The Apache Mountain War (Draft 3). A tale about Breckinridge Elkins from 1935. First published in Action Stories, December 1935. There are four known drafts of this story.

The complete list of The Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletters. Members of the REH Foundation (“Friend of REH” and “Legacy Circle”) receives these newsletters 4 times a year in the mail. Recently an archive has been set up were some of these issues are available digitally for these …

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The professional career of Greg Staples began in 1990 with work for Britain’s premier comic ‘2000AD’, debuting with the famous British character ‘Judge Dredd’. This character has been a recurring theme in Staples’ work ever since. His tenure at ‘2000AD’ opened doors to various projects, including concept design artwork for film, television, and games. Staples became known for his work on the popular card game ‘Magic: The Gathering’. Over the years, he has been a concept artist on several films, including ‘World War Z’, ‘Doomsday’, ‘Hellboy’, and ‘Dredd’.

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On this page I will try to put all of my experiments on projects that I take on. Call it music, art or literature or just hacks, Crom doesn’t care.

Black Colossus was adapted by Roy Thomas for The Savage Sword of Conan Volume 1 Number 2, Marvel Comics, October 1974. It was penciled by John Buscema and inked by Alfredo Alcala. On these pages, the story is presented with beautiful coloring by Noah Henson. Noah colored with Crayola crayons and assorted pencils directly onto an original, vintage publication of The Savage Sword of Conan.

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On this page I will try to put all of my experiments on projects that I take on. Call it music, art or literature or just hacks, Crom doesn’t care.

Conan of Cimmeria Volume 3 was published by Book Palace …

The print run on the hard cover edition ran around …

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A fully searchable database of publications by and featuring stories related to Robert E. Howard. Always under continuous construction.

Periodicals featuring material related to Robert E. Howard.

A fully searchable database of publications by and featuring stories related to Robert E. Howard. Always under continuous construction.

Pulp magazines featuring stories or letters by Robert E. Howard

A fully searchable database of publications by and featuring stories related to Robert E. Howard. Always under continuous construction.

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Pulp magazines where Robert E. Howard’s stories were published.     …

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Jim & Ruth work in a variety of styles and media, including oils, watercolor, ink wash, and digital art. Their work has been exhibited at galleries, including The Society of Illustrators in New York. They’re also the creators of the comic strip, “The Adventures of Two-Gun Bob”, published by Dark Horse comics for over a decade.

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Finally. The trip has been booked and planning has started. Got some great tips from Paul Herman and Rob Roehm. Thanks to them both.

Finally. The trip has been booked and planning has started. Got some great tips from Paul Herman and Rob Roehm. Thanks to them both.

Finally. The trip has been booked and planning has started. Got some great tips from Paul Herman and Rob Roehm. Thanks to them both.

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In February 2022 I contacted Guillaume Sorel and got in contact with his lovely wife Anne. She told me Guillaume was working in his “cavern” on a new comic book project of which they will produce a limited edition during the summer. Below are the fantastic artwork Anne sent me of Guillaume’s work. This project will be great. Artwork featuring Robert E. Howard himself and all of his famous characters. What’s not to love?

Schultz’s first published comics work was on a story called “The Sea King”, featuring Robert E. Howard’s character King Kull, which appeared in Savage Sword of Conan #132, published by Marvel Comics. Schultz inked over pencils by Val Semeiks

In 2002, Schultz contributed a number of illustrations to Conan the Cimmerian: Volume 1, a new reprinting of the Conan stories of Robert E. Howard, published by Wandering Star Books. The book has since been reprinted in paperback by Del Rey as The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.

A list of all of Howard’s titles, stories, and notes. Poems are not included in the list. If you find errors, extra information, or have any updates let me know. Most of the information is gathered from Howard Works and isfdb.org. Disclaimer: I try to replicate the listing on Howard Works of where each story is published, but there might be publications that I have missed.

1109 A.D. Notes prepared by REH while writing historical fiction for ORIENTAL STORIES / MAGIC CARPET in the early 1930s.

’44-40 or Fight’ is a very short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Western Story in 1924 but it was never published.

The Abbey is a fragment of a story that probably were never finished by Howard. It was published for the first time in Fantasy Crossroads in 1975.

This is probably part of some of Howard’s school work. Adventures in Arabia. 

After the game was written for The Yellow Jacket the student paper. Published in volume XIII, no. 7th, October 1926. This is a play.

A fragment first published (in French) in La Tomb Du Dragon (NeO, 1990). First English language publication in The New Howard Reader #7, Spring 2000.

First published in The Tattler, the Brownwood High School paper, March 1, 1923. Inspired by Gus Mager’s Hawkshaw the Detective.

“Akram the Mysterious” is an unfinished story by Robert E. Howard, which tells the tale of Hengibar, a physically formidable and fiercely independent character from an ancient and primitive time. The story is narrated by James Allison, who possesses the unique ability to remember his past lives, including that of Hengibar.

Featuring Dennis Dorgan but was originally a Costigan story. Since Howard also had ‘The Shadow of the Vulture’ in the same issue, they used the pseudonym, Patrick Ervin. Alternate title ‘Alleys of Singapore’. First published in Magic Carpet Magazine, January 1934. Howard wrote the story in May, 1933.

Featuring Dennis Dorgan but was originally a Costigan story. Since Howard also had ‘The Shadow of the Vulture’ in the same issue, they used the pseudonym, Patrick Ervin. Alternate title ‘Alleys of Singapore’. First published in Magic Carpet Magazine, January 1934. Howard wrote the story in May, 1933.

Featuring Steve Costigan. Alternate title ‘Leather Lightning’. First published in Fight Stories, volume 3, number 8 January, 1931.

Featuring Steve Costigan. Alternate title ‘Leather Lightning’. First published in Fight Stories, volume 3, number 8 January, 1931.

Featuring Steve Costigan. Synopsis of Alleys of Peril

Featuring Dennis Dorgan. Written under the pseudonym, Patrick Ervin. Alternate title ‘Alleys of Darkness’.

Featuring Dennis Dorgan. Written under the pseudonym, Patrick Ervin. Alternate title ‘The Mandarin Ruby’.

Almuric is a science fiction novel by American writer Robert E. Howard. It was originally serialized in three parts in the magazine Weird Tales beginning in May 1939. The novel was first published in book form in 1964 by Ace Books.

THE ALTAR AND THE SCORPION. Never published in Howard’s lifetime. Howard wrote the story in 1928. It was submitted to Weird Tales, but Farnsworth Wright rejected it. The story was first published in ‘King Kull’ by Lancer books in 1967. Even though Kull does not directly appear in the story he is mentioned as “Kull, king of all Valusia”.

First published in ‘The Juno volume 1 number 10’ in January 1929 as ‘Ambition in the Moonlight’.

First published in ‘The Juno volume 1 number 10’ in January 1929.

A tale about Breckinridge Elkins from 1935. First published in Actions Stories December, 1935.

This brief synopsis outlines the frame of Robert E. Howard’s story The Apache Mountain War, another of the Breckinridge Elkins tales.

The first appearance of this was in the Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletter volume 7, number 4.

There exists two typescripts for this story. The first corresponds to the final version submitted to FIGHT STORIES and ARGOSY. It is written in the third person and the ghostly elements are less marked.
The second typescript is written in the first person and the supernatural element is more pronounced. Howard used the name John Taverel for this story. Alternate title: The Spirit of Tom Molyneaux.

Apparition of Josiah Wilbarger.

Alternative title is THE STRANGE CASE OF JOSIAH WILBARGER.

Unfinished story. 4800 words written.

“An Autobiography” is a school paper written by Robert E. Howard on November 29, 1921, which provides a brief narrative of his early life and movements across Texas. Howard reflects on his formative years with a sense of humor and casual observation. The paper received a “B”.

BASTARDS ALL. A play. From a letter To Tevis Clyde Smith, circa March 1929.

An incomplete story featuring Steve Costigan.

“The Beast From the Abyss” is a reflective and contemplative piece by Robert E. Howard, shared in a letter (#268) to H.P. Lovecraft, circa November 1933. It delves deep into Howard’s observations and philosophies regarding cats, their nature, and their relationship with humanity and the environment. Unlike a traditional short story with a linear narrative, this piece is more an essay that combines Howard’s personal experiences with a broader commentary on cats as symbols of primordial life and uncaring survivalism.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

A humorous story set in Canada. Steve Bender and his friend Bill Smalley are trying to trap a bear. Never published in Howard’s lifetime.

An unfinished work of REH. Lin Carter finished it, starting with Chapter 3, titled “Black Abyss”.

Considered part of the Cthulhu Mythos. Alternative title: Black John’s Vengeance.

“Black Canaan” is a short story originally published in the June 1936 issue of Weird Tales. It is a regional horror story in the Southern Gothic mode, one of several such tales by Howard set in the piney woods of the ArkLaTex region of the Southern United States.

“Black Canaan” is a short story originally published in the June 1936 issue of Weird Tales. It is a regional horror story in the Southern Gothic mode, one of several such tales by Howard set in the piney woods of the ArkLaTex region of the Southern United States.

An unfinished work of REH. Lin Carter finished it, starting with Chapter 3, titled “Black Abyss”.

“Black Colossus” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, June1935. It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. During the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, Conan leads the army of Khoraja against an evil sorcerer named Natohk, “the Veiled One.”

This story formed part of the basis for the later Conan novel, The Hour of the Dragon.

Alternative title: Black-Country

Alternative title: Beneath the glare of the sun…

First published in Weird Tales, November 1936. A tale of horror in the Deep South Piney Woods. Featuring Kirby Garfield, Tope Braxton, Adam Grimm, and Richard Brent, and his niece Miss Gloria Brent. Black devil-monks of Yahlgan are also involved.

First published in Weird Tales, November 1936. A tale of horror in the Deep South Piney Woods. Featuring Kirby Garfield, Tope Braxton, Adam Grimm, and Richard Brent, and his niece Miss Gloria Brent. Black devil-monks of Yahlgan are also involved.

“Black John’s Vengeance” is a narrative steeped in mystery and danger, revolving around John O’Donnell’s quest for justice. Set against the backdrop of a shadowy Chinese merchant’s house, the story delves into espionage, betrayal, and the unyielding pursuit of retribution after the murder of John’s friend, Bill Lannon. Alternative title: The Black Bear Bites. Considered part of the Cthulhu Mythos tales.

“The Black Moon” is a captivating detective story by Robert E. Howard, featuring the character Steve Harrison, a tough and savvy detective. The narrative is steeped in an exotic setting that blends mystery with a touch of the supernatural, typical of Howard’s ability to intertwine the gritty realism of detective fiction with elements of the fantastical.

“The Black Stone (Early Draft)” is a facsimile of a Howard typescript, with a pair of handwritten comments by the author.

“The Black Stone” is a horror short story by American writer Robert E. Howard, first published in the November 1931 issue of Weird Tales. The story introduces the mad poet Justin Geoffrey and the fictitious Unaussprechlichen Kulten by Friedrich von Junzt. The story is part of the Cthulhu Mythos, follows the same pattern, and has the same features as much of H. P. Lovecraft’s classic work.

The Black Stone. This etext was first published in Weird Tales May and June 1935. Taken from Project Gutenberg.

Synopsis A. “The Black Stranger” is a fantasy short story by American writer Robert E. Howard, one of his works featuring the sword & sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was written in the 1930s, but not published in his lifetime. When the original Conan version of his story failed to find a publisher, Howard rewrote “The Black Stranger” into a piratical Terence Vulmea story entitled “Swords of the Red Brotherhood”.

Synopsis B. “The Black Stranger” is a fantasy short story by American writer Robert E. Howard, one of his works featuring the sword & sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was written in the 1930s, but not published in his lifetime. When the original Conan version of his story failed to find a publisher, Howard rewrote “The Black Stranger” into a piratical Terence Vulmea story entitled “Swords of the Red Brotherhood”.

“The Black Stranger” is a fantasy short story by American writer Robert E. Howard, one of his works featuring the sword & sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was written in the 1930s, but not published in his lifetime. When the original Conan version of his story failed to find a publisher, Howard rewrote “The Black Stranger” into a piratical Terence Vulmea story entitled “Swords of the Red Brotherhood”. This story was also not accepted.

Black Talons.

Alternate title and variant of: TALONS IN THE DARK.

“Talons in the Dark” unfolds a mysterious and chilling tale set against the backdrop of the secluded White Lake, where Joel Brill, a man of science, becomes entangled in a horrifying series of events following the brutal murder of his friend, Jim Reynolds. What starts as a perplexing murder investigation soon spirals into a deadly confrontation with a primal terror that transcends the boundaries of the known world.

The story ‘Black Vulmea’s Vengeance’ first appeared in the magazine Golden Fleece in 1938.

Terence Vulmea, aka Black Vulmea, who was born a 17th-century Irish peasant, and carried his vendetta with the English oppressors of his country to the waters of the Caribbean. He is one of Robert E. Howard’s lesser known characters; more of his exploits were later added by David C. Smith.  Robert E. Howard only wrote two tales about Vulmea. 

The story ‘Black Vulmea’s Vengeance’ first appeared in the magazine Golden Fleece in 1938.

Terence Vulmea, aka Black Vulmea, who was born a 17th-century Irish peasant, and carried his vendetta with the English oppressors of his country to the waters of the Caribbean. He is one of Robert E. Howard’s lesser known characters; more of his exploits were later added by David C. Smith.  Robert E. Howard only wrote two tales about Vulmea. 

“Black Wind Blowing” is a suspenseful narrative set in the rural landscapes, featuring Emmett Glanton, who finds himself entangled in a horrifying night filled with madness and mysticism.

Dark Agnes de Chastillon (also known as Agnes de Chastillon, Dark Agnes, Agnes de la Fere and The Sword Woman) is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard and the protagonist of three stories set in 16th Century France, which were not printed until long after the author’s death.

This story was originally written in 1929, titled ‘The Blue Flame of Vengeance’, and featured Solomon Kane. Howard failed to sell it, perhaps because it had no weird element, and hence WEIRD TALES would likely not take it. Howard rewrote it in 1932, changing the hero to Malachi Grim, changing the title to ‘Blades of the Brotherhood’, and shortening the story by a couple of pages. There is no record to show to which magazines this story was offered, if any. 

This story was originally written in 1929, titled ‘The Blue Flame of Vengeance’, and featured Solomon Kane. Howard failed to sell it, perhaps because it had no weird element, and hence WEIRD TALES would likely not take it. Howard rewrote it in 1932, changing the hero to Malachi Grim, changing the title to ‘Blades of the Brotherhood’, and shortening the story by a couple of pages. There is no record to show to which magazines this story was offered, if any. 

A Blazing Sun in a Blazing Sky. A short tale about two young (cow)boys with big guns traveling the Arizona ranges. Fearing the Mexican Miguel Gonzales might be hiding in the mountains.

A very short story about misunderstandings. The title refers to what a slave thought was a chopping block but was a block where slaves were whipped. It’s not easy to make some sense of the few pages of this story.

Published after Howard’s death for the first time in Avon Fantasy Reader #12, 1950. Alterantive title: ‘The Gods of Bal-Sagoth’.

‘The Blood of Belshazzar’ is a story in the Cormac Fitzgeoffrey series about a knight fighting in the Crusades. Cormac Fitzgeoffrey only appears in two of these tales: Hawks of Outremer and The Blood of Belshazzar, both written in 1931. In the latter, Cormac seeks help in rescuing his leader from barbarians even more fierce and evil than those that hold his friend captive.

“Blood of the Gods” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the July 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. 

A group of soldiers of fortune seek a set of matched rubies called the Blood of the Gods, owned by al Wazir. To find it, they capture an Arab who they believe knows the location of al Wazir, who has become a desert hermit. After the Arab agrees to help them, despite his fear of el Borak, a friend of al Wazir who leads the caravan to al Wazir’s hermitage and reveals al Wazir’s location at the Caves of El Khour, the Arab is shot by one of el Borak’s other allies, Salim.

“Blood of the Gods” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the July 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. Text from Project Gutenberg.

“Blood of the Gods” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the July 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. Text from Project Gutenberg.

“Blood of the Gods” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the July 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. Text from Project Gutenberg.

“Blood of the Gods” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the July 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. Text from Project Gutenberg.

“Blood of the Gods” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the July 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. Text from Project Gutenberg.

“Blood of the Gods” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the July 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch. Text from Project Gutenberg.

Originally a Kirby O’Donnell story titled ‘The Trail of the Blood-Stained God’. It was re-written by L. Sprague de Camp into a Conan story titled ‘The Bloodstained God’. De Camp changed the names of the characters, added the sorcery elements, and recast the setting into Howard’s Hyborian Age. The story was first published in the hardbound collection Tales of Conan (Gnome Press, 1955), and subsequently appeared in the paperback collection Conan of Cimmeria (Lancer Books, 1969), as part of which it has been translated into German, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian. The stories elements were used on the 1976 Peter Pan Records audio drama record: Conan the Barbarian, entitled The Jewel of the Ages.

A 579 words long poem.

BLOW THE CHINKS DOWN! is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the October 1931 issue of Action Stories.

The original title is THE HOUSE OF PERIL, featuring Mike Dorgan and Bill McGlory. Action stories made the changes to make it into a Costigan story and changed both the title and the names of the characters and the boat.

The ‘Blue Flame of Death’ is the title of an earlier draft of ‘The Blue Flame of Vengeance’.

This story was originally written in 1929, titled ‘The Blue Flame of Vengeance’, and featured Solomon Kane. Howard failed to sell it, perhaps because it had no weird element, and hence WEIRD TALES would likely not take it. Howard rewrote it in 1932, changing the hero to Malachi Grim, changing the title to ‘Blades of the Brotherhood’, and shortening the story by a couple of pages. There is no record to show to which magazines this story was offered, if any. 

First published in French in Steve Costigan Le Champion, (Nouvelles Editions Oswald, March 1987). First published in English in The Last of the Trunk Och Brev I Urval (Paradox Enertainment, March 2007). Featuring Steve Costigan. 

An article published by Robert E. Howard circa March/April 1925. There is only one copy known, although there may have originally been four of each.
A facsimile reproduction of this can be seen in Austin, volume 3 number 2 and REH: The Power of the writing mind.

This story is a collaboration with Chandler Whipple. Whipple’s pen-name is Robert Enders Allen. Whipple attempted to write the story, but got stuck and couldn’t figure out what to do for an ending. His agent suggested letting REH finish it. REH did, and they split the profits 50/50. Chapters 1-6 are by Chandler Whipple, the rest is by REH.

From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith April 6, 1925. An interview With James J. Bunkus. The Bore of the Cowed.

“A Boy, a Beehive, and a Chinaman” is a humorous short story set in a small town in California, revolving around the mischievous antics of a young boy named Tub and his elaborate prank on a local Chinese laundryman named Fe Chu Chong. This was a hand-written high school paper by Howard. Written on December 1st, 1920.

“Brachen the Kelt” narrates the past life of James Allison, who remembers himself as Brachan, a Kelt from an ancient, undiluted Aryan race. This story, set in a primordial world, unfolds through Allison’s vivid recollections of his previous incarnation. Unfinished story

A Bran Mak Morn synopsis.

Handwritten manuscript of the play ‘Bran Mak Morn’ published for the first time by Cryptic Publications in 1983.

“The Brand of Satan” is an unfinished story (about 6200 words). The narrative revolves around the mythical figure Shaitan Khan, a spectral tiger-like beast that terrorizes both the local populace and the Englishmen stationed in the area.

“The Brazen Peacock” is a tale of treachery and ancient relics, set in the shifting sands of the Middle East. The story unfolds as John Mulcahy is thrust into a perilous adventure by the sudden reappearance of Erich Girtmann, a man believed dead, who drags him into a world of dark cults and devil-worship.

‘Breed of Battle’ is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the November 1931 issue of Action Stories. It is now in the public domain. Alternative titles are: ‘The fightin’est pair’ and ‘Samson had a soft spot’.

“Brotherly Advice” is an unfinished story featuring the Allison family, focusing on the dynamic between Steve Allison and his younger sister Mildred. In this story, Steve, a former professional gambler with a strong sense of responsibility for his sister’s well-being, finds himself having to intervene in her social life to protect her from unsavory influences. The setting is Piretto’s Place, a popular cabaret and gambling-house in Greenwich, where Mildred is enjoying the company of the high-society crowd.

‘The Bull Dog Breed’ is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the February 1930 issue of Fight Stories. Alternative titles: ‘You got to kill a bulldog’ published with the pseudonym Mark Adam.

“By the Law of the Shark” is a rollicking adventure story set in the South Seas, specifically on the notorious island of Barricuda, a den of iniquity and the backdrop for a tale of fists, honor, and a daring quest for freedom. The protagonist, Steve Costigan, a sailor aboard the merchant ship Sea Girl and a formidable boxer, finds himself stranded in Barricuda after a night of inadvertent revelry.

‘By This Axe I Rule!’ is a fantasy short story by American writer Robert E. Howard, the last of his Kull stories, set in his fictional Thurian Age. It was first published in the Lancer Books paperback King Kull in 1967.

This story was rejected by the pulp magazines Argosy and Adventure in 1929, after which Howard rewrote it as the Conan story ‘The Phoenix on the Sword’, substituting a new secondary plot and adding elements of supernatural horror. The main shared elements of the two stories are the conspiracy and the king’s defeat of it. The Conan story was published in December 1932.

This typescript of ‘The Cairn on the Headland’ draft is free of modifications made to the published story by Strange Tales editor Harry Bates.

A short story with elements of fantasy and horror. As often in Howard’s stories, there is a link to the Cthulhu Mythos, in this case, mixed also with elements of both Norse Mythology and Catholic Christianity.

It has a rather convoluted history, being in effect an adaptation of Howard’s earlier story Spears of Clontarf, a historical adventure story by Howard focusing on the Battle of Clontarf (1014) and featuring Turlogh Dubh O’Brien or Black Turlogh, a fictional 11th Century Irishman created by Howard. Howard later rewrote “Spears” as “The Grey God Passes”, which was very similar to Spears of Clontarf, but with added fantasy elements. Howard failed to sell the story in either version during his lifetime.

Published under the pseudonym Mark Adam. Alternative title: Fist and Fang.

THE CASE OF THE COLLEGE TOILET. A detective parody. From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa February 1929. 

About a Satanic cult and a haunted record. A record is sent to Stephen Gordon after the death of Casonetto. Also featuring his friend Steve Costigan who might or might not be the boxer sailor Steve Costigan.

“Beyond the Black River” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine, May-June 1935. The story was republished in the collections King Conan (Gnome Press, 1953) and Conan the Warrior (Lancer Books, 1967). It has since been published a numerous times in many languages. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan’s battle against a savage tribe of Picts in the unsettled lands beyond the infamous Black River.

First published in Red Shadows, Grant, 1968. In the Black Forest Kane tells John Silent, an English mercenary, that he cut down a boy from the local Baron’s gibbet. Both men head to the Baron’s castle for a reckoning.

A draft. This is a variant of ‘Delcardes’ Cat’. Thulsa Doom is described by Howard in “The Cat and the Skull” as having a face “like a bare white skull, in whose eye sockets flamed livid fire”. He is seemingly invulnerable, boasting after being trampled by one of Kull’s comrades that he feels “only a slight coldness” when being injured and will only “pass to some other sphere when [his] time comes”.

This originally was the untitled essay “. . . which is characterized . . .”, followed by six pages of general notes on all things Celtic, tentatively titled “Notes on the Celts”; the essay was handwritten, the rest of the pages typed, all facsimile reproduction of original REH pages; was reprinted completely in THE NEW HOWARD READER; just the essay in BRAN MAK MORN.

The challenge from beyond is a round-robin (collaboration) 1935 horror short story written by Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Frank Belknap Long, Robert E. Howard, C. L. Moore, and Abraham Merritt. It was published in Fantasy Magazine and is part of the Cthulhu Mythos. Howard wrote one chapter of this story. It was published in September 1935 in Fantasy Magazine, a fan publication.

Featuring Steve Costigan. The alternate titles are ‘The Champion of the forecastle’ and ‘Champ of the seven seas’. First published in Fight Stories, volume 3, number 6 November 1930. Published under the pseudonym Mark Adams in Fight Stories volume 5, number 8.

Featuring Steve Costigan. The alternate titles are ‘Champ of the forecastle’ and ‘Champ of the seven seas’.

Featuring Steve Costigan. The alternate titles are ‘Champ of the forecastle’ and ‘Champ of the seven seas’.

An unfinished story. Kane comes across a lost city of Assyrians. Howard completed parts I through III (Part III ends on page 129 of Bantam edition, The Hills of the Dead). This information was given in The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane. Ramsey Campbell completed the rest of the story.

‘The Children of the Night’ is a 1931 short story by Robert E. Howard, belonging to the Cthulhu Mythos. It was first published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in the April/May 1931 issue. Howard earned $60 for this publication.

The story starts with six people sitting in John Conrad’s study: Conrad himself, Clemants, Professor Kirowan, Taverel, Ketrick and the narrator John O’Donnel. O’Donnel describes them all as Anglo-Saxon with the exception of Ketrick. Ketrick, although he possesses a documented pure Anglo-Saxon lineage, appears to have slightly Mongolian-looking eyes and an odd lisp that O’Donnel finds distasteful.

A complete story. 650 words. Not published in Howard’s lifetime.

Featuring Steve Costigan. Alternative title: Slugger Bait. First published in Fight Stories December 1931.

First published in Weirdbook One (W. Paul Ganley, 1968).

“College Socks”. At eighteen, Kid Allison, known for his boxing prowess among smaller clubs, finds himself in a serendipitous encounter with Professor Horace J. Clements from Camberwell University. The professor, worried about a promising student, Harry Richards, who’s been lured by the glitz of boxing under the tutelage of Spike Cleary, seeks Allison’s help.

“The Coming of El Borak” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. First printed in English in the chapbook The Coming of El Borak (September 1987), it was not published in Howard’s lifetime.

“The Coming of El Borak” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. This draft was first presented in The Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletter Winter 2009 as a typescript.

As a young man in the late 20s and into the early 30s, Howard contributed to The Junto, a circulating publication written by a group of his friends and himself. During circulation, the group would write comments about the content, which was then typed up and distributed with the following issue of The Junto. 

There was probably only one copy of each issue. It was mailed to each person on the mailing list, who would read the contributions and make comments. These comments would then be typed up by the editor and included in a future mailing under the heading “The Commentary.” “The Commentary” collects such comments made by Howard, edited by Rob Roehm.

Alternative titles: ‘The way of the swords’ and ‘The Road of the Eagles’.

‘The Road of the Eagles’ is an REH story and title for which two drafts presently exist. It’s an unpublished historical adventure store that de Camp turned into a Conan story.

Alternative title: ‘The Hour of the Dragon’.

The Hour of the Dragon, also known as Conan the Conqueror, is a fantasy novel by American writer Robert E. Howard features his sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was one of the last Conan stories published before Howard’s suicide, although not the last to be written.

The original title of ‘The Conquerin’ Hero of the Humbolts’ is ‘Politics at Blue Lizard.’ However, Howard undoubtedly meant “Politics at Lonesome Lizard” which is the name of the town in the story.
(Glenn Lord – THE LAST CELT).

Alternative titles: ‘Politics at Blue Lizard’ and ‘Politics at Lonesome Lizard’

First published in Fight Stories volume 2 number 10 March, 1930 as ‘Sailor’s Grudge’. It was published again in Fight Stories volume 5 number 7 in 1938 under the name Mark Adam and with the changed title.

