REH’s Writings

WritingPermanent catalogue Work

Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey

Alternate title:The Jade Monkey

8textual states10Characters

Genre

Boxing

Introduction

"Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey" is a tale penned by Robert E. Howard under the pseudonym Patrick Ervin, featuring the robust and adventure-seeking sailor Steve Costigan. In this story, Costigan navigates the treacherous and deceptive underworld of Hong Kong, blending a mix of humor, action, and a dash of mystery as he deals with dubious characters and seeks a mythical artifact.

Three drafts exist for this story; One early shorter untitled draft; A draft in final form told in the 3rd person; A draft in final form told in the 1st person.

The 3rd party draft was prepared a couple of years before the 1st. person version. The 1st. person version is the one sent to Otis Adelbert Kline, who proceeded to mark it up with changes to try to make it a Dennis Dorgan story. Kline then sold the story to THE MAGIC CARPET MAGAZINE and it was announced in the last issue (January 1934). THE MAGIC CARPET MAGAZINE then went under and it was never published. OAK listed the story in his records as “Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey.”

The final typescript sold on eBay in 2000 for around $1500.
In the first publication, Glenn Lord decided to keep the Kline changes, likely to try to have more Dorgan stories to make a book with. Glenn also listed the author as “Patrick Ervin”, the pseudonym that Howard used with some of his Dennis Dorgan stories

Sailor Dorgan and the Jade Monkey. REH used Patrick Ervin as a pseudonym. For appearances of this story, refer to the main story listing under Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey.

The story was announced in the final January 1934 edition of The Magic Carpet Magazine.

The Jade Monkey. REH used Patrick Ervin as a pseudonym. This material is associated with Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey.

Textual states

Shown in a practical developmental order where possible: synopsis/outline, numbered drafts, submission states, then published or posthumous states. This display order does not itself assert exact chronology or textual authority.

Draft 1Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey — Draft 1

Open exact text →

Draft 2 — page 4 false startSailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey — Draft 2 page 4 false start

Open exact text →

Sailor Dorgan and the Jade Monkey — Draft 2Draft

Open exact text →

Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey — Draft 2Draft

Open exact text →

Draft 2 — page 9 false startSailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey — Draft 2 page 9 false start

Open exact text →

1936 third-person versionSailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey — 1936 third-person version

Open exact text →

Sailor Costigan and the Jade MonkeyPrimary Text

Catalogue defaultOpen exact text →

Sailor Dorgan and the Jade MonkeyPrimary Text

Open exact text →

From the letters:

In a letter (#333) to Otis Adelbert Kline, January 8, 1936 Howard writes:

Today I received a check from him for the novelet, which he sold to Dime Sport. The shorts were rejected. He tells me that Bloomfield is interested in my work, and suggests that I let him have something else to submit. Popular Publications is a company I’ve long yearned in vain to crash. So I’m re-writing “Sailor Dorgan and the Jade Monkey” in the third person for him to try. This one, you know, you placed with Wright for the Magic Carpet, and recently returned to me to be re-written when Magic Carpet was abandoned as a publishing project. If Kofoed sells this, you’ll receive your commission just as if you had sold it, for you’ve handled the yarn and are entitled to it.

and in the same letter

I trust that my intention of letting Kofoed try to place “The Jade Monkey” meets with your approval. If it sells, I’ll send you a check for your commission on the next mail.

It seems Kline did not like this and Howard apologizes in the next letter (#334) to him on January 13, 1936:

Just read yours of the 11th. I gather you aren’t too pleased with the idea of Kofoed offering some of my stuff to Dime Sport. I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, for I certainly had no intention of doing so. When I agreed to let Kofoed show Bloomfield the yarns he had left over when Jack Dempsey’s Fight Magazine went out of business, I did not mean to imply any dissatisfaction with your agency. Emphatically not. I’ve already let Kofoed have the three Costigan yarns he had on hand, and the re-written “Jade Monkey” but if you feel that it’s not fair to you, I won’t send him any more.

From the letters:

In a letter (#333) to Otis Adelbert Kline, January 8 Howard mentions the story:

So I’m re-writing “Sailor Dorgan and the Jade Monkey” in the third person for him to try. This one, you know, you placed with Wright for the Magic Carpet, and recently returned to me to be re-written when Magic Carpet was abandoned as a publishing project. If Kofoed sells this, you’ll receive your commission just as if you had sold it, for you’ve handled the yarn and are entitled to it.