Wolfshead: The Black Stone / The Valley of the Worm / The Fire of Asshurbanipal / The House of Arabu / The Horror from the Mound

By Robert E. Howard

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 055312353X
• ISBN13: 9780553123531
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 147 Pages
• Weight: 0.22 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Solid Fantasy Stories by Two-Gun Bob

I am reviewing the second edition of Robert E. Howard's _Wolfshead_ (Bantam, 1979), which sports a good cover credited to Paul Lehr and a well-written introduction by Robert Bloch. One good story from the original edition has been eliminated: "The Cairn in the Headland" (_Strange Tales of Mystery and Terror_, 1933). The six remaining tales are: "The Black Stone" (_Weird Tales_, 1931); "The Valley of the Worm" (_Weird Tales_, 1934); "Wolfshead" (_Weird Tales_, 1926); "The Fire of Asshurbanipal" (_Weird Tales_, 1936); "The House of Arabu" (_variant of "The Witch from Hell's Kitchen," 1952); and "The Horror from the Mound" (_Weird Tales_, 1932). Two of the stories-- "Wolfshead" and "The Fire of Asshurbanipal"-- received magazine cover illustrations, by E.M. Stevenson and J. Allen St. John, respectively. None of the other four tales were graced with magazine covers. Two of the stories-- "The Valley of the Worm" and "Wolfshead"-- are passable adventures that feature two of Howard's lesser-known heroes, James Allison and De Montour. The first tale is a mildly entertaining blood and thunder monster extravaganza. The second is a lycanthropic horror story that is somewhat marred by Howard's blatant racial stereotyping. Two of the tales-- "The Black Stone" and "The Fire of Asshurbanipal"-- are labeled "Cthulhu Mythos" stories. So to some extent, they are imitation Lovecraft fantasies. But they are laced with a lot of details from ancient history and traditional mythology that gives these stories a bit more weight. The last two stories-- "The Horror from the Mound" and "The House of Aruba"-- are somewhat similar tales. In the first story, an Olde Supernatural Menace is resurrected on a West Texas farm (in part, it must be admitted, because of the stupidity of the hero). The second story involves a conflict between witchery and Barbarian heroism in ancient Babylon. At his worst, Howard's writing could be pulpish and racist, faults that have not worn well over time. But at his best, Howard could be imaginative and concrete, with a sense of total belief in the outrageous. For the most part, the stories in _Wolfshead_ show Howard at his storytelling best.

Not Free SF Reader

A collection of Lovecraftian tales and others of that ilk.Wolfshead : The Black Stone - Robert E. HowardWolfshead : The Valley of the Worm - Robert E. HowardWolfshead : Wolfshead - Robert E. HowardWolfshead : The Fire of Asshurbanipal - Robert E. HowardWolfshead : The House of Arabu - Robert E. HowardWolfshead : The Horror from the Mound - Robert E. HowardA Cthulhoid type venture. Not somewhere you want to be. Fairly proficiently done.3.5 out of 5Dragonslaying, Norse reincarnation style. Not quite to the standard of his other stories, I think.3 out of 5Hanging around Spanish noble types is bad for your health. This time, it took a while to work out whether this gentleman Was Don Leopard, or Don Lupin. The latter was the case, and causes quite a few problems.If you suspect a priceless gemstone with a magic-type name may be connected to cthulhoid alien monsters, well, I would suggest that trying to rob your local jewellery store bare-handed is a less hazardous activity than the acquisition of such an artifact.3.5 out of 5As dreams of the woman Lilitu haunt the warrior Pyrrhas, necromancy is in his future, it would seem.3.5 out of 5If an old priest tells you that the body in the tomb is an undead Spanish nobleman, and you happen to be a credulous cowboy, next time, believe him!3.5 out of 5