“Country of the Knife” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the August 1936 issue of the pulp magazine Complete Stories. The story is also known as “Sons of the Hawk”.

‘The Crimson Line’ is a very short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales and Adventure in 1925 but it was never published.

“Crowd Horror” is set against the backdrop of professional boxing, illustrating the dramatic and emotional journey of Slade Costigan, a gifted but troubled boxer, whose career is profoundly affected by his psychological struggles, particularly his reaction to the crowd’s influence. One of Howard’s boxing stories which didn’t develop into an ongoing series.

‘Cultured Cauliflowers’ is an unpublished manuscript by Patrick Ervin found after Howard’s death. ‘Cultured Cauliflowers’ was edited and retitled ‘In High Society’. Cross Plains Library has one original draft of this story and a retyped draft by the Otis Adelbert Kline Agency.

This short story was altered slightly to become Chapter 9 of the novel, A Gent From Bear Creek. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.

This brief synopsis for Cupid from Bear Creek—gives a short outline of the story.

Cupid vs. Pollux. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 20, Howard Payne College. 

The version titled “The Curly Wolf of Sawtooth” features Bearfield Elston. The version titled “A Elkins Never Surrenders” comes from an earlier draft, and features Breckinridge Elkins.
The appearance in THE SUMMIT COUNTY JOURNAL had the name changed to “Breckenridge” to be like the town it was published in.

Otis Adelbert Kline (REH’s agent) first listed the title of the story as “A Elkins Never Surrenders”. He offered it to V. I. Cooper, when he declined, Kline returned the story to REH. A month later it hits the logs again with a new title “A Elston to the Rescue”, and is then sold to Miller for STAR WESTERN. The published title is likely from the magazine editors.

A short story categorized under Confessionals and Other Contemporary Fiction.

The Curse of the crimson God. Originally a Kirby O’Donnell story titled ‘The Trail of the Blood-Stained God’. It was re-written by L. Sprague de Camp into a Conan story titled ‘The Bloodstained God’.

First published in The Howard Collector, Spring 1967, “The Curse of the Golden Skull”, by Robert E. Howard, resembles a prose poem in the same vein as Clark Ashton Smith’s “Chinoiserie”.

Incomplete fragment, 300 words.

According to Rusty Burke “Dagon Manor” was obviously a first fumbling attempt at “The Children of the Night.” In just 300 words you have Conrad introduced (but Kirowan unnamed), and two characters named Tavarel and Ketric (“I never liked the fellow. There was something about his bare, high skull, his cold light eyes and thin hooded nose which was unpleasantly reminiscent of a vulture or some foul bird of prey.”). In “The Children of the Night” we’re in Conrad’s study, and we find characters named Taveral (or Taverel, which is how it’s spelled after its first appearance) and Ketrick. Of the latter, we quickly learn that “to me the man always seemed strangely alien.” The only possible conclusion is that “Dagon Manor” was a false start on the story that became “The Children of the Night.”

It would then also belong to the Cthulhu Mythos.

“The Dark Man” is a gripping tale set in the ancient, rugged landscapes of Connacht. It begins with Turlogh Dubh, an exiled warrior of the Clan na O’Brien, encountering a fisherman on a snowy shore. Turlogh, described as a formidable and darkly handsome man, is on a mission to rescue Moira, the daughter of a Dalcassian chief, abducted by Viking raiders led by Thorfel the Fair.

Originally a story featuring Mike Dorgan and Bill McGlory. The story was published in ACTION STORIES as “Dark Shanghai.” and Mike Dorgan was changed to Steve Costigan.

REH wrote three stories featuring Mike Dorgan and Bill McGlory. “One Shanghai Night” was the second of the three stories. It was submitted to Fiction House and accepted. 

“The Daughter of Erlik Khan” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the December 1934 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch.

First published after Howard’s death in Fantasy Crossroads #8.

“Daughters of Feud,” set in the mountain school of Whiskey Run, unravels amidst the backdrop of a long-standing feud between the Kirby and Pritchard families. Braxton Brent, a new and unexperienced schoolmaster, witnesses a fierce brawl between Joan Kirby and Ann Pritchard, leading to his intervention. The fight reveals the simmering hatred and complexities of mountain customs to Brent, challenging his ideals and forcing him into a position that tests his authority and adaptability to the harsh realities of Whiskey Run.

“The Dead Remember” tells the tale of Jim Gordon, who is plagued by supernatural guilt and revenge after murdering an African American couple named Joel and Jezebel. In a letter to his friend Bill, Jim explains how he killed the couple in a drunken rage months earlier, after which Jezebel cursed him with her dying words.

“Dear Mrs. Shane” is an unfinished story fragment by Robert E. Howard. The typescript was first introduced to the public in the Robert E. Howard Newsletter, Volume 7, Number 2. The narrative unfolds as a letter from an unnamed woman to Mrs. Shane, wherein she recounts her personal experiences and emotional turmoil following her marriage to a wealthy young man from a rural background.

An unfinished fragment featuring Solomon Kane. It is set in a forest, rather than the African jungle, but where and when (in Kane’s lifetime) is hard to say.

The Draft for Delcardes’ Cat. Thulsa Doom first appeared (as Thulses Doom) at the end of the short story “Delcardes’ Cat” by Robert E. Howard, which featured the character Kull as the protagonist. Howard later edited the text to include foreshadowing/references to Thulsa Doom (as he had been rechristened) throughout the story and changed the title to The Cat and the Skull to reflect this.

Thulsa Doom is described by Howard in “The Cat and the Skull” as having a face “like a bare white skull, in whose eye sockets flamed livid fire”. He is seemingly invulnerable, boasting after being trampled by one of Kull’s comrades that he feels “only a slight coldness” when being injured and will only “pass to some other sphere when [his] time comes”.

Thulsa Doom first appeared (as Thulses Doom) at the end of the short story “Delcardes’ Cat” by Robert E. Howard, which featured the character Kull as the protagonist. Howard later edited the text to include foreshadowing/references to Thulsa Doom (as he had been rechristened) throughout the story and changed the title to The Cat and the Skull to reflect this.

Thulsa Doom is described by Howard in “The Cat and the Skull” as having a face “like a bare white skull, in whose eye sockets flamed livid fire”. He is seemingly invulnerable, boasting after being trampled by one of Kull’s comrades that he feels “only a slight coldness” when being injured and will only “pass to some other sphere when [his] time comes”.

“Delenda Est” is a historical narrative set during the time of the Vandal Kingdom’s dominance in North Africa. It explores themes of power, betrayal, and the cyclical nature of empires, intertwining the destiny of the Vandals with the ancient legacy of Carthage. The story delves into the internal conflicts among the Vandal leaders and the looming threat posed by their Roman adversaries. This is a tale of historical fiction with supernatural elements, focusing on Genseric, the King of the Vandals as he sails from Carthage to Rome around 455 A.D.

Originally written and submitted to Ghost Stories magazine by Howard in 1929. The story was rejected by Ghost Stories, and then disappeared until Glenn Lord found it in a trunk full of manuscripts in 1964. First published in Magazine of Horror #17 in 1967.

“Dermod’s Bane” is a tale steeped in Irish folklore and family legacy, reflecting on sorrow, supernatural encounters, and the thin veil between life and death. The story intertwines personal grief with the haunting and often violent history of Ireland, blending the supernatural with the emotional journey of coming to terms with loss.

One of Howard’s spicy stories was published with the name Sam Walser. “Desert Blood” is a vivid narrative, encapsulating the adventurous and tumultuous escapades of Wild Bill Clanton, an American in Tebessa, and his encounters with various individuals across the Barbary region. The story weaves through themes of love, betrayal, courage, and cultural clashes, reflecting the pulpy, exotic, and often politically incorrect ethos of its time.

One of Howard’s spicy stories was published with the name Sam Walser. “Desert Blood” is a vivid narrative, encapsulating the adventurous and tumultuous escapades of Wild Bill Clanton, an American in Tebessa, and his encounters with various individuals across the Barbary region. The story weaves through themes of love, betrayal, courage, and cultural clashes, reflecting the pulpy, exotic, and often politically incorrect ethos of its time.

One of Howard’s spicy stories was published under the name Sam Walser. A list of characters.

Set in Egypt, the story begins with the Allison family, specifically the feminine members, touring the country. Steve, the younger son, decides to see Khartoum on his own, leaving his family behind in Alexandria. He plans to reunite with them later in Assuan.

Featuring Dennis Dorgan. Written under the pseudonym, Patrick Ervin. Alternate titles: ‘Sailor Dorgan and the Destiny Gorilla’ and ‘Sailor Costigan and the Destiny Gorilla’. The Cross Plains Library has one original draft of this story and a retyped draft by the Otis Adelbert Kline Agency. 

The Devil in His Brain a short story by Robert E. Howard.

‘The Devil in Iron’ is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, first published in Weird Tales in August 1934. Howard earned $115 for the publication of this story.

The plot concerns the resurrection of a mythical demon, the theft of a sacred dagger, and an unrelated trap that lures Conan to the island fortress roamed by the demon. The story borrowed elements from ‘Iron Shadows in the Moon’.

Alternative titles: ‘The Devil’s Joker’ and ‘Outlaw Trails’.

In “The Devil’s Joker,” Robert E. Howard weaves a gripping Western tale centered around Steve Allison, also known as The Sonora Kid. The story begins in a bar where Bill Harrigan plays a prank on Steve by using a harmless snake. Unaware of Steve’s intense fear of snakes, the joke takes a dark turn when Steve, in a moment of panic, shoots Bill in the stomach, thinking he’s defending himself from a deadly threat.

Alternate version of ‘The Devil’s Joker’.

An incomplete story completed by Tevis Clyde Smith.

Cross Plains Library has an original draft of this story. A horror story.

The Diablos Trail, featuring Pike Bearfield.

“Dig Me No Grave” is a gripping tale by Robert E. Howard intertwines elements of horror, the occult, and the supernatural. Considered part of the Cthulhu Mythos. Sold for $100.00. This horror story appeared in Weird Tales in 1937 after Howard died in 1936.

The collaboration between Tevis Clyde Smith and Robert E. Howard on “Diogenes of Today” presents a fascinating study in creative partnership. Both authors, hailing from Texas, shared not only a deep friendship but also a mutual interest in literature, history, and storytelling that transcended the typical boundaries of their time. Their decision to write a story together, alternating pages, allowed for a unique blend of their distinct voices and perspectives.

Complete, 1900 words.

‘The Dook of Stork’ (parody, included in REH to Tevis Clyde Smith, 7 July 1923), is subtitled ‘A Dramma by Willie Shakesbeer.’

Alternative title: ‘The Door to the Garden’.

Alternative title: ‘The Door to the Garden’.

“Double Cross” is a powerful story by Robert E. Howard that showcases themes of racism, betrayal, and redemption through the world of boxing in a small Southern town. The story’s main character is Ace Jessel, an African American heavyweight boxing champion who returns to his hometown seeking acceptance and camaraderie but instead finds prejudice and a scheme to ruin him.

A 160 words unfinished story. Alternate title: untitled story (It was a strange experience, and I don’t expect anyone . . .)

She came from high society and she should have known she had no business associating with a gorilla like Wild Bill Clanton. However, the job she wanted done was plain burglary, and her code of honor wouldn’t let her turn thief!

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

“The Drawing Card” is a story that delves into the world of boxing and the sudden rise of an unexpected athlete who transitions from baseball to the boxing ring. Featuring Kid Allison. First published in The Last of the Trunk Och Brev I Urval (Paradox Press, March 2007).

Originally, this story appeared in a letter to HPL ca. December 1930 (As always, your letter proved highly . . .) and was untitled.

In this story, first published in the February 1928 edition of Weird Tales Magazine, a terrified individual recounts the details of a strange, recurring nightmare. The Dream Snake is a terrifying tale of a man who has had a recurring dream about being pursued by a sinister, unseen giant snake that gets nearer and nearer to him every night….

1400 words, incomplete.

‘Drums of Horror’ is a short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales in 1925 but it was never published.

Robert E. Howard sets this old west adventure tale in a remote mountain range called the Sunset Mountains. Young wandering cowboy Steve Harmer from Texas crosses paths with an eccentric old prospector named Hard Luck Harper. Hard Luck tells Steve legends of a lost gold mine hidden somewhere in the light and shadows of the peaks.

“Drums of Tombalku” is an American fantasy short story, one of the original ones written in the 1930s by Robert E. Howard featuring Conan the Cimmerian. Howard left it as an untitled synopsis that was not published in his lifetime. The tale was finalized by L. Sprague de Camp and in this form first published in the collection Conan the Adventurer (1966). It has first been published in its original form in the collection The Pool of the Black One (Donald M. Grant, 1986) and later in The Conan Chronicles Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle (Gollancz, 2000) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume Two (1934) (Del Rey, 2005).

Fragment and a synopsis. The fragment in The Pool of the Black One was bowdlerized when it appeared.

“Drums of Tombalku” is an American fantasy short story, one of the original ones written in the 1930s by Robert E. Howard featuring Conan the Cimmerian. Howard left it as an untitled synopsis that was not published in his lifetime. The tale was finalized by L. Sprague de Camp and in this form first published in the collection Conan the Adventurer (1966). It has first been published in its original form in the collection The Pool of the Black One (Donald M. Grant, 1986) and later in The Conan Chronicles Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle (Gollancz, 2000) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume Two (1934) (Del Rey, 2005).

Fragment and a synopsis. The fragment in The Pool of the Black One was bowdlerized when it appeared.

A factual report on the Kid Dula – Duke Tramel bout, Fort Worth, July 13, 1928.

“The Dwellers under the Tombs, Draft A” is a facsimile of Howard’s typescript, the earlier and shorter of two drafts that survive. Published in the Robert E. Howard Foundtaion Newsletter, summer 2008.

Alternative title: His Brother’s Shoes.

First published in Howard’s amateur press publication, The Right Hook volume 1, number 3, 1925.

This short story was altered slightly to become Chapter 11 of the novel, A Gent From Bear Creek. The original version is unpublished. 

Eighttoes makes a play, short story by Robert E. Howard and Tevis Clyde Smith. Written with two different endings. This is a dog-team racing story set during the Alaskan gold rush.

Never published in Howard’s lifetime. Alternate Title: UNTITLED STORY (“I emptied my revolver . . .”)

“El Borak” is an unfinished tale by Robert E. Howard that blends adventure and intrigue in the deserts of the Middle East. It features two of Howard’s recurring characters, El Borak, known for his sharp mind and deadly skills, and Stephen Angus Allison, also known as The Sonora Kid, who navigates his own moral code in foreign lands.

The version titled “A Elkins Never Surrenders” comes from an earlier draft, and features Breckinridge Elkins. The version titled “The Curly Wolf of Sawtooth” features Bearfield Elston. 
The appearance in The Summit County Journal had the name changed to “Breckenridge” to be like the town it was published in.

An early draft of A ELKINS NEVER SURRENDERS. First line: There ain’t nothing makes pap madder’n to be laid up with rheumatiz when they is a feud going on.

Alternative title: “The Curly Wolf of Sawtooth”. Features Bearfield Elston. The version titled “A Elkins Never Surrenders” comes from an earlier draft, and features Breckinridge Elkins.
The appearance in THE SUMMIT COUNTY JOURNAL had the name changed to “Breckenridge” to be like the town it was published in.

Otis Adelbert Kline (REH’s agent) first listed the title of the story as “A Elkins Never Surrenders”. He offered it to V. I. Cooper, when he declined, Kline returned the story to REH. A month later it hits the logs again with a new title “A Elston to the Rescue”, and is then sold to Miller for STAR WESTERN. The published title is likely from the magazine editors.

In its first appearance, it was part of a bundle of works titled “Sketches”, published in The Junto.

A collection of six prose poems, “Proem,” “Flaming Marble,” “Skulls and Orchids,” “Medallions in The Moon,” “The Gods That Men Forget,” and “Bloodstones and Ebony.”

“Evil Deeds at Red Cougar” is a humorous and action-packed tale by Robert E. Howard featuring Breckinridge Elkins, his popular mountain man character from Bear Creek. First published in Action Stories in June 1936,

Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. Incomplete synopsis.

“Exile of Atlantis” is an untitled story by Robert E. Howard, featuring Kull, a character who later becomes the King of Valusia. This story delves into Kull’s early life, providing insight into his personality, values, and the world he inhabits. Set against the backdrop of the rugged and wild Atlantis, the narrative explores themes of tradition, freedom, and the clash of civilizations.

Originally an untitled story, starting with (“The sun was setting. A last crimson . . .”). Later titled EXILE OF ATLANTIS by Glenn Lord.

“The Extermination of Yellow Donory” is a tale of Joey Donory, a man tormented by his own perceived cowardice. Living in a rugged environment, Joey feels overshadowed by larger, more imposing figures, leading to a life riddled with self-loathing and humiliation.
Alternative title: ‘The Killing of Yellow Donory’.

Written when Howard attended Cross Plains High School. Date February 9, 1921. First published in The Last of the Trunk Och Brev I Urval (Paradox Entertainment, March 2007).

By “John Starr”. Published in Fight Stories, June 1938. Alternate titles: “The Iron Man” and “Iron Men”.

There is no known story with this title

“Fangs of Gold” is a gripping tale that entwines elements of mystery, horror, and adventure, set against the backdrop of a menacing swamp. The story follows Steve Harrison, a determined and rugged detective, as he ventures into the treacherous swamp in pursuit of a criminal named Woon Shang. See “People of the Serpent” for more information.

Alternate Titles: ‘The Yellow Cobra’, ‘Sailor Dorgan and the Yellow Cobra’, ‘Sailor Costigan and the Yellow Cobra’, ‘A Night Ashore’ and ‘A Korean Night’. Featuring Sailor Steve Costigan.

“The Fangs of the Yellow Cobra” is the earliest complete draft of the story “The Yellow Cobra”.

Salem Myth and the narrator arrive in New York Harbor, embarking on a comedic quest to find the elusive Fooey Mancucu. Their absurd journey includes encounters with colorful characters like an Irishman, a bartender with tales of famous patrons, and the eccentric writer Ben Hecht.

1900 words, unfinished story.

Glenn Lord came up with the title of “Restless Waters” for the untitled typescript, but then later came across a letter from REH to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. February 1929 (“Salaam:/ Ancient English Balladel”), in which REH mentions a story he wrote titled “The Fear at the Window,” and Glenn said he thought this might be the correct title.

“The Fear-Master” is a story about Steve, a young American who arrives at his uncle’s trading post on the West Coast of Africa. The narrative delves into his encounters with the local environment, the native population, and his attempts to manage the trading post alongside his cousin Geraldine, amid rising tensions and mysterious threats.

Old Adam Farrel lay dead in the house wherein he had lived alone for the last twenty years. A silent, churlish recluse, in his life he had known no friends, and only two men had watched his passing… little did they know the Fearsome Touch of Death had not left the house…

In this tale, first published in the February 1930 edition of Weird Tales Magazine, a man spends a night alone with a corpse.

Unfinished story. 2800 words written. Might be the same as ‘The Feminine of the Species’ which Howard submitted to Argosy-Allstory in 1922-1923. Howard listed this story in a list he included in a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa February 1929.

A boxing story by Howard.

A tale about Breckinridge Elkins from 1935. First published in Actions Stories June, 1935. This short story was altered slightly to become Chapter 6 of A Gent From Bear Creek.

Notes prepared by REH while writing historical fiction for ORIENTAL STORIES / MAGIC CARPET in the early 1930s.

‘The Fightin’ Dumbell’ is a story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Sport Story in 1924 but it was never published.

‘The Fightin’est Pair’ is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the November 1931 issue of Action Stories as ‘Breed of Battle’. It is now in the public domain. Alternative titles are: ‘Breed of Battle’ and ‘Samson had a soft spot’.

The Fighting Fury.

Kid Allison version. “Fighting Nerves” was originally written as a Kid Allison story and submitted to the magazine SPORT STORY. It was rejected because SPORT STORY was all stocked up with fight stories and REH was asked to hold it for several months and resubmit. Not wanting to wait that long, REH rewrote the story changing the character’s name to Jim O’Donnel, and submitted it to FIGHT STORIES.

“Fighting Nerves” was originally written as a Kid Allison story and submitted to the magazine SPORT STORY. It was rejected because SPORT STORY was all stocked up with fight stories and REH was asked to hold it for several months and resubmit. Not wanting to wait that long, REH rewrote the story changing the character’s name to Jim O’Donnel, and submitted it to FIGHT STORIES.

“The Fire of Asshurbanipal” was originally written early in the 1930’s like a straight adventure story. There is no record of where this version of the story was submitted. REH later revised the story to have a supernatural ending. The version with the supernatural ending was submitted to WEIRD TALES after Howard’s death by his father. Glenn Lord discovered the original (straight adventure story) version of the story in a trunk and it was first published in THE HOWARD COLLECTOR #16, Spring 1972.

“The Fire of Asshurbanipal” was originally written early in the 1930’s like a straight adventure story. There is no record of where this version of the story was submitted. REH later revised the story to have a supernatural ending. The version with the supernatural ending was submitted to WEIRD TALES after Howard’s death by his father. Glenn Lord discovered the original (straight adventure story) version of the story in a trunk and it was first published in THE HOWARD COLLECTOR #16, Spring 1972.

In this humorous tale, Weary McGrew and his friend recount their adventurous fishing trip near Crystal City, Texas. Armed with simple fishing gear, the duo’s peaceful day by the lake takes a wild turn when Weary hooks something far larger and more menacing than expected. Around 420 words.

First published in FIGHT STORIES May 1930. Published again in Winter 1938-1939 but under the name of Mark Adam and the title: “Cannibal Fists”.

Featuring Kid Allison.

Alternative title: Iron-Jaw.

Fists of the Revolution.

Originally an El Borak story titled “Three Bladed Doom” had a short (24.000 words) and a long (42.000 words) version.

The Flame Knife is a 1955 fantasy novella by American writers Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp, featuring Howard’s sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was revised by de Camp from Howard’s original story, a then-unpublished oriental tale featuring Francis X. Gordon titled “Three-Bladed Doom”. De Camp changed the names of the characters, added the fantastic element, and recast the setting into Howard’s Hyborian Age. The story was first published in the hardbound collection Tales of Conan (Gnome Press, 1955), and subsequently appeared in the paperback collection Conan the Wanderer (Lancer Books, 1968), as part of which it has been translated into German, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian. It was published itself in paperback book form by Ace Books in 1981, in an edition profusely illustrated by Esteban Maroto.

Alternative title: Untitled (“I carved a woman out of marble when”). Published in Poet’s Scroll January 1929. 14 lines.

A short poetic story starting with (“This is a dream that comes to me often…”)

Alternate Title: untitled story (A sailorman ain’t got no business … ). Featuring Steve Costigan.

Unfinished story. 6300 words written.

The story opens with Kane coming across the body of a young black woman. The corpse is fresh, and there are marks where whips and shackles have torn her flesh. It doesn’t take long for Kane to catch up with the slavers who killed her. He sees a train of blacks being led away by a group of armed Arabs and other blacks who have allied with them. They’re taking their captives to a slave market. They’re also driving them hard, neither giving them rest breaks nor providing them with ample water.

First published in Weird Tales, September 1931.

‘Footprints of Terror’ is a story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Argosy in 1927 but it was never published.

“For the Honor of the School” is a play with slightly uncertain authorship, first published in the Yellow Jacket, volume XIII, number 10, at Howard Payne College. This comedic play portrays a humorous and chaotic situation involving the college faculty forming a makeshift football team to uphold the honor of their school.ayne College.

“For the Love of Barbara Allen” is a poignant ghost/love short story by Robert E. Howard. Written in the 1930s, it delves into themes of love, loss, and the haunting nature of memories through a narrative interwoven with the history of the American Civil War and the lingering impact it has on its characters

“Friends” is a short story that centers on the playful rivalry and camaraderie between two young men, Steve and Weary, as they spend a day fishing on an old wharf in Galveston. Their banter and friendly competition highlight the dynamics of their friendship. Undated school work. 600 words.

Authorship uncertain. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 25, Howard Payne College.

Originally written by REH as a Conan story “The Frost-Giant’s Daughter” (REH1).  The story was not accepted, so REH rewrote it with a different hero (Amra), and changed the title to “The Frost King’s Daughter” (REH2).

When published by The Fantasy Fan, they changed the title to “Gods of the North”. L. Sprague de Camp found the original manuscript, but extensively rewrote it, and called it “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” (REH/LSDC).

Originally written by REH as a Conan story “The Frost-Giant’s Daughter”(REH1). The story was not accepted, so REH rewrote it with a different hero (Amra), and changed the title to “The Frost King’s Daughter” (REH2).

When published by The Fantasy Fan, they changed the title to “Gods of the North”. L. Sprague de Camp found the original manuscript, but extensively rewrote it, and called it “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” (REH/LSDC).

Originally written by REH as a Conan story “The Frost-Giant’s Daughter” (REH1). The story was not accepted, so REH rewrote it with a different hero (Amra), and changed the title to “The Frost King’s Daughter” (REH2). When published by THE FANTASY FAN, they changed the title to “Gods of the North.”

225 words. In “The Funniest Bout,” Robert E. Howard recounts a humorous and chaotic amateur boxing match he witnessed, involving two inexperienced, tall, gangling youths engaging in their first fight.

The Further Adventures of Lal Singh is a short story by Robert E. Howard. First printed in English in the chapbook The Adventures of Lal Singh (1985). It was not published in Howard’s lifetime.

In “The Galveston Affair,” Robert E. Howard recounts an experience attending the International Pageant of Pulchritude and Annual Bathing Girl Review in Galveston, Texas, with his friend Truett Vinson. As part of a collection of stories titled “Sketches”. Published in the Junto, December 1928.

“The Garden of Fear” explores reincarnation, anthropology, theology, and evolution, through the quest of James Allison as Hunwulf, living a life that was once his own. It’s a riveting tale of primordial love and cosmic memory, set in a landscape both surreal and dangerous.

Supposed to have been published in The Magic Carpet Magazine Volume 4 Number 2. In the last magazine, it says “on sale Feb. 1”. Unfortunately Magic Carpet folded, and it was first published in GOLDEN FLEECE volume 2, number 1 in January 1939, almost 5 years after. Set during the Crusades. It is a unique story as it is the only comic historical he wrote. 

“General Ironfist” is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the June 1934 issue of Jack Dempsey’s Fight Magazine. Howard earned $35 for the sale of this story which is now in the public domain. 

This is a round-robin, 17-chapter story, based on the first chapter by REH. All but the REH portion was written in the 1970s. Originally scheduled to be published serially in several episodes in Fantasy Crossroads, only 12 of the 17 got published. The Necronomicon Press edition is the first complete publication of the story.

Written by Robert E. Howard, Karl Edward Wagner, Joseph Brennan; Richard L. Tierney; Michael Moorcock; Charles R. Saunders; Andrew J. Offutt; Manly Wade Wellman; Darrell Schweitzer; A. E. Van Vogt; Brian Lumley; Frank Belknap Long; Adrian Cole; Ramsey Campbell; H. Warner Munn; Marion Zimmer Bradley; Richard A. Lupoff

This is a round-robin, 17-chapter story, based on the first chapter by REH. All but the REH portion was written in the 1970s. Originally scheduled to be published serially in several episodes in Fantasy Crossroads, only 12 of the 17 got published. The Necronomicon Press edition is the first complete publication of the story.

