Robert E. Howard’s writings
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WritingWritten June 1934

The Servants of Bit-Yakin

Published as:Jewels of Gwahlur
5textual states0Characters
PublishedMarch 1935Sale amount$155Howard received$155
Genre
Sword & Sorcery

Introduction

Howard’s title for the story is The Servants of Bit-Yakin. It was first published as Jewels of Gwahlur in Weird Tales in March 1935. Howard received $155 for the story.

Conan travels to the ancient city of Alkmeenon in search of the Teeth of Gwahlur and becomes entangled in intrigue surrounding an oracle, a hidden treasure and the strange servants of Bit-Yakin.

Howard’s title for the story is The Servants of Bit-Yakin. It was first published as Jewels of Gwahlur in Weird Tales in March 1935. Howard received $155 for the story.

Conan travels to the ancient city of Alkmeenon in search of the Teeth of Gwahlur and becomes entangled in intrigue surrounding an oracle, a hidden treasure and the strange servants of Bit-Yakin.

Plot Summary: spoilers

Conan travels to the ancient city of Alkmeenon in Keshan seeking the legendary Teeth of Gwahlur. He follows Keshani priests into the lost city, hoping they will lead him to the treasure.

The priests consult an oracle presented as the ancient princess Yelaya. Conan discovers that the dancing girl Muriela is impersonating Yelaya and that her master, Zargheba, has already taken the jewels.

At the treasure crypt, the monstrous servants of the dead wizard Bit-Yakin attack and slaughter the priests. Conan escapes with Muriela and the jewels, but the creatures pursue them across the cliffs and bridges of the valley.

After a final struggle, the jewels are lost in the river below. Conan and Muriela escape together.

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.

Draft AThe Servants of Bit-Yakin — Draft A
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Draft BThe Servants of Bit-Yakin — Draft B
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Draft CThe Servants of Bit-Yakin — Draft C
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Primary textThe Servants of Bit-Yakin
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Published versionJewels of Gwahlur
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Publication appearances

