The Garden of Fear is a James Allison story in which Allison remembers a former life as Hunwulf. Howard placed the story with William L. Crawford while Crawford was planning a magazine called Unusual Stories; the magazine eventually appeared as Marvel Tales, and the story was published in its second issue.

Howard wrote to Clark Ashton Smith circa October 1933 (letter #262):

I hope Crawford has good fortune with Unusual Stories. I let him have a yarn entitled “The Garden of Fear”, dealing with one of my various conceptions of the Hyborian and post-Hyborian world. He seemed to like the story very well, and I intend to let him have some more on the same order if he can use them. I have an idea which I’d like to work out in a series of that nature.

In a letter to H. P. Lovecraft on November 3, 1933 (letter #265), Howard added:

I’m looking forward to seeing Unusual Stories. I let Crawford have a yarn called “The Garden of Fear.

After publication, Howard wrote to Lovecraft circa December 1934 (letter #304):

Glad you liked “The Garden of Fear” in Marvel Tales. I wrote that especially for Crawford when he asked me for a contribution. I hope he’ll be able to continue the publication.