Pastiche / fiction by other authors

REH World addition

Fantastic Science Fiction & Fantasy Stories February 1975

Ultimate Publishing

1975

Publication type

Magazine Periodical

Publication date: February 1975

Introduction

Fantastic Science Fiction & Fantasy Stories volume 24, No. 2.

"Shadows in the Skull" is a short story by American writers L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter, featuring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian created by Robert E. Howard. This is its first publication. It first appeared in book form by Ace Books in the paperback collection Conan of Aquilonia in May 1977 which was reprinted several times through 1994. The first British edition was published by Sphere Books in October 1978.

Aided by Zembabwean Wyvern-riders and black Amazons, King Conan of Aquilonia and his son, Prince Conn, track their arch-foe, Stygian sorcerer Thoth-Amon, to the extreme southern end of the Hyborian continent.

The sorcerer has taken refuge with the last remnants of the evil Serpent Men, shape-changers who have menaced mankind throughout its prehistory. Conan's allies locate their skull-shaped hideout, only to fall victim to the Serpent Men's ploy of emulating beautiful Stygian women.

His final battle with Thoth-Amon in the sorcerer's own domain proves as hard-fought as their previous encounters, but is ultimately successful at ridding the world of the fiend. Conan's 13-years old son, Conn, deals the death blow to his father's old arch-enemy.

Notes

Vol 24, No 2. "Shadows in the Skull" is listed as "Shadow in the Skull" on the table of contents. "To Be a Witch, in Three-Quarter Time" is listed as "To Be a Witch, in Three Quarters Time" on the table of contents.

Edition and production details

Edition format: Periodical (Digest)
Publication date: February 1975
Pages: 132
Publisher / imprint: Ultimate Publishing
Cover art: Stephen E. Fabian
Illustrations: Michael Nally, Stephen Fabian, Jeff Jones, Michael Kaluta, Richard Olsen, Joe Staton

21 contents entries

Editorial (Fantastic, February 1975) • [Editorial (Fantastic)] • essay by Ted White 4 · editorial
Shadows in the Skull • [Conan] • novelette by Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp 6 · novelette
Shadows in the Skull • interior artwork by Michael Nally 7 · artwork
Perchance to Dream • short story by Robert F. Young 28 · story
Perchance to Dream • interior artwork by Stephen Fabian 29 · artwork
To Be a Witch, in Three-Quarter Time • novelette by Charles L. Grant [as by C. L. Grant] 42 · novelette
To Be a Witch, in Three-Quarter Time • interior artwork by Jeff Jones 43 · artwork
The Dragon of Tor-Nali • short story by Juanita Coulson 58 · story
The Dragon of Tor-Nali • interior artwork by Michael Kaluta [as by Mike Kaluta] 59 · artwork
Dissenting • short story by Mike Glicksohn [as by Gardner R. Dubious] 75 · story
Solid Geometry • short story by Ian McEwan 78 · story
Solid Geometry • interior artwork by Richard Olsen 79 · artwork
Asylum in the Concrete • short story by Paul David Novitski [as by Alpajpuri] 93 · story
The Return of Captain Nucleus • short story by Bruce D. Arthurs 100 · story
The Return of Captain Nucleus • interior artwork by Joe Staton 101 · artwork
Fantasy Books: From Asgard to Elfland • [Fantasy Books (Fantastic)] • essay by Fritz Leiber 109 · essay
Review: Hrolf Kraki's Saga by Poul Anderson • review by Fritz Leiber 109 · review
Review: The Crystal Gryphon by Andre Norton • review by Fritz Leiber 111 · review
Review: The Return of Kavin by David Mason • review by Fritz Leiber 112 · review
Review: From Elfland to Poughkeepsie by Ursula K. Le Guin • review by Fritz Leiber 113 · review
... According to You (Fantastic, February 1975) • [According to You (Fantastic)] • essay by Ted White 122 · essay

Contributors

Stephen E. Fabian: Cover artist
Michael Nally: Illustrator
Stephen Fabian: Illustrator
Jeff Jones: Illustrator
Michael Kaluta: Illustrator
Richard Olsen: Illustrator
Joe Staton: Illustrator
Ted White: Editor, Essayist
Fritz Leiber: Essayist

Characters / Featuring

Conan

Additional related terms

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