The Fire of Asshurbanipal

by Robert E. Howard, J Allen (James Allen) St John

This early work by Robert E. Howard was originally published in the 1936 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. 'The Fire of Asshurbanipal' is one of Howard's stories that feature in the Cthulhu Mysthos. Robert Ervin Howard was born in Peaster, Texas in 1906. During his youth, his family moved between a variety of Texan boomtowns, and Howard a bookish and somewhat introverted child was steeped in the violent myths and legends of the Old South. At fifteen Howard began to read the pulp magazines of the day, and to write more seriously. The December 1922 issue of his high school newspaper featured two of his stories, 'Golden Hope Christmas' and 'West is West'. In 1924 he sold his first piece a short caveman tale titled 'Spear and Fang' for $16 to the not-yet-famous Weird Tales magazine. Howard's most famous character, Conan the Cimmerian, was a barbarian-turned-King during the Hyborian Age, a mythical period of some 12,000 years ago. Conan featured in seventeen Weird Tales stories between 1933 and 1936 which is why Howard is now regarded as having spawned the 'sword and sorcery' genre. The Conan stories have since been adapted many times, most famously in the series of films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Short Stories, Audiobook, Adventure, Lovecraftian, Weird Fiction

22 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

Robert Ervin Howard was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. Howard wrote "over three-hundred stories and seven-hundred poems of raw power and unbridled emotion" and is especially noted for his memorable depictions of "a sombre universe of swashbuckling adventure and darkling horror."

He is well known for having created—in the pages of the legendary Depression-era pulp magazine Weird Tales—the character Conan the Cimmerian, a.k.a. Conan the Barbarian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can only be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond.

—Wikipedia

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Andrew “The Weirdling” Glos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rollicking Cthulhu mythos tale that could just as easily been an episode of Indiana Jones. American adventurer and his Afghan side kick look for a lost city mentioned in the Necronomicon with a fabled jewel. There are armies of bad guys, fighting scenes, and a Lovecraftian baddie to boot. And after all is said and done, the good guys make it out ok (naturally). Great fun!

A side note: some readers who are sensitive to it may find some of Howard’s characterization of the Afghan or Arabs in the story distasteful. He writes using outmoded ways of thinking and speaking regarding those fine people. However, for better or worse, his characterizations are very much in keeping with and would not have been considered unacceptable in 1936 when the story was published. In fact, that he has a brave, loyal, and competent Afghan co-protagonist is maybe even a little progressive for the time.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful old fashioned horrorstory!

[Tim Pendry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rollicking imperial adventure story set in the sands of Arabia which had a Lovecraftian horror element added to it for publication in 1936 (the year of Howard's death). It works either way though perhaps the horror is not entirely necessary to make it work.

Seventy years later, it is curious to see an Afghan tribesman as co-hero but that is all to the good. Howard rather liked the martial races of India - like the quiet noiseless Sikh in the much weaker 'The Noseless Horror' published long after his death.

Howard was good on rangers in desert and semi-desert conditions, a legacy of his own Texan background, and this sits alongside his often well written cowboy stories as a variant of the same basic model of tough men in tough conditions.

There is the usual business of hordes of 'savages', accursed and lost ancient places and the monster behind the veil but the story is entertaining, in fact thrilling, and well written. This is one of those stories that I may well go back to in an idle moment.

[Mark Tallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this story in the Del Rey trade paperback book called 'The Horror Stories Of Robert E.Howard'. I very much enjoyed the story and believe it deserves its own standalone review/rating. It really is an exciting action adventure and yes, fantasy and horror story all rolled into one. The story was published in Weird Tales after Howard's tragic death. Howard originally wrote the story as an action adventure tale, but altered it later on to add in supernatural elements. Howard's prose and story telling are truly great, he just grabs the reader and takes them to far away exotic places where you are gripped by the story told with amazing prose. I honestly continue to be in awe of what he wrote in basically 12 years of writing before his tragic suicide at the age of 30. I've discovered Howard relatively late in life, but he has become one of my very favourite authors.

