Robert E. Howard bibliography


A list of prose works by Robert E. Howard. The works are sorted by genre, by series and then alphabetically. Untitled works and fragments are listed separately by their opening line.
Additional information is included where available, covering publication date and place, the amount Howard earned for the sale of the piece, any alternative titles and whether the work is in the public domain. Links to the freely available source texts, on wikisource or Project Gutenberg of Australia, are included in a separate column. These are marked with the appropriate icons.

Fantasy stories

[Conan the Barbarian]

Howard's most famous creation, the Cimmerian barbarian, thief, pirate and King of Aquilonia during the pre-Ice Age Hyborian Age.
Many of the [|Conan] stories not published during Howard's lifetime were edited by other authors before publication. The Fragment stories have all been completed by others since. Where either has occurred before the publication of the original material, this date is noted after the original material's publication date.
TitleFirst publishedCoverSource textNotes
Beyond the Black RiverWeird Tales 1935, May–June
serial, two parts
"Beyond the Black River"
Novella; Public Domain
Black ColossusWeird Tales 1933, June"Black Colossus"
Sold for $130
The Black StrangerEchoes of Valor 1987, FebruaryRe-written by Howard as the [|Black Vulmea] story Swords of the Red Brotherhood which was itself rewritten by L. Sprague de Camp into the Conan story The Treasure of Tranicos, first published in Fantasy Fiction Magazine, March 1953
CimmeriaThe Howard Collector #7 1965, WinterPoem; Written in February 1932
The Devil in IronWeird Tales 1934, August"The Devil in Iron"
Sold for $115; Public Domain
Drums of TombalkuThe Pool of the Black One 1986Fragment; Completed version by L. Sprague de Camp first published in Conan the Adventurer, 1966
The Frost-Giant's DaughterFantasy Fan 1934, March
as Gods of the North
"Gods of the North"
Alternate titles: Gods of the North, The Frost King's Daughter. Gods of the North is in the Public Domain
The God in the BowlThe Tower of the Elephant 1975Edited version by L. Sprague de Camp first published in Space Science Fiction, September 1952
The Hall of the DeadFantasy Crossroads #1 1974, NovemberSynopsis; Completed version by L. Sprague de Camp first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, February 1967
The Hand of NergalThe Last Celt 1976Fragment; Completed version by Lin Carter first published in Conan, 1968
The Hour of the DragonWeird Tales 1935, December"The Hour of the Dragon"
Novel; published in book form as Conan the Conqueror. Sold for approximately $500
Iron Shadows in the MoonWeird Tales 1934, April"Shadows in the Moonlight"
Alternate title: Shadows in the Moonlight. Sold for $120; Public Domain
Jewels of GwahlurWeird Tales 1935, March"Jewels of Gwahlur"
Alternate titles: Teeth of Gwahlur, The Servants of Bit-Yakin. Sold for $155; Public Domain
The People of the Black CircleWeird Tales 1934, September–November
serial, three parts
"The People of the Black Circle"
Novella; Sold for $250; Public Domain
The Phoenix on the SwordWeird Tales 1932, December"The Phoenix on the Sword"
Sold for $85
The Pool of the Black OneWeird Tales 1933, October"The Pool of the Black One"
Sold for $110
Queen of the Black CoastWeird Tales 1934, May"Queen of the Black Coast"
Sold for $115; Public Domain
Red NailsWeird Tales 1936, July—October
serial, three parts
"Red Nails"
Novella; Sold for $115; Public Domain
Rogues in the HouseWeird Tales 1934, January"Rogues in the House"
Sold for $100
The Scarlet CitadelWeird Tales 1933, January"The Scarlet Citadel"
Sold for $140
Shadows in ZamboulaWeird Tales 1935, November"Shadows in Zamboula"
Alternate title: The Man-Eaters of Zamboula. Sold for $120; Public Domain
The Snout in the DarkJewels of Gwahlur 1979Fragment & Synopsis; Completed version by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter first published in Conan of Cimmeria, 1969
The Tower of the ElephantWeird Tales 1933, March"The Tower of the Elephant"
Sold for $95
The Vale of Lost WomenMagazine of Horror #15 1967, Spring"The Vale of Lost Women"
Disputed/unknown copyright status
A Witch Shall be BornWeird Tales 1934, December"A Witch Shall be Born"
Sold for $155; Public Domain
Wolves Beyond the BorderThe Conan Chronicles, Volume 2 2001Fragment & Synopsis; Completed version by L. Sprague de Camp first published in Conan the Usurper, 1967
Xuthal of the DuskWeird Tales 1933, September"The Slithering Shadow"
Alternate title: The Slithering Shadow. Sold for $120