Alternate titles: GENSERIC’S FIFTH BORN SON; Untitled (“Long, long ago a son was born . . .”); GHOR, KINSLAYER

For appearances of this story, refer to the main story listing under GENSERIC’S FIFTH BORN SON.

The draft for “A Gent from Bear Creek”.

“A Gent from Bear Creek” is the title of both an original short story, as well as a novel created by combining several previous short stories with some new material; the previously published short stories were altered a little to create chapters with a continuous storyline, and new material was added as additional chapters.

“A Gent from Bear Creek” is the title of both an original short story, as well as a novel created by combining several previous short stories with some new material; the previously published short stories were altered a little to create chapters with a continuous storyline, and new material was added as additional chapters.

This short story was altered slightly to become Chapter 5 of the novel, A Gent From Bear Creek.

A Gent from the Pecos, featuring Pike Bearfield. Alternate title: ‘Shave that Hawg!’.

“Gents in Buckskin” is a tall-tale Western comedy by Robert E. Howard, first published in Action Stories (September 1936) under the title “No Cowherders Wanted.”

Gents on the Lynch, featuring Pike Bearfield. 

The story follows the hilariously exaggerated exploits of Breckinridge Elkins, a giant hillbilly from Bear Creek, as he attempts to “rescue” his cousin Bearfield Buckner—who doesn’t need or want rescuing—from an imagined bout of insanity.

This is a round-robin, 17-chapter story, based on the first chapter by REH. All but the REH portion was written in the 1970s. Originally scheduled to be published serially in several episodes in Fantasy Crossroads, only 12 of the 17 got published. The Necronomicon Press edition is the first complete publication of the story.

For appearances of this story, refer to the main story listing under GENSERIC’S FIFTH BORN SON.

The Ghost Behind the Gloves. Incomplete, 700 words.

“The Ghost in the Doorway” is a supernatural tale set in Ireland, recounted from the memoirs of Captain Turlogh Kirowan. During Cromwell’s rule in Ireland, Kirowan finds himself alone in County Clare. He seeks refuge in the ruins of an O’Brien clan castle, where he encounters the ghost of Conmac O’Sullivan, an ancestor from his mother’s side. By “Patrick MacConaire”. 

“The Ghost of Bald Rock Ranch” is a story featuring Steve Bender and Bill Smalley as they visit Steve’s Uncle Matt’s ranch in New Mexico to help him with mysterious troubles involving cattle rustlers, murders, and a ghostly apparition. Written by Howard when he attended Cross Plains High School. The date was December 13, 1921. 

Robert E. Howard’s article ‘The Ghost of Camp Colorado,’ crafted for the Texaco Star Company’s monthly magazine for employees and stockholders, offers a vivid glimpse into the bygone days of the American frontier. Featured on pages 13-15, the piece is enriched with five photographs, enhancing the narrative’s historical depth. This article, for which Howard received $28.26, stands as a poignant homage to the lost era of frontier life, intricately detailing its history, conflicts, and transformative journey.

The Ghost of Jacksonville. 550 words. Written by Howard on November 3, 1920, when he attended High School. 

“The Ghost with the Silk Hat” was originally published in WRITER OF THE DARK by Dark Carneval Press. Nearly three dozen changes were made to the text. The text included in THE MAN FROM CROSS PLAINS was taken from the typescript and a few corrections are noted at the back of the book.

The Girl on the Hell Ship draft. Howard used the name Sam Walser.

The story was sent to Frank Armer (Spicy Adventures) on October 8, 1935. “The Girl on the Hell Ship” was sold to Spicy Adventure Stories on October 23, 1935, and published in the April 1936 issue under the title “She Devil” and the byline “Sam Walser.” Howard would sell four more stories to the magazine.

A Glass of Vodka – A Play

“The God in the Bowl” is one of the original short stories featuring the sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard but not published during his lifetime. Set during the fictional Hyborian Age, the plot sees Conan robbing a temple museum only to become the prime suspect in a murder mystery. The story first saw publication in September 1952 in Space Science Fiction and has been reprinted many times since.

In the Nemedian municipality of Numalia, the second largest city of Nemedia, Conan enters a museum and antique house called the Temple of Kallian Publico.

While robbing the museum, Conan becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. The strangled corpse of the temple’s owner and curator, Kallian Publico, is found by a night watchman. Though the Cimmerian is the prime suspect, the investigating magistrate, Demetrio, and the prefect of police, Dionus, show forbearance. The two allow Conan to remain free and keep his unsheathed sword while their men search the premises. A combination of Conan’s physique, his glare, and his insistence that he’ll disembowel the first person who tried to apprehend him keeps the guards at bay.

First published in Weird Tales in October 1931. Featuring Turlogh Dubh O’Brien.

Gods of the North. Originally written by REH as a Conan story “The Frost-Giant’s Daughter” (REH1). The story was not accepted, so REH rewrote it with a different hero (Amra), and changed the title to “The Frost King’s Daughter” (REH2). When published by THE FANTASY FAN, they changed the title to GODS OF THE NORTH.

Poem.

A Kirby O’Donnell tale.

A Kirby O’Donnell tale.

“‘Golden Hope’ Christmas,” a story written by Robert E. Howard during his time at Brownwood High School, was published in the December 22, 1922 issue of The Tattler, the school’s student newspaper.

Golnor the Ape. Unfinished. Listed as “Golnar” in the Last Celt. Appeared as “Golnor” in Crypt of Cthulhu and The New Howard Reader.

“The Gondarian Man” is a gripping short story set in a speculative world where an ancient, preserved being is discovered, challenging the understandings of human history and evolution.

The Good Knight. Accepted by Street & Smith circa mid-May 1931 and published in December. Howard got $90 for this story.

Graveyard Rats. Published in the February 1936 issue of STRANGE DETECTIVE STORIES. Featuring Steve Harrison.

Graveyard Rats draft. Featuring Steve Harrison.

An article Howard wrote called “The Great Munney Ring”, offers a critical view of the wrestling scene, focusing on the manipulation and staging behind wrestling matches to draw crowds and generate publicity.

“The Grey God Passes” is a vivid tale set during a tumultuous period in Irish history, focusing on the Battle of Clontarf and the symbolic end of the Norse gods’ influence over the region.

The story begins with Conn, a thrall (slave), confronting a mysterious stranger who knows of Conn’s killing of his master, Wolfgar Snorri’s son. The stranger, later revealed to be Odin, the Grey God, hints at an impending war in Ireland and vanishes after predicting doom and the fall of gods.

The Grisly Horror. Alternate title: MOON OF ZAMBEBWEI. Published for the first time in Weird Tales, February 1935.

The Grove of Lovers. 2100 words, unfinished.

The Guardian of the Idol (synopsis)

In this draft, Gorm is captured and bound beside the altar stone of the River People, a group distinct from his Bison People. These River People are preparing him for sacrifice, having already branded him with a symbol on his chest. Their village is situated on a peninsula by a great river, surrounded by a palisade of pointed logs. The altar, a flat rock atop a heap of stones, is in the village center, surrounded by fires.

The Guardian of the Idol (fragment). Originally an unfinished 700-word manuscript, with a synopsis. There is also a version completed by Gerald W. Page.

“Guests of the Hoodoo Room” is a riveting story by Robert E. Howard, blending mystery and suspense in a gritty urban setting. The tale follows Butch Cronin, a tough private detective, as he navigates the dangerous underbelly of the city, driven by both compassion and a relentless pursuit of justice.

“Gunman’s Debt,” a Western tale by Robert E. Howard, offers a vivid glimpse into the raw and tumultuous world of the Old West. Set in the small prairie town of San Juan, Kansas, the story unfolds with the arrival of Texan John Kirby, who is quickly ensnared in a web of deceit and long-standing feuds. Unbeknownst to Kirby, the town is under the clandestine control of Captain Blanton and his chief henchman, Jim Garfield, an old enemy from Kirby’s past along the Rio Grande.

Page for of Gunman’s Debt. A synopsis.

Howard left three synopses of Gunman’s Debt, with varying levels of detail

“Guns of Khartum” is a thrilling narrative set during the historical siege of Khartum, where the protagonist, Emmett Corcoran, an American ivory hunter trapped in the conflict, finds himself embroiled in a series of daring and dangerous adventures amidst the city’s final days.

Guns of Khartum.

Guns of the Mountains.

The Hades Saloon. A fragment by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid. 

Set in Buffalotown, Arizona.

“The Hall of the Dead” is a fantasy short story by American Robert E. Howard, one of his tales featuring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. A fragment began in the 1930s but was not finished or published in Howard’s lifetime. L. Sprague de Camp wrote an entire story based on this untitled synopsis.

“Halt! Who goes there?” A story Howard wrote for the Yellow Jacket (Howard Payne College).

“The Hand of Nergal” is one of the original short stories by American author Robert E. Howard starring the sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, an untitled fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard’s lifetime. It was completed and titled by Lin Carter.

The Hand of Obeah. The novelet was submitted to Adventure but was rejected.

In “The Hand of the Black Goddess,” a seemingly ordinary setting is thrust into a web of danger and mystery as Kirby, a private investigator, encounters a series of cryptic and menacing events. Starting with a puzzling warning from a dark, imposing stranger, Kirby’s world spirals into a treacherous adventure involving a dead body in his office and a deepening international intrigue.

“Hard-Fisted Sentiment” is a short story set in the rough and tumble world of seamen and boxers, illustrating the deep bonds that can form in harsh conditions. The story’s protagonist is Steve Costigan, a seaman and boxer, who finds himself in a situation that calls for both his fighting skills and his unexpected capacity for sentimental loyalty.

I will not seek to express my appreciation of “The Hashish-Eater”. I lack the words. I have read it many times already; I hope to read it many more times.
– Robert E. Howard to Clark Ashton Smith, 22 Jul 1933, CL3.97

Robert E. Howard himself dabbled in hashish-vision literature with a piece titled “The Hashish Land,” first published Fantôme #1 (1978) by The Great Bhang Press, as a collection of fantastic cannabis literature. 

“The Haunted Hut” by Robert E. Howard is a chilling tale of Southern folklore and supernatural horror. The story captures the eerie atmosphere of the Hoodoo Swamp and the haunting presence of an undead cannibal.

The Haunted Mountain is a humorous short story that was later revised and incorporated as Chapter 10 in the novel A Gent from Bear Creek. It satirizes the Western adventure format, blending frontier absurdities with hillbilly familial conflict, gold prospecting mania, and mistaken scientific ambitions.

“The Haunter of the Ring” is a 1934 short story Howard, belonging to the Cthulhu Mythos. It was first published in Weird Tales in the June 1934 issue. Howard earned $60 for this publication. This story is set in the modern age but includes a relic from the Hyborian Age of the Conan stories, the ring of Thoth-Amon.

The Hawk of Basti. Not published when Howard was alive. Featuring Solomon Kane.

HAWK OF THE HILLS is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the June 1935 issue of the pulp magazine Top-Notch.

‘Hawks of Outremer’ is a story in the Cormac Fitzgeoffrey series about a knight fighting in the Crusades. Cormac Fitzgeoffrey only appears in two of these tales: Hawks of Outremer and The Blood of Belshazzar, both written in 1931. In the latter, Cormac seeks help in rescuing his leader from barbarians even more fierce and evil than those that hold his friend captive.

First published in Oriental Stories (Spring 1931) after being accepted by that magazine in October 1930. “Outremer” (literally, “Oversea”) was what the Crusader states were often called.

The story is set in Egypt in 1021 AD. Diego de Guzman, a Castillian, is in Cairo on a mission of personal vengeance. Disguised as a Moor, he seeks a man responsible for the deaths of his comrades and his own imprisonment. He learns that this man is now a high-ranking officer in the army of the Caliph, al Hakim, and learns that the Caliph, believing himself to be God Incarnate, plans to launch a jihad against Spain. De Guzman, with the aid of a Turkish ally, is able to take advantage of court intrigues and simmering rebellion among the Caliph’s subjects to prevent the jihad.

“Hawks over Shem” is a fantasy short story by American writer L. Sprague de Camp, featuring Conan the Barbarian and published in 1955. It’s based on the story “Hawks over Egypt” by Robert E. Howard and it is usually credited to both authors.

The Cross Plains Library has an original draft of this story. L. Sprague de Camp rewrote “Hawks Over Egypt” into a Conan story “Hawks Over Shem”.

“The Heathen” is a story centered around Tom Harper, a town drunkard, and his defiant stance against the religious fervor in a small West Texas town.

A list of heavyweight champions published by REH himself in THE GOLDEN CALIPH, circa August 1923. Only one copy known. This was REH’s own amateur magazine.

High Horse Rampage.

First published in Weird Tales, August 1930. In Africa again, Kane’s old friend N’Longa (the witch doctor from “Red Shadows”) gives the Puritan a magic wooden staff, the Staff of Solomon, which will protect him in his travels. Kane enters the jungle and finds a city of vampires.

His War Medals was posted in THE YELLOW JACKET volume XIII number 15. There is apparently an uncertainty about the authorship.

Circa November/December 1930 Howard was working on the second draft of a collaborative story with Tevis Clyde Smith which probably was titled ‘The Honor of the Game’. There is no known story extant with this title.

THE HONOR OF THE SHIP. Featuring Steve Costigan. The title was given by Glenn Lord. One of the last Costigan stories written.

Steve Costigan, a respected fighter and crew member aboard the Sea Girl, encounters John Zachary Grimes, a newcomer with a quiet but firm demeanor from Kentucky. Their interaction aboard the ship sets a foundation for conflict and mutual respect, woven through physical confrontations and moral decisions.

The Hoofed Thing. Considered part of the Cthulhu Mythos. Cats, dogs, babies, children, and tramps successively and mysteriously disappear from the neighborhood. Alternate title: USURP THE NIGHT.

Howard wrote one of the first “Weird Western” stories ever created, “The Horror from the Mound,” published in the May 1932 issue of Weird Tales. This genre acted as a bridge between his early “weird” stories (a contemporary term for horror and fantasy) and his later straight western tales.

There is a secret held inside an Indian burial mound, only a few know the secret and they have been sworn to secrecy… until someone became greedy, deciding that there must be treasure hidden in the mound…

A Horror in the Night.

The Hot Arizona Sun. Originally untitled. Set in The Rio Grande. A fragment by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid, Steve Allison, and his sister Helen.

The Hour of the Dragon, also known as Conan the Conqueror, is a fantasy novel by American writer Robert E. Howard features his sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was one of the last Conan stories published before Howard’s suicide, although not the last to be written.

Various notes about The Hour of the Dragon.

The House is an unfinished story by Howard. August Derleth finished the incomplete REH draft. Derleth’s portion begins with the second sentence of the paragraph that begins “We had passed through the circling . . .”; Derleth added a verse heading which was from an early draft of “The Children of the Night,” as well as the poems “Arkham” and “An Open Window”. The alternate title is: THE HOUSE IN THE OAKS.

The House is an unfinished story by Howard. August Derleth finished the incomplete REH draft. Derleth’s portion begins with the second sentence of the paragraph that begins “We had passed through the circling . . .”; Derleth added a verse heading which was from an early draft of “The Children of the Night,” as well as the poems “Arkham” and “An Open Window”. The alternate title is: THE HOUSE IN THE OAKS.

The House of Arabu. First published as “Witch From Hell’s Kitchen” in Avon Fantasy Reader #18, Avon, 1952.

The typescript draft of The House of Arabu.

“The House of Om” is a synopsis for a story by Robert E. Howard, written in the 1930s. The narrative unfolds with a series of thrilling events involving political corruption, sinister plots, and supernatural elements as the protagonist, Bill Blanton, navigates a web of danger and deception in a seaside town.

THE HOUSE OF PERIL. REH wrote three stories featuring Mike Dorgan and Bill McGlory. THE HOUSE OF PERIL was the first of the three stories. It was submitted to Fiction House and accepted. However, Mike Dorgan was changed to Steve Costigan, his ship China Moon became The Sea Girl, and a line was added referencing Costigan’s bulldog Mike.

In the Otis Adelbert Kline logs, the original title listed was “The House of Suspicion”, then “Suspicion” is struck out, and “Death” written above it; offered by OAK to STRANGE DETECTIVE, not sold; 

REH did three known drafts of his essay The Hyborian Age. These three were presented by the Robert E. Howard Foundation in a chapbook presented to the Legacy Circle members. Drafts A through C are from REH’s original typescripts, furnished by Glenn Lord, and sent to the REH Foundation by Patrice Louinet.

REH did three known drafts of his essay The Hyborian Age. These three were presented by the Robert E. Howard Foundation in a chapbook presented to the Legacy Circle members. Drafts A through C are from REH’s original typescripts, furnished by Glenn Lord, and sent to the REH Foundation by Patrice Louinet.

REH did three known drafts of his essay The Hyborian Age. These three were presented by the Robert E. Howard Foundation in a chapbook presented to the Legacy Circle members. Drafts A through C are from REH’s original typescripts, furnished by Glenn Lord, and sent to the REH Foundation by Patrice Louinet.

“The Hyborian Age” is an essay by Robert E. Howard pertaining to the Hyborian Age, the fictional setting of his stories about Conan the Cimmerian. It was written in the 1930s but only partly published during Howard’s lifetime. Its purpose was to maintain consistency within his fictional setting.

The essay sets out in detail the major events of Howard’s pseudohistorical prehistory, both period before and after the time of the Conan stories. In describing the cataclysmic end of the Thurian Age, the period described in his Kull stories, Howard links both sequences of stories into one shared universe. The names he gives his various nations and peoples of the age borrow liberally from actual history and myth. The essay also sets out the racial and geographical heritage of these fictional entities, making them progenitors of modern nations. For example, Howard makes the Gaels descendants of his own Cimmerians.

The Hyena is a horror story first published in Weird Tales in March 1928.

“The Ideal Girl” A 95-word essay by Howard written for the Tattler (Brownwood High School):

In the first place, she should be at least six feet tall and weigh about two hundred pounds, so she could take in washing or coal heaving at wharfs, while I took a vacation. As beauty is apt to make a woman vain, she should have a face that resembled a female crocodile with hippopotamus ancestors. As to hair, eyes and so on, I have no especial preference, but if she squinted with one ye and goggled with the other, it would be all right. Also, she should have a strong Swedish accent.

Published in FIGHT STORIES Fall 1940. Published under the name of Mark Adam. “Includin’ the Scandinavian” previously appeared in FIGHT STORIES V4N9, February 1932 as “Vikings of the Gloves”

“Incongruity” is an unfinished story (1500 words) that explores the disturbing influence of a sinister artist, Nickolo Karli, over a young American woman, Mildred Hanlon. Set against the backdrop of Paris and the French Riviera, the story delves into themes of obsession, manipulation, and the dark side of artistic ambition. Vivid descriptions and psychological depth create an atmosphere of both fascination and horror.

“The Influence of the Movies” is a satirical piece that humorously critiques the impact of movies on an impressionable individual. The story is presented as a letter to a magazine, highlighting the absurd lengths the narrator goes to in order to emulate the characters and lifestyles portrayed in films.

‘Cultured Cauliflowers’ is an unpublished manuscript by Patrick Ervin found after Howard’s death. ‘Cultured Cauliflowers’ was edited and retitled ‘In High Society’. Cross Plains Library has one original draft of this story and a retyped draft by the Otis Adelbert Kline Agency.

“In His Own Image” by Robert E. Howard is a vivid 2200-word narrative that explores the diverse and often harsh societal landscape of New Orleans through the eyes of the author. Written during Howard’s visit to the city in the early 20th century, the essay captures the essence of its people and the complexities of urban life.

First published in Weird Tales, August 1925, In the Forest of Villefère tells of de Montour’s passage through a supposedly haunted forest. There he comes upon a most unusual traveling companion.

“Intrigue in Kurdistan” is an unfinished narrative by Robert E. Howard that plunges into the volatile geopolitical tensions in Kurdistan. It centers around Frank Gordon, known also as El Borak, an American caught up in the complex interplay of tribal allegiances and colonial ambitions.

Published in Fight Stories, June 1930. Alternate titles: “Fall Guy” and “Iron Men”.

REH completed the first version of “Iron Men” (draft a) in March or April 1929. That version was sent to FIGHT STORIES and apparently considered too long. Two successive drafts (drafts b & c) condensed the story. Draft c was eventually submitted to FIGHT STORIES, but the published version was heavily edited. . Alternate titles: “Fall Guy” and “The Iron Man”.

REH completed the first version of “Iron Men” (draft a) in March or April 1929. That version was sent to FIGHT STORIES and apparently considered too long. Two successive drafts (drafts b & c) condensed the story. Draft c was eventually submitted to FIGHT STORIES, but the published version was heavily edited. . Alternate titles: “Fall Guy” and “The Iron Man”.

IRON SHADOWS IN THE MOON. First published in Weird Tales magazine in April 1934, but under the name SHADOWS IN THE MOONLIGHT.

This is one of the original short stories starring Conan. The story It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan escaping to a remote island in the Vilayet Sea where he encounters the Red Brotherhood, a skulking creature, and mysterious iron statues.

“The Iron Terror” is a short story by Robert E. Howard, featuring a blend of horror and science fiction elements set against the backdrop of a bleak New York winter. The narrative follows a daring encounter with a formidable mechanical creation. This is an early El Borak short story. First printed in English in the chapbook The Coming of El Borak (September 1987), it was not published in Howard’s lifetime. Howard tried submitting it to Cosmopolitan in 1922 or 1923.

Join Steve Costigan and Bill Stark in “Iron-Clad Fists” as they navigate a hilariously misguided attempt to leave their boxing careers behind, only to find themselves in even more absurd adventures. Howard used Patrick Ervin as a pseudonym. Alternative title: “A Knight of the Round Table”.

First published for DIME SPORTS MAGAZINE in April 1936. Alternative title: Fists of the Desert.

“Irony” is a dramatic sketch set in a confectionery shop, with the main characters being Costigan, a writer, Gloria, a young woman, Gross, the shop manager, and Tommy, a youth.

Perhaps not as well known as Valeria and Belit, Helen Tavrel is a also notorious female pirate and adventuress. She appeared in Howards story ‘The Isle of Pirates’ Doom written in 1928. The story did not sell.

The Isle of the Eons. First appearance comprised of edited together sections from the drafts b1, b2, and a3.

The Isle of the Eons. Outline.

The Isle of the Eons. Draft a1.

The Isle of the Eons. Draft a2.

The Isle of the Eons. Draft a3.

Howard wrote several drafts of “The Isle of the Eons,” each version revealing his iterative process and evolving vision. Draft B1 of “The Isle of the Eons” was probably written by Howard circa the second half of 1929.

The Isle of the Eons. Draft b2.

The Ivory Camel. 1800 words, unfinished.

“The Jade God” is an unfinished, originally untitled story by Robert E. Howard, set against a backdrop typical of his dark and mysterious narratives. Written in the 1930s, the story remains a fascinating example of Howard’s ability to blend elements of horror and suspense with vividly rendered settings. The narrative plunges the reader into an eerie night of murder and mystery involving a small group of characters and a peculiar artifact—the titular jade god.

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.

Alternate titles: SAILOR COSTIGAN AND THE JADE MONKEY or SAILOR DORGAN AND THE JADE MONKEY

A short history of Jazz Music published by REH himself in THE GOLDEN CALIPH, circa August 1923. Only one copy is known. This was REH’s own amateur magazine.

Jeffries versus Dempsey. A variant of Untitled story (“John L. Sullivan knocked out Ryan…”)

“Jewels of Gwahlur” is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. Set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, it concerns several parties, including Conan, fighting over and hunting for the eponymous treasure in Hyborian Africa. The tale was first published in the March 1935 issue of Weird Tales. Howard’s original title for the story was “The Servants of Bit-Yakin”.

The Jinx, featuring Kid Allison.

John Grimlan’s Debt. Alternate title: “Dig me no grave”. This horror story appeared in Weird Tales in 1937 after Howard’s death in 1936.

‘John Morrissey – Adventurer’ was an article Howard wrote that is now lost. It was submitted to Adventurer and rejected in 1926. 

Jottings. Verbal doodles.

The Judgement of the Desert. Alternate title: Showdown at Hell’s Canyon. 

In Howard’s following letter to Lovecraft, he responds to the latter’s suggestion that he make use of Kelly in his fiction; “Kelly the conjure-man was quite a character, but I fear I could not do justice to such a theme as you describe”. However, despite Howard’s reticence, Kelly did begin to find a way into his writing.

“Khoda Khan’s Tale” features El Borak and is a short story by Howard. First printed in English in the chapbook The Coming of El Borak (September 1987), it was not published in Howard’s lifetime.

Kid Galahad. Alternate Title: THE GOOD KNIGHT.

“The Killer’s Debt” is an untitled fragment. Might be the same as ‘A Killer’s Debt’ which was sent to Adventure on June 7, 1931, and later rejected. The complete story seemed to have been lost.

Alternative title: ‘The Killing of Yellow Donory’.

“King Bahthur’s Court,” a playful and satirical piece written by Robert E. Howard in a 1925 letter to his friend Tevis Clyde Smith, encapsulates Howard’s unique blend of humor with his fascination for the medieval era, albeit in a whimsically modern context. The play parodies Arthurian legends and the chivalric code, infusing contemporary 1920s elements to critique and satirize both the romanticized past and the modern world’s commercialism and materialism.

The satiric sketch is found in a letter (#059) written to Tevis Clyde Smith, probably in late 1927, or early 1928.

“King of the Forgotten People” is a Robert E. Howard story blending elements of adventure, fantasy, and horror. It features Jim Brill, a lone survivor of a deadly ambush in a desert, as he navigates a perilous journey through uncharted mountainous terrains while being pursued by Mongol bandits. Alternate title: THE VALLEY OF THE LOST (1)

The Earliest known draft of “King of the Forgotten People” is a tale of adventure set in the harsh, unforgiving desert and mysterious mountains of Inner Mongolia. The story follows Jim Brill, a determined and resourceful man on a dangerous quest, blending elements of survival, ancient empires, bizarre science, and power struggles.

The synopsis of “King of the Forgotten People” tells the story of Jim Brill, an adventurer driven by love and duty, who embarks on a perilous journey into the Gobi Desert to find a missing scientist. The narrative unfolds with elements of survival, strange scientific experiments, and a climactic confrontation with forces both human and monstrous.

“Kings of the Night” by Robert E. Howard is a compelling story that intertwines elements of fantasy, historical fiction, and adventure. It unfolds in ancient Britain, where Bran Mak Morn, the king of the Picts, faces an imminent threat from a Roman legion marching towards his land. The story is notable for its blending of Howard’s created mythos with historical elements, creating a rich tapestry of ancient cultures and legendary figures.

“The King’s Service” is a tale set in the times of Nagdragore’s forgotten splendor, before its decline under the forces of various invaders. This story intertwines the fates of Western warriors with the intricate politics and culture of the East, specifically within the grandeur of Nagdragore, a city in India.

Knife, Bullet and Noose. Short fiction by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid.

Knife, Gun and Noose. Short fiction by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid. Alternate title: KNIFE, BULLET AND NOOSE.

Knife-River Prodigal. Featuring Buckner J. Grimes. Alternate title: A TEXAS PRODIGAL.

