Gordon, Kemul Bey, Hassan | ||||
| The Iron Terror | “The Iron Terror” is a short story by Robert E. Howard, featuring a blend of horror and science fiction elements set against the backdrop of a bleak New York winter. The narrative follows a daring encounter with a formidable mechanical creation. This is an early El Borak short story. First printed in English in the chapbook The Coming of El Borak (September 1987), it was not published in Howard’s lifetime. Howard tried submitting it to Cosmopolitan in 1922 or 1923. | El Borak, Francis Xavier Gordon | Science Fiction, Horror | |||
| Khoda Khan’s Tale | “Khoda Khan’s Tale” features El Borak and is a short story by Howard. First printed in English in the chapbook The Coming of El Borak (September 1987), it was not published in Howard’s lifetime. | El Borak, Khoda Khan, Yar Ali Khan, Kulam Khan, Darza Shah, Hassan ibn Zaroud, Umgazi | Desert Adventures | |||
| The Land of Mystery | The Land of Mystery. A team-up of different Howard characters. Today we would probably call them crossovers. El Borak teams up with the Sonora Kid. Never published in Howard’s lifetime. | El Borak, The Sonora Kid, Frank Gordon, Steve Allison, Kid Allison, Omar Bey, Yar Ali Khan, Abdul el Kadour | Desert Adventures, Adventure | |||
| The Lost Valley of Iskander | “The Lost Valley of Iskander” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was not published within Howard’s lifetime, the first publication was in the FAX Collector’s Editions hardback The Lost Valley of Iskander in 1974. Its original title was “Swords of the Hills”. In this story, El Borak discovers a legendary valley in which live Greek descendants of Alexander the Great invading army. Meanwhile, the vital package he carries must be carried to British India before the Hungarian, Hunyadi, can stop him or thousands will die. | El Borak | ||||
| North of Khyber | North of Khyber. A team-up of different Howard characters. Today we would probably call them crossovers. El Borak teams up with the Sonora Kid. Never published in Howard’s lifetime. | El Borak, The Sonora Kid, Steve Allison, Billy Buckner, Frank Gordon, Moriarty, Yar Ali Khan, Yar Hyder | ||||
| A Power Among the Islands | “A Power Among the Islands” is an unfinished short story by Robert E. Howard, set in the vivid backdrop of the South Seas. The tale opens aboard the schooner Marquesas, weaving a narrative of adventure, confrontation, and the influence of a single individual over a small, contained society. A Power Among the Islands. A team-up of different Howard characters. Today we would probably call them crossovers. El Borak teams up with the Sonora Kid. Never published in Howard’s lifetime. | El Borak, The Sonora Kid, Steve Allison, Frank Gordon, Captain Herran | ||||
| The Shunned Castle | “The Shunned Castle” is an unfinished tale by Robert E. Howard that blends adventure with elements of mystery. Set in a dense, jungle-covered landscape, the story follows Frank Gordon, known as El Borak, and his younger companion, Steve Allison, as they encounter the mysterious and foreboding ruins of an ancient castle. Unique in Howard’s oeuvre, this narrative features the rare team-up of two of his well-known characters, each bringing their own skills and personalities to the unfolding adventure. | El Borak, The Sonora Kid, Steve Allison, Frank Gordon | ||||
| Son of the White Wolf | “Son of the White Wolf” is an El Borak short story by Howard. It was originally published in the December 1936 issue of the pulp magazine Thrilling Adventures. El Borak is a contemporary of T.E. Lawrence, and Lawrence is mentioned several times in the story “Son of the White Wolf,” setting this tale firmly during World War I. Gordon is well-known to the Arabs; the name El Borak is used to striking fear into the hearts of children. | El Borak | 1936-03-00 | 1936-12-00 | Desert Adventure | $50.00 |
| Sons of the Hawk | Sons of the Hawk, Howard’s original title or “The Country of the Knife” as it was published as is an El Borak short story. It was originally published in the August 1936 issue of the pulp magazine Complete Stories. | El Borak | 1935-06-00 | Desert Adventure | ||
| Swords of the Hills | Swords of the Hills is the original title of this story, but it is better known as “The Lost Valley of Iskander”. It is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was not published within Howard’s lifetime, the first publication was in the FAX Collector’s Editions hardback The Lost Valley of Iskander in 1974. | El Borak, Francis Xavier Gordon, Gustav Hunyadi, Bardylis of Attalus, Ptolemy the King, Abdullah | Desert Adventure | |||
| Three-Bladed Doom | An El Borak story titled “Three Bladed Doom” had a short (24.000 words) and a long (42.000 words) version. | El Borak, Baber Khan, Ahmed Shah, Lal Singh, Yar Ali Khan, Amir of Afghanistan, Francis Xavier Gordon | Desert Adventure | |||
| Untitled story (Gordon, the American whom the Arabs call El Borak, . . .) | The story, set in the deserts of Sudan, features Frank Gordon, known to the Arabs as El Borak, an American with deep knowledge of and strong feelings about various tribes in the Orient. As Gordon travels alone in the desert, he encounters hostile Tauregs—a tribe he dislikes—and utilizes his exceptional combat skills and a superior Bikanir camel to navigate and survive the threats posed by this fierce tribe. | El Borak, Frank Gordon, Professor Jonas Worley | ||||
| Untitled story (I emptied my revolver . . .) | Never published in Howard’s lifetime. Alternate Title: UNTITLED STORY (“I emptied my revolver . . .”) | El Borak, Yar Ali |
Publications featuring El Borak
Only three stories were published Howard’s lifetime. These were:
- “The Daughter of Erlik Khan” (Top-Notch, December 1934)
- “Hawk of the Hills” (Top-Notch, June 1935)
- “Blood of the Gods” (Top-Notch, July 1936)
Later in 1936, these were published:
- “The Country of the Knife” (Complete Stories, August 1936)
- “Son of the White Wolf” (Thrilling Adventures, December 1936)
Article by Rick Lai
Sources:
- El Borak – Wikipedia
- ChatGPT (which contained many facts wrong and which I have tried to train).
- Thanks to Ed Chazyk for mentioning Lal Singh.