Kull">Kull of Atlantis">Kull

An Atlantean barbarian and King of Valusia in the ancient Thurian Age. He appears in the [|Bran Mak Morn] story "Kings of the Night."
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource TextNotes
The Altar and the ScorpionKing Kull, 1967
The Black CityKing Kull, 1967The Black Abyss
By This Axe, I RuleKing Kull, 1967Re-written by Howard into the Conan story The Phoenix on the Sword
The Curse of the Golden SkullThe Howard Collector #9, Spring 1967
Delcardes' CatKing Kull, 1967The Cat and the Skull
Exile of AtlantisKing Kull, 1967Originally untitled, title created by Glenn Lord
The King and the OakWeird Tales, February 1939Poem
The Mirrors of Tuzun ThuneWeird Tales, September 1929"The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune"
Sold for $20; Public Domain
The Shadow KingdomWeird Tales, August 1929"The Shadow Kingdom"
Sold for $100; Public Domain
The Skull of SilenceKing Kull, 1967The Screaming Skull of Silence
The Striking of the GongThe Second Book of Robert E. Howard, 1976Edited version by Lin Carter first published in King Kull, 1967
Swords of the Purple KingdomKing Kull, 1967
"Wizard and Warrior"Kull, 1978Completed by Lin Carter from an untitled fragment
"Riders Beyond the Sunrise"Kull, 1978Completed by Lin Carter from an untitled fragment

[Solomon Kane]

A Tudor-period Puritan adventurer, wandering across Europe and Africa.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative title
The Castle of the DevilRed Shadows, 1968Fragment; Also features John Silent. Completed by Ramsey Campbell.
The Children of AsshurRed Shadows, 1968Fragment. Completed by Ramsey Campbell.
Death's Black RidersThe Howard Collector #10, Spring 1968Fragment
The Footfalls WithinWeird Tales, September 1931"The Footfalls Within"
Sold for $56
Hawk of BastiRed Shadows, 1968Fragment. Completed by Ramsey Campbell.
The Hills of the DeadWeird Tales, August 1930"The Hills of the Dead"
Sold for $70
The Moon of SkullsWeird Tales, June–July 1930"The Moon of Skulls"
Novella; Sold for $200
The One Black StainPoem
Rattle of BonesWeird Tales, June 1929"Rattle of Bones"
Sold for $20; Public Domain
Red ShadowsWeird Tales, August 1928[|Solomon Kane]"Red Shadows"
Sold for $20; Public Domain
The Return of Sir Richard GrenvillePoem
The Right Hand of DoomRed Shadows, 1968
Skulls in the StarsWeird Tales, January 1929"Skulls in the Stars"
Sold for $30; Public Domain
Solomon Kane's HomecomingPoem
Wings in the NightWeird Tales, July 1932"Wings in the Night"
Sold for $134

[Bran Mak Morn]

The King of the Picts during the Roman invasion of Britain, eventually becoming the subject of a Cthulhu Mythos cult as the "Dark Man". He is referenced in the Kirowan story "The Children of the Night" and features in the Turlough O'Brien story "The Dark Man".

[Turlogh Dubh O'Brien]

An 11th-century Irish outcast.

James Allison">James Allison (Robert E. Howard)">James Allison

A 1930s Texan who recalls his past lives as ancient heroes. Not to be confused with Kid Allison.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
Black EonsThe Howard Collector #9, Spring 1967Fragment; Originally untitled, title created by Robert M. Price
Brachan the KeltThe New Howard Reader #1, June 1998Fragment; Completed version first published in The Barbarian Swordsmen, 1981
The Garden of FearMarvel Tales, July–August 1934"The Garden of Fear"
Public Domain
Genseric's Fifth-Born SonFantasy Crossroads #10/11, March 1977Ghor, Kin-SlayerFragment; Completed version of 16 chapters further chapters, each by a different author, first published in full in Ghor, Kin-Slayer, 1997
The Guardian of the IdolThe Howard Reader #8, 2003Fragment & Synopsis; Completed version by Gerald W. Page first published in Weird Tales #3, Fall 1981
Marchers of ValhallaMarchers of Valhalla, 1972Copyright 1972 by Glenn Lord.
Plot: A mysterious woman helps John recall a past life... The men of Aesir and Vanir marched in olden times to the Gulf of Mexico. They found the ancient city of Khemnu, and defended it against raiders from the South, and were betrayed by treachery, so the city was in turn leveled by the scorned goddess Ishtar.
The Tower of TimeThe New Howard Reader #2, August 1998Akram the MysteriousFragment; Completed version by Lin Carter first published in Fantastic Stories, June 1975
The Valley of the WormWeird Tales, February 1934"The Valley of the Worm"
Public Domain