Weird Tales 1935 MarchPopular Fiction Publishing CompanyMarch 1935↗King ConanGnome Press1953↗Conan the WarriorLancer1967 through 1973 (See Notes)↗Conan der KriegerWilhelm Heyne Verlag1971 (See notes)↗不死鳥コナン(Fushichō Konan)Hayakawa BunkoApril 30, 1971↗コナンと石碑の呪い (Konan to sekihi no noroi)Sōgen Suiri BunkoJune 25, 1971 Date Unknown (2nd edition)↗Conan - La Naissance Du Monde (The Birth of the World)Edition SpécialeOctober 1972↗Conan el guerreroEditorial Bruguera (Spain)October 1973↗コナンと古代王国の秘宝 (Konan to kōdai no ōkoku no hihō)Sōgen Suiri BunkoJune 1974↗Conan the WarriorPrestige Books1977↗The People of the Black CircleScience Fiction Book Club1977↗The People of the Black CircleBerkley PutnamSeptember 1977↗The Savage Sword of Conan Volume 1 Number 25Magazine Management Co. / Marvel ComicsDecember 1977↗Conan de krijger (Conan the Warrior)Zwarte Beertjes1978↗The People of the Black CircleBerkley Putnam1978↗Jewels of GwahlurDonald M. Grant1979↗Conan il guerrieroEditrice NordJanuary 1981↗Conan le Guerrier (Conan the Warrior)Jean-Claude LattèsJanuary 1981 April 1983 (second printing)↗Conan the WarriorAce BooksJanuary 1981 July 1981 April 1982 1983 July 1984 April 1986 September 1990 December 1993↗Conan el guerreroEdiciones Forum (Spain)1983↗Conan der KriegerWilhelm Heyne VerlagMay 1983 1984 (2nd edition) 1999↗Conan. Skarby GwalhuraKlubowe SFera1984↗Conan the WarriorSphere1985↗Konan: Dragulji GvahluraNiro Dečje Novine1985↗Conan le guerrier (Conan the Warrior)J'ai LuDecember 1986 January 1992 (second printing) December 1999 (third printing)↗The Essential ConanScience Fiction Book ClubJune 1988↗Conan Saga Volume 1 Number 20Marvel ComicsDecember 1988↗Robert E. Howard's World of HeroesRobinson1989↗Il Regno di Conan il GrandeEditrice NordOctober 1989↗ConanWydawnictwo Atlantis1990↗Conan najemnikWydawnictwo Nakom1990↗L'ira di ConanArnoldo Mondadori Editore / Oscar MondadoriFebruary 1990↗A zsoldos barbárPhoenix Könyvkiadó1991↗Conan CimmerialainenJalava1991 2001 (2nd edition)↗Conan KrigarenTarget Games1991↗Magazí n Poutník 3Klub Julese Vernea1991↗Конан - варвар (Konan - varvar) (Conan the Barbarian) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Смарт (Smart)1991↗Конан-варвар: Сокровище Гуахаура ( Konan-varvar: Sokrovishche Guakhaura) (Conan the Barbarian: The Treasure of Guajaura) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Альфа (Alpha)1991↗Conan wojownikWydawnictwo PiK1992↗Conan a kimmériaiPhoenix Könyvkiadó1993↗Конан и повелители пещер (Konan i poveliteli peshcher) (Conan and the Cave Lords) Covers and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Северо-Запад (Severo-Zapad) (North-West)1993↗Конан, варвар из Киммерии (Konan, varvar iz Kimmerii) (Conan, Barbarian from Cimmeria) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Центрполиграф (Тsentrpoligraf) (Centerpolygraph)1993↗ConanAFSF1994↗Ανθολογία Επιστημονικής Φαντασίας: Ιστορίες με Δαιμόνιους Κλέφτες, Τόμος 36 Antholoyía Epistimonikís Phantasías: Istoríes me Daimónious Kléphtes; Tómos 36 Anthology of Science Fiction: Tales of Wizards and Witches, Volume 36Ωρόρα (Oróra) (Aurora)1994↗Конан - варвар (Konan - varvar) (Conan the Barbarian) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .ИИЦ АО «Заволжье» (Research Center JSC "Zavolzhye")1994↗Сага о Конане. Том IV (Saga o Konane. Tom IV) (The Saga of Conan Volume 4) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Мрiя (Mriya)1994↗Il Regno di ConanEditrice NordJune 1994↗La Saga di Conan il CimmeroEditrice NordOctober 1994↗Conan krigerenSemic / Nordisk Forlag A/S1995↗Tutti i cicli fantastici - Il ciclo di Conan Tomo IINewton Compton EditoriApril 1995↗Conan el guerreroEdiciones Martinez Roca (Spain)1996↗Конан из Киммерии ( Konan iz Kimmerii) (Conan of Cimmeria) Cover and publication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Азбука-Терра (Azbuka-Terra) (ABC-Terra)1996↗Conan I: Barbar / Conan II: DobyvatelAFSF1997↗Конан воинът (Konan Voinăt) (Conan the Warrior)Bard1997↗Conan ja värelev variElmatar2000↗Conan: Rud é hřeby a jin é povidky (Red Nails and other stories)BB Art2001↗The Conan Chronicles Volume 2 - The Hour of the DragonGollancz / MillenniumApril 2001↗Конан из Киммерии (Konan iz Kimmerii) (Conan of Cimmeria) Cover and publication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Эксмо (Eksmo) Валери СПД (Valeri SPD) (See Notes)2002 2007↗Savage AdventuresWild Cat Books2004↗Konan: Τα πετράδια του Γκβάχλουρ και αλλα διηγηματα Konan: Ta petrádia tou Gkvákhlour kai alla diiyimata Conan: Jewels of Gwahlur and Other StoriesΑίολος (Aeolus)March 2005↗Conan and the Jewels of Gwahlur #1Dark Horse ComicsApril 2005↗Conan and the Jewels of Gwahlur #2Dark Horse ComicsJune 2005↗Conan and the Jewels of Gwahlur #3Dark Horse ComicsJune 2005↗Conan. Il cerchio neroArnoldo Mondadori Editore / Oscar MondadoriJune 2005 2008↗The Conquering Sword of ConanBallantine Books - Del ReyNovember 2005↗Conan and the Jewels of GwahlurDark Horse BooksDecember 2005↗The Conquering Sword of ConanScience Fiction Book ClubDecember 2005↗The Complete Chronicles of Conan - Centenary EditionGollancz / BCA (with dustjacket)January 2006↗összes Conan története II.Szukits Konyvkiado2006↗The Weird Writings of Robert E. Howard Volume 2Girasol CollectablesMarch 2006↗Conan de Cimmeria Volumen III (1935-1936)Timun Mas (Spain)October 2006↗Conan 3Wilhelm Heyne VerlagMarch 2007↗Conan el cimmerio 5Timun Mas (Spain)May 2007↗新訂版コナン全集4:黒河を越えて (Shinteiban Konan zenshū 4: Kokugao koete) (The Authorized Conan Chronicles 4: Beyond the Black River)Tōkyō SōgenshaJuly 2007↗Beyond the Black River: The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard, Volume 7Wildside PressSeptember 2007↗Conan IIAurora2008↗Jewels of GwahlurDodo PressFebruary 2008↗Conan - Les Clous rouges (Red Nails)BragelonneNovember 2008 ( Hardcover ) June 2009 (Trade Paperback, 2nd printing )↗Beyond the Black River: The Weird Works of Robert E. Howard Volume ThreeCosmos BooksJuly 2008↗. . . and their memory was a bitter tree . . .BlackBart BooksAugust 2008↗The Adventurous Tales of Conan the CimmerianOnno TaslerOctober 2008↗Conan - Para Lá do Rio Negro (Beyond the Black River)Saída de Emergência2009↗Conan the BarbarianPrion BooksMay 2009 (U.K.) November 2010 (U.S.)↗The Conquering Sword of ConanTantor Media Inc.October 2009↗Conan the ReaverHalcyon Press, Ltd.December 2009↗Conan the WarriorHalcyon Press, Ltd.December 2009↗Conan the BarbarianEaston PressJanuary 2010↗Conan the BarbarianMetro Books2010↗Конан. Карающий меч (Konan. Karaiushchii mech) (Conan. The Punishing Sword) Cover and publication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Эксмо (Eksmo) Домино (Domino) (See Notes)2010↗Complete Conan of Cimmeria Volume 3Wandering StarMarch 2010↗The Robert E. Howard Omnibus: 99 Collected StoriesHalcyon Press, Ltd.May 2010↗野蛮人柯南 (Conan the Barbarian)金城出版社 (Jincheng Publishing House)September 2010 (Paperback) August 2014 (eBook)↗Jewels of GwahlurHalcyon Press, Ltd.October 2010↗Conan il barbaroNewton Compton EditoriJuly 2011 (Trade paperback) October 2011 (eBook)↗蛮王柯南 (Conan the Barbarian)中国青年出版社 (China Youth Publishing House)July 2011↗野蛮人柯南Ⅱ (Conan the Barbarian II)凤凰出版社 (Phoenix Publishing House)August 2011↗Conan the BerserkerGollanczNovember 2011↗Конан-варвар. Легенда о киммерийце (Konan-varvar. Legenda o kimmeriitse) (Conan the Barbarian. The Legend of the Cimmerian) Cover and publication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Эксмо (Eksmo) Домино (Domino) (See Notes)November 2011↗legjobb Conan történeteiSzukits