Robert E. Howard story question

[Gnosticangel]

I've been unsuccessful in my attempts to locate a Howard story remembered from childhood, and am hopeful that someone here may remember it.

It's possible that it was a Solomon Kane story. In it, the protagonist is locked in a dungeon with another prisoner. The water-level dungeon has barred windows opening to the incoming tides.

The other prisoner, a tormented nobleman, is cursed with lycanthropy, (really a carnivorous merman form of some kind). When the tides come in he will turn.

Does anyone recall the name of this story or where it appeared?

[Druidic]

Hey, Gnosticangel~ Are you sure you're not misrembering "Wolfshead"? With the years, things like that happen. "Wolfshead" has an 18th century nobleman, a werewolf, a dungeon and a watery ending.

It's a fine tale by Howard, his first sale in fact. I'm betting that's your story.

Howard did write a short story about a merman creature, "Out of the Deep," published after his death. You may be confusing the two. "Wolfshead" pretty much fits the bill.

Here's a good collection:


The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard Grimdark Alliance

[Gnosticangel]

Thanks Druidic!

This is really helpful and I am sure that you are correct.

Unless there really is a "Mandela Affect" at work and our timeline itself has shifted, it's just my own memory functioning as yet another unreliable narrator.

I will look these two tales up and see if they are as satisfying in the rereading as my conflated memory has made them.

[Druidic]

I don't think you'll be disappointed in either story, Gnosticangel. Enjoy!

[Druidic]

Here's the prequel to "Wolfshead."

by Robert E. Howard (Audiobook) - YouTube

[Stu]

Had a word with one of my friends who's a Robert E Howard scholar. Here's his reply:

The story is called "The Blue Flame of Vengeance" and it appears in an August Derleth compiled anthology called OVER THE EDGE which was published to celebrate 25 years of Arkham House. It is a tale of Solomon Kane but its accreditation to Howard is a dubious piece of publishing practice on Derleth's part. The original Howard story is called "Blades of the Brotherhood" and contains no supernatural element whatsoever. This version was very heavily rewritten by John Pocsik and the whole merman element is Pocsik's invention.

There's some info on the story here. Internet Book List :: Book Information: Blue Flame of Vengeance, the

[Gnosticangel]

Thanks, Stu! I will check it out, much appreciated!

[Mr. Veech]

I found this neat video. I think I'll travel to Cross Plains this weekend; it's only two hours away.

robert e howard youtube - Bing video

[Knygathin]

Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Veech

I found this neat video. I think I'll travel to Cross Plains this weekend; it's only two hours away. robert e howard youtube - Bing video

I really enjoyed that video! Very interesting.

[Druidic]

You should go, Mr. Veech, if circumstances permit. I traveled to Swan Point in the early 70's and immediately walked to Lovecraft's grave without a map! Great memories are made from such journeys.

"Pigeons From Hell" is a 20th century Classic of horror fiction. And Howard wrote a lot more...a lot of fine tales.