Boxing stories

[Sailor Steve Costigan]

A 1930s sailor and boxer, travelling between ports aboard the tramp steamer Sea Girl.

[Sailor Dennis Dorgan]

A renamed version of Sailor Steve Costigan sailing in the Python, published under the pseudonym Patrick Ervin.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
Alleys of DarknessMagic Carpet Magazine, January 1934Alleys of Singapore"Alleys of Darkness"
Sold for $45–54; Public Domain
Alleys of TreacheryThe Howard Collector #8, Summer 1966The Mandarin Ruby
The Destiny GorillaThe Incredible Adventures of Dennis Dorgan, 1974Sailor Costigan and the Destiny Gorilla, Sailor Dorgan and the Destiny Gorilla
In High SocietyThe Incredible Adventures of Dennis Dorgan, 1974Cultured Cauliflowers
A Knight of the Round TableThe Incredible Adventures of Dennis Dorgan, 1974Iron-Clad Fists
Playing JournalistThe Incredible Adventures of Dennis Dorgan, 1974A New Game for Costigan, A New Game for Dorgan
Playing Santa ClausThe Incredible Adventures of Dennis Dorgan, 1974A Two-Fisted Santa Claus
Sailor Dorgan and the Jade MonkeyThe Howard Collector #14, Spring 1971Sailor Costigan and the Jade Monkey, The Jade Monkey
The Turkish MenaceThe Incredible Adventures of Dennis Dorgan, 1974Sailor Dorgan and the Turkish Menace, Sailor Costigan and the Turkish MenaceSold for $67 to Magic Carpet Magazine in May 1933 but the magazine was suspended before publication
The Yellow CobraThe Incredible Adventures of Dennis Dorgan, 1974Sailor Dorgan and the Yellow Cobra, A Korean Night, A Night Ashore

[Kid Allison]

Not to be confused with James Allison.

[Ace Jessel]

A black, happy-go-lucky boxer.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
The Apparition in the Prize RingGhost Stories, April 1929The Spirit of Tom Molyneaux"Apparition in the Prize Ring"
Sold for $95; Public Domain
Double CrossBran Mak Morn: A Play & Others, 1983

Western stories

[Breckinridge Elkins]

Humorous stories of a kind, strong but not very smart cowboy.
All stories with the note "" were later edited together to become part of the 1937 novel A Gent from Bear Creek.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
The Apache Mountain WarAction Stories, December 1935The Apache Mountain War
Public Domain
The Conquerin' Hero of the HumboltsAction Stories, October 1936Politics at Blue Lizard, Politics at Lonesome LizardThe Conquerin' Hero of the Humbolts
Public Domain
No Cowherders WantedAction Stories, September 1936Gents in BuckskinNo Cowherders Wanted
Public Domain
Cupid from Bear CreekAction Stories, August 1935The Peaceful PilgrimCupid From Bear Creek
; Public Domain
The Curly Wolf of SawtoothStar Western, September 1936A Elston to the Rescue, A Elkins Never SurrendersSold for $60
Evil Deeds at Red CougarAction Stories, June 1936Evil Deeds at Red Cougar
Public Domain
The Feud BusterAction Stories, June 1935The Feud Buster
; Public Domain
A Gent from Bear CreekAction Stories, October 1934A Gent from Bear Creek
Sold for $46–55; Public Domain
A Gent from Bear CreekA Gent from Bear Creek, 1937Novel created by combining several short stories and editing them to fit; Public Domain
Guns of the MountainAction Stories, May–June 1934Guns of the Mountain
; Sold for $42–50; Public Domain
The Haunted MountainAction Stories, February 1935The Haunted Mountain
; Public Domain
High Horse RampageAction Stories, August 1936Gents on the RampageHigh Horse Rampage
Public Domain
Mayhem and TaxesThe Summit County Journal, September 1967
Meet Cap'n KiddThe Summit County Journal, July–October 1968
Mountain ManAction Stories, March–April 1934Mountain Man
; Sold for $46–55; Public Domain
Pilgrims to the PecosAction Stories, February 1936Weary Pilgrims on the RoadPilgrims to the Pecos
Sold for $60; Public Domain
Pistol PoliticsAction Stories, April 1936Pistol Politics
Public Domain
The Riot at Cougar PawAction Stories, October 1935The Riot at Cougar Paw
Public Domain
The Road to Bear CreekAction Stories, December 1934The Road to Bear Creek
; Sold for $42–50; Public Domain
The Scalp HunterAction Stories, August 1934A Stranger in Grizzly ClawThe Scalp Hunter
; Sold for $51–60; Public Domain
Sharp's Gun SerenadeAction Stories, January 1937Educate or BustSharp's Gun Serenade
; Public Domain
Striped Shirts and Busted HeartsThe Summit County Journal, June 1967
War on Bear CreekAction Stories, April 1935War on Bear Creek
; Sold for $54–60; Public Domain
When Bear Creek Came to Chawed EarThe Summit County Journal, March–September 1971

