The Gods of Bal-Sagoth [Paperback]

Robert E. Howard (Author), Sanjulian (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1979

Excerpt:

Chapter 1. Steel in the Storm
The play was quick and desperate; in the momentary illumination a ferocious bearded face shone before Turlogh, and his swift ax licked out, splitting it to the chin. In the brief, utter blackness that followed the flash, an unseen stroke swept Turlogh's helmet from his head and he struck back blindly, feeling his ax sink into flesh, and hearing a man howl. Again the fires of the raging skies sprang, showing the Gael the ring of savage faces, the hedge of gleaming steel that hemmed him in.
Back against the mainmast Turlogh parried and smote; then through the madness of the fray a great voice thundered, and in a flashing instant the Gael caught a glimpse of a giant form--a strangely familiar face. Then the world crashed into fire-shot blackness.
Consciousness returned slowly. Turlogh was first aware of a swaying, rocking motion of his whole body which he could not check. Then a dull throbbing in his head racked him and he sought to raise his hands to it. Then it was he realized he was bound hand and foot--not an altogether new experience. Clearing sight showed him that he was tied to the mast of the dragon ship whose warriors had struck him down. Why they had spared him, he could not understand, because if they knew him at all, they knew him to be an outlaw--an outcast from his clan, who would pay no ransom to save him from the very pits of Hell.

More Reading:
In Turlogh Dubh O'Brien Stories Series by ADB Publishing
 
(The Original) The Dark Man
(The Original) The Gods of Bal-Sagoth (This Book)

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 235 pages
• Publisher: Ace (April 1, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441295258
• ISBN-13: 978-0441295258
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,999,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

(1906-1936) Robert Erwin Howard was born and rasied in rural Texas, where he lived all his life. The son of a pioneer physician, he began writing professionally at the age of fifteen. Howard killed himself in June 1936 when he learned that his beloved mother had fallen into a coma.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, June 23, 2004

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gods of Bal-Sagoth (Paperback)

Robert E. Howard (1906-36) is widely remembered for his Conan stories, but, during his short career, he wrote many excellent adventure and horror stories. This book is a collection of nine REH short stories, all unrelated to each other, and all excellent. This is a fantastic book! If you are lucky enough to be able to get a copy of this book, then do so!

In case you are interested, the nine stories are:

The Gods of Bal-Sagoth - When Turlogh O'Brien and Athelstane the Saxon are blown across Atlantic in a storm, they find themselves shipwrecked on a island that houses the last remnant of an ancient civilization. There's a power play going on to see who will rule the city of Bal-Sagoth, with an evil wizard determined to keep his rule.

Casonetto's Last Song - Gordon's testimony was instrumental in sending Giovanni "the Black Singer" Casonetto, high priest of Satan to the lawful execution. But, when Gordon receives a record, made by Casonetto just before his arrest, little does he realize that it contains his last great song of evil!

King of the Forgotten People - Jim Brill, a great explorer, nearly died tracking down a lost white man in Mongolia. But, when he finds him, he finds that the man's psychic experiments have put him in touch with a great conqueror of old...let the whole Earth tremble.

Usurp the Night - When Michael Strang's fiancée's cat goes missing, he agrees to search the neighborhood. One of her neighbors is a strange recluse, but Michael finds him a learned and fascinating conversationalist. But, what is that sound? It sounds like some small, hoofed animal walking around upstairs. And, each time Michael comes over, the hoof sounds get louder and heavier. John Stark is indeed a learned man - learned in the occult.

The Curse of the Golden Skull - As Rotath of Lemuria lies dying, killed by Kull of Atlantis, he places a final curse, one that will make his own bones an object of desire and death.

The Shadow of the Beast - When murderous Joe Cagle escapes from the law, one man realizes that he went where no one else dares go, into the haunted house. In that house there lurks something worse that Joe Cagle...much worse.

Nekht Semerkeht - Hernando de Guzman has had a lifetime of greed and murder, and his trek north with Coronado in search of the mythical city of gold. But, after he becomes separated from the other conquistadors, he discovers a lost city, a lost city rules by a wizard with ancient power and evil.

Restless Waters - Heartless Captain Starkey needs money, and is more than willing to sell his orphaned niece off in marriage to a man old enough to be her father. No man alive can stop him...no man ALIVE can stop him...

The Isle of the Eons - When two men find themselves shipwrecked on an island, they quickly discover that it contains the ruins of long-lost Lemuria. But, where are the animals and birds and insects you would expect to find? There's strange magic on this island - strange and deadly magic!