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
Abner WillingtonAbner Jeppard — Edward Willington's uncle and guardian who engineers the hidden-voice murder schemeOn Pagefirst: Harrison enters the study after returning to the house.Edward WillingtonEdward Willington — young man manipulated into believing he is being driven to murder James ClantonOn Pagefirst: First surviving page.James ClantonJames Clanton — Edward Willington's best friend and intended victim in The Voice of DeathOn Pagefirst: The disembodied command is heard in the surviving text.Steve HarrisonSteve Harrison — private detective and central protagonist of Lord of the DeadOn Pagefirst: First surviving page after the three-page gap.
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 1 - surviving incomplete Howard typescriptHoward typescript
Extent7 pagesCompletenessIncomplete
Physical extent: Seven pages survive; manuscript pages 1-3 are missing
TSS: 11747-11753
Untitled Howard typescript. Seven pages survive from an originally longer draft; pages 1-3 are missing.
Additional documentary notes
- Untitled Witness: Draft 1 is untitled. (witness level)
- Missing page: The first three manuscript pages are missing; seven later pages survive. (manuscript pages 1-3)
Source: Hardboiled Manuscripts, Volume 1 v0.75, The Voice of Death Editorial Notes p. 211; Draft 1 pp. 213-220