[The Sonora Kid]

AKA Steve Allison. He also appears in some of the [|El Borak] stories.

Historical stories

See also Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn and [|Turlough Dubh O'Brien] for historical stories with fantasy elements.

El Borak">El Borak (Robert E. Howard)">El Borak

A Texan gunman in early 20th Century Afghanistan. Several of the El Borak stories also feature [|The Sonora Kid].

[Dark Agnes de Chastillon]

A red-haired swordswoman in 16th Century France.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
Blades for FranceBlades for France, 1975
Sword WomanREH:Lone Star Finctioneer #2, Summer 1975
Mistress of DeathWitchcraft & Sorcery Volume 1 Number 5, January–February 1971Fragment; Completed by Gerald W. Page

[Cormac Fitzgeoffrey]

A Norman/Gael knight fighting in the Crusades.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
The Blood of BelshazzarOriental Stories, Fall 1931"The Blood of Belshazzar"
Sold for $115; Public Domain
The Slave-PrincessHawks of Outremer, 1979Fragment
Hawks of OutremerOriental Stories, April–May–June 1931"Hawks of Outremer"
Sold for $120; Public Domain

[Kirby O'Donnell]

An American posing as a Kurdish mercenary in Central Asia.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
The Curse of the Crimson GodSwords of Shahrazar, 1978The Trail of the Blood-Stained GodEdited by L. Sprague de Camp into the Conan story The Blood-Stained God, which was first published in Tales of Conan, 1955
Swords of ShahrazarTop-Notch, October 1934The Treasure of Shaibar KhanSold for $124–147; Disputed/unknown copyright status
The Treasure of TartaryThrilling Adventures, January 1935Gold From Tartary"The Treasure of Tartary"
Sold for $42–50; Public Domain
Plot: As Shahrazar is overrun by raiders, O'Donnnell stumbles on a treasure heaped to the roof and a murderous plot to subjugate India.

Cormac Mac Art">Cormac Mac Art (fictional)">Cormac Mac Art

An Irish pirate during the Dark Ages.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
The Night of the WolfBran Mak Morn, 1969
Swords of the Northern SeaTigers of the Sea, 1974
The Temple of AbominationTigers of the Sea, 1974Fragment; Completed by Richard L. Tierney
Tigers of the SeaTigers of the Sea, 1974Fragment & Synopsis; Completed by Richard L. Tierney

[Black Vulmea]

An Irish pirate sailing the Caribbean.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
Black Vulmea's VengeanceGolden Fleece, November 1938"Black Vulmea's Vengeance"
Swords of the Red BrotherhoodBlack Vulmea's Vengeance, 1976"Swords of the Red Brotherhood"
Novella; Howard based this on a rewritten Conan story The Black Stranger; It was itself edited into another Conan story, The Treasure of Tranicos, by L. Sprague de Camp, which was first published in Fantasy Fiction Magazine, March 1953; Public Domain

[Helen Tavrel]

Howard's female pirate of the Caribbean.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
Isle of Pirate's DoomIsle of Pirate's Doom, 1975"Isle of Pirate's Doom"
Although included in the Black Vulmea collection, Vulmea does not appear in this story.

Horror stories

[John Kirowan]

These stories are part of the Cthulhu Mythos
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
The Black StoneWeird Tales, November 1931The Black Stone
Sold for $56; It does not mention the narrator's name, but appears to be a Kirowan story
The Children of the NightWeird Tales, April–May 1931
(Project Gutenberg of Australia

[De Montour]

A Norman werewolf.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
In the Forest of VillefèreWeird Tales, August 1925In the Forest of Villefère
Sold for $8
WolfsheadWeird Tales, April 1926Wolfshead
Sold for $50
WolfsdungCromlech #3, 1988

Weird West

Weird West stories are hybrids, a combination of a Western with another genre, usually horror, occult, or fantasy.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
The Dead RememberArgosy, August 1936Sold for $17.50
For the Love of Barbara AllenThe Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, August 1966Copyright 1966 by Mercury Press, Inc.
Plot: A snatch of song and a blow to the head send a man back into his ancestor's body for a Civil War battle - and a chance to relieve an old maid's heart as her lover briefly returns.
The Haunted HutWeirdbook Two, 1969
The Horror from the MoundWeird Tales, May 1932The Monster from the Mound
(Project Gutenberg of Australia

Detective stories

Steve Harrison">Steve Harrison (character)">Steve Harrison

A police detective, often coming across weird cases on his River Street patrol in Chinatown.

[Butch Gorman & Brent Kirby]

Private detectives.
TitleFirst publishedAlternative titleSource textNotes
Hand of the Black GoddessBran Mak Morn: A Play & Others, 1983Scarlet Tears
Sons of HateTwo-Fisted Detective Stories, May 1984

Spicy stories

The "Spicy" pulp magazines printed stories that were considered scandalous at the time.

Poetry

Other fragments

The Atavist Age Lasting Love The Battling SailorBlue River BluesA Boy, a Beehive, and a ChinamanThe Brand of Satan Circus Charade The Dominant Male The Drawing Card The Drifter A Faithful Servant Fate is the Killer The Feminine of the Species The Ferocious Ape The Fishing Trip Fistic PsychologyThe Folly of Conceit Friends The Funniest Bout The Ghost Behind the Gloves The Ghost of Bald Rock Ranch In His Own Image Incongruity The Influence of the Movies The Ivory Camel The Land of Forgotten Ages The Lion Gate Lobo Volante Man A Man and a Brother A Man of Peace The Man Who Went Back Mr. Dowser Buys a Car Over the Rockies in a Ford Pigskin Scholar The Punch The Recalcitrant The Red Stone The Slayer A South Sea Storm The Splendid Brute Tallyho! Ten Minutes on a Street Corner Through the Ages The Treasure of Henry Morgan A Twentieth-Century Rip Van Winkle A Unique Hat The Weeping WillowWhat the Deuce? The Wheel Turns The White Jade Ring The Wild Man The Wings of the Bat
  • ''Yellow Laughter''

Other untitled stories

  • "As he approached the two, he swept off his feathered hat..."
  • "Better a man should remain in kindly ignorance, than..."
  • "Between berserk battle-rages, the black despair of melancholy..."
  • "Franey was a fool."
  • "From the black, bandit-haunted mountains of Kang..."
  • "Help! Help! They're murderin' me!"
  • "Huh?" I was so dumbfounded I was clean off..."
  • "I", said Cuchulain, "was a man, at least."
  • "I'm writing this with a piece of pencil on the backs of old..."
  • "It was a strange experience, and I don't expect anyone..."
  • "A land of wild, fantastic beauty; of mighty trees..."
  • "The lazy quiet of the mid-summer day was shattered..."
  • "A man", said my friend Larry Aloysius O'Leary..."
  • "The matter seemed so obvious that my only answer..."
  • "Maybe it doesn't seem like anything interesting and..."
  • "Mike Costigan, writer and self-avowed futilist, gazed..."
  • "The next day I was sluggish and inefficient in my work..."
  • "Old Man Jacobsen crunched his powerful teeth through..."
  • "So I set out up the hill-trail as if on a hunt and..."
  • "So there I was..."
  • "Spike Morissey was as tough a kid as ever came..."
  • "The tale has always been doubted and scoffed at..."
  • "that is, the artistry is but a symbol for the thought!"
  • "Thure Khan gazed out across the shifting vastness..."
  • "Trails led through dense jungle..."
  • "Two men were standing in the bazaar at Delhi..."
  • "You," said Shifty Griddle, pointing his finger at me..."
  • "Joe Rogers had been working the stock markets..."