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Exact textual stateDraft

The Voice of Death

Part of The Voice of Death

StateDraft 2Surviving witnesses1TSS catalogue units5
Textual identity is not textual authority. “Catalogue primary/default” selects the default catalogue representation; it does not mean that this wording is automatically Howard’s most authoritative text.

Characters in this exact text

AbnerAbner Jeppard — Edward Willington's uncle and guardian who engineers the hidden-voice murder schemeOn Pagefirst: End of surviving Draft 2.Edward WillingtonEdward Willington — young man manipulated into believing he is being driven to murder James ClantonOn Pagefirst: Opening accident scene.James ClantonJames Clanton — Edward Willington's best friend and intended victim in The Voice of DeathOn Pagefirst: Opening accident scene.Steve HarrisonSteve Harrison — private detective and central protagonist of Lord of the DeadOn Pagefirst: Opening accident scene.

Surviving manuscript evidence

The records below describe surviving physical typescripts, carbons, manuscript material and documentary catalogue evidence for this exact textual state. TSS numbers identify physical catalogue units; they are not story or draft IDs.

Draft 2 - surviving incomplete Howard typescriptHoward typescript
Extent5 pagesCompletenessIncomplete

Physical extent: Only the first five pages survive

TSS: 64655–64659

Untitled Howard typescript. The first five pages survive; the draft breaks off while Edward Willington is introducing his uncle/guardian.

Additional documentary notes

  • Untitled Witness: Draft 2 is untitled. (witness level)
  • Incomplete Ending: Only the first five pages survive; the surviving text ends mid-introduction after 'Abner'. (end of surviving page 5)

Source: Hardboiled Manuscripts, Volume 1 v0.75, The Voice of Death Editorial Notes p. 211; Draft 2 pp. 221-225