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

• 1 • The Treasures of Tartary • [Kirby O’Donnell] • (1935) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 29 • Swords of Shahrazar • [Kirby O’Donnell] • (1934) • novella by Robert E. Howard
• 85 • The Curse of the Crimson God • [Kirby O’Donnell] • (1976) • novelette by Robert E. Howard
• 119 • The Brazen Peacock • (1975) • short story by Robert E. Howard
• 147 • The Black Bear Bites • [Cthulhu Mythos Tales] • (1974) • short story by Robert E. Howard

Notes

Assumed 1st printing. Color fold out poster of cover art bound in.