The Dragon of Kao Tsu (earliest known draft)

This is an unpublished first draft by Robert E. Howard later revised into “The Dragon of Kao Tsu,” is a tale of adventure, intrigue, and deception set against the exotic backdrop of the Far East. The story follows Wild Bill Clanton, a man of questionable morals, as he navigates through a complex plot involving theft, murder, and a valuable ivory elephant.

Howard wrote some spicy adventure tales. For this one, he used the pseudonym, Sam Walser.

The final story was sold by Binder to Trojan circa February 1936 for $26.50. It’s not known if Howard got paid since it was published after his death.

Howard’s tale weaves together elements of adventure, historical intrigue, and moral ambiguity, showcasing his skill in creating a vivid and compelling world where the lines between hero and villain are often blurred.

See The Dragon of Kao Tsu for more information about the final and published story.

The story opens with Wild Bill Clanton, a tough and worldly adventurer, contemplating his next illicit venture in a bar when he is interrupted by Marianne Allison, a wealthy and fiery woman. She accuses him of being a thief and a liar, particularly upset over an ivory elephant Clanton has procured for her, which she claims is a fake. The elephant, a rare and ancient artifact, is supposed to be a unique piece made for the Mughal emperor Akbar and is highly coveted among Marianne’s social circle.

Marianne’s dissatisfaction with the artifact leads her to accompany Clanton on a dangerous night-time mission to confront Diego de Strozza, the thief who originally stole the elephant from a notorious figure named Gop Kang. They arrive at Diego’s hideout, only to find him dead, murdered with his throat slit. The two are ambushed in the dark by Gop Kang’s men, leading to a chaotic and violent struggle. Marianne manages to escape to an upper level of the warehouse but is eventually captured by Hurricane Davies, another unsavory character who mistakes her for the murderer of Diego and demands the ivory elephant from her.

Davies, assuming Marianne has hidden the artifact on her person, forces her to strip down, but when he finds nothing, he grows increasingly threatening. The situation becomes more dire when Shareef Ali, an ally of Gop Kang, enters the scene with his men. Ali takes Marianne captive, and Davies is overpowered and tortured by the gang in an attempt to discover the elephant’s whereabouts.

At the critical moment, Clanton returns, having armed himself with a gun from Marianne’s car. He holds the group at gunpoint, forcing them to release Davies and leave the warehouse. Clanton then reveals that he has discovered the true nature of the ivory elephant: it contains a hidden contract, a valuable and secret document that is the real reason for its high value. This contract, written on parchment and hidden inside the elephant, was part of a deal between Marianne’s father and Gop Kang, giving Marianne’s father valuable business concessions in China. With this knowledge, Clanton uses the elephant as leverage, demanding Marianne fulfill her end of their bargain.

Marianne, however, attempts to double-cross Clanton by attacking him with a chair leg, but her plan fails as Clanton quickly recovers and asserts his dominance. The story ends with Clanton forcing Marianne to comply with his demands, underscoring the ruthless and morally ambiguous nature of their relationship.

• Wild Bill Clanton: The protagonist, a criminal with a code of honor, navigating the treacherous waters of the Far East’s underworld to retrieve the Mogul elephant.
• Marianne Allison: The daughter of a wealthy businessman, she is determined to obtain the ivory elephant to secure a secret contract hidden within it. She is manipulative, using her charm and social status to get what she wants, but ultimately falls victim to Clanton’s stronger will.
• Diego de Strozza: A thief who initially steals the Mogul elephant but is later found murdered, setting off a chain of events that entangle Clanton and Marianne in a dangerous quest.
• Hurricane Davies: A brutish criminal who seeks the Mogul elephant for his own gain, he becomes a formidable adversary to Clanton and Marianne.
• Gop Kang: A powerful figure in China, indirectly involved in the quest for the Mogul elephant through his historical ties to the secret contract contained within it.
• Shareef Ali: An ally of Gop Kang, he captures Marianne and intends to extract information about the elephant’s location. He is a cynical and ruthless character, indicative of the dangerous environment in which the story takes place.
• Yakub: A knowledgeable figure who confirms the authenticity of the Mogul elephant, providing crucial information that propels the narrative forward.

The comparison between the earliest draft and the final published version of “The Dragon of Kao Tsu” reveals significant changes in plot, character development, dialogue, and thematic focus. While the core elements of an adventure tale involving theft, deceit, and danger remain consistent, the final version refines these aspects, making the narrative more coherent and the characters more complex. The adjustments in setting, character names, and motivations also indicate a shift in the story’s tone and style.

Key Changes and Comparisons

1. Setting and Atmosphere

• Earliest Draft: The setting is introduced with Clanton in the Anglo-American Bar, considering illegal ventures. The story’s initial atmosphere is one of gritty exoticism, typical of adventure stories set in far-off lands, with a focus on the underworld of crime and smuggling.
• Final Version: The setting shifts to the Purple Dragon Bar, which, while similar in tone, gives a more specific and colorful backdrop that aligns with the thematic elements of Orientalism. The bar’s name emphasizes the exotic and mysterious nature of the story, enhancing the atmosphere.

