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Cover of Fantasy Book Volume 4 Number 2
Periodical
REH World editorial overlay

Fantasy Book Volume 4 Number 2

Fantasy Book Enterprises

1985
Material type
Magazine
Publication categories
MagazinesPeriodicals

Publication date: June 1985

Introduction

"Black Eons" is a story based on an unfinished and untitled fragment by Robert E. Howard. The fragment was posthumously completed and named by Robert M. Price, a writer known for his contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos and pulp fiction genres. This collaboration blends Howard's original vision with Price's expertise in cosmic horror, a genre epitomized by H.P. Lovecraft.

Synopsis:
In "Black Eons," we delve into the adventures of James Allison, a recurring character in Howard's works. The story begins with Allison and his fellow archaeologist, Brill, unearthing an ancient temple in the Egyptian desert. Allison believes this temple hails from the Hyborian Age. That night, Allison is transported through a dream to a time when he was a warrior, ravaging the city where the temple stood and slaying its high priest, a devotee of the deity Gol-goroth. The priest's dying curse condemns the warrior's soul to an endless cycle of reincarnation, awaiting the priest's revenge.

Upon awakening, Allison realizes he is within the tomb and is the reincarnation of the warrior. The story reaches a climax when Brill, possessed by the spirit of the high priest, attacks Allison. In a desperate struggle, Allison manages to vanquish Brill, destroy the priest's desiccated body, and finally claim the inner peace that has eluded his tormented soul for millennia.

Notes

Whole No. 16, Volume 4, Number 2.
Cover illustrates "Burning Brand" which is titled "The Space Pirates" on the cover.
Covers are not included in the pagination.
Cartoon on p. 23 is not credited but is signed.
"The Planet" appeared in The Knickerbocker, a New York literary magazine.
"The Black Dwarf" was first published in the book Jewish Fairy Tales and Stories.
The superscript "TM" (for trademark) follows the title on the cover and as a subscript on the contents page.
Content page credits Dennis Mallonee (Publisher/Editor), Nick Smith (Editor/Art Director), Forrest J Ackerman, Jessica Salmonson, and Darrell Schweitzer (Contributing Editors)

 

Edition and production details

Edition
1st
Format
Magazine, Periodical (8.5 x 11, saddle stapled)
Publication date
June 1985
Pages
68
Publisher / imprint
Fantasy Book Enterprises
Cover art
David Fietze
Illustrations
Rick Hoberg, David Gray, James A. Mitchell, Rita Terrell, John Borkowski, Marc Schirmeister, Yam Chu, Corey Wolf, Walt Davis, Marjett Schille, Mark Spangenberg, and Kim Corey-Chun

