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Moon of Zambebwei

Part of The Grisly Horror

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Introduction

Moon of Zambebwei is a later title associated with Howard’s The Grisly Horror. The story follows Bristol McGrath into an isolated backwoods setting of captivity, cult violence and supernatural menace.

Otis Adelbert Kline received the story on July 23, 1934. It sold for $110; after the Kline Agency’s commission, Howard received $99. The Grisly Horror was published in Weird Tales in February 1935.

Summary spoilers

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From the letters:

In a letter (#301) to August Derleth, ca. mid-October 1934, Howard tells him about the sale:

P.S. Wright just bought “Moon of Zambebwei”, a novelet that differs from most of my Weird Tale yarns; a modern story, laid in Mississippi; hope the readers will like it.

And in a letter (#304) to H.P. Lovecraft, ca. December 1934, we learn of the change of the title:

My latest sales to Weird Tales have been a two-part Conan serial: “Beyond the Black River” — a frontier story; and a novelet dealing with Mississippi negroes, etc. “The Moon of Zambebwei”, which I understand will be changed to “The Grisly Horror.”

When Howard hired Kline as his agent, it was with the understanding that he would continue to make submissions directly to Weird Tales, without paying Kline a commission, since he had built up that market himself. However, when Howard’s “The Moon of Zambebwei” was rejected by Terror Tales and Top-Notch, Kline submitted it to Weird Tales, where it was published under the new title. In a letter (#312) to Otis Adelbert Kline, May 13, 1935, Howard says:

I’m writing this to ask for some information in regard to Weird Tales.
As you know, for some time I’ve had a story in almost every issue. One of those yarns you sold Wright, yourself, “The Grisly Horror,” you remember. The others I sold him direct.

Almost a year behind, Howard was paid for the story. In a letter (#333) to Otis Adelbert Kline, January 8, 1936 we learn:

A belated acknowledgment of the check for $99.00 from Weird Tales. A pleasant surprize, as I had not expected a check for “The Grisly Horror” at this time.