A Knight of the Round Table. Howard used Patrick Ervin as a pseudonym. Alternative title: IRON-CLAD FISTS.

“A Korean Night” is a slightly different, earlier original draft of the Costigan version.

Lal Singh, Oriental Gentleman. Submitted to Weird Tales and Chicago Ledger, but was not published in either.

The Lame Man. Alternative title: LORD OF SAMARCAND.

The Land of Forgotten Ages. Unfinished story. 500 words written.

The Land of Mystery. A team-up of different Howard characters. Today we would probably call them crossovers. El Borak teams up with the Sonora Kid. Never published in Howard’s lifetime.

The Last Laugh. Alternate title: Untitled story (The rising sun was behind the wild figure.)

The Last Man. Alternate Title: untitled (The flaming sun of the year 2000 . . .)

“The Last Ride” is co-authored by Chandler Whipple (aka Robert Enders Allen). The exact contribution of each author is unknown.
A Western tale centered around Buck Laramie, the youngest of the Laramie brothers, who are known outlaws. The story depicts Buck’s internal conflict between his loyalty to his family and his moral compass, which is against their criminal lifestyle. After a bank robbery, Buck leaves his brothers, seeking a new life. Years later, he returns to San Leon, the scene of their last crime, to find redemption and repay the townspeople. However, his return leads to a series of misadventures and misunderstandings, reflecting Buck’s struggle to escape his past.

The Last White Man. 6400-word unfinished manuscript.

Law Guns of Cowtown.  Alternative title: LAW-SHOOTERS OF COWTOWN. 

Law-Shooters of Cowtown. Alternative title: LAW GUNS OF COWTOWN.

Published with the name Mark Adam. The alternate title is ‘Alleys of Peril’. First published in Fight Stories, volume 3, number 8 January 1931. Originally this was a Mike O’Brien story. It was rewritten as a Costigan after a rejection.

Legend is from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. October 1927. The letter starts with “Are you the young man to whom this letter is addressed?”. The letter contains several short stories/snippets primarily written humorously.

A short story from 1924. It was written for the Yellow Jacket (Howard Payne College student paper). 

A short story from 1924. It was written for the Yellow Jacket (Howard Payne College student paper). 

Le Gentil Homme Le Diable, first published by Truett Vinson in The Toreador in June 1925.

A short list of Howard’s library. A typescript.

In Robert E. Howard’s “The Lion Gate,” a determined archaeological team ventures into the treacherous terrains north of the Khyber Pass. Led by Professor Berwick, they seek a legendary city rumored to be connected to ancient Cretan civilization, guided by clues from a piece of ancient parchment.

1500 words, unfinished. Featuring Yar Ali Khan.

The Lion of Tiberias was originally published in July 1933. It is one of Howard’s stories in the historical fiction/crusader tales.

The Lion of Tiberias was originally published in July 1933. A fragment was published in the REH Foundation Newsletter.

A list of characters from a draft of “The Treasure of Henry Morgan.”

This document, likely created by Robert E. Howard in the early 1930s, lists many of his stories alongside their geographical and temporal settings, as well as the main recurring characters.

“Lives and Crimes of Notable Artists” is from a letter Howard wrote. It begins with “Vinson, Smith and Howard, three of the most spectacular stars that flashed across the boozy horizon of that age.”

A horror story first published in 1970. A page was missing from the original manuscript of “The Little People.”

Lobo Volante. Unfinished story. 300 words written.

“Lord of the Dead” is a thrilling and atmospheric tale of intrigue and combat set against the shadowy backdrop of the criminal underworld, featuring Robert E. Howard’s character Steve Harrison. 

First published in Oriental Stories, spring 1932. Alternative title: ‘The Lame Man’.

The Loser.

The Lost Race (first published in Weird Tales, January 1927). ‘The Lost Race’ is a story in the Bran Mak Morn series and is set during the Roman invasion of Britain. Related to, but does not feature Bran; Sold for $30;

“The Lost Valley of Iskander” is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was not published within Howard’s lifetime, the first publication was in the FAX Collector’s Editions hardback The Lost Valley of Iskander in 1974. Its original title was “Swords of the Hills”.

In this story, El Borak discovers a legendary valley in which live Greek descendants of Alexander the Great invading army. Meanwhile, the vital package he carries must be carried to British India before the Hungarian, Hunyadi, can stop him or thousands will die.

Madge Meraldson. Originally untitled. Madge Meraldson arrives at the train station to visit the Allison ranch. She is picked up by Billy Buckner. There’s not much more since it’s a short fragment.

Man, a 1000-words complete story.

“A Man and a Brother” is a short (about 300 words) humorous story set in the small town of Malville.

“A Man of Peace” tells the story of Slade O’Shane, a man born into an environment where physical strength and size are the measures of a man. Despite being smaller and weaker than his peers, Slade’s early disadvantages compel him to develop his speed and agility, transforming him into a formidable fighter. His journey is marked by a quest for peace in a world that values brute force, leading him through various landscapes and challenges that test his resolve and fighting skills.

The story centers on a feud between two cowboys, Cal Reynolds and Esau Brill, who have hated each other most of their lives. They encounter one another while out riding and a gunfight ensues. They stalk one another from hiding places among the boulders, firing occasional shots over a long period.

“The Man With the Mystery Mitts”. Featuring Kid Allison. Originally published in Street & Smith’s Sport Story Magazine volume 33 number 2, October 25, 1931.

“The Man Who Went Back” is an unfinished speculative fiction piece (2700 words), centered on John Pendragon, a man whose destiny is intertwined with a remarkable scientific experiment. This experiment, spearheaded by Professor Jonas Worley, is designed to send individuals back in time, not forward, tapping into the potential of human consciousness and the inherent powers of the universe. 

Alternative title: Hawks over Egypt

“Shadows in Zamboula” is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, first published in Weird Tales in November 1935. Its original title was “The Man-Eaters of Zamboula”.

“Shadows in Zamboula” is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, first published in Weird Tales in November 1935. Its original title was “The Man-Eaters of Zamboula”.

This typescript was provided to Legacy Circle members of the Robert E. Howard Foundation.

Synopsis of “Shadows in Zamboula”. This is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, first published in Weird Tales in November 1935. Its original title was “The Man-Eaters of Zamboula”.

“I’m a peaceable man, as law-abiding as I can be without straining myself, and it always irritates me for a stranger to bob up from behind a rock and holler, “Stop where you be before I blow your fool head off!”

Featuring Dennis Dorgan. Written under the pseudonym, Patrick Ervin. Alternate title ‘Alleys of Treachery’.

Published with the name Mark Adam. The alternate title is ‘The Pit of the Serpent’. First published in Fight Stories volume 5, number 5, Fall 1937.

The story opens with James Allison, who, upon encountering a mysterious woman, is sent on a visionary journey into the past. He becomes Hialmar, a member of the Æsir, a group of powerful, golden-haired warriors. This transformation leads Hialmar and his fellow Æsir on a remarkable journey that spans diverse landscapes and confronts various civilizations.

“The Mark of a Bloody Hand” was originally published in WRITER OF THE DARK by Dark Carneval Press. A tale of boxing, ghosts, and crime.

A Matter of Age.

Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. First published in The Summit Country Journal. Stories, 1967.

Medallions in the Moon.

“Meet Cap’n Kidd” continues the humorous and rugged adventures of Breckinridge Elkins, a character of immense strength and simple-minded integrity. This chapter narrates Elkins’ quest to prove his worth by capturing and taming the most ferocious horse in the West, known as Cap’n Kidd. The story is rich in action, showcasing Elkins’ physical prowess and his straightforward approach to life’s challenges.

Written for the novel “A Gent From Bear Creek”. First published in The Summit Country Journal. Stories, 1968.

Men of Iron. Never published in Howard’s lifetime. First published in The Iron Man, 1976 by Grant.

Men of the Shadows is a story in the Bran Mak Morn series. It was rejected by Weird Tales. Written circa 1925-1926.

Midnight. Initially as part of a collection of stories titled “Sketches”. Published in the Junto, September 1929.

“The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune” is a fantasy short story by American author Robert E. Howard, one of his original short stories about Kull of Atlantis, first published in Weird Tales magazine c. 1929. It is one of only three Kull stories to be published in Howard’s lifetime.

Set in the fictional Prehistoric Thurian Age, it deals with a disillusioned King Kull questioning the meaning of existence, leading him to seek the assistance of a two-faced wizard.

“Miss High Hat” is a story about the transformative power of discipline and the consequences of arrogance. Told through a letter format, the narrative recounts an incident from a few years ago at a college where a haughty girl, referred to as “Miss High-Hat,” learns a valuable lesson about humility and cooperation through an unexpected and public act of discipline.

A group of 7 humorous boxing sketches.

Mistress of Death featuring Agnes de Chastillon. 

Howard only wrote two drafts of “Mistress of Death”, both incomplete. The second of the two drafts was later completed by Gerald W. Page and it was this version that was first published in Witchcraft & Sorcery Volume 1 Number 5 (January–February 1971). Gerald W. Page also provided the title. This is the only Dark Agnes story to include a fantasy element, in the form of a sorcerer. It is not written to the same standard of the two stories Howard completed, and features some departures from the established character, making her more stereotypically feminine.

Mistress of Death featuring Agnes de Chastillon. 

Howard only wrote two drafts of “Mistress of Death”, both incomplete. The second of the two drafts was later completed by Gerald W. Page and it was this version that was first published in Witchcraft & Sorcery Volume 1 Number 5 (January–February 1971). Gerald W. Page also provided the title. This is the only Dark Agnes story to include a fantasy element, in the form of a sorcerer. It is not written to the same standard of the two stories Howard completed, and features some departures from the established character, making her more stereotypically feminine.

“The Mogul Elephant,” 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.

The story was sent to Jungle Stories, but they returned it on the 15th of August 1929. It was accepted by Weird Tales and published in two parts. Part 1, June 1930; Part 2, July 1930. Kane goes to Africa on the trail of an English girl named Marylin Taferal, kidnapped from her home and sold to Barbary pirates by her cousin. When he finds the hidden city of Negari, he encounters Nakari, “the vampire queen of Negari”.

In “Moon of Zambebwei,” Robert E. Howard unfolds a chilling narrative set in the eerie backwoods, where Bristol McGrath confronts a nightmarish world of cults and ancient horrors. Published for the first time in Weird Tales, February 1935.

This untitled synopsis serves as an early version of Robert E. Howard’s The Moon of Zambebwei, showcasing the raw elements of gothic horror, adventure, and voodoo-infused suspense that Howard was known for. The story revolves around Bristol McGrath.

The first appearance of “More evidences of the innate divinity of man” was in Junto, a literary travelogue circulated from member to member on its mailing list with each member adding some content.

“Mountain Man” is a humor-filled adventure that continues the exploits of Breckinridge Elkins, a character whose physical strength is only matched by his naivety and good-heartedness. In this chapter, Elkins embarks on a journey to the town of Tomahawk to retrieve a letter for his father, leading to a series of misadventures that further entangle him in the complexities of the civilized world. First published in Actions Stories March-April, 1934.

…The Mountains of Thibet. Originally untitled. Steve Allison and Timoleon (Timmy) Lycurgus Cassanova de Quin are in the mountains of Thibet just for the fun of it. A fragment.

“Mr. Dowser Buys a Car” is a humorous story that captures the misadventures of Mr. Dowser as he gets swindled into purchasing a dilapidated car from the cunning Mr. Jimson.

Murderer’s Grog. One of Howard’s spicy stories was published under the name Sam Walser. Alternative title: Outlaw Working. Featuring Wild Bill Clanton.

The 1st draft of Murderer’s Grog. One of Howard’s spicy stories was later published under the name Sam Walser. Featuring Wild Bill Clanton.

Musings. Initially as part of a collection of stories titled “Sketches”. Published in the Junto, September 1929. THE JUNTO was a literary travelogue circulated from member to member on its mailing list with each member adding some content.

“Musing of a Moron” by Robert E. Howard is a piece rich in satire and autobiographical fiction elements. The story unfolds one evening on a library lawn, where four friends—identified by their quirky smoking choices—engage in absurd discussions that range from burning churches to musings about wealth, life’s meaning, and literary critics.

The Mutiny of the Hellroarer is from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa April 1930.

‘The Mystery of Summerton Castle’ is a story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales (old Management) in 1922-1923. But it was never published.

“The Mystery of Tannernoe Lodge” is an unfinished short story by Robert E. Howard, featuring his detective character Steve Harrison. Set in a secluded lodge, the narrative delves into the enigmatic circumstances surrounding a series of mysterious events and the involvement of various characters in a web of deceit and danger.

First published in Lord of the Dead, by Grant in 1981. It was then completed by Fred Blosser, based on a fragment by Howard.

The Nameless Tribe Drafts. Draft A1, A2 and B.

In “Names in the Black Book,” Steve Harrison, a tough detective, finds himself embroiled in a sinister plot involving a list of doomed individuals in a dangerous and mysterious quarter of the city. The story intertwines fear, intrigue, and dark forces as Harrison confronts a familiar enemy thought long dead.

Nekht Semerkeht. Unfinished. Supposedly the last story REH ever worked on.

Originally there was a complete first draft, though the later portions of it were in synopsis form and a second draft which was started but didn’t go very far. Glenn Lord gave Offutt the second draft beginning with the remaining portion of the first draft, and Offutt worked from that. 

Nerve.

A New Game for Costigan. 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”.

A New Game for Costigan. 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”.

A New Game for Dorgan. 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”.

A Night Ashore. Alternate Title #1: SAILOR COSTIGAN AND THE YELLOW COBRA – Alternate Title #2: THE YELLOW COBRA

4500 words, incomplete. “Night Encounter” tells a gripping story set in the trenches of World War I, focusing on an unexpected reunion between two childhood friends, now on opposing sides of the conflict.

“Night of Battle,” also published as “Shore Leave for a Slugger,” thrusts Steve Costigan into a whirlwind of adventure and misadventure in Singapore. First published in Fight Stories in March 1932. Howard earned  $60.00 for the story. Published again with the byline Mark Adam in the same magazine in the Fall 1942 issue and the title was changed to “Shore Leave for a Slugger”.

“Night of Battle” the synopsis. See “Night of Battle”, the full story for more details.

The Night of the Wolf. Unpublished during Howard’s lifetime. This is one of a handful of short stories Howard wrote about yet another in his large clan of ferocious Irish warriors. Cormac Mac Art is an outlawed Gael, a pirate, and a Reiver. He is very similar to Turlogh O’Brien.

“No Cowherders Wanted” featuring Breckinridge Elkins. Alternate Title: GENTS IN BUCKSKIN. First published in Action Stories, September 1936.

‘No Man Needs Three Hands’ is a short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales in 1926 but it was never published.

North of Khyber. A team-up of different Howard characters. Today we would probably call them crossovers. El Borak teams up with the Sonora Kid. Never published in Howard’s lifetime.

The Noseless Horror.

Note (“Hernando de Guzeman, born in . . .”)

Notes for a Gent From Bear Creek. Two pages of REH-typed notes.

Notes, on the Fifth Crusade. One page of REH-typed notes.

Notes, on the Fifth Crusade. One page of REH-typed notes.

Nothing to lose. The name used was R. T. Maynard. Alternate Title: THE PURPLE HEART OF ERLIK

The Nut’s Shell. A hand-written manuscript.

“Old Garfield’s Heart” was first published in Weird Tales in December of 1933 and is generally labeled as a “Horror Story”. It takes place shortly after the end of the Wild West, but it falls squarely into the “Weird Western” genre. The story is about a frontiersman, Old Garfield, who has lived as long as anyone can remember. The story is told through the eyes of an unnamed narrator who believes the tales told by Old Garfield are nothing more than whims of fancy or tall tales.

REH wrote three stories featuring Mike Dorgan and Bill McGlory. “One Shanghai Night” was the second of the three stories. It was submitted to Fiction House on June 7, 1931, and later accepted. 

One Shanghai Night (synopsis). Alternate Title: untitled synopsis (Dark Shanghai).

OUT OF THE DEEP is a sequel of sorts to SEA CURSE (Weird Tales, May 1928). It was submitted to Weird Tales in 1928 but got rejected.

Outlaw Trails. Alternative titles: ‘The Devil’s Joker’ and ‘The Devil’s Jest’.

Outlaw Working. One of Howard’s spicy stories was published under the name Max Neilson. Alternative title: Murderer’s Grog. Featuring Wild Bill Clanton.

“Over the Rockies in a Ford” is a story of an adventurous and daring journey undertaken by Bill Smalley and his partner Steve Bender as they attempt to cross the Rocky Mountains in an old 1917 Ford, facing numerous challenges and unexpected encounters along the way. Written on November 15, 1921, when Howard was in High School. About 3000 words.

“The Paradox” by Robert E. Howard is a short story that delves into the gritty realities of life in the oil fields of West Texas during the early 20th century. The Paradox. 1700 words, unfinished.

Pay Day.

The Peaceful Pilgrim. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. Alternate title: Cupid from Bear Creek.

“The People of the Black Circle” is one of the original novellas about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine in three parts over the September, October and November 1934 issues. Howard earned $250 for the publication of this story.

It’s set in the Hyborian Age and concerns Conan kidnapping an exotic princess from Vendhya (prehistoric India) while foiling a nefarious plot of world conquest by the Black Seers of Yimsha. Due to its epic scope and atypical Hindustan flavor, the story is considered an undisputed classic of Conan lore and is often cited by Howard scholars as one of his best tales. It is also one of the few Howard stories where the reader is treated a deeper insight into magic and magicians beyond the stereotypical Hyborian depiction as demon conjurer-illusionist-priests.

The October and November 1934 installments of “The People of the Black Circle” in WEIRD TALES were headed by a short recap of the preceding chapters.

“The People of the Black Coast” is a tale of survival and revenge by Robert E. Howard, following a man stranded in an uncharted territory after a plane crash with his fiancée. The story unfolds on a sinister and mysterious island, populated by an intelligent yet horrifying species.

The story begins with the unnamed protagonist—a Gael—venturing into a dark, labyrinthine cavern driven by his love for a yellow-haired girl, Tamera, and a dangerous curiosity about the mysterious “Children of the Night.” The Britons had told tales of these inhuman creatures, warning of their grotesque attributes and malevolent tendencies. Armed with a blade, the Gael cautiously navigates the oppressive darkness.

The story begins with the unnamed protagonist—a Gael—venturing into a dark, labyrinthine cavern driven by his love for a yellow-haired girl, Tamera, and a dangerous curiosity about the mysterious “Children of the Night.” The Britons had told tales of these inhuman creatures, warning of their grotesque attributes and malevolent tendencies. Armed with a blade, the Gael cautiously navigates the oppressive darkness.

The story begins with John O’Brien, the narrator, entering a dark, eerie forest, with the intent to kill his rival, Richard Brent, over the love of Eleanor Bland. O’Brien falls and hits his head in Dagon’s Cave, leading to a vivid recollection of a past life as Conan, a Gaelic reaver.

“The People of the Serpent” is a gripping tale that entwines elements of mystery, horror, and adventure, set against the backdrop of a menacing swamp. The story follows Steve Harrison, a determined and rugged detective, as he ventures into the treacherous swamp in pursuit of a criminal named Woon Shang. Alternate title: “Fangs of Gold”.

“The People of the Winged Skull” is from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, cirka late 1928. Here is a brief extract

‘The Phantom of Old Egypt’ is a story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales in 1922-1923. But it was never published. 

“The Phoenix on the Sword” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian was written by Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine in December 1932. The tale, in which Howard created the character of Conan, was a rewrite of the unpublished Kull story “By This Axe I Rule!”, with long passages being identical.

The Phoenix on the Sword (first submitted draft).

“Pictures in the Fire” is a vivid and reflective story written as a high school English paper. The narrator immerses in the warmth and flickering light of a massive, old-fashioned fireplace, which stirs a series of imaginative visions and memories. These “pictures in the fire” transform into scenes of medieval castles, battles, mythical creatures, and personal recollections, each brought to life by the dancing flames and glowing embers.

Pigeons from Hell (early draft)

“Pigeons from Hell” is a horror short story written in late 1934 and published posthumously by Weird Tales in 1938.

“Pigskin Scholar” is an unfinished story/fragment that follows a young man’s struggle to escape his harsh, impoverished life for the opportunity to pursue education and find purpose. Combining elements of grit, self-determination, and physical toughness, the story portrays the protagonist’s journey through a world of hardship and into the collegiate environment.

Pilgrims to the Pecos. Alternate Title: Weary Pilgrims on the Road. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.

A Pirut Story.

“Pistol Politics” was first published in Action Stories Volume 13 Number 7, Fiction House, Inc., April 1936. The story follows the explosive mix of politics, liquor, and literacy in the rough frontier mining camp of Yeller Dog, as Breckinridge Elkins finds himself entangled in a chaotic mayoral election.

These short notes identify Pistol Politics as taking place in Yellow Dog Mining Camp and Alderville.

The Pit of the Serpent. The alternate title is ‘Manila Manslaughter’. First published in Fight Stories volume 5, number 5, Fall 1937.

Playing Journalist. The unpublished manuscript by Patrick Ervin was found after Howard’s death and retitled “Playing Journalist”.

Playing Santa Claus. Featuring Dennis Dorgan and was written under the pseudonym, Patrick Ervin. Alternate title A TWO-FISTED SANTA CLAUS. Cross Plains Library has one original draft of this story and a retyped draft by the Otis Adelbert Kline Agency. 

The original title of ‘The Conquerin’ Hero of the Humbolts’ is ‘Politics at Blue Lizard.’ However, Howard undoubtedly meant “Politics at Lonesome Lizard” which is the name of the town in the story.
(Glenn Lord – THE LAST CELT).

Alternative titles: ‘Politics at Blue Lizard’ and ‘Politics at Lonesome Lizard’

“Politics at Lonesome Lizard” was first published under the title The Conquerin’ Hero of the Humbolts in Action Stories, Volume 13, Number 11, by Fiction House, Inc., October 1936.

“The Pool of the Black One” is one of the original short stories starring the sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan becoming the captain of a pirate vessel while encountering a remote island with a mysterious pool that has the power of transmutation.

First published in Weird Tales in October 1933, the story was republished in the collections The Sword of Conan (Gnome Press, 1952) and Conan the Adventurer (Lancer Books, 1966).

Post Oaks & Sand Roughs is a semi-autobiographical adventure novel by Robert E. Howard. It was completed and submitted to an unnamed publisher circa October/November 1928. It didn’t get published.

“Post Oaks and Sand Roughs” is an early draft of a semi-autobiographical adventure novel by Robert E. Howard. The story fictionalizes elements of Howard’s life through the lens of the protagonist, Stephen Costigan. Set in the early 20th century, the novel explores the personal and professional challenges faced by an aspiring writer in a small Texas town.

From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, April 6, 1925 (“Salaam, sahib: / What ho! I have never . . .”).
As this is a parody of Sax Rohmer’s “The Quest for the Sacred Slipper”, the title was likely a typo, and should have been “The Post of the Sappy Slipper”.

Alternate title: THE POST OF THE SAPPY SLIPPER

“A Power Among the Islands” is an unfinished short story by Robert E. Howard, set in the vivid backdrop of the South Seas. The tale opens aboard the schooner Marquesas, weaving a narrative of adventure, confrontation, and the influence of a single individual over a small, contained society.

A Power Among the Islands. A team-up of different Howard characters. Today we would probably call them crossovers. El Borak teams up with the Sonora Kid. Never published in Howard’s lifetime.

A boxing tale, featuring Bill Smalley.

Alternate Title: BILL SMALLEY AND THE POWER OF THE HUMAN EYE.

Proem

The Punch. 900 words, article.

Puritans (article).

The Purple Heart of Erlik. The name used by Spicy-Adventure Stories was Sam Walser. Alternate Title: NOTHING TO LOSE.

Partial early draft, typescript reproduction. In this version, the Queen is named Tameris, not Bêlit.

“Queen of the Black Coast” is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. First published in Weird Tales magazine in May 1934. Conan becomes a notorious pirate and plunders the coastal villages of Kush alongside Bêlit, a head-strong femme fatale.

“The Question of the East” is a short article that explores a growing tension between Eastern and Western powers. The article outlines the author’s concerns about a unified Eastern world rising against the West, drawing historical examples to illustrate previous instances where Western forces fell to Eastern conquerors. It reflects on both past and potential conflicts while cautioning the West to confront these looming challenges.

When the first draft of Rattle of Bones was written, Howard decided that it needed another ending. The draft consisted of seven pages of which he rewrote the last two and changed the ending. This was what he sent to Weird Tales and what was published. The REH Foundation printed the first version of the 1928 story in their very first issue of ‘The Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletter’ in the spring of 2007.

First published in Weird Tales, June 1929. In Germany, Kane meets a traveler named Gaston L’Armon, who seems familiar to Kane, and together they take rooms in the Cleft Skull Tavern. At this time in his career, Howard was an inexperienced professional writer. Several times when he sent his drafts story to Weird Tales, he was careful to prepare carbons.

When the first draft of Rattle of Bones was written, Howard decided that it needed another ending. The draft consisted of seven pages of which he rewrote the last two and changed the ending. This was what he sent to Weird Tales and what was published. The REH Foundation printed the first version of the 1928 story in their very first issue of ‘The Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletter’ in the spring of 2007.

In “The Recalcitrant,” Robert E. Howard presents a vivid snapshot of school life, delving into themes of power dynamics and personal defiance within a high school setting. This narrative may reflect autobiographical elements, as suggested by a letter from Howard’s father recalling Robert’s own school experiences of isolation and his resolve to build physical strength to stand up against bullies.

Robert E. Howard wrote a short recap of Harold Lamb’s “The Wolf Chaser”. He then wrote his own story synopsis but never turned it into a finished story. Alternate title: Untitled (“500 Torguts”).

Red Blades of Black Cathay was written as a collaboration between Robert E. Howard and Tevis Clyde Smith. It was first published in Oriental Stories in the February/March issue of 1931.

“Red Curls and Bobbed Hair” is a lighthearted and humorous story by Robert E. Howard, focusing on family dynamics and generational differences regarding style and fashion.

Redflame. Featuring John Silent.

“Red Nails” is the last of the stories featuring Conan the Cimmerian written by American author Robert E. Howard. A novella, it was originally serialized in Weird Tales magazine from July to October 1936, the months after Howard’s suicide. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan entering a lost city whose degenerate inhabitants are entangled in a murderous blood feud. Due to its dark themes of decay and death, the story is considered a classic of Conan lore while also cited by Howard scholars as one of his best tales.

A draft of “Red Nails”.

“Red Shadows” was REH’s first published Solomon Kane story (Howard’s original title was “Solomon Kane”). It tells a tale of wide scope, one which takes place over many years and in many countries. It’s a tale of unrelenting dogged persistence as Kane spends years of his life seeking to avenge the death of a complete stranger.

The Red Stone. 250 words, unfinished.

Authorship uncertain. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 295, Howard Payne College.

Glenn Lord came up with the title of “Restless Waters” for the untitled typescript, but then later came across a letter from REH to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. February 1929 (“Salaam:/ Ancient English Balladel”), in which REH mentions a story he wrote titled “The Fear at the Window,” and Glenn said he thought this might be the correct title.

A sequel to Skull Face, begun by Howard but finished by Richard A. Lupoff.

