After completing the seven page first draft of “Rattle of Bones,” REH decided that the story needed another ending and he rewrote the last two pages of the typescript. The seven carbon copy pages of the first draft and the originals to the first version of pages 6 and 7 were archived.
This newsletter version appears as a text version accompanied by scans of the seven carbon copy first draft pages.
Contains several untitled typescripts. The untitled synopses and the note about Hernando de Guzman are copies of Howard typescripts. “The Silver Heel” synopsis is missing the first two pages.
“A Boy, a Beehive, and a Chinaman” is a copy of Howard’s handwritten school theme paper. The untitled poem on page 15 is incomplete. The fragment on the back cover is a color copy of Howard’s typed draft, p. 15, that ends in a synopsis of the remainder of the story.
“While Smoke Rolled” is a facsimile of the Howard typescript of a draft of the story. This story has never been published in this, its original version. This version has Pike Bearfield as the hero; the published version has Breckinridge Elkins in his place. The back cover is a color copy of one of Howard’s onionskin carbons, with the text on the reverse side showing through (typed on both sides to save on paper costs).
The “Pigeons from Hell” draft is a facsimile of the Howard typescript. It is significantly shorter than the final story and does not have the element of revenge that is in the final version.
The list of ruler’s titles covers countries in the Near and Middle East.
The synopsis on the back cover is a color facsimile of the Howard typescript.
“The Cairn on the Headland” draft is a facsimile of Howard’s typescript, free of modifications made to the published story by Strange Tales editor Harry Bates.
The untitled story is a facsimile of a Howard typescript describing an imaginary boxing match.
The two poems on the back cover are a facsimile copy of a handwritten single sheet of paper.
“The Dwellers under the Tombs, Draft A” is a facsimile of Howard’s typescript, the earlier and shorter of two drafts that survive.
The map is imbedded in a facsimile of a typed page (p. 156) of “The Hour of the Dragon”.
The letter to Smith is a facsimile of the handwritten letter, with drawings imbedded.
“The Black Stone (Early Draft)” is a facsimile of a Howard typescript, with a pair of handwritten comments by the author.
“The Ballad of King Geraint” and “Zukala’s Mating Song” are slightly different from the version published in The Collected Poetry of Robert E. Howard.
The remainder of the content items are facsimile copies of Howard typescripts.
“The Guise of Youth” and “Roads” were originally published as two separate poems, but are likely a single poem.
As a young man, Howard contributed to The Junto, a circulating publication written by a group of his friends and himself. During circulation, the group would write comments about the content, which was then typed up and distributed with the following issue of The Junto. “The Commentary” collects such comments made by Howard, edited by Rob Roehm.
The synopsis of “The Silver Heel” here is longer (more complete) than the one published in the Fall 2007 issue. It is a facsimile of a Howard typescript from the Otis Adelbert Kline Agency files. An incomplete untitled synopsis also exists.
“Scotchogram” is an incomplete list.
The “Alleys of Peril” synopsis features “Sailor Steve O’Brien”, whereas the story features Sailor Steve Costigan.
The untitled poem is a color facsimile copy of a Howard typescript.
“Sailor Costigan / Dorgan and the Jade Monkey” is a facsimile copy of a Howard typescript, written originally featuring Steve Costigan, but with the name changed to Dennis Dorgan by Howard’s agency.
“A South Sea Storm” is a facsimile of an incomplete handwritten story Howard wrote in high school.
“Stories Written Complete” is a facsimile of a Howard typescript that lists stories Howard submitted between April or May 1929 and December of that year.
