The Early Adventures of El Borak: Ultimate Edition brings together Robert E. Howard’s formative tales of Francis Xavier Gordon, known as El Borak, alongside a rich tapestry of other memorable characters. El Borak, Howard’s first creation, embodies the fierce independence and swift action that have made him a timeless hero. From the deserts of Arabia to the mountains of Afghanistan, his adventures are filled with danger, intrigue, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

In addition to El Borak, this collection features the daring exploits of other iconic characters from Howard’s imagination. The Sonora Kid, a cowboy with a quick draw and a sharper wit, navigates the treacherous terrain of the American Southwest. Lal Singh, a merry Sikh warrior, uses both swordplay and trickery to survive and thrive in a world of constant peril. And Yar Ali Khan, a brooding and loyal companion to El Borak, emerges as a formidable force in his own right, fighting alongside his friend in some of the most remote and hostile lands.

This Ultimate Edition presents these stories as they were originally conceived, with all material drawn from Howard’s original typescripts, manuscripts, and carbons. Newly added is the story “Drag,” and several tales have been restored to their original typescript forms, offering a deeper insight into Howard’s creative genius.

With a striking new cover by Mark Wheatley, this collection is a must-have for fans and scholars of Robert E. Howard. Whether you’re familiar with these characters or encountering them for the first time, this edition offers a thrilling journey into the early adventures of one of pulp fiction’s greatest storytellers.

CHANGES FROM THE FIRST EDITION: In this Ultimate Edition, “Drag” has been added. Transcriptions of Howard’s typescripts or previously edited versions of “The Further Adventures of Lal Singh,” “Red Curls and Bobbed Hair,” Untitled (“Madge Meraldson”), Untitled (“The Hades Saloon”), and “The West Tower” have been restored to typescript. In the first edition, a handwritten first draft was used for “The Tale of the Rajah’s Ring”; this edition uses an incomplete typed second draft, finished with the text from the handwritten first draft. Accordingly, all texts are now from REH typescripts except “Under the Great Tiger,” which is from the first publication.

Contents

• vii • Acknowledgments (The Early Adventures of El Borak) • essay by uncredited
• ix • The Making of El Borak • essay by David A. Hardy (I)

The Coming of El Borak

• 3 • The Iron Terror • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 18 • “Gordon, the American…” (Untitled fragment) • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 21 • The Coming of El Borak • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 31 • Khoda Khan’s Tale • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 101 • El Borak • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 133 • “I emptied my revolver…” (Untitled fragment) • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 135 • The Land of Mystery • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 153 • The Shunned Castle • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 159 • The White Jade Ring • [The Sonora Kid] • (2007) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 163 • A Power among the Islands • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 165 • North of Khyber • [El Borak] • (1987) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 179 • Intrigue in Kurdistan • [El Borak] • (1986) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard

Lal Singh Oriental Gentleman

• 196 • The Sword of Lal Singh • (2002) • poem by Robert E. Howard
• 197 • The Tale of the Rajah’s Ring • [Lal Singh] • (1985) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 205 • The Further Adventures of Lal Singh • [Lal Singh] • (1985) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 207 • Lal Singh, Oriental Gentleman • [Lal Singh] • (1985) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard

The Adventures of Yar Ali Khan

• 224 • The Song of Yar Ali Khan • (1977) • poem by Robert E. Howard
• 225 • The Lion Gate • (2007) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 230 • The Sword of Yar Ali Khan (originally untitled • (2007) • poem by Robert E. Howard
• 231 • “When Yar Ali Khan crept…” (Untitled fragment) • (2007) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 233 • Untitled fragment (“Two men were standing in the bazaar…”) • (2007) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard

Steve Allison: The Sonora Kid

• 237 • The Sonora Kid—Cowhand • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 243 • The Sonora Kid’s Winning Hand • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 245 • Red Curls and Bobbed Hair • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 255 • “Madge Meraldson…” (Untitled fragment) • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 257 • “The Hades Saloon…” (Untitled fragment) • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 259 • “A blazing sun…” (Untitled fragment) • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard (variant of “A Blazing Sun in a Blazing Sky“)
• 263 • “The way it came about…” (Untitled fragment) • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard (variant of ..The Mountains of Thibet)
• 267 • (“The hot Arizona sun…”) (Untitled fragment) • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 271 • (“Steve Allison…”) (Untitled fragment) • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 275 • Brotherly Advice • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 281 • Desert Rendezvous • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 287 • The West Tower • [The Sonora Kid] • (1988) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard

Miscellanea

• 305 • “Drag” (unfinished) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 307 • Under the Great Tiger • (1923) • short story by Robert E. Howard and Tevis Clyde Smith
• 309 • “A Cossack and a Turk…” (Untitled fragment) • (1976) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 311 • Spears of the East • (1976) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 313 • “…that is, the artistry…” (Untitled fragment) • (2007) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 315 • “Thure Khan gazed out across…” (Untitled fragment) • (2007) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard
• 317 • Blood of the Gods (untitled synopsis) • short fiction by Robert E. Howard

Maps, Sketches and Lists

• 322 • Maps possibly for “Blood of the Gods” • interior artwork by Robert E. Howard
• 323 • List – possible for “Blood of the Gods” • by Robert E. Howard
• 324 • Map found on the back of typescript pages for “Three-Bladed Doom” • interior artwork by Robert E. Howard