“The Return of the Sorcerer” is an unfinished narrative by Robert E. Howard that delves into themes of betrayal, mysticism, and perilous quests. Set against the exotic backdrop of the Gobi desert and the enigmatic Black Lamasery, the story recounts the harrowing experiences of a Western adventurer entangled in the dangerous intrigues of Eastern mystics.

Revenge. Part of a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. October 1927. The letter starts like this:

ARE YOU THE YOUNG MAN TO WHOM THIS LETTER IS ADDRESSED? ARE YOU ANY RELATION TO THAT WORTHY YOUNG MAN? YOU AREN’T? THEN WHY IN HELL ARE YOU OPENING HIS LETTERS?

This particular letter contains parts of a song and several short stories and poems.

Revenge by Proxy. One of Howard’s spicy stories was published under the name William Decatur. A list of characters. Featuring Wild Bill Clanton.

Exile of Atlantis is titled by Glenn Lord. Alternative title: Untitled story, starting with “The sun was setting. A last crimson…”.

Published under the name “Riders of the Sunset”. Drums of Sunset was published in nine parts in the Cross Plains Review. The Cross Plains Review has been the newspaper for Cross Plains, Texas since 1909. 

Alternative title: DRUMS OF THE SUNSET.

“The Right Hand of Doom” was never published while Howard lived. It is a story about a necromancer, and what happens when you cross him.

“The Right Hook” is a gripping boxing tale that revolves around Steve Harmer, a boxer with a formidable punch but a fragile chin, leading to a series of defeats that make him contemplate retirement. His return home and a chance encounter with Gloria Murken, his old flame, draw him back into the ring for one final, dramatic bout with unexpected stakes.

Ringside Tales. First published in Howard’s amateur press publication, The Right Hook volume 1, number 3, 1925.

A Ringtailed Tornado. Originally a Buckner J. Grimes story titled “Ring-Tailed Tornado.”
Published under the name of Patrick Ervin.
Rewritten by someone at the Kline agency into a Breckinridge Elkins story.

A Ring-tailed Tornado. Originally a Buckner J. Grimes story titled “Ring-Tailed Tornado.”
Published under the name of Patrick Ervin.
Rewritten by someone at the Kline agency into a Breckinridge Elkins story.

The Riot at Bucksnort. Featuring Pike Bearfield.

The Riot at Cougar Paw. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. It was published in Action Stories in October 1935.

The Rivals. Authorship uncertain. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 15, Howard Payne College.

In “The Road of Azrael,” the Turkish warrior, Kosru Malik, recounts his adventure with the Frankish knight, Sir Eric de Cogan. The knight has ventured into the dangerous lands beyond the Crusader states in search of his kidnapped beloved, Ettaire.

Alternative titles: ‘The way of the swords’ and ‘The Road of the Eagles’.

‘The Road of the Eagles’ is an REH story and title for which two drafts presently exist. It’s an unpublished historical adventure store that de Camp turned into a Conan story.

The Road of the Mountain Lion. Alternate title: GATES OF EMPIRE.

The Road to Bear Creek. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.

Extremely brief synopsis for The Road to Cougar Paw.

Robert Ervin Howard. Typing Practice. Howard playing around with his name.

Rogues in the Candlelight. This is a title Howard mentioned in a letter to an unknown recipient. The letter was never sent and is numbered 368 in Collected Letters of Robert E. Howard Volume 3 and starts with (“I’m writing mainly . . .”). Here he mentions that he was thinking of using for a pirate story. It is unknown if he ever did or not. There is no other record of it.

“Rogues in the House” is one of the original short stories starring Conan. First published in Weird Tales magazine in January 1934. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan inadvertently becoming involved in the struggle between two powerful men fighting for control of a city-state. It was the seventh Conan story Howard had published. It features a fight between Conan and an intelligent ape-like hominid.

It is famous for the fight scene between Conan and an ape, often known as the cover by artist Frank Frazetta.

A Room in London. Outline.

The Roving Boys on a Sandburg. 800 words.

The Rump of the Swift. A short story from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa June 1928.

Sailor Costigan and the Destiny Gorilla. Featuring Steve Costigan.

Alternate titles: SAILOR DORGAN AND THE DESTINY GORILLA and THE DESTINY GORILLA.

Sailor Costigan and the Destiny Gorilla. Featuring Steve Costigan.

Alternate titles: SAILOR DORGAN AND THE DESTINY GORILLA and THE DESTINY GORILLA.

Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey. Patrick Ervin was used as a pseudonym. 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.”

Sailor Costigan and the Swami.

Step into the mysterious Shanghai waterfront where Sailor Steve Costigan finds himself unwittingly entangled in a violent robbery, a gritty underground fight, and a dangerous mix-up with the law in “Sailor Costigan and the Turkish Menace.” The story was received by Howard’s agent, Kline, on April 29, 1933.

In the synopsis for “Sailor Costigan and the Turkish Menace,” Steve Costigan lands in the bustling city of Singapore and inadvertently gets entangled in a case of mistaken identity and crime. As Steve walks down a back street at night, he witnesses a robbery where a bulky man assaults another man and steals his briefcase. Steve chases the assailant but loses him in the maze of dark alleys.

Howard sent Otis Adelbert Kline a finished typescript entitled “Sailor Costigan and the Yellow Cobra.” This typescript was first corrected, and then later changed into the Dennis Dorgan story “Sailor Dorgan and the Yellow Cobra” by Patrick Ervin. It was sold to MAGIC CARPET MAGAZINE, but never published by them. The typescript at the Cross Plains Library is Howard’s, but correction tape has been used to change Howard to Ervin, Costigan to Dorgan, Mike to Spike, The Sea Girl to The Python, etc.) Still, later, a “clean copy” was produced that incorporated all the changes and corrections.

Sailor Dorgan and the Destiny Gorilla. 

Alternate titles: SAILOR COSTIGAN AND THE DESTINY GORILLA and THE DESTINY GORILLA.

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.

Sailor Dorgan and the Turkish Menace. Alternate title: THE TURKISH MENACE.

Sailor Dorgan and the Yellow Cobra.

Alternate Titles: SAILOR COSTIGAN AND THE YELLOW COBRA and THE YELLOW COBRA

Sailor’s Grudge. Featuring Steve Costigan. First published in Fight Stories volume 2 number 10 march 1930 as ‘Sailor’s Grudge’. It was published again in Fight Stories volume 5 number 7 in 1938 under the name Mark Adam and with the changed title.

Outline of Sailor’s Grudge.

Samson had a soft spot is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard posted under the name Mark Adam. 

Alternative titles are: ‘THE FIGHTIN’EST PAIR’ and BREED OF BATTLE.

‘Sanctuary of the Sun’ is a short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales and Ghost Story in 1927 but it was never published.

The Sappious Few Menchew. Part of a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, March 17, 1925. The letter starts like this:

Faith and bejabbers! Whee! Hurra for Brian Boru, St. Brandon, Jack McAuliffe, John MacCormick, Mike McTigue and ivry other, shillalah wavin’, potheen swiggin’, wild Irishman who iver hilped make the auld isle famous!

The story is a parody of the Fu Manchu stories popular at the time.

The Scalp Hunter. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. This short story was altered slightly to become chapter 8 of the novel, A Gent From Bear Creek.

Alternate Title: A STRANGER IN GRIZZLY CLAW

“The Scarlet Citadel” is one of the original short stories starring the Conan the Cimmerian. First published in the January 1933 issue of Weird Tales magazine. In the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, a middle-aged Conan battles rival kingdoms. The wizard Tsotha-lanti ensnares King Conan, who escapes a dungeon with unexpected aid.

Notes for The Scarlet Citadel (typescript)

Hand of the Black Goddess. Featuring Gorman and Kirby.

Scotchogram. The first appearance of this was in the Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletter volume 3, number 1.

The Screaming Skull of Silence. The short story was submitted to Weird Tales in 1928 but rejected.

‘Sea Curse’. A tale that starts with a village tragedy. A local girl who lives with her elderly aunt has been seduced and deflowered by a swaggering, drunk sailor.

Secret of Lost Valley.

Alternate title: THE VALLEY OF THE LOST (2)

Sentiment. Initially as part of a collection of stories titled “Sketches”. Published in the Junto, September 1929. THE JUNTO was a literary travelogue circulated from member to member on its mailing list with each member adding some content.

Serpent Vines.

Howard’s original title for the story was “The Servants of Bit-Yakin”, but it was as “Jewels of Gwahlur” the tale was first published in the March 1935 issue of Weird Tales. 

Alternate titles: JEWELS OF GWAHLUR and TEETH OF GWAHLUR.

The title “Shackled Mitts” was erroneously applied to this untitled story, as Glenn Lord thought it was a story of that title mentioned in REH’s papers, which REH said he had offered to Fiction House in April 1931; but as this story was not written until after early 1932, this can not be that story.

“The Shadow in the Well” is an unfinished draft by Robert E. Howard, portraying the high-seas adventures and treacheries of a pirate crew led by the formidable John Groshawk. Set on an eerie, secluded island, this draft captures the essence of pirate folklore mixed with elements of dark magic and mystery.

A draft of The Shadow Kingdom. Featuring Kull.

“The Shadow Kingdom”, the first of his Kull stories, set in his fictional Thurian Age. It was first published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in August 1929.

The Shadow of Doom. The name “John Taverel” was used.

The short story ‘The Shadow of the Beast’ was submitted, but it’s unknown to whom in 1929.

“The Shadow of the Hun” by Robert E. Howard is an epic tale set in a time of ancient wars and legendary warriors. The story begins on a warship where three distinct warriors from different backgrounds – Athelstane the Saxon, Don Roderigo del Cortez, and Turlogh Dubh O’Brien – converse about their upcoming battle against the Saracens. Athelstane, a towering Saxon with golden hair and beard, inquires about these Eastern enemies, and Don Roderigo, a tall, dark Spaniard, describes the Saracens as brave and cruel, adherents of Muhammad. Turlogh, a well-built, dark-haired Gaelic warrior, adds his insights, dismissing the existence of dragons but acknowledging the dangers that await them.

“The Shadow of the Vulture” is a short story by Howard, first published in The Magic Carpet Magazine, in January 1934. The story introduces the character of Red Sonya of Rogatino, who later became the inspiration for the popular character Red Sonja, the archetype of the chainmail-bikini-clad female warrior.

“Iron Shadows in the Moon” is one of the original short stories starring Conan. First published in Weird Tales magazine in April 1934, but then under the name “Shadows in the Moonlight”. Howard originally named his story “Iron Shadows in the Moon”. It’s set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan escaping to a remote island in the Vilayet Sea where he encounters the Red Brotherhood, a skulking creature, and mysterious iron statues.

Alternate title: IRON SHADOWS IN THE MOON.

“Shadows in Zamboula” is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, first published in Weird Tales in November 1935. Its original title was “The Man-Eaters of Zamboula”.

Shanghied Mitts is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard. Published under the name Mark Adam. Should probably have been ‘Shanghaied Mitts’.

“Sharp’s Gun Serenade” is a humorous Western story by Robert E. Howard featuring his recurring character Breckinridge Elkins. It first appeared in Action Stories, January 1937.

Shave that Hawg! Featuring Pike Bearfield. Alternate title: A GENT FROM THE PECOS.

She-Cats of Samarcand. Short story by Marc Cerasini and Charles Hoffman and Robert E. Howard [as by Sam Walser].

She Devil. Under the nae Sam Walser. Alternate title: THE GIRL ON THE HELL SHIP.

“The Sheik” is a short, humorous story written by Robert E. Howard during his high school years. Published in the Brownwood High School newspaper, The Tattler.

A draft of Ship in Mutiny. The story was never published when Howard lived.

Ship in Mutiny. Never published when Howard lived.

SHORE LEAVE FOR A SLUGGER. First published in Fight Stories in March 1932 as NIGHT OF BATTLE. Published again with the byline Mark Adam in the same magazine in the Fall 1942 issue and the title was changed to SHORE LEAVE FOR A SLUGGER.

Showdown at Hell’s Canyon.

Alternate title: THE JUDGEMENT OF THE DESERT.

“The Shunned Castle” is an unfinished tale by Robert E. Howard that blends adventure with elements of mystery. Set in a dense, jungle-covered landscape, the story follows Frank Gordon, known as El Borak, and his younger companion, Steve Allison, as they encounter the mysterious and foreboding ruins of an ancient castle. Unique in Howard’s oeuvre, this narrative features the rare team-up of two of his well-known characters, each bringing their own skills and personalities to the unfolding adventure.

The Sign of the Snake. Featuring Steve Costigan. First published in Action Stories, volume 10, number 10 June 1931. 

The Silver Heel. Featuring Steve Harrison. 

Synopsis of The Silver Heel. Featuring Steve Harrison. 

Sisters (article).

Six-Gun Interview,” an unfinished (4200 words) and untitled story by Robert E. Howard, estimated to be half to two-thirds complete, is a tale set in the Western genre, likely written in 1931. The story, tentatively titled “Six-Gun Interview” by Glenn Lord, appears to be an adaptation of Howard’s Sailor Steve Costigan stories to a Western setting. The tale appears to be a precursor to the Breckinridge Elkins series.

Sketches. This title was used for two separate collections of stories. It was first used in THE JUNTO, Volume 2, #4, September 1929, for a bundle that included “Sentiment”, “Musings”, “Midnight”, and “Etched in Ebony”. The title was re-used by Glenn Lord for a bundle of seven stories that were published in TRUMPET #7. Those seven stories include “Ambition in the Moonlight”, “To a Man Whose Name I Never Knew”, “Musings”, “Etched in Ebony”, “The Galveston Affair”, “Surrender – Your Money or Your Vice”, and “Them”. All seven stories came from various issues of THE JUNTO.

The Skull of Silence.

Alternate title: THE SCREAMING SKULL OF SILENCE

Skull-Face is a fantasy novella by Howard, which appeared as a serial in Weird Tales magazine, beginning in October 1929, and ending in December 1929. It was submitted in 1928 and Weird Tales accepted it for $300.

The very short story ‘Skulls and Orchids’ were presented to both Weird Tales and Argosy but didn’t sell. Howard listed it as v.v.s (very short story) but it could probably also be called a prose poem.

Skulls in the Stars. First published in Weird Tales, January 1929. In England, Kane is on his way to the hamlet of Torkertown, and must choose one of two paths, a route that leads through a moor or one that leads through a swamp. He is warned that the moor route is haunted and all travelers who take that road die, so he decides to investigate.

The Slave-Princess. Unfinished. Featuring Cormac Fitzgeoffrey.

The Slave-Princess. Synopsis. Featuring Cormac Fitzgeoffrey.

“The Slayer” is an unfinished (1500 words) story that explores the political and supernatural dynamics among the Masai tribes in Africa. The narrative follows the protagonist, a young white man, as he becomes entangled in the struggle between two rival Masai chiefs, Kovaro and Ka’saangu.

Sleeping Beauty. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 7 on October 27th, 1926, Howard Payne College.

“The Slithering Shadow” is one of the original short stories starring Conan. First published in the September 1933 issue of Weird Tales magazine. “The Slithering Shadow” is the original title, but the story is also known as “Xuthal of the Dusk” in further publications. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, and concerns Conan discovering a lost city in a remote desert while encountering a Lovecraftian demon known as Thog.

Slugger Bait. Published under the name Mark Adam. Featuring Steve Costigan. First published in Fight Stories in December 1931 as ‘Circus Fists’. 

The Slugger’s Game is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in the May 1934 issue of Jack Dempsey’s Fight Magazine. 

“Sluggers of the Beach” is a high-octane tale featuring Sailor Steve Costigan and a cast of colorful characters embroiled in a quest for a hidden treasure. The story is marked by a mix of action, humor, and a twist that upends expectations. It was originally published in the August 1934 issue of Jack Dempsey’s Fight Magazine. The story was sold for $35.00.

“The Snout in the Dark” is one of the original short stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, an untitled fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard’s lifetime. It was completed and titled by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter and in this form first published in the collection Conan of Cimmeria (1969). 

Solomon Kane was the original title Howard had for this story, but it was changed to “Red Shadows” when it was published. It tells a tale of wide scope, one which takes place over many years and in many countries. It’s a tale of unrelenting dogged persistence as Kane spends years of his life seeking to avenge the death of a complete stranger.

Some people who have had an influence over me. Written on February 7, 1922, when Howard attended Cross Plains High School.

Review: Something about Eve. A review Howard did of a book by James Branch Cabell. 

“Son of the White Wolf” is an El Borak short story by Howard. It was originally published in the December 1936 issue of the pulp magazine Thrilling Adventures.

El Borak is a contemporary of T.E. Lawrence, and Lawrence is mentioned several times in the story “Son of the White Wolf,” setting this tale firmly during World War I. Gordon is well-known to the Arabs; the name El Borak is used to striking fear into the hearts of children.

From a long letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa March 1929. Several poems, stories, ramblings and even plays are presented.

“The Sonora Kid—Cowhand,” a story by Robert E. Howard, introduces us to the eponymous character, a young, confident, and skilled cowboy named Steve Allison. Set in a ranch environment, the story unfolds with a mix of humor, action, and the classic Western setting. It was never published during Howard’s lifetime.

The Sonora Kid’s Winning Hand. Short fiction by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid.

“Sons of Hate” by Robert E. Howard follows detectives Butch Gorman and Brent Kirby as they navigate a complex case involving their client, Colonel John A. Pembroke. Amidst threats and mysterious attacks, they uncover a twisted plot involving an ancient Egyptian relic, buried secrets, and a deadly vendetta that threatens to consume all involved.

Partial synopsis of SONS OF HATE. Featuring the private detectives Butch Gorman and Brent Kirby.

Sons of the Hawk, Howard’s original title or “The Country of the Knife” as it was published as is an El Borak short story. It was originally published in the August 1936 issue of the pulp magazine Complete Stories.

The Sophisticate.

Sordid Sayings of a Simple Sap.

A South Sea Storm. 325 words. Written by Howard on March 2, 1921, when he attended Cross Plains High School. 

“The Sowers of the Thunder” is a historical fiction short story by Howard, originally published in Oriental Stories, Winter 1932. It takes place in Outremer (the Crusader states) in the time of General Baibars and deals with the General’s friendly/adversarial relationship with Cahal Ruadh O’Donnell, an Irish Crusader with a troubled past cut in the Howardian mold. Both the Siege of Jerusalem (1244) and the Battle of La Forbie feature in the plot.

Spanish Gold on Devil Horse. This is a 2-part serial (45 pages) that was submitted to Argosy and Adventure but rejected by both in 1928.

An early draft of Spanish Gold on Devil Horse.

Spear and Fang. First published in Weird Tales, July 1925. After years of rejection slips, Howard finally sold a short caveman tale titled “Spear and Fang”, which netted him the sum of $16 and introduced him to the readers of a struggling pulp called Weird Tales. Spear and Fang is a story of the conflict between Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals.

Howard’s first version (as Spears of Clontarf) finally saw print in a chapbook in 1978, and his Grey God Passes version was also published posthumously in the anthology collection titled Dark Mind, Dark Heart in 1962.

Spears of the East.

In “Spectres in the Dark,” the murder of retired professor Hildred Falrath by his former pupil Clement Van Dorn introduces a gripping mystery steeped in psychological horror.

The Spell of Damballah.

“The Spirit of Brian Boru” is a tale of heritage, courage, and unexpected triumph in the boxing ring, with a mystical touch that blends history with the present. 1400 words.

The Spirit of Tom Molyneaux. There exists two typescripts for this story. The first corresponds to the final version submitted to FIGHT STORIES and ARGOSY. It is written in the third person and the ghostly elements are less marked.
The second typescript is written in the first person and the supernatural element is more pronounced. Howard used the name John Taverel for this story. Alternate title: The Spirit of Tom Molyneaux.

“The Splendid Brute,” a short story by Robert E. Howard, showcases a rough and tumble narrative set in the early 20th century America, reflective of the socio-cultural attitudes and the rugged individualism prevalent during Howard’s time. The story revolves around Mike Costigan, a character who embodies the untamed, raw energy of a man living on the fringes of society, exuding a blend of charm and danger that defines his interactions and the course of the story. It is a 1300-words incomplete story.

Sporting Page.

Stand up and Slug! First published in Fight Stories volume 6 number Summer 1940.

STEVE ALLISON. Originally untitled. 1400 words unfinished story by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid.

This untitled and unfinished story fragment by Robert E. Howard features Steve Allison, a central character, in a setting that mixes elements of Western adventure with a hint of mystery and intrigue. The story also introduces his young sister, Mildred, showcasing their close and protective relationship.

The Stones of Destiny.

“The Story Thus Far” consists of the short paragraphs that appeared at the start of the second and third portions of “Skull-Face” as it appeared in WEIRD TALES. It is not known if REH wrote these or Farnsworth Wright.

“The Strange Case of Josiah Wilbarger” is a harrowing account of survival and the supernatural on the American frontier. Written by Robert E. Howard, this essay tells the story of Josiah Wilbarger, who, in 1833, was scalped and left for dead by Native Americans but miraculously survived.

A Stranger in Grizzly Claw. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.

Alternate Title: THE SCALP HUNTER.

‘The Street of Grey-Beards’ is a short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales in 1925 but it was never published.

A very short story ‘The Striking of the Gong’ or ‘The Chiming of the Gong’ as Howard referred to in a letter was presented to Argosy, but didn’t sell.

Striped Shirts and Busted Hearts. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. This short story was altered slightly to become chapter 1 of the novel, A Gent From Bear Creek.

“A Student of Sockology” is a lively tale of courage, wit, and the unexpected intersections between academia and the rough-and-tumble world of professional boxing. The story follows Sailor Steve Costigan, a formidable figure known for his prowess in both seamanship and fisticuffs, as he inadvertently becomes entangled in the affairs of Camberton University.

Sucker! First published in Fight Stories volume 6 number 2 Winter 1939-1940. Published under the name Mark Adam.

Alternate title: WINNER TAKE ALL.

Sunday in a Small Town.

In “The Supreme Moment,” Robert E. Howard presents a dramatic and intense narrative centered on an aged, deformed scientist named Zan Uller, who possesses a critical scientific formula capable of saving the world from a devastating fungal plague. The story unfolds in a tense meeting where influential men attempt to persuade or coerce Uller into revealing his secret to combat the unstoppable spread of a destructive fungus.

Sirrender – Your Money or Your Vice. Movie review. Published in The Junto volume 1 number 6 by Booth Mooney, September 1928.

The Sword. Published by REH himself in THE GOLDEN CALIPH, circa August 1923. Only one copy is known. This was REH’s own amateur magazine.

Sword Woman. Featuring Dark Agnes de Chastillon (also known as Agnes de Chastillon, Dark Agnes, Agnes de la Fere and The Sword Woman). She is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard and the protagonist of three stories set in 16th Century France, which were not printed until long after the author’s death.

Swords of Shahrazar” is a direct sequel to “The Treasures of Tartary”, following Kirby O’Donnell only days later. The story starts with a recap of “The Treasures of Tartary”, then brings us up to date.

Swords of the Hills is the original title of this story, but it is better known as “The Lost Valley of Iskander”. It is an El Borak short story by Robert E. Howard. It was not published within Howard’s lifetime, the first publication was in the FAX Collector’s Editions hardback The Lost Valley of Iskander in 1974. 

Swords of the Northern Sea. Unpublished during Howard’s lifetime. This is one of a handful of short stories Howard wrote about yet another in his large clan of ferocious Irish warriors. Cormac Mac Art is an outlawed Gael, a pirate, and a Reiver. He is very similar to Turlogh O’Brien.

“Swords of the Purple Kingdom” was never published in Howard’s lifetime. It was first printed in King Kull by Lancer in 1967.

Swords of the Red Brotherhood. Featuring Terence “Black” Vulmea. “The Black Stranger” is a fantasy short story by American writer Robert E. Howard, one of his works featuring the sword & sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was written in the 1930s, but not published in his lifetime. When the original Conan version of his story failed to find a publisher, Howard rewrote “The Black Stranger” into a piratical Terence Vulmea story entitled “Swords of the Red Brotherhood”. This story was also not accepted.

The Tale of Am-Ra. 180 words, unfinished. 

“The Tale of the Rajah’s Ring” is a story set in the vibrant backdrop of Meerut, featuring Lal Singh, a bold and cunning Sikh warrior embroiled in a dangerous quest involving a precious ring belonging to a local rajah.

“Tallyho!” is an unfinished fragment (about 1000 words) of a story set in the rugged and lawless world of sea tramps and beachcombers.

Talons in the Dark.

Alternate title and variant of BLACK TALONS.

“Taverel Manor” is a mysterious and chilling sequel to “Skull-Face” by Robert E. Howard. The story, left unfinished by Howard and later completed by Richard A. Lupoff, delves into the eerie occurrences at the titular manor following the unsettling disappearance of Sir Haldred Taverel, weaving a tale of sinister forces and dark secrets.

Teeth of Doom. Received by Howard’s agent, Kline on August 31, 1933. Published as ‘The Tomb’s Secret’ under the name: Patrick Ervin. Featuring Steve Harrison. Howard sold the story for $100 and after Kline got his share, he received $85.

The February 1934 issue of STRANGE DETECTIVE STORIES carried two stories by REH: “The Tomb’s Secret” and “Fangs of Gold”. It appears that the story titles were inadvertently switched. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, kept a list of titles and the magazines that purchased them.

The Teeth of Gwahlur is another name for “Jewels of Gwahlur” and is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. Set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, it concerns several parties, including Conan, fighting over and hunting for the eponymous treasure in Hyborian Africa. The tale was first published in the March 1935 issue of Weird Tales. Howard’s original title for the story was “The Servants of Bit-Yakin”.

The Temple of Abomination. Unpublished and unfinished during Howard’s lifetime. This is one of a handful of short stories Howard wrote about yet another in his large clan of ferocious Irish warriors. Cormac Mac Art is an outlawed Gael, a pirate, and a Reiver. He is very similar to Turlogh O’Brien.

Temptress of the Tower of Torture and Sin.

Original title: THE VOICE OF EL-LIL.

Ten Minutes on a Street Corner. 500 words. Written by Howard during 1921-1922 when he attended Cross Plains High School, undated.

Alternative title: SHANGHIED MITTS.

Texas John Alden. Originally a Buckner J. Grimes story titled “Ring-Tailed Tornado”. Published under the name of Patrick Ervin.
Rewritten by someone at the Kline agency into a Breckinridge Elkins story.

Knife-River Prodigal. Featuring Buckner J. Grimes. Alternate title: A TEXAS PRODIGAL.A Texas Prodigal. Featuring Buckner J. Grimes.

Alternate title: KNIFE-RIVER PRODIGAL.

The Texas Wildcat. Featuring Kid Allison.

Alternate title: THE WILDCAT AND THE STAR.

Them. Published in The Junto volume 1 number 6 by Booth Mooney, September 1928.

THE JUNTO was a literary travelogue circulated from member to member on its mailing list with each member adding some content.

The Thessalians. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 16, Howard Payne College on January 13th, 1927.

“They Always Come Back” is a riveting narrative that traces the tumultuous journey of Jack Maloney, a once-promising heavyweight contender whose career takes a nosedive following a devastating defeat. Through the course of the story, Maloney grapples with his inner demons, the specter of past failures, and the daunting challenge of making a comeback in the brutal world of boxing. The story is not only a testament to the resilience and tenacity required to overcome adversity but also a deep dive into the psychological battles athletes face.

The Thing on the Roof (draft).

The Thing on the Roof first appeared in the February 1932 issue of Weird Tales. Howard sold it to Weird Tales for $40.00, but later said he would have let it go for free, just to see it in print. He was quite fond of it. The story is set in the early 1930’s, and focuses on the legend surrounding the Temple of the Toad God. Howard’s occult tome, Nameless Cults plays a big part in the story.

The Thing on the Roof first appeared in the February 1932 issue of Weird Tales. Howard sold it to Weird Tales for $40.00, but later said he would have let it go for free, just to see it in print. He was quite fond of it. The story is set in the early 1930’s, and focuses on the legend surrounding the Temple of the Toad God. Howard’s occult tome, Nameless Cults plays a big part in the story.

Thoroughbreds.1800 words.

Three Perils of Sailor Costigan consists of three untitled stories: untitled story (“I had just hung …”), untitled story (“It was the end …”), and untitled story (“The night Sailor Steve …”).

An El Borak story titled “Three Bladed Doom” had a short (24.000 words) and a long (42.000 words) version.

“Through the Ages” is a story that delves into the past lives and loves of the narrator, who recounts various incarnations and encounters with women across different historical periods and cultures.

“A Thunder of Trumpets,” a collaboration between Robert E. Howard and Thurston Torbett, appeared posthumously in the September 1938 issue of Weird Tales. The story combines elements of adventure, romance, and the supernatural, set against the exotic backdrop of India.

“The Thunder-Rider” by Robert E. Howard tells the story of John Garfield, who is the reincarnation of a Comanche warrior named Iron Heart. Through a mystical experience, Garfield recalls his past life and the various exploits and conflicts of Iron Heart. The narrative alternates between Garfield’s current life and his past, exploring themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the timeless nature of certain human experiences. The story delves into the spiritual journey of its main character, his connection to his past, and his understanding of himself as a man of two worlds.

Tigers of the Sea. This was only a fragment and the story was unpublished and unfinished during Howard’s lifetime. The story was first published by Grant in Tigers of the Sea in 1974 and Richard Tierney completed it based on Howard’s fragment.

This is one of a handful of short stories Howard wrote about yet another in his large clan of ferocious Irish warriors. Cormac Mac Art is an outlawed Gael, a pirate, and a Reiver. He is very similar to Turlogh O’Brien.

The TNT Punch. Featuring Steve Costigan. First published in Action Stories, volume 10, number 5 January 1931. 

Alternate titles: WATERFRONT LAW and THE WATERFRONT WALLOP

To a man whose name I never knew. Published in The Junto volume 1 number 8 by Booth Mooney, November 1928.

THE JUNTO was a literary travelogue circulated from member to member on its mailing list with each member adding some content.

‘Tom Sharkey – Mankiller’ was an article Howard wrote that is now lost. It is not known where Howard submitted it, but it was probably in 1925. 

In this parody of a murder mystery, Vilo Pants and his companions engage in a chaotic investigation to solve the mystery of a corpse that falls out of a closet, only to discover the true cause of the man’s condition in a comically absurd conclusion. From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa May 1932. 

The Tomb of the Dragon

The Tomb’s Secret. Under the name: Patrick Ervin. Featuring Steve Harrison.

The February 1934 issue of STRANGE DETECTIVE STORIES carried two stories by REH: “The Tomb’s Secret” and “Fangs of Gold”. It appears that the story titles were inadvertently switched. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, kept a list of titles and the magazines that purchased them.

A Touch of Color.

The Touch of Death. Old Adam Farrel lay dead in the house wherein he had lived alone for the last twenty years. A silent, churlish recluse, in his life he had known no friends, and only two men had watched his passing… little did they know the Fearsome Touch of Death had not left the house…

“A Touch of Trivia” is an essay by Robert E. Howard that provides a candid and somewhat whimsical reflection on his personal influences, interests, and the expansive scope of his historical knowledge. Written with Howard’s characteristic flair for the dramatic and the personal, the essay explores the myriad ways his readings and personal experiences have shaped his perspective on history and storytelling.

A Tough Nut to Crack. Unfinished. An aborted Kid Allison tale that was re-written into a Kid Clarny tale. Both versions are dated from early to mid-1931 and are unfinished. The Clarny version is more fleshed out.

A Tough Nut to Crack. Unfinished. An aborted Kid Allison tale that was re-written into a Kid Clarny tale. Both versions are dated from early to mid-1931 and are unfinished. The Clarny version is more fleshed out.

THE TOWER OF THE ELEPHANT is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. Set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, it concerns Conan infiltrating a perilous tower to steal a fabled gem from an evil sorcerer named Yara. Its unique insights into the Hyborian world and atypical science fiction elements have led the story to be considered a classic of Conan lore and is often cited by Howard scholars as one of his best tales.

The Tower of Time. A fragment. Lin Carter completed this for Fantastic Sword & Sorcery and Fantasy Stories June 1975.

Alternate title: AKRAM THE MYSTERIOUS.

The Track of Bohemund. An unfinished draft. Probably completed by Grant for the publications in The Road of Azrael.

The Toy Rattle Murder Case by (Jack) A.S.S. Von Swine.  A murder mystery parody. From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa May 1932. 

The Trail of the Blood-Stained God. Cross Plains Library has an original draft of this story.

The Trail of the Dinosaur.

Alternate titles: THE LAND OF FORGOTTEN AGES and THE TRAIL OF THE MAMMOTH.

The Trail of the Mammoth.

Alternate titles: THE LAND OF FORGOTTEN AGES and THE TRAIL OF THE DINOSAUR.

‘The Trail of the Single Foot’ is a short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales in 1925 but it was never published.

“The Trail of the Snake” by Robert E. Howard is a humorous and ironic tale centered around a character named Snake Wamberson, a boxer with an imposing physique but lacking the courage to match his appearance. The story is set in the vibrant and competitive world of boxing, with a focus on the African American community’s interest in the sport. Howard’s story explores themes of reputation, bravery, and the impact of lies, all woven into the fabric of early 20th-century boxing culture.

The Treasure of Henry Morgan. 2500 words fragment.

Treasure of Shaibar Khan.

Alternate title: SWORDS OF SHARAZAR.

The Treasure of Tranicos is L. Sprague de Camp’s rewrite of “The Black Stranger”. Howard wrote THE BLACK STRANGER as a Conan story. When the original Conan version of his story failed to find a publisher, Howard rewrote “The Black Stranger” into a piratical Terence Vulmea story entitled “Swords of the Red Brotherhood”. This story was also not accepted.

THE TREASURES OF TARTARY.

Kirby O’Donnell is an American treasure hunter, created by Howard, in early-twentieth-century Afghanistan disguised as a Kurdish merchant, “Ali el Ghazi”. Howard only wrote three stories about O’Donnell, one of which was not published within his lifetime.

A factual report on the Kid Dula – Duke Tramel bout, Fort Worth, July 13, 1928.

The Turkish Menace. Name used: Patrick Ervin.

Alternate title: SAILOR DORGAN AND THE TURKISH MENACE.

Twentieth Century Slave Trade

A Twentieth-Century Rip Van Winkle. Written when Howard attended Cross Plains High School. Date October 13, 1920. First published in The Last of the Trunk Och Brev I Urval (Paradox Entertainment, March 2007).

The Twilight of the Grey Gods. Features Turlogh Dubh O’Brien, “once a chief of Clan na O’Brien”.

TWO AGAINST TYRE is a story based on an unpublished story featuring Eithriall the Gaul, one of the lesser-known characters created by Robert E. Howard.[1] The story celebrated the pageantry of medieval knighthood, the exoticism of the Orient, the ferocity of the invaders from the steppes, the mysteries of the seraglio, and the rise and fall of great dynasties. It was adapted by Marvel Comics into the Conan The Barbarian comics episode Two Against Turan, with major changes in the storyline.

“A Two-Fisted Santa Claus” by Robert E. Howard features Steve Costigan, the rough and tumble sailor, unexpectedly thrust into the role of Santa Claus. On a journey that mixes humor with action, Costigan finds himself in a series of misadventures involving bandits, mistaken identities, and a mission to bring joy to children at a mountain mission during Christmas. This tale combines Howard’s signature style of robust storytelling with a festive theme, showcasing his ability to weave humor into his action-packed narratives.

“A Two-Fisted Santa Claus” by Robert E. Howard features Steve Costigan, the rough and tumble sailor, unexpectedly thrust into the role of Santa Claus. On a journey that mixes humor with action, Costigan finds himself in a series of misadventures involving bandits, mistaken identities, and a mission to bring joy to children at a mountain mission during Christmas. This tale combines Howard’s signature style of robust storytelling with a festive theme, showcasing his ability to weave humor into his action-packed narratives.

‘Two Wrongs Make a Wright’ is a short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Police Gazette in 1925 but it was never published.

Typed pages that appear to be typing practice.

Under the Baobab Tree

Under the Great Tiger was a collaboration between Robert E. Howard and Tevis Clyde Smith. Published in two parts in the All-Around Magazine May-June and July 1923. This magazine was Tevis Clyde Smith’s amateur paper.

“Unhand Me, Villain!” is a humorous and parodic short story first published in The Tattler, the Brownwood High School paper, on March 1, 1923. Inspired by Gus Mager’s comic strip character Hawkshaw the Detective, this story combines elements of romance and adventure, but primarily serves as a comedic take on traditional romantic tropes and detective fiction.

“A Unique Hat” is a very short story (177 words) presented in the form of a humorous sales pitch.

Unsigned Contract. Seems to be a contract for the rewriting of the story ‘West of the Rio Grande’. A story of the modern West. Plot construction by R. Fowler Gafford, literary style by Robert E. Howard. The story was never published.

Usurp the Night. Considered part of the Cthulhu Mythos. Cats, dogs, babies, children, and tramps successively and mysteriously disappear from the neighborhood.

Alternate title: THE HOOFED THING.

THE VALE OF LOST WOMEN is a fantasy short story by Howard and one of his original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. It was not published during his lifetime. The Magazine of Horror first published the story in its Spring, 1967 issue.

The first draft of The Vale of Lost Women is a fantasy short story by Howard and one of his original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian. This draft has never been published.

‘The Valley of the Golden Web’ is a very short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales in 1927 but it was never published.

Glenn Lord had erroneously titled this story “The Valley of the Lost,” as he thought it was the story that had been announced for the last issue of STRANGE TALES that never got published; as it turns out, he was wrong, and when the proper story showed up, Glenn Lord titled it “The Secret of Lost Valley.”

The Valley of the Lost (2).

Alternate title: SECRET OF LOST VALLEY. The story begins with “As a wolf spies…”. 

The story begins with James Allison, lying on his deathbed, reminiscing about his past lives. He believes he has lived through many incarnations, always as a member of the Aryan or Nordheimer race. Allison recalls a specific life as Niord, a powerful warrior, and his encounter with a horrific, demonic entity known as the Worm.

The Value of Athletics to the School. School work Howard wrote when he was a ninth-grader at Cross Plains High School. Written on January 12, 1921.

Vengeance of a Woman

A review of the book THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Written by Howard when he was attending Brownwood Highschool between 1922-23. It’s undated.

Howard also mentioned the Vicar of Wakefield to H.P.  Lovecraft in November 2, 1932.

VIKINGS OF THE GLOVES. Published in FIGHT STORIES Fall 1940. Published under the name of Mark Adam. “Includin’ the Scandinavian” previously appeared in FIGHT STORIES V4N9, February 1932 as “Vikings of the Gloves”

The story begins with a near-fatal car accident involving Edward Willington, who loses control of his vehicle and almost hits his friend, James Clanton. Detective Steve Harrison, who happens to witness the accident, intervenes to help. Despite Edward’s panicked claims that he was compelled to harm James, Harrison reassures him that it was just a mechanical failure.

The Voice of Doom.

THE VOICE OF EL-LIL is an adventure tale. An Englishman and an American venture into Somaliland where they discover a tribe of people who have not advanced/progressed with the rest of the world and have remained as they were about 3,000 years earlier.

First published in Oriental Stories Volume 1 Number 1, October/November 1930.

The Voice of the Mob.

VOYAGES WITH VILLAINS is from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa July 1930. Howard. It’s a comedy where he uses himself, Smith and Vinson as “The Rogues of America”.

‘Vulture’s Roost’ is a short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales 1926 but it was never published.

“Vultures’ Sanctuary” by Robert E. Howard is set in the wilds of the Old West, where the lead character, Big Mac, encounters the infamous Checotah Kid. The Kid, an outlaw, seeks Mac’s help for a seemingly lucrative gold mine venture. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the Kid’s intentions are far from honest, leading to intense confrontations and betrayals. This tale is steeped in the themes of treachery, survival, and the moral complexities of a lawless land.

The Vultures.

The Vultures.

The Vultures of Wahpeton.

The Vultures of Whapeton

The Wandering Years

WAR ON BEAR CREEK. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, April 1935. This short story was altered slightly to become Chapter 12 of the novel, A Gent From Bear Creek.

In “Waterfront Fists,” Steve Costigan finds himself in Honolulu, where Bill O’Brien, a fellow crew member of the Sea Girl, announces that Steve has been matched to fight a formidable opponent from the ship Ruffian that very night. First published in Fight Stories September 1930. Featuring Steve Costigan. It was published again in Fight Stories volume 6 number Summer 1940 but then under the name, Mark Adam, and the title STAND UP AND SLUG!

WATERFRONT LAW. First published as THE TNT PUNCH in Action Stories, volume 10, number 5 January 1931. Featuring Steve Costigan. 

THE WATERFRONT WALLOP. Published in Fight Stories Fall 1941 under the name Mark Adam. First published as THE TNT PUNCH in Action Stories, volume 10, number 5 January 1931. Featuring Steve Costigan. 

THE WAY OF THE SWORDS is the name from an early draft Glenn Lord published in the Donald Grant book ‘Road of Azrael’. The original title is THE ROAD OF THE EAGLES for which two drafts presently exist. It’s an unpublished historical adventure store that de Camp turned into a Conan story.

The Weaker Sex

Weary Pilgrims on the Road.

Weekly short story. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 16, Howard Payne College. Originally without a title.

“The Weeping Willow” or “The Weepin’ Willow” is a tale that combines elements of humor, boxing, and a unique character study within the gritty and competitive world of early 20th-century boxing. This story, told through the eyes of Monk Costigan, a boxing manager, introduces us to a boxer unlike any other, Ambrose Willow, whose peculiar trait of weeping during fights becomes both a tactical advantage and a spectacle for the audience.

The Werewolf Murder Case. Part of a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa after mid-1932.

“West is West” is a humorous short story that takes place on a ranch, where the protagonist, unfamiliar with horseback riding, finds himself in a comical and wild encounter with a supposedly gentle horse named Whirlwind. First published in The Tattler, the Brownwood High School paper, December 1922. 

The West Tower. Short fiction by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid. A 5000-word fragment.

Set in Berlin. Steve Allison and Billy Buckner are invited by their friend Helen Tranton to a party in an old castle in the Black Forest.

Westward Ho! 1700 words, incomplete.

Robert E. Howard’s handwritten 3 pages school assignment from September 30, 1920, details his thrilling experiences during a summer vacation. Howard describes a spirited adventure in the Rocky Mountains, involving close encounters with wildlife and a humorous misadventure with a horned toad, all presented with his characteristic flair for dramatic storytelling. Despite the vivid recounting, this assignment received a grade of C.

In his school paper dated October 5, 1920, Robert E. Howard reflects on his modest contributions to the World War I effort from his small village setting. Despite feeling his actions were limited by his rural location, Howard describes various personal sacrifices and community activities aimed at supporting the war effort.

What the Deuce? 450 words, incomplete.

In this school assignment from January 24, 1922, for which Robert E. Howard received a B-, he delivers a humorous and self-deprecating take on the significance of his signature. Despite his teacher’s instruction for a serious reflection, Howard’s response is filled with irony and humor. He candidly remarks on his financial instability and the more practical and sometimes troublesome implications of his signature in everyday life.

What the Nation Owes to the South is an essay written for the Brownwood Bulletin and published on May 26th, 1923.

The Wheel Turns. 12,000 words, unfinished.

When Bear Creek Came to Chawed Ear. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. First published in The Summit Country Journal. Stories, 1971 as a 27-part serial.

Where Strange Gods Squall (part 1). From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. October 1927.

Where Strange Gods Squall (part 2). From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. fall 1927.

WHILE SMOKE ROLLED. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. A known early draft of this story is a Pike Bearfield story, not a Breckinridge Elkins story. It is not known who made the character change, Howard or Otis Adelbert Kline.

WHILE THE SMOKE ROLLED. An early draft featuring Pike Bearfield, not a Breckinridge Elkins story. It is not known who made the character change, Howard or Otis Adelbert Kline.

“The White Jade Ring” is an unfinished adventure (1400 words fragment) by Robert E. Howard, weaving a story of danger, antiquity, and intrigue. Set in the bustling streets of Canton, Steve Allison, a man both cunning and bold, acquires a ring of immense historical and monetary value, attracting the attention of dangerous individuals.

The Wildcat and the Star. First published in The Last of the Trunk Och Brev I Urval (Paradox Press, March 2007).

The Wild Man. 2400 words.

Wild Water. First published in Cross Plains #7, George Hamilton, September 1975. Jim Reynolds sets out to take down the corrupt politcal machine of Bisley, Texas. But his idea of justice brings more than he bargained for.

Wild Water. An early draft. Jim Reynolds sets out to take down the corrupt political machine of Bisley, Texas. But his idea of justice brings more than he bargained for. A typescript reproduction was provided to Legacy Circle members of the Robert E. Howard Foundation with Newsletter #1.

Wild Water Timing

‘Windigo! Windigo!’ is a short story that is lost. Howard submitted it to Weird Tales, Adventure, Argosy, Tales of Mystery & Magic and Ace-High in 1925 but it was never published.

WINGS IN THE NIGHT. First published in Weird Tales in July 1932. Featuring Solomon Kane.

Kane comes across an entire village wiped out, and all of the roofs have been ripped off, as if by something attempting to get inside from above.

“The Wings of the Bat” is a story set in colonial Africa, where a series of mysterious and gruesome murders linked to voodoo practices stir unrest among the local tribes. The protagonist, along with his companions, navigates through danger and intrigue to uncover the truth behind these eerie deaths.

WINNER TAKE ALL The story was accepted around April 1930 by Fight Stories and published in volume 3 number 2, July 1930. Featuring Steve Costigan.

Witch from Hell’s Kitchen. First published in Avon Fantasy Reader #18, Avon, 1952.

A WITCH SHALL BE BORN is one of the original sword and sorcery novellas by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian. It was written in only a few days in the spring of 1934 and first published in Weird Tales in December 1934. 

Queen Taramis of Khauran awakens one day to find her identical twin sister, Salome, staring her in the face. As an infant, Salome was deemed a witch due to a crescent-shaped birthmark on her chest. This birthmark was believed to be a sign of evil, so she was left in the desert to die. However, a magician from Khitai (China) found Salome, brought her up, and instructed her in the art of sorcery.

With a set of Rattlesnake Rattles. Essay from an unidentified letter to H.P. Lovecraft along with a set of rattlesnake rattles. Howard later commented about this in another letter to Lovecraft dated November 11, 1933.

WIZARD AND WARRIOR. An untitled draft completed by Lin Carter and given a title. Carter’s contribution starts with “It was the Sungara”. 

WOLFSDUNG. Part of a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. January 1928. The letter contains the funny story WOLFSDUNG, sort of a parody of Howard’s own story WOLFSHEAD. Featuring some of the same names in the more serious story.

WOLFSHEAD is the title of a short story about lycanthropy by Howard, first published in the April 1926 issue of Weird Tales. The title was also used for a posthumously-published collection of seven novelettes by the same author, named after the story “Wolfshead”, which it also includes.

WOLVES – AND A SWORD. 3500 words, incomplete.

WOLVES BEYOND THE BORDER is one of the original Conan stories by Howard featuring. It’s only a fragment begun in the 1930s and was not finished or published in Howard’s lifetime. It is a peripheral story in the canon in that while it takes place in Conan’s “Hyborian Age” and during Conan’s lifetime, Conan does not actually appear, but is merely mentioned. The story was completed by L. Sprague de Camp and in this form first published in the collection Conan the Usurper (1967). It has since been published in its original form.

WOLVES BEYOND THE BORDER, draft A

WOLVES BEYOND THE BORDER, draft B

WORMS OF THE EARTH. It was originally published in the magazine Weird Tales in November 1932. The story features one of Howard’s recurring protagonists, Bran Mak Morn, a legendary king of the Picts. 

WORMS OF THE EARTH. Draft.

“The Slithering Shadow” is one of the original short stories starring Conan. First published in the September 1933 issue of Weird Tales magazine. “The Slithering Shadow” is the original title, but the story is also known as “Xuthal of the Dusk” in further publications. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age, and concerns Conan discovering a lost city in a remote desert while encountering a Lovecraftian demon known as Thog.

YE COLLEGE DAYS. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 17, Howard Payne College on January 20, 1927.

The Year 1021 (notes). Notes prepared by REH while preparing HAWKS OVER EGYPT. 

THE YELLOW COBRA. Howard sent Otis Adelbert Kline a finished typescript entitled “Sailor Costigan and the Yellow Cobra.” This typescript was first corrected, and then later changed into the Dennis Dorgan story “Sailor Dorgan and the Yellow Cobra” by Patrick Ervin. It was sold to MAGIC CARPET MAGAZINE, but never published by them. The typescript at the Cross Plains Library is Howard’s, but correction tape has been used to change Howard to Ervin, Costigan to Dorgan, Mike to Spike, The Sea Girl to The Python, etc.) Still, later, a “clean copy” was produced that incorporated all the changes and corrections.

YELLOW LAUGHTER. 325 words, incomplete, rejected by Weird Tales.

YOU GOT TO KILL A BULLDOG. Published under the name Mark Adam. Originally titled ‘The Bull Dog Breed’. It is a Sailor Steve Costigan short story by Robert E. Howard. It was first published in the February 1930 issue of Fight Stories. 

UNTITLED (“500 Torguts”). REH wrote a short recap of Lamb’s story, then wrote his own story synopsis, though he never turned it into a final story.

UNTITLED ARTICLE (I like John L. Sullivan.).

UNTITLED ARTICLE (I progress slowly in my classification of champions.)

UNTITLED ARTICLE (Munn! Munn!). First published in Howard’s amateur press publication, The Right Hook volume 1, number 2, circa April-May, 1925.

UNTITLED ARTICLE (On May 29 Mike McTigue…). First published in Howard’s amateur press publication, The Right Hook volume 1, number 2, circa April-May, 1925.

UNTITLED ARTICLE (The round started slow…)

UNTITLED DRAFT. (Amboola awakened slowly, . . .). An untitled draft for a Conan story.

UNTITLED DRAFT (The Haunted Mountain)

Untitled draft (The Persians had all fled . . .)

UNTITLED DRAFT. Untitled draft (Three men squatted beside the . . .)

Circa 1920-1923. Originally an untitled essay (. . . which is characterized . . .), followed by six pages of general notes on all things Celtic, tentatively titled “Notes on the Celts”; the essay was handwritten, the rest of the pages typed, all facsimile reproduction of original REH pages; was reprinted completely in THE NEW HOWARD READER; just the essay in BRAN MAK MORN.

UNTITLED FRAGMENT (A gray sky arched…). Featuring Bran Mak Morn.

UNTITLED FRAGMENT (The battlefield stretched silent, . . .) is one of the original short stories by Howard, starring Conan. An untitled fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard’s lifetime. It was completed and titled by Lin Carter and given the name THE HAND OF NERGAL.

UNTITLED FRAGMENT (Beneath the glare of the sun . . .)

UNTITLED FRAGMENT ( . . . fabulous amount stated in the exaggerated legend,)

UNTITLED FRAGMENT (Feel the edge, dog, and move not!).

SWORDS OF SHAHRAZAR was originally offered to VI Cooper for THRILLING ADVENTURES, somebody asked for a rewrite, and REH rewrote the opening significantly. It was then offered again to Cooper, who turned it down, and it was subsequently sold to Miller with TOP-NOTCH.

UNTITLED FRAGMENT (The honor of Beffum.). A small excerpt from FOR THE HONOR OF THE SCHOOL.

UNTITLED FRAGMENT (Men have had visions ere now. . . .). 12,000 words, unfinished. This fragment is not included in the Wandering Star edition. It is believed that this was to be a Bran Mak Morn story.

UNTITLED FRAGMENT (. . . throat under his lower jaw, and I had . . .)

UNTITLED NOTE (Jack Dempsey)

UNTITLED NOTES (Knute Hansen)

UNTITLED NOTE (The Texas journalist . . .). Note about Tevis Clyde Smith.

UNTITLED NOTES (The Westermarck: located between . . .)

UNTITLED PLAY. (A typical small town drugstore . . .). From a letter To Tevis Clyde Smith, week of February 20, 1928.

UNTITLED STORY (“Arrange, Madame, arrange!”). Unfinished. This short, untitled piece features a dramatic scene involving a constable and a woman named Elizabeth.

UNTITLED STORY (As he approached the two, he swept off his feathered hat . . .). 900 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (As my dear public remembers . . .). From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, ca. before 1930; probably late 1928, late 1929.

“Better that a man should remain…”, explores the themes of identity, heritage, and existential dread. Written in the early 20th century, this piece delves into the psychological turmoil of its protagonist, who grapples with a mysterious and unsettling revelation about his origins and destiny.

UNTITLED STORY (Between berserk battle-rages, the black despair of melancholy . . .). Unfinished, 225 words.

The untitled draft presents a dark introspection of Wulfhere Skull-crusher, a warrior who, in the throes of his existential despair, contemplates the futility and emptiness of life. Amidst his battles and berserk rages, he comes to see through the illusions of life, recognizing the “Nothing” that lies at the core of existence. This realization strips away the comforting deceptions that people wrap around their lives, leaving Wulfhere to stare into the bleak “Abyss” that is reality.

A unfinished fragment (1400 words) about two young (cow)boys with big guns traveling the Arizona ranges. Fearing the Mexican Miguel Gonzales might be hiding in the mountains.

UNTITLED STORY (A Cossack and a Turk . . .)

UNTITLED STORY (The Dane came in with a rush, hurtling his huge body forward . . .). Featuring Turlogh Dubh O’Brien.

UNTITLED STORY (determined. So I set out up the hill-trail as if on a hunt and . . .). 700 words, incomplete.

UNTITLED STORY (The flaming sun of the year 2000 . . .)

UNTITLED STORY (Franey was a fool.). 700 words, incomplete.

Unfinished and untitled 350 words story, starting with “(From the black, bandit-haunted mountains of Kang . . .)”, sets a vivid scene of intrigue and imminent danger. From the perilous mountains of Kang to the bustling streets of Canton, the tale unfolds with a sense of foreboding and tension.

The story, set in the deserts of Sudan, features Frank Gordon, known to the Arabs as El Borak, an American with deep knowledge of and strong feelings about various tribes in the Orient. As Gordon travels alone in the desert, he encounters hostile Tauregs—a tribe he dislikes—and utilizes his exceptional combat skills and a superior Bikanir camel to navigate and survive the threats posed by this fierce tribe.
UNTITLED STORY (Gordon, the American whom the Arabs call El Borak, . . .). 850 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (The Hades Saloon and gambling hall, Buffalotown, . . .). 350 words, incomplete. 

