The Werewolf Murder Case

Introduction

“The Werewolf Murder Case” is a parody of detective and supernatural stories, blending absurd humor with a mockingly serious tone. The narrative follows the protagonist and his aristocratic friend Vilo Pants through a series of bizarre and violent escapades, culminating in an unexpected and humorous conclusion involving werewolves.

Part of a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa after mid-1932. This was first place in The Collected Letters of REH Volume 3, but later moved to Volume 2.

The story satirizes both the detective genre and supernatural tales, blending them with humor and exaggerated violence to create a uniquely absurd narrative.

The letter starts like this:

Ahatou noyon, Fear Finn:

Thinking of nothing particularly to say just I’ll attempt to parody as in days of yore.

An extract from chapter 3:

Vilo entered on his hands and knees. He eyed me menacingly. He wrinkled his patrician nose and snarled, baring long buck-teeth.
“I’m a werewolf,” he announced.
I always try to enter into his whims with zest, zim and zitality. I likewise got on my all-fours. Thereafter the only sound was the shattering of furniture and an occasional gasping oath. At last I got a headlock on him, and twisting him beneath me, hammered him into senselessness with a heavy table-leg. Rising, I weaved uncertainly into the street, spitting out fragments of teeth as I went.

Detailed summary

Chapter 1

The story begins with the protagonist sitting on a divan, playing a balalaika and singing a nursery rhyme. Vilo Pants, his aristocratic friend, interrupts by hitting him with an iron mallet to draw attention to his dissatisfaction with the song’s rhyme. After a comedic exchange involving misrhymed verses and physical violence, the protagonist lapses into unconsciousness from a blow to the head.

Chapter 2

The narrative abruptly shifts to a vivid and violent scene involving Ertoghrul Khan, a Kumanian warrior, chasing and killing an Armenian fugitive. This segment is described with dramatic and graphic detail, showcasing the brutality of the pursuit. The Armenian manages to shoot Ertoghrul before succumbing to his own wounds, laughing maniacally as he dies.

Chapter 3

Back in the present, Vilo Pants announces he is a werewolf and engages in a mock fight with the protagonist. Their roughhousing results in broken furniture and physical injuries. Vilo, fully embracing his werewolf persona, chases a young woman down the street, causing the police to hide in fear. The protagonist, feeling a kinship with Vilo, joins in the werewolf fantasy, celebrating their shared destiny as “blond werewolves.”

Chapter 4

The story concludes with a surreal and satirical depiction of a golden twilight over an imperial city. The narrative reflects on the absurdity and high drama of human endeavors, blending images of ancient cultures with humorous anachronisms. The tale ends on a whimsical note, hinting at the possibility of future stories filled with similar absurdities.

Characters

  • Vilo Pants: An aristocratic friend of the protagonist, known for his violent tendencies and absurd declarations. He believes himself to be a werewolf and engages in bizarre behavior throughout the story.
  • Protagonist: The narrator of the story, who often finds himself at the receiving end of Vilo’s violence. He humorously indulges Vilo’s whims and shares in the werewolf fantasy.
  • Ertoghrul Khan: A fierce Kumanian warrior depicted in the second chapter, who hunts down and kills an Armenian fugitive.
  • Armenian Fugitive: A character in the second chapter who is pursued and killed by Ertoghrul Khan but manages to shoot his attacker before dying.
  • Young Woman: A minor character chased by Vilo Pants in his werewolf guise.
  • Police: Cowardly characters who hide in a sewer to avoid confronting Vilo Pants.

Published in: