A New Game for Costigan

Introduction

“A New Game for Costigan” by Robert E. Howard is a colorful story featuring Steve Costigan, a rough-and-tumble sailor with a penchant for boxing and finding himself in unexpected predicaments. Known for his brawn and straightforward nature, Costigan’s adventures often blend humor, action, and a touch of the absurd. This tale sees Costigan attempting to navigate his reputation and relationships in the backdrop of gritty taverns and the seedy underbelly of boxing promotions.

The original typescript lists the author as “Patrick Ervin”, a pseudonym REH used in connection with his Dennis Dorgan stories. Otis Adelbert Kline and later agents retained the original typescript (titled “A New Game for Dorgan”), and it was eventually donated to Cross Plains Library. In OAK’s logs the title is originally “A New Game for Costigan“, then “Costigan” is struck out, and “Dorgan” is written above it, along with “Patrick Ervin”.

Cross Plains Library has one original draft of this story and a retyped draft by the Otis Adelbert Kline Agency.

The story serves as a humorous critique of attempts to impose one’s will on others, showcasing the unpredictable nature of human behavior and the folly of underestimating individuals based on appearances or reputations.

See also “A New Game for Costigan (synopsis)“.

The story

The story kicks off in the back room of the Ocean Wave bar where Steve Costigan is greeted derisively by his acquaintances due to his uncharacteristically dapper appearance. They mock him for his newfound wealth and refined look, stemming from a lucky bet at Tia Juana. Ignoring the jibes, Costigan is introduced to a proposition by Hard-cash Clemants, a fight promoter known for his ruthless methods. Clemants reveals his distress over his son Horace’s ‘unmanly’ aspirations to become a musician and his distaste for the fight-promoting business. Desperate to toughen him up, Clemants wants Costigan and his friends to take Horace on a coercive cruise to instill ruggedness in him.

Initially, Costigan flatly refuses to be a part of Clemants’ scheme to ‘Shanghai’ Horace, finding the plan morally reprehensible despite the promise of lucrative payment. However, after he leaves, his friends, tempted by the money, decide to undertake Clemants’ plan without him.

Later, Costigan, now working temporarily as a sportswriter, visits training camps to cover an upcoming fight and unwittingly causes chaos with his brutally honest commentary about the boxers’ abilities. His lack of tact leads to a series of confrontations with the fighters he criticizes, resulting in physical altercations that draw the ire of both camps.

Meanwhile, Costigan’s friends manage to abduct Horace but quickly find themselves overwhelmed by his unexpected ferocity and combat skills. After a tumultuous attempt to control him, Bill O’Brien, one of Costigan’s mates, seeks his help to manage the uncontrollable Horace. Upon Costigan’s arrival, he discovers that Horace, far from being the docile musician, is a formidable opponent in a brawl.

The narrative takes a twist when Clemants arrives, frantic with news that Horace has eloped with a bookkeeper’s daughter, leaving the whole abduction scheme pointless. In the ensuing confusion, it is revealed that Horace’s ‘kidnapping’ was a mistake, and the man they had captured was Terry Hoolihan, a middleweight champion mistaken for Horace due to a misunderstanding at a nightclub.

The story wraps up with revelations and reconciliations. Costigan decides to abandon his brief stint as a sportswriter, disillusioned by the complexities it brought into his life. He returns to what he knows best—boxing—ready to embrace the straightforward, albeit brutal, clarity that comes with being in the ring.

Characters and boats

  • Steve Costigan – The main protagonist, a sailor and boxer known for his physical prowess.
  • Bill O’Brien, Mushy Hansen, Jim Rogers, Sven Larson – Costigan’s mates, fellow sailors.
  • Hard-cash Clemants – A fight promoter, father of Horace Clemants.
  • Horace Clemants – Hard-cash Clemants’s son, initially described as a mild-mannered musician.
  • Billy Ash – A newspaperman who gives Costigan a chance to write sports articles.
  • Bull Clanton, Flash Reynolds – Boxers mentioned in Costigan’s sports articles.
  • Terry Hoolihan – A middleweight champion mistakenly involved in the abduction scheme.
  • Mike – Costigan’s dog, mentioned for wearing a fancy collar.
  • A yacht provided by Hard-cash Clemants, used as part of the plan to ‘Shanghai’ Horace Clemants and make him more rugged. This yacht is specifically noted to have bulletproof features, a relic from Clemants’ rum-running days.

Alternate Titles

#1: A NEW GAME FOR DORGAN
#2: PLAYING JOURNALIST

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