2. Character Names and Roles

• Wild Bill Clanton: His character remains consistent across both versions as a rugged and morally ambiguous adventurer. However, his interactions and motives are more polished in the final version, showcasing a sharper wit and a more defined role in the plot.
• Marianne Allison: In both drafts, Marianne is portrayed as a wealthy, headstrong woman entangled in the pursuit of a rare artifact. Her character’s motivations are clearer in the final version, with a stronger emphasis on her cunning and determination. Her role as the daughter of a wealthy businessman involved in international intrigue is more explicitly connected to the story’s central conflict in the final version.
• Diego de Strozza / Ram Lal: The thief who initially steals the artifact changes from Diego de Strozza in the earliest draft to Ram Lal in the final version. This shift from a vaguely European character to an explicitly South Asian one (Ram Lal) reflects a greater emphasis on the Orientalist themes in the final version.
• Gop Kang / Shareef Ahmed: The antagonist who owns the artifact shifts from the Chinese Gop Kang in the earliest draft to the Arab Shareef Ahmed in the final version. This change introduces a new cultural layer to the story, diversifying the narrative’s exploration of Eastern cultures.

3. Artifact Details

• Ivory Elephant / Ivory Dragon: The object of desire shifts from an “ivory elephant” in the earliest draft to an “ivory dragon” in the final version. This change enhances the mystique and significance of the artifact, with the dragon symbolizing power and ancient tradition within East Asian cultures.
• Purpose of the Artifact: The final version reveals a hidden contract within the dragon, which is central to the story’s climax. This detail is more refined and integrated into the plot, compared to the earlier draft where the focus is more on the artifact’s authenticity and its value as a collectible.

4. Plot Development

• Conflict and Resolution: In the earliest draft, Clanton and Marianne’s journey revolves around recovering the correct ivory elephant, with less focus on the underlying political and financial stakes. The final version introduces a more intricate plot involving a hidden contract within the dragon, tying Marianne’s mission directly to her father’s business interests and adding layers of intrigue.
• Action Scenes: The final version contains more polished and vividly described action sequences, particularly during the fight in the warehouse. The descriptions are more dynamic, with clearer choreography and heightened tension, enhancing the story’s pacing.

5. Dialogue and Character Interactions

• Tone and Language: The dialogue in the final version is crisper and more natural, with characters exchanging sharp, witty banter that better reflects their personalities. Clanton’s and Marianne’s verbal exchanges are more refined, with a stronger emphasis on their conflicting motives and the tension between them.
• Character Dynamics: The final version deepens the relationship between Clanton and Marianne, with their interactions highlighting their mutual distrust and the underlying sexual tension. This dynamic is more subtly developed in the final version, making their eventual confrontation more impactful.

6. Themes and Moral Ambiguity

• Earliest Draft: The themes of greed, betrayal, and survival are present but less developed. The story primarily focuses on the adventure and the physical quest for the artifact.
• Final Version: The final version introduces more complex themes, including the clash of cultures, the corrupting influence of wealth, and the moral ambiguities of the characters’ actions. The hidden contract within the dragon adds a political dimension to the story, tying personal greed to larger global consequences.

7. Ending

• Earliest Draft: The story concludes with Clanton asserting control over Marianne, using the artifact as leverage to compel her compliance. The ending is abrupt and reinforces the rough, morally gray world in which the characters operate.
• Final Version: The ending in the final version is more elaborate, with Clanton outsmarting Marianne, who tries to double-cross him. The story closes on a note of ironic justice, with Clanton exacting his revenge, yet the conclusion leaves the future of both characters open, suggesting ongoing conflicts and unresolved tensions.

Summary of Changes

• Setting: Shift from the Anglo-American Bar to the Purple Dragon Bar; more emphasis on the exotic and mysterious.
• Characters:
  • Diego de Strozza changes to Ram Lal.
  • Gop Kang changes to Shareef Ahmed.
  • Clanton and Marianne’s characters are more refined and their motivations clearer.
• Artifact:
  • Ivory Elephant changes to Ivory Dragon.
  • Introduction of a hidden contract within the dragon in the final version.
• Plot Development:
  • Enhanced political and financial stakes in the final version.
  • More dynamic and detailed action scenes.
• Dialogue:
  • Sharper, more natural exchanges.
  • Deeper exploration of character dynamics and tension.
• Themes:
  • Introduction of cultural clashes and moral ambiguity in the final version.
• Ending:
  • More elaborate and ironic conclusion in the final version, with open-ended implications.

Conclusion

The comparison between the earliest draft and the final version of “The Dragon of Kao Tsu” highlights a significant evolution in the narrative, with the final version offering a more polished and thematically rich story. The changes in setting, character names, and plot elements all contribute to a more engaging and complex tale, reflecting a maturation in storytelling and a deeper exploration of the characters’ motives and the cultural contexts in which they operate.

• SPICY ADVENTURES, Ultimate edition, REH Foundation Press, August 2024.