Three Bladed Doom

by Robert E. Howard

Book Overview

Never published in Howard's lifetime! Whether it's another of those stories finished by a more modern author, the publisher does not tell us. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 044180781X
• ISBN13: 9780441807819
• Release Date: March 1987
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

El Borak is An Island of His Own.

Shorter Review here, longer on Goodreads: First, the cover is an interesting image but holds no relevance to the story in any way, none that I can see. El Borak is an island of his own, not quite a part of civilization, and sticking out like a sore thumb among the East, especially in a tale heavy on Shia Muslim sects and a well-read history coming from Howard that he weaves unto his own mythology and characters. Regardless of ethnicity, status, or atmospheric standards, El Borak is respected and feared by all. Robert E. Howard gives us an enthralling look at tribal prejudices as well as the slippery slope of diversity standards (Ismailian assassins). In addition, in true Howardesque fashion, he gives us natural diversity in a group of warriors (Gordon, Singh, Yar Ali, Ahmed, Yusun, Baber) who still hold onto their heritage and garner camaraderie that would see them all die for each other. Even though the typical Howard reader won't see much new ground in this tale, I was never bored and found it a great escape as any other of his adventures. This one was grim and bloody, one of the more violent ones I've read by Howard, and once the climax took off, the rivers of blood flow effortlessly.

Not Free SF Reader

Asian takeover Assassin Tower. El Borak becomes embroiled in a plot to gain power. Along the way he has a girl in a hashish garden to rescue, a valley of djin to survive, a giant Snow Ape to defeat, and more. This all leads to the bloody mayhem of a siege, faced by assassins led by a Cossack enemy. Much carnage, swords, and guns.

Brawling! Lusty! Testosterone-Laden Adventures!

Howard was the unchallenged KING of adventure pulp fiction. His creation of Conan secures him that throne, but he wrote lots of other great stuff: the King Kull stories, Solomon Kane, and dozens of other (frankly less-distinguished) characters in Western, boxing, nautical, or ancient garb. He wrote for every variety of pulp, and brought the same breathless, over-heated, hyper-masculine artistry (of a sort) to each sentence and page. Here, in "Three-Bladed Doom," our hero Francis Xavier Gordon-- otherwise know as "El Borak"-- prowls the alleys and valleys of Afghanistan, seeking the evil "Hidden Ones" whose devious machinations threaten to unseat even the mighty Amir of Afghanistan himself!! Can Gordon overcome the "three-bladed doom" which cuases even the greatest of potentates to cringe in fear? Only by reading this pulp masterpiece by REH can you find out the answer!