Konyvkiado2012↗Приключения Конана-варвара. Путь к трону (Prikliucheniia Konana-varvara. Put- k tronu) (The Adventures of Conan the Barbarian. Path to the Throne) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy. Hardcover eBookКлуб Семейного Досуга (Family Leisure Club)2012↗Conan barbarzyńcaReaApril 2012 November 2015↗Conan the BarbarianJame-BooksAugust 2012↗A Witch Shall Be Born, Jewels of Gwahlur, Beyond the Black River: Conan the BarbarianJame-BooksSeptember 2012↗Conan the Barbarian: Tales of Magic & Mayhem Volume 2Summit Classic PressSeptember 2012↗Robert E. Howard's Collected WorksJame-BooksFebruary 2013↗Weird Tales: 101 Weird, Strange, and Supernatural Stories Volume 8Civitas MediaFebruary 2013 (Kindle) May 2013 (Nook)↗Conan i miecz zdobywcyRebisAugust 2013 (Trade paperback) August 2013 (eBook)↗Weird Tales Volume 25 Number 3Girasol CollectablesFebruary 2014↗The Devil in IronFiction House PressFebruary 2015↗Conan the Barbarian, selected short storiesBenediction ClassicsApril 2015↗Robert E. Howard - Die Original Erzählungen Band 6 ConanFesta VerlagSeptember 2015↗Conan 4Urco EditoraOctober 2015↗Conan the BarbarianUlwencreutz MediaNovember 2015↗Конан Tom 2 (Conan Volume 2)Изток-Запад (East West)2016↗Конан. Легенда Хайбории (Konan. Legenda Khaiborii) (Conan. The Legend of Hyboria) Cover and publication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Эксмо (Eksmo)2016↗Jewels of GwahlurPerennial PressMarch 2016↗Conan the Barbarian - Collected AdventuresThe Castanea GroupDecember 2016 (eBook) June 2017 (Trade paperback)↗Conan il barbaroArnoldo Mondadori EditoreOctober 2016↗Jewels of GwahlurJovian PressOctober 2016↗The Jewels of GwahlurSpeculative!October 2016↗Conan the Cimmerian BarbarianEaston Press2017↗Conan: Broadsword Legacy CollectionShirtsleeve PressApril 2017↗Jewels of GwahlurSir AngelsApril 2017↗Conan the Cimmerian BarbarianPulp-Lit Productions & Audible AudioJune 2017↗Conan the BarbarianPrion Books2018↗Conan - édition collectorBragelonneSeptember 2018↗Conan, o Bárbaro - Livro 3Pipoca e NanquimAugust 2019↗Les Clous Rouges (Conan, Tome 3)Le Livre de PocheOctober 2019↗Conan the Barbarian: complete collectionNighttime Editions2020↗Kraljica Crne obale Queen of the Black CoastStrahorJuly 2020↗The Feasting of Swords II: More Epics of Blood and ThunderLegendary PlanetDecember 2020↗El fénix en la espadaSportulaMay 2021 (Trade paperback & eBook) November 2021 (Hardcover)↗Robert E. Howard and Weird TalesOld Tiger PressNovember 2021↗Конан-варвар. Алая цитадель (Konan-varvar. Alaia tsitadel-) (Conan the Barbarian. Scarlet Citadel) Cover and p ublication information courtesy of the Russian website Laboratory of Fantasy .Феникс (Phoenix)May 2022 August 2023 (eBook)↗Dobrodruh ConanArgoAugust 2022↗Conan el Cimerio - Las joyas de Gwahlur (Conan the Cimmerian - Jewels of Gwahlur)Saga Egmont (Spain)October 2022↗Las Crónicas Nemedias La Saga Completa del CimerioSportulaDecember 2022↗蛮王科南Ⅲ：黑河彼岸 (Conan the Barbarian III: Beyond the Black River)盖亚文化 (Gaia Culture)February 2023↗蠻王科南套書 (Conan the Barbarian Box Set)盖亚文化 (Gaia Culture)February 2023↗Conan de Cimmeria nº 03/03 1935 - 1936Minotauro (Argentina)May 2023↗The Devil in IronFiction House PressMay 2023↗Cònan. Claus vermellsLaertes (Spain)June 2023↗Queen of the Black Coast & Other TalesChenault & Gray PublishingJune 2023↗愛蔵版 英雄コナン全集 2 征服篇 The Complete Conan Collectors Edition 3: The Destroyer of DemonsShinkigenshaJuly 2023↗Las Crónicas Nemedias 4SportulaOctober 2023↗Conan, o Bárbaro Box SetPipoca e NanquimDecember 2023↗Vještica Će Biti Rođena (A Witch Shall Be Born)Hangar 72024↗Conan de Cimmeria Volume 2Portal Ediciones (Spain)May 2026↗Le Cronache Barbariche Volume 3 (The Barbarian Chronicles Volume 3)Providence PressMay 2026↗#4187