Fists of Iron Round 1 – UE

The first volume in a four-part series collecting the boxing fiction of Robert E. Howard. This 474-page edition features stories, poems, fragments, and articles presented in restored and corrected form, based on Howard’s original typescripts, manuscripts, and carbons whenever possible. Most materials were sourced from the Glenn Lord collection (now at the University of Texas at Austin), the Robert E. Howard collection at Texas A&M University, and the Cross Plains Library archive.

This Ultimate Edition includes several textual updates and corrections from the original edition, such as the replacement of The Weeping Willow with a more accurate version based on Howard’s typescript. “Tunney Can’t Win” appears here for the first time in any edition of Fists of Iron. Some poetry titles have also been updated to match their standardized forms in the Collected Poetry volumes. The introduction is by Christopher Gruber, with cover art by Mark Wheatley.

The First edition is limited to 200 numbered copies, each individually numbered.

Contents

  • iii • Acknowledgments
  • ix • The Brute Eternal: The Boxing Tales of Robert E. Howard • essay by Christopher Gruber

Fists of Iron

Poems

  • 191 • Kid Lavigne is Dead • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 193 • “Aw Come On and Fight!” • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 194 • The Cooling of Spike McRue • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 196 • Fables for Little Folks • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 197 • The Champ • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 198 • Slugger’s Wow • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 199 • “And Dempsey Climbed Into the Ring” • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 200 • In the Ring • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 202 • Fighting the Anaconda Kid • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 204 • Down the Ages • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 205 • John L. Sullivan • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 207 • Jack Dempsey • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 208 • “The Duckers of Crosses” • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 209 • “All the Crowd” • poem by Robert E. Howard
  • 210 • When You Were a Set-Up and I Was a Ham • poem by Robert E. Howard

Appendix 1: Early tales, variants and fragments

Appendix 2: Articles

Appendix 3: Odds and Ends

Appendix 4:

  • 437 • The Lord of the Ring (part 1) • essay by Patrice Louinet
Buy the book
10-Rounds article
Year :May 2025
Type:Collection – 4 volume set
Edition :2.0 – Ultimate Edition
Format :Hardcover with dust jacket
Pages :xxiii plus 450
Cover :Mark Wheatley
Illustrations :None

The first editions:

Notes

All of the Howard stories, poems and portions thereof contained in Fists of Iron Volume 1 come from Howard’s original typescripts, manuscripts, and carbons, when possible. Virtually all of the typescripts were scanned from the Glenn Lord collection, now at the University of Texas, Austin; the Robert E. Howard collection at Texas A&M University; or the typescript collection at Cross Plains Library. 
 
The exceptions are: “Kid Lavigne is Dead,” from The Ring; “Fables for Little Folks,” from the Daniel Baker Collegian; “In the Ring,” a mix of original typescript and REH Fight Magazine #4; “A Man of Peace,” a mix of original typescript and  Glenn retype; “Cupid v. Pollux,” from The Yellow Jacket; “The Spirit of Tom Molyneaux,  alternate version”, from Ghost Stories; “Night Encounter”, from a mix of original typescript and Glenn retype; “Dula Due to be Champion,” from the Brownwood Bulletin; “Tunney Can’t Win,“ from the Fort Worth Star Telegram; and, “The Funniest Bout,” from a mix of original typescript and Glenn retype.
 
CHANGES FROM THE FIRST EDITION: 
“The Weeping Willow,” text changed from The Last of the Trunk in the first edition, now using original typescript
 
“Tunney Can’t Win“ is NEW in this edition.
 
Some of the poetry titles have been updated to reflect their standardized versions in the Collected Poetry volumes.
Howard Works ISFDB REH Foundation Press - buy it!

 

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Fists of Iron Round 1 – UE

The first volume in a four-part series collecting the boxing fiction of Robert E. Howard. Ultimate Edition.

Tags: Chris Gruber / Mark Wheatley / Patrice Louinet / Paul Herman / Robert E. Howard / Ståle Gismervik