The story sets a dramatic scene in a classic Western setting, depicting the confrontation between famous outlaws and a local gunman. The introduction of Helen Channon suggests a potential shift in the narrative, possibly exploring her perspective and experiences in the West. However, being unfinished, the story leaves these developments unexplored.

UNTITLED STORY (Hatrack!). From a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith, cirka March 1929. 

UNTITLED STORY (He knew De Bracy, they having fought against the Saracens . . .). 160 words.

UNTITLED STORY (Help! Help! They’re murderin’ me!). 1000 words, unfinished. Featuring Mike O’Brien.

THE HOT ARIZONA SUN. Originally untitled. Set in The Rio Grande. A fragment by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid, Steve Allison, and his sister Helen. 950 words.

The story sets the stage for an adventure in the Arizona desert, hinting at potential encounters and explorations, but being unfinished, it leaves the narrative and the characters’ journeys unresolved.

UNTITLED STORY (“Huh?” I was so dumbfounded I was clean off . . .). First published in The Last of the Trunk Och Brev I Urval (Paradox Press, March 2007). Featuring KID ALLISON. 1700 words, incomplete (consisted of pages 10-14 of 14 page manuscript).

Never published in Howard’s lifetime. Alternate Title: UNTITLED STORY (“I emptied my revolver . . .”)

UNTITLED STORY (I had just hung by sparring partner, Battling O’Toole . . .). 700 word fragment.

Appeared as THREE PERILS OF SAILOR COSTIGAN which consists of this story and two others:
UNTITLED STORY (“It was the end …”) and UNTITLED STORY (“The night Sailor Steve …”).

UNTITLED STORY (I have been . . .). Weekly short story. First published in the Yellow Jacket volume XIII number 16, Howard Payne College. Originally without a title.

This untitled and unfinished story by Robert E. Howard introduces us to a young, well-built man with a commanding presence, first encountered in the Paradise saloon. His appearance is striking—fine, keen grey eyes and a somewhat handsome face, and he moves with the grace of a panther. The notable detail about his attire is the presence of two big black guns, holstered low on each hip and tied down, hinting at his readiness for trouble and skill in handling it.

UNTITLED STORY (“I”, said Chuchulain, “was a man, at least.”). Unfinished. 175 words.

The story begins with a conversation between the narrator and Chuchulain, a legendary figure from the Red Branch kings of Ulster, Ireland. Chuchulain suggests, with a touch of humility and pride, that he was a notable man among his peers.

UNTITLED STORY (“I started up . . .”). Published later as The Jade God. First published in Unaussprechlichen Kulten #2 (Editions Samarcande, July 1992). 1400 words, unfinished. The title was likely by Glenn Lord.

The title “Shackled Mitts” was erroneously applied to this untitled story, as Glenn Lord thought it was a story of that title mentioned in REH’s papers, which REH said he had offered to Fiction House in April 1931; but as this story was not written until after early 1932, this can not be that story.

UNTITLED STORY (I’m writing this with a piece of pencil on the backs of old . . .). 250 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (It was a strange experience, and I don’t expect anyone . . .). A 160 words unfinished story.

UNTITLED STORY Untitled story (It was the end of the fourth round.). 700 word unfinished.

Appeared as THREE PERILS OF SAILOR COSTIGAN which consists of this story and two others:
UNTITLED STORY (“I had just hung by sparring partner, Battling O’Toole…”) and UNTITLED STORY (“The night Sailor Steve …”).

UNTITLED STORY (A land of wild, fantastic beauty; of mighty trees . . .). 650 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (The lazy quiet of the mid-summer day was shattered . . .) 1100 words, unfinished.

Untitled story (Long, long ago, an infant son was born to Gudrun . . .). 1400 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (Madge Meraldson set her traveling-bag on the station . . .). fragment by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid, Steve Allison. 200 words, unfinished. In this unfinished and untitled Steve Allison story by Robert E. Howard, the narrative revolves around Madge Meraldson’s arrival at a train station, where she is greeted by Billy Buckner, a cowpuncher from the Allison ranch.

Untitled and unfinished story, the narrator recounts a conversation with his friend Larry Aloysius O’Leary, who tells the tale of Orloff Zaranoff, a Russian man involved in scientific research, diamond dealing, and intrigue.

Untitled story (Marks was a giant.) One of two untitled stories appearing under the title RINGSIDE TALES. First published in Howard’s amateur press publication, The Right Hook volume 1, number 3, 1925.

UNTITLED STORY (The matter seemed so obvious that my only answer . . .). 700 words, incomplete.

UNTITLED STORY (Maybe it don’t seem like anything interesting and . . .). 700 words, unfinished. This untitled and unfinished story delves into the seemingly mundane life of Bloomsville, Mississippi, and reveals how an unexpected event can ripple through the lives of its inhabitants.

UNTITLED STORY (Mike Costigan, writer and self-avowed futilist, gazed . . .). 700 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (My name is San Culotte . . .) First published in Howard’s amateur press publication, The Right Hook volume 1, number 3, 1925.

UNTITLED STORY (The next day I was sluggish and inefficient in my work.). 300 words, incomplete.

UNTITLED STORY (The night Sailor Steve Costigan fought Battling O’Rourke . . .). 700 words fragment

Appeared as THREE PERILS OF SAILOR COSTIGAN which consists of this story and two others:
UNTITLED STORY (“I had just hung by sparring partner, Battling O’Toole…”) and UNTITLED STORY (It was the end of the fourth round.).

In an unnamed, damp, misty night in London, a startling encounter unfolds in this untitled and unfinished story by Robert E. Howard. A solitary man’s evening is disrupted when a terrified woman bursts into his room, fleeing an unimaginable horror. UNTITLED STORY (The night was damp, misty, the air possessing a certain . . .)

UNTITLED STORY (Old Man Jacobson crunched his powerful teeth through . . .). 225 words, incomplete.

UNTITLED STORY (The rising sun was behind the wild figure.) Later given the titld The Last Laugh. 600 words, incomplete

UNTITLED STORY (A sailorman ain’t got no business … ). Featuring Steve Costigan. In a thrilling, whirlwind tale, Steve Costigan finds himself inadvertently wreaking havoc in the South American republic of Puerto Grenada. What starts as an innocent trip to catch up with his ship, the Sea Girl, escalates into a series of unexpected events involving a damaged airplane, a bullfight gone awry, and an impromptu boxing match.

Untitled story (Science will always beat brute strength.) One of two untitled stories appearing under the title RINGSIDE TALES. First published in Howard’s amateur press publication, The Right Hook volume 1, number 3, 1925.

UNTITLED STORY (The Seeker thrust . . .). This piece from a letter to Tevis Clyde Smith by Robert E. Howard is a vivid and eerie narrative that delves into the realms of cosmic horror and ancient, unfathomable evils. It presents a tale that is both mystical and terrifying, showcasing Howard’s ability to explore themes of existential dread and the supernatural.

UNTITLED STORY (So there I was.). 1100 words, incomplete.

UNTITLED STORY (Spike Morissey was as tough a kid as ever came . . .) 350 words, fragment.

UNTITLED STORY (Steve Allison settled himself down comfortably in . . .) 1400 words unfinished story by Robert E. Howard featuring The Sonora Kid.

This untitled and unfinished story fragment by Robert E. Howard features Steve Allison, a central character, in a setting that mixes elements of Western adventure with a hint of mystery and intrigue. The story also introduces his young sister, Mildred, showcasing their close and protective relationship.

“Exile of Atlantis” is an untitled story by Robert E. Howard, featuring Kull, a character who later becomes the King of Valusia. This story delves into Kull’s early life, providing insight into his personality, values, and the world he inhabits. Set against the backdrop of the rugged and wild Atlantis, the narrative explores themes of tradition, freedom, and the clash of civilizations.

Originally an untitled story, starting with (“The sun was setting. A last crimson . . .”). Later titled EXILE OF ATLANTIS by Glenn Lord.

UNTITLED STORY (The tale has always been doubted and scoffed at, . . .) 350 words, fragment.

500 words, fragment.

In the untitled and unfinished narrative “…That Is, The Artistry,” Robert E. Howard explores themes of cultural wisdom and its preservation, set against a backdrop of religious and philosophical conflict. The protagonist reflects on the limitations and biases of religious dogma, particularly within his own Moslem heritage, and the universal struggle to safeguard ancient knowledge.

UNTITLED STORY (Three men sat at a . . .). An untitled and unfinished draft. Later completed by Lin Carter and given the title WIZARD AND WARRIOR.. Carter’s contribution starts with “It was the Sungara”. 

UNTITLED STORY (Thure Khan gazed out across the shifting vastness . . .) 200 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (“Thus, said Tu . . .”).

An unfinished REH draft completed by Lin Carter as riders BEYOND SUNRISE.
Carter’s portion begins with the paragraph “Safety!’, Kull grunted.”, and ends with the paragraph “A feral light”, and begins again with “Then come, king”.

UNTITLED STORY (Trail led through dense jungle.) 1000 words, fragment. Dated November 10, 1922.

UNTITLED PLAY. (A typical small town drugstore . . .). From a letter To Tevis Clyde Smith, week of February 20, 1928.

UNTITLED STORY (Two men were standing in the bazaar at Delhi.) 150 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (The way it came about that Steve Allison, Timoleon . . .) Originally untitled. Steve Allison and Timoleon (Timmy) Lycurgus Cassanova de Quin are in the mountains of Thibet just for the fun of it. A fragment. 1100 words, unfinished. Featuring The Sonora Kid.

The story sets up an intriguing adventure in a remote and exotic location, blending elements of exploration, humor, and potential conflict. However, being unfinished, the narrative leaves the readers in suspense about the characters’ encounters and discoveries in Thibet.

UNTITLED STORY (When Yar Ali Khan crept into the camp of Zumal Khan, . . .) 150 words, unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (Who I am it matters little . . .) Unfinished.

“William Aloysius McGraw” is an untitled and unfinished story (about 670 words) featuring the mischievous exploits of a young boy named William Aloysius McGraw. Set in a rural American town, the story delves into William’s interactions with his family, friends, and the local farmer, showcasing his knack for evading trouble with charm and wit.

UNTITLED STORY (The wind from the Mediterranean wafted . . .). Unfinished.

UNTITLED STORY (“Yessah!” said Mrs. . . ) Unfinished.

Robert E. Howard’s untitled story, “You,” said Shifty Griddle, pointing his finger at me . . ., is a compelling 700 words narrative set in the world of early 20th-century baseball. The story captures the struggles of a minor league baseball team and explores themes of integrity, innovation, and the impact of technology on sports.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Alleys of Peril). The first appearance of this was in the Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletter volume 3, number 1.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS. (Amalric, a son of a nobleman . . .)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS of “Black Canaan” which is a short story originally published in the June 1936 issue of Weird Tales.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Black Colossus).

The untitled synopsis for Robert E. Howard’s “Black Hound of Death” offers a glimpse into a dark and suspenseful narrative. Set in the secluded pine woods, this story weaves together elements of supernatural horror and human betrayal, centered around the enigmatic and determined figure of Kirby Garfield.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Black Stone). The typescript is presented in the Robert E. Howard Newsletter volume 7 number 2.

The untitled synopsis “Blades for France” outlines a historical adventure set on the western coast of France between 1515 and 1521. The story revolves around the intertwined fates of nobility, regents, and adventurers during a period of political intrigue and personal vendettas.

Featuring Dark Agnes de Chastillon (also known as Agnes de Chastillon, Dark Agnes, Agnes de la Fere and The Sword Woman) is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard and the protagonist of three stories set in 16th Century France, which were not printed until long after the author’s death.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Blood of the Gods).

Untitled synopsis (Dark Shanghai)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Daughter of Erlik Khan)

The “Daughters of Feud, Untitled Synopsis” offers a condensed version of the dramatic narrative set in a mountainous school community, focusing on Braxton Brent, a schoolmaster who confronts the challenges of maintaining discipline and authority.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Devils of Dark Lake). The first appearance of this was in the Robert E. Howard Foundation Newsletter volume 3, number 1.

This untitled synopsis, later realized as Evil Deeds at Red Cougar, is part of Robert E. Howard’s Breckinridge Elkins Westerns.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (First Draft: James Norris . . .)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (General Ironfist).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (A Gent from the Pecos).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Gents on the Lynch).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Gents on the Rampage).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Hour of the Dragon).

In the untitled synopsis (the story starts with “Hunwulf, an American . . .”), two men, Hunwulf, an American, and John Brill, an Englishman, are both in love with Muriel Reynolds.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Joe Rogers had been working the stock markets.). Refer to UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (First Draft: James Norris . . .)

Untitled synopsis (John Gorman found himself in Samarkand, . . .).

She-Cats of Samarcand. Short story by Marc Cerasini and Charles Hoffman and Robert E. Howard [as by Sam Walser].

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (King of the Forgotten People). See KING OF THE FORGOTTON PEOPLE.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (A Knight of the Round Table).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The People of the Black Circle).

The untitled synopsis for “The Purple Heart of Erlik” by Robert E. Howard unfolds a dark and complex tale of desperation, cunning, and violence. Arline Ellis finds herself trapped between the malevolent intentions of Duke Tremayne and the dangerous and perverse Woon Yuen. Her plight leads her into a perilous situation, culminating in violence and betrayal. With the unexpected assistance of Wild Bill Clanton, she navigates through these threats in a bid for freedom and redemption.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Ring-Tailed Tornado).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Road to Bear Creek).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Scarlet Citadel).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Scarlet Citadel).

Untitled synopsis. “The Shadow in the Well” provides a glimpse into Robert E. Howard’s creative process through the synopsis of a draft for a pirate tale set in 1711 on an island along the Spanish Main. This outline sketches a narrative full of dark magic, hidden treasure, and pirate intrigue, emphasizing the supernatural elements Howard often explored.

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Ship in Mutiny)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Silver Heel)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Slugger’s Game)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Slugger’s on the Beach)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (A squad of Zamorian soldiers, led . . .).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (Steve Harrison received a wire from Joan Wiltshaw.)

Untitled synopsis: (The story of a forgotten age . . .)

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (The Vultures of Wahpeton). 

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (While the Smoke Rolled).

UNTITLED SYNOPSIS (A Witch Shall Be Born).

Robert E. Howard created many fictional characters. Most known is perhaps Conan, but there are so many more interesting men and women. I will try to add some information about them on this page.

In the realm of classic comic book series, “La Reina de la Costa Negra” stands as a remarkable Mexican publication that has captured the imaginations of readers for decades. The series, which translates to “The Queen of the Black Coast,” is notably linked to the universe of Robert E. Howard’s creations, although it diverges with its unique interpretations and storylines.

We know that it was Lyndsey Tyson’s gun. Lyndsey told the lawyer that Robert had used his gun and he didn’t want anything to do with any of it. He was quite upset. Decades later, when talking to Glenn Lord, Lyndsey told him that was the dumbest thing he ever did. He should have taken those rights when he had the chance, maybe he could have gotten rich.

This essay delves into the influences that sparked part of Howard’s imagination, with a focus on three influential women who played a significant role in his work in the horror genre of his stories.

Ben Friberg and The Texas Center, part of Schreiner University have provided Youtube videos from Howard Days. Here are the ones from 2023. Also links to Gary Romeo’s excellent blog featuring his journey to Cross Plains.

Discover the fascinating story of Robert E. Howard’s (REH) writing table, an iconic piece of furniture that has traveled through time and has now found its way to our collection. This article details the table’s journey, from its origins in the 1920s or 30s to its current location in Paul Herman’s shop.

Robert E. Howard was known for his affection for animals. At the time of his passing, 13 stray cats frequented his residence. However, one animal held a special place in his heart: his beloved dog, Patch. Patch served as a source of inspiration and fond memories for many of Robert’s stories later in life, and they were inseparable companions for over a dozen years. In an article by Ståle Gismervik, we learn more about Patch, and his bond with Robert. Read on to discover more about this extraordinary canine companion.

The article, written by Elsie Burns and published in the Cross Plains Review on July 10, 1936, recounts her first encounter with a young Robert E. Howard and his dog Patches, and their subsequent friendship. Burns describes Howard’s imaginative play and his devotion to his family, and notes his success as an author.

Part three of an article written by Rick Lai about the Legend of El Borak.

Part two of an article written by Rick Lai about the Legend of El Borak.

An article written by Rick Lai about the Legend of El Borak. Best known for his tales of heroic fantasy, Robert E. Howard (1906-36) also wrote contemporary tales of adventure for the pulps. Howard was influenced by Talbot Mundy, a major writer for Adventure in the 1920’s. Mundy’s heroes were American and British adventurers roving around India and the Middle East. Utilizing Mundy’s settings, Howard fashioned his own band of protagonists. Among Howard’s soldiers of fortune, the most famous is Francis Xavier Gordon.

The car was described as dark green, with a glove compartment, rather than a door pocket. This is where he carried his gun. The ’31 Chevy was purchased second-hand after Lovecraft’s visit to New Orleans during the spring of 1932. Tyson has further provided that it was a Chevrolet Coach; a two-door.

Part five of a five-part article about Robert E. Howard and the Spicy stories. Rescued from the late Two-Gun Raconteur blog created by Damon C. Sasser.

Part four of a five-part article about Robert E. Howard and the Spicy stories. Rescued from the late Two-Gun Raconteur blog created by Damon C. Sasser.

A 5-part article about Robert E. Howard and the Spicy stories. Rescued from the late Two-Gun Raconteur blog created by Damon C. Sasser.

Part two of a five-part article about Robert E. Howard and the Spicy stories. Rescued from the late Two-Gun Raconteur blog created by Damon C. Sasser.

Part three of a five-part article about Robert E. Howard and the Spicy stories. Rescued from the late Two-Gun Raconteur blog created by Damon C. Sasser.

REH’s Detective and Crime Stories – an article written by Dierk Günther, Ph. D.

Cross Plains Review is an important resource for citizens and a unique chronicle, recording community development and such events as the death of Robert E. Howard, the 2005 wildfires, and the town’s 100th anniversary. As one of the oldest businesses in Cross Plains, the Review is intertwined with the history of the community.

The car was described as dark green, with a glove compartment, rather than a door pocket. This is where he carried his gun. The ’31 Chevy was purchased second-hand after Lovecraft’s visit to New Orleans during the spring of 1932. Tyson has further provided that it was a Chevrolet Coach; a two-door.

We know that it was Lyndsey Tyson’s gun. Lyndsey told the lawyer that Robert had used his gun and he didn’t want anything to do with any of it. He was quite upset. Decades later, when talking to Glenn Lord, Lyndsey told him that was the dumbest thing he ever did. He should have taken those rights when he had the chance, maybe he could have gotten rich.

Collected from Damon C. Sasser’s blog here is a 10-round boxing match, or rather an interview regarding Fists of Iron and how it came to be. Patrice Louinet, Chris Gruber, and Mark Finn go 10 rounds answering questions.

In his writing, Robert E. Howard made frequent use of subjects from history and folklore, especially — in keeping with his Southern heritage and Texas upbringing — that of both the American Southwest, and the Deep South. This includes elements from the African-American folk magic practices popularly known as conjure (or hoodoo) and voodoo, which turn up to create fear and atmosphere in various tales of horror and “weird mystery,” most famously in “Black Canaan” and “Pigeons from Hell.”

Novalyne Price Ellis (born Novalyne Price) on March 9th, 1908 in Brownwood, Brown County, Texas, USA. She died at age 91 in Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USA. She is buried at Clear Creek Cemetery, Bangs, Brown County, Texas, USA.

Daughter of Homer Hogg Price and Etna Reed Price.

She was a Texas-born schoolteacher and writer who became close friends with and occasionally dated famed pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard.

Glenn Lord (November 17, 1931 – December 31, 2011) was an American literary agent, editor, and publisher of the prose and poetry of fellow Texan Robert E. Howard (1906–1936), and the first and most important researcher and scholar of Howard’s life and writings.

From Lee A. Breakiron’s Robert E. Howard: A Bibliography of Secondary Sources. A work in progress.

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Article by Glenn Lord; “The Writing Game”. A history of REH’s jobs & sales of stories & poems to pulp markets first published in REH: Lone Star Fictioneer, Vol. 1, #1 (ed. Byron L. Roark; Nemedian Chronicles, Kansas City, Kan., spring, 1975)

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Hester Jane Ervin Howard’s death certificate states she died of tuberculosis on June 12, 1936. A puzzling diagnosis and difficult to understand when TB is never referred to in any of the letters written by either her son, Robert E. Howard or her husband, Dr. Isaac M. Howard. Article by Barbara Barrett

This spring I sent the busy couple Jim & Ruth Keegan a lot of questions about who they are, what they do and their relation to Robert E. Howard. Finally I have all the answers presented here.

The American illustrator and artist with the name of Roy Gerald Krenkel is probably a household name for most Robert E. Howard fans. He is often referred to as the father of heroic fantasy. Very often he is included in the list of some of the best known and most influential fantasy artists like J. Allen St. John and Frank Frazetta.

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Howard Days happens every year on the second full weekend in June (closest to June 11th). Project Pride pulls out all the stops in welcoming folks. Sponsored by Project Pride and the Robert E. Howard Foundation, with help from the members of the Robert E. Howard United Press Association (REHupa), it is a two-day extravaganza of tours, panels, auctions, banquets, speeches, readings, rare collectibles and – most importantly of all – great Howardian fellowship.

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Robert E. Howard’s house is now a museum in Cross Plains, Texas. The museum is fully owned by Project Pride. I would like to thank especially Arlene Stephenson and Rusty Burke for helping me out with the details. Please anyone, let me know if I’ve missed or left something out.

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Robert E. Howard created many fictional characters. Most known is perhaps Conan, but there are so many more interesting men and women. I will try to add some information about them on this page.

Kirby O’Donnell is a fictional character created by American author Robert E. Howard. He is an American treasure hunter who operates in early-twentieth century Afghanistan disguised as a Kurdish merchant named “Ali el Ghazi.” O’Donnell appears in three stories written by Howard, two of which were published during his lifetime. The stories featuring Kirby O’Donnell are noted for their blend of historical adventure, action, and intrigue.

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Steve Harrison is the name of the detective that Howard is known for. Brock Rollins is a name that the editors of Strange Detective Stories came up with for volume 5 number 3 (1934) when two Harrison stories were published in the same issue. He operates mainly on River Street and often on the Chinese quarter.

Not your average detective, Steve Harrison is more likely to tear into a fight wth his fists than a gun. More often than not the stories also strays further afield from standard detective fare, adding weird menace and more adventure. Also, few private eyes could boast of a recurring enemy, never mind one as diabolical and evil as Erlik Khan, a descendent of Genghis Khan.

Bran Mak Morn is a hero of five pulp fiction short stories by Robert E. Howard. In the stories, most of which were first published in Weird Tales, Bran is the last king of Howard’s romanticized version of the tribal race of Picts.

Conan simply grew up in my mind a few years ago when I was stopping in a little border town on the lower Rio Grande. I did not create him by any conscious process. He simply stalked full grown out of oblivion and set me at work recording the saga of his adventures.

Breckinridge Elkins is a giant grizzly bear of a man, well over 6 feet tall. So iron is his constitution that he can drink jug after jug of moonshine without serious inebriation.

Although incredibly strong and tough, the gent from Bear Creek isn’t terribly smart, and is easily fooled. Discovering that he has been tricked is liable to make him mad, however, and an angry Breckinridge Elkins has been the end to many a villainous scheme.

Sailor Steve Costigan is a fictional character created by American writer Robert E. Howard. He is a merchant sailor on the Sea Girl and is also its champion boxer. His only true companion is a bulldog named Mike (after his brother and fellow boxer, “Iron” Mike Costigan).

Perhaps not as well known as Valeria and Belit, Helen Tavrel is a also notorious female pirate and adventuress. She appeared in Howards story ‘The Isle of Pirates’ Doom written in 1928. The story did not sell.

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“The Shadow of the Vulture” is a short story by American writer Robert E. Howard, first published in The Magic Carpet Magazine, January 1934. The story introduces the character of Red Sonya of Rogatino, who later became the inspiration for the popular character Red Sonja, archetype of the chainmail-bikini clad female warrior.

Valeria is a pirate and adventuress (a member of The Red Brotherhood of pirates) in the fictional universe of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian stories. She appears in Robert E. Howard’s Conan novella “Red Nails”, serialized in Weird Tales 1. part in Weird Tales July, August/September and October, 1936. This was the last Conan story written by Howard, and published posthumously.

