Sons of Hate (partial synopsis)

Sons of Hate is a fully developed story by Robert E. Howard, accompanied by three surviving synopses that provide insight into how Howard refined and restructured the narrative before completing the final version. The story, set in the 1930s, blends elements of espionage, adventure, and revenge, following the consequences of a decades-old betrayal in Sudan that resurfaces in America.

The three synopses show Howard shifting the focus of the narrative, moving from an investigative setup (Synopsis 1) to a historically rich backstory (Synopsis 2), and finally to a fast-paced, action-heavy confrontation (Synopsis 3). Understanding these synopses helps us see how Howard approached his storytelling process, layering motivations, tightening plotlines, and increasing the intensity of conflict.

See SONS OF HATE for more details on the full story. Featuring the private detectives Butch Gorman and Brent Kirby.

Synopsis 1

In this earliest version, the story is in its most basic form, acting more as a set of notes than a structured narrative. The synopsis focuses on an investigative approach, centering around the tracking of Colonel Pembroke. On August 3rd, Stalbridge arrives in the city ahead of Kerim Ali. He quickly locates Pembroke’s house and sends him a picture before observing Pembroke leave for the city. Stalbridge follows him, keeping an eye on his movements and watching him arrive at a detective’s office. Meanwhile, Kerim Ali also arrives, slightly later, and begins his own investigation. He finds Pembroke’s house, gets in touch with an informant named Juan, and bribes him for information. Juan learns from another contact, William, that Pembroke is heading to the detective agency. Kerim Ali then formulates a plan but is persuaded by Juan not to intercept Pembroke upon his arrival.

Characters

• Stalbridge – Investigator, first to arrive in the city and closely monitoring Pembroke.
• Kerim Ali – Arrives later and begins his own investigation.
• Pembroke – The target of their investigations, his motives are not yet fully revealed.
• Brent Kirby & Butch Gorman – Private detectives involved in the case.
• Juan – Informant bribed by Kerim Ali.
• William – Provides information about Pembroke’s plans.

Synopsis 2

This version expands on Pembroke’s background, explaining how his past as a former slave trader and traitor during the Sudanese conflicts comes back to haunt him. In the late 19th century, Colonel Pembroke built his fortune in Sudan, first as a slave trader and later as a soldier aiding the Mahdist forces in the sack of Khartoum. During this time, an English explorer named Ashley had discovered a lost tribe of Egyptians near the headwaters of the Nile. This tribe possessed a great treasure, including a unique green jade artifact known as the “Cat of the Pharaoh.” Pembroke, under the guise of friendship, trapped and murdered Ashley with the help of a Sudanese chief named Muhammad. Seizing the treasure, Pembroke fled Africa and eventually settled in America, where he lived in peace with his niece, assuming his past was long forgotten. However, decades later, a young reporter publishes a story about Pembroke, including a photograph of him holding the jade cat. This single act sets off a chain reaction—Muhammad’s son, upon recognizing the artifact, sends a group of deadly Sudanese warriors to seek vengeance. At the same time, Ashley’s nephew, recognizing the jade cat from a photo his uncle once sent, sets out to reclaim what he considers his rightful inheritance.

Characters

• Colonel Pembroke – A former slave trader and traitor, now living under a false sense of security in America.
• Muhammad – The Sudanese chief who was once Pembroke’s ally, later betrayed.
• Muhammad’s son – Seeking revenge for his father’s betrayal, he sends a group of warriors to America.
• Ashley – An English explorer who discovered the Pharaoh’s treasure and was murdered by Pembroke.
• Ashley’s nephew – Travels to America, seeking justice and the return of his uncle’s stolen treasure.
• Brent Kirby & Butch Gorman – Private detectives who are drawn into the unfolding conflict.

Synopsis 3

This version transitions the story into an intense, action-driven pulp thriller. Richard Brandon orders detective Brent Kirby to call Butch Gorman and instruct him to bring Colonel Pembroke to the detective agency. Brandon listens closely, claiming to recognize Gorman’s voice, but Kirby tricks him. Pretending to follow orders, Kirby suddenly attacks Brandon, knocking him unconscious, stealing his gun, and driving him toward Pembroke’s house. Just as he reaches the house, a bullet shatters his windshield, blinding him momentarily and causing him to crash into a tree. Leaping from the wreck, he is immediately attacked by a shadowy figure but manages to shoot his way through the ambush. Gorman arrives to assist, and together, they carry Brandon into the house, where he confronts Pembroke, accusing him of being a renegade and demanding the truth about the Pharaoh’s Treasure. Pembroke admits everything.

Before anything further can be done, the house is suddenly overrun by Sudanese warriors, who capture Pembroke and his niece. They begin torturing Pembroke, forcing him to reveal the location of the treasure, which is hidden behind a secret panel. As the warriors disappear into the tunnel with their captives, Gorman revives just in time to prevent Brandon’s execution. He follows into the underground passageways, where he finds that Pembroke has already been executed, and his niece is about to suffer the same fate. A brutal knife fight ensues in the dark, with Gorman taking on the leader of the Sudanese warriors. Meanwhile, Brandon has rushed to summon the police, and as reinforcements arrive, the remaining Sudanese are captured. The survivors emerge from the underground battle, bloodied but victorious.

Characters

• Brent Kirby & Butch Gorman – Private detectives caught in the battle.
• Richard Brandon – Initially investigating Pembroke, but soon becomes a pawn in the larger conflict.
• Colonel Pembroke – Finally faces the consequences of his past crimes.
• Pembroke’s niece – An innocent caught in the revenge plot.
• Sudanese warriors – Seeking vengeance for the betrayal of their people.
• Sudanese giant – The leader of the warriors, who faces Gorman in a final knife duel.

Comparison of the Three Synopses

Final Thoughts

Howard’s three synopses show the evolution of Sons of Hate from a detective-driven mystery into a full-scale pulp adventure. He gradually shifts from a methodical investigation into an action-packed, knife-fighting finale in a secret underground chamber.

Since Howard eventually wrote a complete version of the story, these outlines provide an invaluable look at his creative process, showing how he layered intrigue, historical detail, and violence to craft the final version.

• ROBERT E. HOWARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER V4N1, Robert E. Howard Foundation, March 2010, typescript  
• TALES OF WEIRD MENACE, (only synopsis 1) REH Foundation Press, January 2011 
• TALES OF WEIRD MENACE, Ultimate Edition, REH Foundation Press, March 2025