2 linked Howard works

63 contents entries

  1. "Black Eons" (Completed by Robert M. Price)
  2. The Sorceress of the Silvered Wood • poem by Michael R. Collings 2 · poem
  3. Non-REH Content
  4. The Sorceress of the Silvered Wood • interior artwork by Mark Spangenberg 2 · artwork
  5. "The Sorceress of the Silvered Wood" by Michael R. Collings (poem)
  6. Black Eons • [James Allison] • novelette by Robert E. Howard and Robert M. Price 3 · novelette
  7. " The Seventh Dragon" by Sheila Finch-Rayner
  8. Black Eons • interior artwork by Rick Hoberg 5 · artwork
  9. " M'butu's God" by Tom Smith
  10. Black Eons [2] • interior artwork by Rick Hoberg 8 · artwork
  11. "Thunder Pigeon" by Bruce J. Balfour
  12. The Seventh Dragon • short story by Sheila Finch [as by Sheila Finch-Rayner] 10 · story
  13. "Coming of Age in the City of the Goddess" by Darrell Schweitzer
  14. The Seventh Dragon • interior artwork by Corey Wolfe 11 · artwork
  15. Fantasy Game Reviews by Barry Wilson
  16. The Seventh Dragon [2] • interior artwork by Corey Wolfe 13 · artwork
  17. "Burning Brand" by Jefferson P. Swycaffer
  18. M'butu's God • novella by Tom Smith 14 · novelette
  19. "A Kind of Death, With Wings" by Ardath Mayhar (poem)
  20. M'butu's God • interior artwork by David Gray (Artist) 14 · artwork
  21. "The Planet" a fantasy classic by an unknown author
  22. M'butu's God [2] • interior artwork by David Gray (Artist) 16 · artwork
  23. "A Story Whose Name is Forgot" by Mark Baker
  24. M'butu's God [3] • interior artwork by David Gray (Artist) 19 · artwork
  25. "The Monk's Tale" by Esther M. Friesner
  26. M'butu's God [4] • interior artwork by David Gray (Artist) 21 · artwork
  27. "The Running Back from Yuggoth" by William R. Trotter
  28. Cartoon: "I'm the wife of the frog prince, and I want you to stop fooling around with my husband." • interior artwork by Groginski 23 · artwork
  29. "The Death of Nimue" by Esther M. Friesner
  30. Thunder Pigeon • short story by Bruce Balfour [as by Bruce J. Balfour] 24 · story
  31. "The Black Dwarf" by Gerald Friedlander
  32. Thunder Pigeon • interior artwork by Walt Davis 24 · artwork
  33. Thunder Pigeon [2] • interior artwork by Walt Davis 25 · artwork
  34. Coming of Age in the City of the Goddess • novelette by Darrell Schweitzer 26 · novelette
  35. Coming of Age in the City of the Goddess • interior artwork by James A. Mitchell 26 · artwork
  36. Coming of Age in the City of the Goddess [2] • interior artwork by James A. Mitchell 29 · artwork
  37. Coming of Age in the City of the Goddess [3] • interior artwork by James A. Mitchell 30 · artwork
  38. Fantasy Game Reviews (Fantasy Book, June 1985) • essay by Barry Wilson 31 · essay
  39. Burning Brand • novelette by Jefferson P. Swycaffer 32 · novelette
  40. Burning Brand • interior artwork by Rita Terrell 32 · artwork
  41. Burning Brand [2] • interior artwork by Rita Terrell 34 · artwork
  42. Burning Brand [3] • interior artwork by Rita Terrell 37 · artwork
  43. A Kind of Death, with Wings • poem by Ardath Mayhar 39 · poem
  44. A Kind of Death, with Wings • interior artwork by Kim Corey-Chun 39 · artwork
  45. A Kind of Death, with Wings [2] • interior artwork by Kim Corey-Chun 40 · artwork
  46. A Kind of Death, with Wings [3] • interior artwork by Kim Corey-Chun 41 · artwork
  47. Introduction (The Planet) • essay by Darrell Schweitzer 42 · introduction
  48. The Planet • (1853) • short story by Anonymous 42 · story
  49. A Story Whose Name is Forgot • short story by Mark Baker 46 · story
  50. A Story Whose Name is Forgot • interior artwork by John Borkowski 47 · artwork
  51. A Story Whose Name is Forgot [2] • interior artwork by John Borkowski 49 · artwork
  52. The Monk's Tale • short story by Esther M. Friesner 50 · story
  53. The Monk's Tale • interior artwork by Yam Chu 50 · artwork
  54. The Monk's Tale [2] • interior artwork by Yam Chu 52 · artwork
  55. The Running Back from Yuggoth • novelette by William R. Trotter 53 · novelette
  56. The Running Back from Yuggoth • interior artwork by Marc Schirmeister 53 · artwork
  57. The Running Back from Yuggoth [2] • interior artwork by Marc Schirmeister 55 · artwork
  58. The Running Back from Yuggoth [3] • interior artwork by Marc Schirmeister 57 · artwork
  59. The Death of Nimuë • short story by Esther M. Friesner 59 · story
  60. Introduction (The Black Dwarf) • essay by Jessica Amanda Salmonson 61 · introduction
  61. The Black Dwarf • (1918) • short story by Gerald Friedlander 61 · story
  62. The Black Dwarf • interior artwork by Yam Chu 61 · artwork
  63. The Black Dwarf [2] • interior artwork by Yam Chu 63 · artwork

Contributors

David Fietze
Cover artist

Characters / Featuring

James Allison

Additional related terms

Preserved from the former REH World tagging system; these terms have not yet been assigned as contributors, characters or subjects.

Corey WolfDarrell SchweitzerDavid GrayDennis MallonéeForrest J. AckermanJames A. MitchellJessica SalmonsonJohn BorkowskiMarc SchirmeisterMarjett SchilleMark SpangenbergRick HobergRita TerrellRobert E. HowardRobert M. PriceWalt DavisYam Chu

Bibliographic and editorial layers

Howard Works source layer

Title
Fantasy Book Volume 4 Number 2 (Whole number 16)
Publisher
Fantasy Book Enterprises
Date
June 1985
Source file
fantasybookv4n2.html

REH World editorial layer

Title
Fantasy Book Volume 4 Number 2
Publisher
Fantasy Book Enterprises
Date
June 1985
Source provenance

This record combines the preserved Howard Works bibliography with a reviewed REH World editorial overlay. Editorial values are displayed when present; Howard Works remains the source and fallback.