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Written by Jessica Amanda Salmonson  Robert E. Howard was a great storyteller. Perhaps not a skilled writer in technical terms, but nonetheless, his fiction is powerful in an awkward, honest, direct manner — not unlike many of his heros. Certainly his style is appealing, as his popularity has continued in spite of his imitators’ every effort to bury his genius with insipid copies — though even this may be the fault of fans demanding “more” from someone too long dead to provide it. It is indicative of his talent that he could do what few adventure writers can do even today, that is, depict a strong woman. Further, he did it in an atmosphere of rank misogyny: the male-defined pulp era of writing. He created Belet, at whose feet even mighty Conan had to sit; & he created Agnes de Chastillon, a Frenchwoman whose swordskill was unmatched in her time. Rarely had women in sword & sorcery tales been portrayed as positively & strongly as Dark Agnes. I’ve no idea what Howard’s ideas about women were; through much of his fiction he seems fundamentally naive about women, yet comparatively far less exploitive in the way his female characters are depicted. Possibly he knew a rough, hard, endearing Texas woman who influenced him; possibly his love of history uncovered too many amazon figures to ignore. Perhaps he even gave thought to issues we consider modern & feminist. Maybe none of these things approached his thinking at all — but he saw, as lesser storytellers rarely see, that tales about whining, meek, abused chattels & sex objects are not as entertaining as stories about a woman loathe of those positions. Myself a long-time Howard fan, I’ve been put on the defensive for my fondness by some of my feminist friends, though I no longer hide my Donald Grant editions. I feel Agnes justifies my respects for REH’s writing. I believe that even in Howard’s most violent, male-dominant tales there is an underlying respect & concern for the position of women that very few of his imitators ever captured in the retellings. Agnes is a feminist warrior, capable of being a good comrade-in-arms to any man, but just as capable of cutting him to ribbons if he forgets she’s a comrade. Howard only wrote two tales of Agnes, & left a fragment completed by Gerald W. Page. It is doubtful if much of this latter story is really Howard’s, however, as it so mishandles the character of Agnes that one wonders if she’s the same woman at all. More on this later.     The first story, “Sword Woman,” tells the origin of Dark Agnes. It is a tough, angry story about a girl who could not be tamed, not even by a father who beat her regularly. SHe slays her disgusting husband-to-be with wicked delight, then sets off to adventure. She is a woman of moral character even so, living by a code of her own. In the introduction to the original Zebra paperback of The Sword Woman (there was later a Pocketbooks edition), the late Leigh Bracket — one of the handful of women who achieved great success as pulp adventure writers — pointed out that the title story holds one of the most eloquent statements written on the subject of women’s freedom & individual pride. In this scene, a captain of mercenaries has turned down Agnes’ offer to ride with him as a soldier. He says, “Don thy petticoats as becomes a proper woman. Then, well — in your place I might be glad to have you ride with me!” Livid, Agnes threatens him, saying: “Ever the man in men! Let a woman know her proper place: let her milk & spin & sew & bear children, not look beyond her threshold or the command of her lord & master! Bah! I spit on you! There is no man alive who can face me with weapons & live, & before I die, I’ll prove it to the world. Women! Cows! Slaves! Whimpering, cringing serfs, crouching to blows, revenging themselves by — taking their own lives, as my sister urged me to do. Ha! You deny me a place among men? By God, I’ll live as I please & die as God wills, bit if I’m not fit to be a man’s comrade, at least I’ll be no man’s mistress. So go yet to hell … and may the devil tear your heart!” Intense, pointed, true — Agnes has swore herself to celibacy, aware that even to share a bed with a man, in her society & ours, is to be bridled. Howard captures the essence of a politic few men dare realize — a concept usually dismissed by men as the madness of man-hating lesbians, or whoever else can be blamed for men’s own limited comprehension. This aspect of Agnes’ character is important to both of the stories Howard wrote, so one would guess it a concept Howard was consciously exploring. In the third story, however, it is absent as a theme — which is one reason I strongly suspect he did not write much of that one at all. “Sword Woman” has one minor lapse of logic. In this & the second story, Agnes credits Guiscard de Clisson with teaching her swordskill & fighting techniques. Yet, she knew him scant days — barely the time it took a companion to heal from wounds (& it is stated he healed quickly). It is not credible that her tutor invested his many years of hard-gained war-skills in one eager pupil in a few days of lessons. However, this lapse is forgivable, perhaps even rational, if we take literally Agnes’ assertion that, though previously unfamiliar with weaponry, she had an instinctive rather than tutored knowledge. “Sword Woman” remains, then, a rich, satisfying, believable story. When agnes says blithely in the end that, “I am no longer a woman,” there is more irony in it than truth — for in fact she is every woman, unleashed & free.     “Blades of France” is a less eloquent story with rougher edges, too obviously written by a history buff, but still very satisfying. It has some truly rare moments, as when chaste Agnes receives her first kiss — from another woman! In the end, when Agnes’ comrade is moony over having held that noblewoman in his arms, Agnes is silent. But a wise reader will know what’s in Agnes’s mind: Ah, but she kissed me. This second story is a bit less insistent than the first in establishing & re-establishing that Agnes is shapely & beautiful. This is the one failing common to most adventure writers’ depictions of presumedly strong women. However, though other writers seem to include this aspect because they can’t help but eroticize women at the expense of their humanity, with Howard it seemed to be the only way he knew to establish the fundamental normalcy & logic of Agnes’s choices. He never conceived the notion of androgynous beauty, nor seemed to realize “beauty” itself is cultural. He felt compelled to establish that Agnes was traditionally beautiful in spite of herself, as if to say, “See — she is a woman despite her choices.” It adds nothing of character or realism, though it establishes, in the only way the author knew, that Agnes is not a warrior because she was too ugly or too stupid or too abnormal ever to be a wife or mother. In this story Howard somewhat overcomes this need to beautify Agnes in such typical terms. Had he written more stories of Agnes, surely he’d have been done with “excusing” her strength with her beauty. Sadly, the only other story of Agnes is a poor collaboration, detracting from the fine concepts Howard devised on his own. In both “Blades of France” & “Sword Woman” Agnes is repeatedly confronted by men who want only to bed her, by force if necessary. She answers each with her sword, saying, “Must I slay half the men in France to teach them respect?” The reader knows her frustration; & the message is clear to Agnes: the men of the world still want her to be a broodmare & drudge. But Agnes remembers her pitiful sister, & all the other women who had not escaped their restricting roles — & she kills the men who would not let a woman grow. Once again Howard has proven capable of appreciating the type of woman most mean fear to confront even as an archetype, much less as a fictional character or a real-life feminist freedom fighter. Had a woman written of Agnes in a similar manner, the author would have been charged with man-hating, frigidity, being a castrating bitch, a crazy radical. But it was written by a man — a man who was a wonderful storyteller — a man whose vision far exceeded the imagination of his imitators & of detractors from feminist camps. That the author was male, incredibly, makes it “all right” to many readers. This phenomenon is echoed in the fact that science fiction author John Varley achieved praise & bestseller status using the same feminist themes Joanna Russ was often brutalized over. And James Tiptree, Jr., won an award for “Houston, Houston, Do You Read?” about male astronauts discovery of an all-female world & that culture’s slow realization that these “man” creatures really must be killed. Afterward, when it was discovered Tiptree was a woman writer — a fact unknown when the story was being praised — critic Damon Knight reread the story with a new headset on his pea-brain &, in a lecture to a convention audience, explained that the real James Tiptree, Jr. — Alice Sheldon — was the equivalent of a Nazi. This judgment was often echoed resulting in one of the field’s greatest writers ceasing to write altogether during her last years. And the unreasonable thing is only a woman would be so judged. The fascism inherent in most of the writing of Heinlein, Anderson, Pournelle is never so venomously attacked by respected critics like Knight. How incredible it is that in this patriarchal world of ours, men’s privilege extends even to the right to depict strong women without being ostracized as would be a woman writer!     “Mistress of Death” is a wholly unsatisfying story. It is repetitive, clumsy, lacking the honest forthright boldness of Howard at his best. Worst of all, the character of Agnes is contradicted on almost every count. There is only one moment in the whole story when the true character of Agnes comes through, true to the previous stories. When she thinks she’s been betrayed by a strumpet, Agnes is intent on giving the woman a hearty spanking. She says, “Margot, if an open enemy deserves a thrust of steel, what fate does a traitress deserve? Not four days agone I saved you from a beating at the hands of a drunken soldier, & gave you money because your tears touched my foolish compassion. But Saint Trignon, I have a mind to cut the head from your fair shoulders!” It turns out that Margot was innocent of treachery, & the true culprit was, again, a man scorned by Agnes (hell having no fury like a prick deflated). But when Agnes thinks the worst of Margot, & frightens her considerably, there is yet a rough concern in Agnes’s attitude for the street-damaged Margot. As the kiss of a lady was important to Agnes in “Blades for France,” so has she empathy for the plight of women who could not escape their “proper” places & ended up wives, slaves or, like Margot, prostitutes. If any fragment of “Mistress of Death” is truly Howard’s own writing, the above quotation must be his. That’s hard to judge, I know, & I could be entirely wrong. But fora fact, it is one of the few moments in the story that Agnes is the same strong willed woman as in “Sword Woman” & “Blades of France.” Other aspects of the story that make it seem little of Howard’s work is the fact that it is the only one of the three to be strongly fantasy oriented. Agnes’s previous stories reflect Howard’s love for history; this one is standard kill-the-wizard fare. It is vaguely possible he was revamping the nature of the unsold stories for fantasy markets — but even were this the case, since Agnes is still placed in an historic milieu, where has the knowledge of European history flown? Additionally, for no reason, Agnes’s comrade Etienne Villiers is missing. At the end of both earlier stories, it is made clear that she & Villiers will continue to travel together, all the way to Italy eventually. There is a clue that a later adventure will have to do with Agnes’s father trying to kill her — not dealt with in the last story at all. Clearly Howard intended a logical progression of stories with Agnes & Etienne together. But for “Mistress of Death” John Stuart the Scot appears in Villiers’ stead, for no discernible reason. What flaws existed in the first two stories are magnified here. A far greater do-do is made of the fact that Agnes is beautiful & couldn’t pass as a man if her life depended on it (though in “Blades” she disguised her figure well enough). As pointed out earlier, this is something Howard was less inclined to reiterate in the second story, but on this collaborative effort it is harped on relentlessly. Sometimes, lines are quoted verbatim from previous stories — which might have been less annoying were the stories not lumped together for comparison. Howard is hardly a subtle author, but he managed a certain suave balance that allowed him to overstate without being redundant. However, the exaggerated reiterations in this story, that Agnes can “drink, swear, march, fight & boast with the best of them” becomes, by now, little more than burlesque. Unfortunately, this really is a John Stuart story over all; though told from the point of view of Agnes, Stuart is the key character in every scene save the final one, when a spell by a wizard freezes him & Agnes finally acts. I seriously doubt a story of this nature was ever Howard’s intent. Either he never finished it because of his error, or the error was his “collaborator’s.” Subtle things absent from the first two stories establish, in this last tale, that Stuart is the dominating personality: “John Stuart’s form moved agilely through the gate & I followed” (p113); “He headed for the stairs & I followed after” (p116); “He rushed toward it & I followed after him, almost causing the candle to flicker out in my haste” (p116); “He stepped through the opening & I followed after him” (p118); “I drew my sword & followed John Stuart down the stairs” (p119). It’s impossible to believe this is the same Agnes who was never before portrayed as the sort to carry light like a servant & follow in some man’s wake. Stuart, not Agnes, discovers the magician’s route of escape from a bedchamber; Stuart, not Agnes, recognizes the strange coweled figure for who he was; Stuart speaks up first when guards come to arrest Agnes; Agnes’s error, not Stuart’s, brought the evil magician to life in the first place. One must seriously ask why none of these confirmations of male superiority over Agnes exist in the other two stories, which Howard wrote alone! But the worst offense is in the final weak scene of this poor tale: though Agnes does slay the magician herself (she had to do something), afterwards she “whimpered like a child & turned away from the pit into the welcome arms of John Stuart that closed around me…protecting…” He then actually carries her off in his arms! Chaste Agnes, if not Howard himself, must be spinning in their graves over the bastardization of a woman hero who turned to no man save as equal in all things. This is not the same Agnes who in “Sword Woman” said she never cried — & did not say it out of self pity, but as observation. In both the earlier stories, there came a moment when she had to look into her own soul — & each time found it devoid of fear. Can anyone think the whimpering Agnes who was carried away in John Stuart’s arms is the work of the same author who portrayed Agnes earlier as the sort who laughed & danced after her first killing? I like Howard’s writing & am the more impressed by him for creating Agnes, but if “Mistress of Death” is always to be included with the pieces he wrote himself, I fear this last tale will leave a bad taste in many a reader’s mouth, & reflect back on the earlier pieces. If new stories about this woman hero are to be written (& I’m of mixed feeling whether such legal plagiarisms should exist at all), they’ll need to be written by someone with the kind of knowledge, insight, & concern that Howard felt — or always Agnes’s character will be reduced to a sappy, boring caricature of the singular woman Howard intended.   Note from the website owner: This critical overview of Robert E. Howard’s Sword Woman is borrowed from web.archive.org from 28th of December 2007. It is written by Jessica Amanda Salmonson and appeared originally in Robert T. Garcia’s American Fantasy #1, 1982. It was reprinted in Twentieth Century Literary Criticism #8, 1982. I chose to preserve it here since the original website is …

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Petar Stanimirov was born on November 12, 1952, in Sofia. He has done huge amounts of book covers and he has also done some great Robert E. Howard and Conan art.

My custom Axe – the process of my custom ordered axe.

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Bodo Schäfer has done several Robert E. Howard-related illustration. Many of them for Writer of the Dark, produced by Thomas Kovacs.

Frank Frazetta was an American fantasy and science fiction artist, noted for comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and other media. He is often referred to as the “Godfather” of fantasy art, and one of the most renowned illustrators of the 20th century. He was also the subject of a 2003 documentary Painting with Fire.

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Finally. The trip has been booked and planning has started. Got some great tips from Paul Herman and Rob Roehm. Thanks to them both.

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Petar Stanimirov was born on November 12, 1952, in Sofia. He has done huge amounts of book covers and he has also done some great Robert E. Howard and Conan art.

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Just a test…. More …

I’ve collected the few letters I could find, written to Robert E. Howard or to his father, Dr. Isaac M. Howard below. One day I hope it would be possible to be able to show every letter and typescript that Howard wrote. 

A personal letter written by Robert E. Howard to Emil Petaja.

In Glenn Lords collection there was a xerox of a Christmas card sent to Clark Ashton Smith, signed by REH. This was dated Dec. 30, 1933. The date was on the envelope, no date on the card.

A Christmas card to Harold Preece dated 22nd of December 1927. It’s signed with an X-triple bar. 

This Christmas card, believed to be the only known extant Christmas card from Robert E. Howard, holds considerable significance. Not only is Howard’s signature handwritten—a rarity since he often typed his correspondence—but the card itself provides a unique personal touch from the author.

A letter from International Poetry Magazine asking Howard to subscribe. Undated, but comes with the envelope, post-marked February 2, 1929. 

A rejection letter from this publisher to REH with respect to a manuscript of poetry REH had submitted, entitled “Singers in the Shadow.” This collection was later published by Donald M. Grant in 1970.

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This letter appeared on eBay early in November 2022 and is so far unknown, that is it is not published in any of the Collected Letters. It appears to be original and signed by Howard. According to scholar Patrice Louinet it looks perfectly legit. The Talman letters are privately owned. The punch holes come from the fact that Talman kept the letters in a binder. Patrice says the signature and typewriting are the real deal. The seller claims that his client bought these letters from L. W. Curry approximately around 2007 and owns several more. Only this was put up for sale.

In the letter Howard thanks Talman for sending him a letter regarding contributions to Talman’s paper. It was Lovecraft who introduced them and gave Howard’s address to Talman (and also Talman’s to Howard).

A rejection letter from John F. Byrne (Fiction House) regarding Howard’s story ‘Riders of the Sunsets’.

This letter appeared on eBay for sale around April 2023 and is a known letter. It appears to be original and signed by Howard. It’s part of a collection and according to scholar Patrice Louinet the previous unknown letter looked perfectly legit. The Talman letters are privately owned. The punch holes come from the fact that Talman kept the letters in a binder. The seller claims that his client bought these letters from L. W. Curry approximately around 2007 and owns several more. The seller also claims to have sold 2 letters in the last 6 months (I’m writing this 14th of April, 2023).

In the letter Howard thanks Talman for sending a letter to Street & Smith. Howard tells Talman a lot of his life, growing up in West Texas.

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A great letter from fellow Weird Tales author Carl Jacobi to Howard. In the letter, Jacobi mentions that he got REH’s address from August Derleth. 

Lots of great content regarding Weird Tales, including the mentioning of REH’s stories ‘The Blood of Belshazzar’ and ‘The Sowers of the Thunder’.

Three letters, all of which were mailed by Mrs. Frank Torbett to REH in an envelope post-marked April 23, 1932. The Torbetts and their son, Thurston, were family friends of the Howards, and Thurston co-wrote “A Thunder of Trumpets” with REH (Weird Tales, September 1938). The letters are: (i) letter from Mrs. Torbett to REH dated April 23, 1932, discussing the other letters in this lot, (ii) a copy of a letter that Mrs. Torbett wrote to Harry Bates, editor of Strange Tales, praising Howard’s work, and (iii) letter dated April 18, 1932 on The Clayton Magazines, Inc. letterhead, from Bates to Mrs. Torbett, signed by Bates.

A handwritten postcard from HPL to REH, postmarked June 4, 1932, from New Orleans, addressed to “R.E. Howard, Esq.” and signed “Sincerely yrs, HPL”. 

Typed Letter letter from editor John Byrne to Viola Irene Cooper, who was Howard’s agent for a brief time. This discusses Howard’s Breckenridge Elkins story, “The Peaceful Pilgrim,” and suggests revisions to it. Presumably Howard made them, as the story was published as “Cupid from Bear Creek” which ran in the August 1935 issue of Action Stories.

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Belknap had a letter published in the October 1933 issue of Weird Tales, but other than that, while he discusses several unsold stories he’s written (and separately having had two stories rejected by Weird  Tales), he does not appear to have been published. Undated, but from internal references, appears to be from late 1933.

The first page of a letter that Otis Adelbert Kline sent to Magic Carpet. It shows how they marked it before sending it to the typesetter. Patrick Ervin changed the character from Costigan to Dorgan and Howard’s name to Patrick Ervin. The story itself was going to appear in the next issue, but then Magic Carpet when out of business.

A handwritten postcard from HPL to REH, postmarked June 4, 1932, from New Orleans, addressed to “R.E. Howard, Esq.” and signed “Sincerely yrs, HPL”. 

A letter from Robert E. Howard surfaced about 2016; the name of the intended recipient is scratched out, so all we really have to go on is the context in which it was discovered and the contents of the letter itself.

A letter sent from Robert E. Howard to Robert H. Barlow along with the manuscript for ‘A Witch Shall be Born’.

Typed Letter letter from editorial director Leo Margulies rejecting Howard’s “The Devils of Dark Lake.” The story was eventually printed in 1974 in the Weird Tales tribute volume, WT50, edited by Robert Weinberg.

This letter gives REH the news that Leo Margulies (lead editor of the Thrilling pulp chain) is rejecting “The Silver Heel.” This was a story of REH’s series character, Steve Harrison.Kline inquires as to whether REH wants him to try it with Roy Horn, who at the time was editor of Two-Book Detective Magazine.

Typed Letter letter from editor John Byrne to Viola Irene Cooper, who was Howard’s agent for a brief time. This discusses Howard’s Breckenridge Elkins story, “The Peaceful Pilgrim,” and suggests revisions to it. Presumably Howard made them, as the story was published as “Cupid from Bear Creek” which ran in the August 1935 issue of Action Stories.

A personal letter written by Robert E. Howard to Emil Petaja.

A four-page handwritten letter in pencil, presumably unsent, from Barlow to Robert E. Howard’s father, expressing his condolences on the author’s “shocking death”.

Letter from L. Sprague de Camp” dated “19 April 77” on de Camp’s own letterhead with content on Robert E. Howard regarding Howard’s middle name.

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More updates on this 4-volume series.

Officially licensed and sanctioned by Robert E. Howard Properties LLC, Inc., this nearly 1,500 page examination of the vast publishing illustrated history of Robert E. Howard is divided into four parts. All four volumes are 9.5″ x 12.25″ in size, full color, smyth sewn hardcovers with dust jackets! The slip case will have a heavy board and gloss cover! With more art, page, history and content the standard set will eventually retail for $275-$300.

This project is as much a narrative history of REH’s publications as it is a visual history. Michael Tierney, the author, has combed the archives and gathered together a vast treasure trove of art, from pulp covers to interior art, from novels that range on both sides of the Atlantic to the vast array of comic books that sported REH’s amazing creations. He’s taken these and woven them into a discussion that explores the many facets of the various industries and Howard’s place within them.

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By David Snow and Lane Morlote. They alternate in telling about their trip to Cross Plains. This was featured on my old Conan website around 2002 or 2003 I believe.

Very interesting article by David Snow lifted from my old Conan website. Snow tells about his meeting with CPI (Conan Properties Incorporated) and the Baums. He and his buddy Charles Keegan (you have probably seen his Conan covers) met with Jack and Barbara Baum, who inherited the Howard Properties from Alla Ray Kuykendall Morris (1916-1995).

In the mid-1970s, when the Robert E. Howard Boom was just beginning, REH: Two-Gun Raconteur was on the cutting edge of Howard Fandom. During those heady days there was a continuous stream of hardback books, paperbacks, magazines, comics, chapbooks, fanzines, art portfolios and one-shot publications all devoted to the gifted author and poet from Cross Plains, Texas. When the Boom eventually faded out in the late eighties, the fans and admirers of Robert E. Howard still carried the torch, waiting for a time when Howard would return and that time has come. While not on as grand a scale as the earlier boom, it is nonetheless a great time to be a Howard fan.

The Hyborian Review was at one time the only internet-magazine dedicated to the yarns of the classic American writer Robert E. Howard. Although the emphasis of this now classic e-zine was on Howard’s most famous stories, the tales of Conan and their various incarnations, you’ll also find interesting content about the rest of Howard’s work and life within.

Containing many interesting insights and entertaining commentary, the Hyborian Review deserves some recognition for being the first internet magazine to focus on the work of Robert E. Howard. During its run, the e-zine garnered so many subscriptions that it was necessary to stop delivering the issues through e-mail and to set up a free web site for fans to download instead. That web site eventually disappeared. 

Patrick J. Jones is a teacher, artist and author of several books on art. He is known for his online and live workshop figure drawing and oil painting methodology and fantasy art paintings. His style is often compared to Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta and his art has appeared on billboards in L.A, London, NYC, and Australia.

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List of recommended reading in rough order of recommendation –
From Robert E. Howard: Bibliography of Secondary Sources by Lee A. Breakiron

Short biography – written by Rusty Burke.
Robert Ervin Howard (1906-1936) ranks among the greatest writers of action and adventure stories. The creator of Conan the Cimmerian, Kull of Atlantis, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, ‘El Borak,’ Sailor Steve Costigan and many other memorable characters, Howard (known as REH to his millions of fans), in a career that spanned barely 12 years, wrote well over a hundred stories for the pulp magazines of his day.

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Earl H. Norem (April 17, 1923 – June 19, 2015), who signed his work simply Norem, was an American artist primarily known for his painted covers for men’s-adventure magazines published by Martin Goodman’s Magazine Management Company and for Goodman’s line of black-and-white comics magazines affiliated with his Marvel Comics division. Over his long career, Norem also illustrated covers for novels and gaming books, as well as movie posters, baseball programs, and trading cards.

There have been found some pictures during the latest years, both of Howard and his friends and family. I want to thank Patrice Louinet for providing me with some of …

Ken W. Kelly (born May 19, 1946, New London, Connecticut, United States) is an American fantasy artist. Over his 50-year career, he has focused in particular on paintings in the sword and sorcery and heroic fantasy subgenres.

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Mythic Games has developed a narrative adventure board game simply titled Solomon Kane, based on Robert E. Howard’s original stories and characters. The game was funded via the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter in July 2018 and has been in development until late 2020. It had its initial release slated for summer 2020, but due to Covid19 it was delayed. Now it is on it’s way to the backer, or at least the first wave of the game.

From April 2004 until December 2008 a scholarly bi-monthly journal called ‘The Cimmerian’ was published in print. The journal is dedicated to the life and writings of Robert E. Howard. It was edited by Leo Grin and consisted of 35 issues split into 5 volumes. It was also nominated for the World Fantasy Award twice. The material was provided by its subscribers and other contributers. There was also produced four issues called the ‘Cimmerian Library’ (chapbooks) for things that did not properly fit into ‘The Cimmerian’ itself. As for design and print quality this must be the best and most beautiful print journals produced yet. The Cimmerian Library was a chapbook series of scholarly reference works about Robert E. Howard and related authors. The series produced four volumes during its run. One-hundred individually numbered copies were printed for each volume. Each chapbook ran forty pages, measured 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, and was printed on a fine grey parchment stock with a shimmering red metallic cover. The original purchase price for each issue was $8. The contents on this page is taken from Leo Grins blog that is now longer active. I wanted to preserve the information on this beautiful made publication. Also since I got hold of a complete set myself. Some names have been redacted without any explanation. Since many names are on the cover of the issues I have in no way tried to hide them here. I don’t care about any disputes there may have been between the …

The main outlet for his stories was Weird Tales, where Howard created Conan the Barbarian. With Conan and his other heroes, Howard helped fashion the genre now known as sword and sorcery, spawning many imitators and giving him a large influence in the fantasy field. Howard remains a highly read author, with his best works still reprinted, and is one of the best-selling fantasy writers of all time.

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A small gallery of photos of Robert E. Howard and great art from wonderful artists. I’ll try to add more images. I’m also open to suggestions or contributions.

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About me My name is Ståle Gismervik and I’m a Howarholic… and I guess that is true. It all started with discovering Conan around 1990 and I was 17 years old. It was actually the first of a new wave of Conan releases. An Norwegian Conan comic (100 pages in B&W issued monthly). There were monthly issues of Conan then and I was hooked. Not much later I discovered one issue of SSoC on a local shop selling used comic books. I also had a class mate who gave me one of the issues from 1984 or -85 when Conan first was released as its own comic book in Norway. When I went to Oslo (capital of Norway) to study I also discovered there where books about Conan and the first ones I found was the books from Tor pulications. I collected and read all I could find. More about me later… Disclaimer This disclaimer (“Disclaimer”) sets forth the general guidelines, disclosures, and terms of your use of the reh.world website (“Website” or “Service”) and any of its related products and services (collectively, “Services”). This Disclaimer is a legally binding agreement between you (“User”, “you” or “your”) and this Website operator (“Operator”, “we”, “us” or “our”). By accessing and using the Website and Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the terms of this Disclaimer. If you are entering into this Disclaimer on behalf of a business or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to this Disclaimer, in which case the terms “User”, “you” or “your” shall refer to such entity. If you do not have such authority, or if you do not agree with the terms of this Disclaimer, you must not accept this Disclaimer and may not access and use the Website and Services. You acknowledge that this Disclaimer is a contract between you and the Operator, even though it is electronic and is not physically signed by you, and it governs your use of the Website and Services. Representation Any views or opinions represented on the Website belong solely to the content creators and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the Operator or creators may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. Content and postings You may print a copy of any part of the Website and Services for your own personal, non-commercial use, but you may not copy any part of the Website and Services for any other purposes, and you may not modify any part of the Website and Services. Inclusion of any part of the Website and Services in another work, whether in printed or electronic or another form or inclusion of any part of the Website and Services on another resource by embedding, framing or otherwise without the express permission of the Operator is prohibited. Indemnification and warranties While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained on the Website is correct, the Operator is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information on the Website is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied. In no event will the Operator, or its partners, employees or agents, be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information on the Website, or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Information on the Website is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide any type of professional advice. Please seek professional assistance should you require it. Furthermore, information contained on the Website and any pages linked to and from it are subject to change at any time and without warning. Changes and amendments We reserve the right to modify this Disclaimer or its terms relating to the Website and Services at any time, effective upon posting of an updated version of this Disclaimer on the Website. When we do, we will revise the updated date at the bottom of this page. Continued use of the Website and Services after any such changes shall constitute your consent to such changes. Acceptance of this disclaimer You acknowledge that you have read this Disclaimer and agree to all its terms and conditions. By accessing and using the Website and Services you agree to be bound by this Disclaimer. If you do not agree to abide by the terms of this Disclaimer, you are not authorized to access or use the Website and Services. Contacting me If you would like to contact me to understand more about this Disclaimer or wish to contact us concerning any matter relating to it, you may do so via the contact form This document was last updated on December 31, …

Here is a small collection of stories I have been allowed to share. Some of these are from my old Conan website which I started around 1996 and gave up around 2004. First off is ‘Conan the Mighty‘ by William Galen Gray. Back in 1999 when I ran the Conan.no website, William Galen Gray sent me this Conan novel. The next is actually a series of screenplays made by Steve (Ironhand) Block and Brian Bevel. I’m presenting them again here. Check out the ‘YOUNG CONAN‘ …

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This is my contribution and my way of giving respect and honor to the greatest writer of all times, Robert E. Howard. I don’t know of any other author so versatile. Horror, boxing, humor, westerns, detective and desert adventures among others.

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Back in 1999 when I ran the Conan.no website, William Galen Gray sent me a Conan novel. I’ll let him explain it as he did …

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This is an example page. It’s different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I’m a bike messenger by day, aspiring actor by night, and this is my website. I live in Los Angeles, have a great dog named Jack, and I like piña coladas. (And gettin’ caught in the rain.) …or something like this: The XYZ Doohickey Company was founded in 1971, and has been providing quality doohickeys to the public ever since. Located in Gotham City, XYZ employs over 2,000 people and does all kinds of awesome things for the Gotham community. As a new WordPress user, you should go to your dashboard to delete this page and create new pages for your content. Have …

This is my contribution and my way of giving respect and honor to the greatest writer of all times, Robert E. Howard. I don’t know of any other author so versatile. Horror, boxing, humor, westerns, detective and desert adventures among others.

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