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WritingPermanent catalogue Work

Showdown at Hell's Canyon

2textual states9Characters
Genre
Western

Introduction

Written in 1929, 'The Judgment of the Desert' appears to have been crafted with the audience of the Cross Plains Review in mind, yet it was not published during Howard’s lifetime. This story is extant in the form of a titled carbon copy and was only made available posthumously, offering readers a glimpse into Howard's unpublished works from that period.

Textual states

Shown in a practical developmental order where possible: synopsis/outline, numbered drafts, submission states, then published or posthumous states. This display order does not itself assert exact chronology or textual authority.

The Judgement of the DesertPrimary Text
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Showdown at Hell's CanyonPrimary Text
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Characters in this Work

Counts are across exact Textual Versions currently represented. Additional textual research may add further appearances.

Hansenviolent Sangre del Diablo gunman1 textual stateHarmerwealthy Easterner and Joan Kirby’s intended fiancé1 textual stateJoan Kirbyyoung woman caught in the border intrigue1 textual stateLa CostaFrenchman in Hansen’s group1 textual stateMike O’Maragunman who initially calls himself Spike1 textual stateSour Sansonold prospector whose murder and map drive the plot1 textual stateStan Branniganoutsider drawn into the Sangre del Diablo affair1 textual stateTom KirbyJoan Kirby’s dead relative, murdered by Mike O’Mara1 textual stateYaqui Sladegunman associated with Hansen1 textual state

Publication appearances

The Vultures: Showdown at Hell's CanyonFictioneer Books1973 (first) | 1975 (second)↗The Vultures of WhapetonZebraNovember 1975 (1st), March 1976 (2nd), October 1976 (3rd)↗The Vultures of WhapetonBerkleyJanuary 1980↗Heyne Western Magazin No. 3Wilhelm Heyne Verlag1982↗The End of the Trail: Western StoriesUniversity of Nebraska Press - Bison BooksApril 2005↗Z Divokého západu (The Wild West)Albatros Media - PlusJune 2009↗Western TalesREH Foundation PressDecember 2013↗Sfida al Canyon InfernaleFratini EditoreMay 2014↗Пески веков (Peski vekov) (Sands of the Ages) Covers and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Северо-Запад (Severo-Zapad) (North-West)September 2016↗Storie della FrontieraElaraApril 2019↗Пески веков (Peski vekov) (Sands of the Ages) Cover and publication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy.Подсолнухи (Sunflowers)August 2019↗Showdown at Hell's CanyonOld West Publishing2022↗Western TalesREH Foundation PressJanuary 31, 2025↗