Three colorful adventure stories. Kirby O’Donnell is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard. He is an American treasure hunter in early-twentieth century Afghanistan disguised as a Kurdish merchant, “Ali el Ghazi”. Howard only wrote three stories about O’Donnell, one of which was not published within his lifetime.

O’Donnell has, like many Howard characters, the stereotypical “Black Irish” combination of black hair and blue eyes. He has a lithe but powerful physique, relying more on agility and wits than strength. Kirby O’Donnell is similar to another of Howard’s characters, El Borak, in many ways. However, O’Donnell seeks hidden treasures in all of his stories while El Borak is more concerned with his own form of justice and stability in Afghanistan. O’Donnell carries a set of distinctive weapons, a scimitar with a bronze hawk-head on the pommel and a “kindhjal” [sic].

Contents

  •  Swords of Shahrazar • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • xiii • Introduction (Swords of Shahrazar) • essay by Fred Cook [as by Frederick Cook]
  • 3 • The Curse of the Crimson God • [Kirby O’Donnell] • novelette by Robert E. Howard
  • 4 •  ”Come and taste of death thyself, dog!” • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 11 •  They left the city of thieves • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  •  The fight for the Crimson God • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 18 •  The Jowakis came on • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 30 •  Then his cry changed to a scream of terror • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 41 • The Treasures of Tartary • [Kirby O’Donnell] • (1935) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
  • 42 •  An agonized groan burst from his victim’s lips • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta] Ayisha gazed up at him as if his dark, hawk-like face had caught her fancy • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 51 •  He made his way to a small side gate • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 57 •  He had the advantage of position • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 64 •  Yar Akbar launched himself through the air • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 73 • The Treasure of Shaibar Khan • [Kirby O’Donnell] • novella by Robert E. Howard (variant of Swords of Shahrazar 1934)
  • 77 •  Like an Oriental demon carrying a corpse to Hell • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 85 •  Then O’Donnell snapped an order • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 101 •  At his whisper they rose like ghouls • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  • 115 •  Afzal Khan roared • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
  •  ”No, you damned swine!” • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Michael Wm. Kaluta]
Publisher :FAX Collector’s Editions
Year :1976
Book No.:0-913960-08-X
Format :Hardcover with dust jacket
Pages :149
Cover :Michael William Kaluta
Illustrations :Michael William Kaluta

Notes

Cover artist credited on front jacket flap.
Interior art credited on title page.
12 B&W full-page illustrations, 3 color plates (unnumbered pages), pictorial endpapers different front and rear. There are sheets of tissue paper in front of the color plates laid in.

Numerous B&W illustrations throughout, including on the half-title page, the title page, the table of contents, the list of illustrations, the beginning and end of each chapter and story and other random locations.

Cover art by Michael William Kaluta

The Swords of Shahrazar

Three colorful adventure stories. Kirby O’Donnell is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard. He is an American treasure hunter in early-twentieth century Afghanistan disguised as a Kurdish merchant, “Ali el Ghazi”. Howard only wrote three stories about O’Donnell, one of which was not published within his lifetime.

Tags: Frederick Cook / Kirby O'Donnell / Michael William Kaluta / Robert E. Howard