Robert E. Howard’s “Spicy” stories have long been celebrated for their daring blend of adventure and sensuality, often pushing the boundaries of the pulp fiction market of his time. These tales, many of which originally appeared in the pages of Spicy-Adventure Stories, a magazine known for its provocative content, capture Howard’s unique ability to weave thrilling narratives with a touch of the forbidden. However, the stories that reached readers were often tempered by editors who found Howard’s original typescripts too bold, leaving fans and scholars eager to discover his unfiltered work.

The Robert E. Howard Foundation first answered this call in 2011 with the publication of Spicy Adventures. This collection not only brought these stories back in their full, unedited form but also marked the first time many of them appeared in hardback. Additionally, the volume included a substantial miscellanea section, offering drafts and synopses that provide a rare glimpse into Howard’s creative process.

Now, with the release of this Ultimate Edition, the collection has been further refined and expanded. Available through print on demand, this edition ensures that Howard’s unadulterated tales are more accessible than ever to both fans and scholars.

CHANGES FROM THE 1ST EDITION: In this Ultimate Edition, previously edited versions of “The Girl on the Hell Ship,” “Ship in Mutiny,” and “Daughters of Feud” have been restored to typescript. Five “new” earliest known drafts have been added: “Desert Blood,” “Dragon of Kao Tsu,” “Murderer’s Grog,” “Guns of Khartoum,” and “Daughters of Feud.” We have also replaced the previous “early” drafts of “The Girl on the Hell Ship” and “Ship in Mutiny” with their earliest known drafts.

Contents

• iii • Acknowledgements (Spicy Adventures) • essay by uncredited
• vii • Introduction (Spicy Adventures) • essay by Patrice Louinet
• 3 • The Girl on the Hell Ship • [Wild Bill Clanton] • (1936) • short story by Robert E. Howard (variant of She Devil)
• 21 • Ship in Mutiny • [Wild Bill Clanton] • (1983) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 39 • Desert Blood • [Wild Bill Clanton] • (1936) • short story by Robert E. Howard (variant of Revenge by Proxy)
• 55 • The Purple Heart of Erlik • [Wild Bill Clanton] • (1936) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 73 • The Dragon of Kao Tsu • [Wild Bill Clanton] • (1936) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 89 • Murderer’s Grog • [Wild Bill Clanton] • (1937) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 105 • Guns of Khartum • (1975) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 123 • Daughters of Feud • (1976) • short story by Robert E. Howard

Miscellanea

• 141 • “John Gorman found himself…” (untitled Synopsis) • [John Gorman] • (1984) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard (variant of She-Cats of Samarkand (synopsis))
• 143 • The Girl on the Hell Ship (earliest known draft) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 159 • Ship in Mutiny (untitled synopsis) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 163 • Ship in Mutiny (earliest known draft) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 173 • Desert Blood (list of characters) • by Robert E. Howard
• 182 • Desert Blood (Earliest known draft) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 183 • The Purple Heart of Erlik (untitled synopsis) • by Robert E. Howard (variant of The Purple Heart of Erlik (synopsis))
• 187 • The Dragon of Kao Tsu (earliest known draft) • ([Wild Bill Clanton] • (1936) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 201 • Murderer’s Grog (earliest known draft) • [Wild Bill Clanton] • (1937) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 211 • Guns of Khartum (earliest known draft) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 228 • Daughters of Feud (untitled Synopsis) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard (variant of Daughters of Feud (synopsis))
• 231 • Daughters of Feud (earliest known draft) • short story by Robert E. Howard

Notes

Edited by Patrice Louinet and Paul Herman.
Cover art by Mark Wheatley.
Prepared for publication by Ståle Gismervik, Savage Studios.

CHANGES FROM THE 1ST EDITION: In this Ultimate Edition, previously edited versions of “The Girl on the Hell Ship,” “Ship in Mutiny,” and “Daughters of Feud” have been restored to typescript. Five “new” earliest known drafts have been added: “Desert Blood,” “Dragon of Kao Tsu,” “Murderer’s Grog,” “Guns of Khartoum,” and “Daughters of Feud.” We have also replaced the previous “early” drafts of “The Girl on the Hell Ship” and “Ship in Mutiny” with their earliest known drafts.