[Lynsey Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

WFH week 678 and I have once again run out of actual physical books to read, so again my attentions turn to the Mythos to entertain, as only it can, during this unpleasantness.

I decided to have a wee delve into the other early Mythos writers who writings I haven't yet read and who the wonderful HorrorBabble (seriously check them out) has on their YouTube channel.

Unfortunately my first effort of the day sounded more like Indiana Jones with Cthulhu in it for about 4 seconds at the end than anything else. Taking a adventurers story, chucking in an old dead city and throwing in some tentacles for good measure does not a Mythos story make.

Le sigh.

But we shall carry on regardless, keep calm and read cosmic horror and all that.

[Love of Hopeless Causes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hankering for an Indiana Jones-type Cthulhu Mythos adventure.? Admirable structure with minimal fluff. I suppose this is his final mythos tale after: "The Black Stone," and "The Children of the Night." This tale is more direct than the, "Black Stone." If the British had a magazine rating show, I'm sure this would be, "Top of the Pulps."

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Weird_...

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two versions of this story. The more commonly included in anthologies is a rewrite with a more solidly Lovecraft element added with a tentacled horror at the end that has a strong Indiana Jones flavor. It’s so strong that I wonder if Spielberg read this version at some point.

The original version still makes mention of the Necronomicon, but the curse comes to pass much more mundane: an adder bites the hand of the antagonist.

Both. versions hold up well.

[Анатолій Волков · Rating 4 out of 5]

«Пламя Ашшурбанипала» Довольно большой рассказ о искателях приключений, один англичанин, другой афганец, вместе прошли не один километр приключений и одолевших не одну кучу препятствий. Спасаясь от преследования арабов в неизвестной пустыне, друзья попадают в затерянный город, который когда-то погиб от страшного проклятия. Город когда-то был основан бежавшими от захватчиков вавилонян – ассирийцы, но пал из-за проклятия одного колдуна который в темных пещерах нашел странный пульсирующий камень. Умирая под пытками, колдун проклял камень и после этого никто не мог к нему прикоснуться. Искатели приключений находят камень, но тут их настигает погоня. В рассказе вскользь упоминается чудовище, которое уже знакомо по «Черному камню» и «Тваре на крыше».
Автор свободно смешивает реальные исторические факты с фантастическими вымыслами, мифологию с вымыслом и т.д.

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Fire of Asshurbanipal" is a Cthulhu Mythos short story by American author, Robert E. Howard, first published in the December 1936 edition of Weird Tales Magazine. In a lost city in the deserts of the Middle East, two unlikely adventurers hunt for a rare gem.

I doubt he ever left Texas but damn but he captured Afghans and ancient eastern ruins so well.Indiana Jones meets Cthulhu. A fun story.

[Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah So good Ol' Bobby Howard tries his own story at a Lovecraftian twist,this was surprsingly an addictive read,it was exciting,adventurous,previously established characters who had a lot of history back then.A fucking great fight scene,man Howard really knows how to do those huh.And the cherry on top the gem itself Assurbanipal with an ancient curse that the sorcerer Xulthan summoned to protect it out of spite.Prettt damn good.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an Indiana Jones type of adventure, though it predates them by decades (1936). An ancient city named in the Necronomicon is rumored to house an amazing jewel. What kind of ancient creature is supposed to guard it.? This is a terrific blend of adventure and Cthulhu Mythos. Audible edition.

[Hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun easy read. Perfect amount of mystery to keep you hooked and engaged. Just enough character building. Wonderful attention to detail. I could really imagine myself in the lair with them all. Shout out to Project Gutenberg, first book I’ve ever read from them.

[Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, yet intriguing horror-adventure story. I really like the author's language. It's getting quite old, but it's hard to tell.

[Forked Radish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovecraft did it better. Also, save sweat, not water.

[Anna Welch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not awesome. An old school story, tied into cthulu mythos, taking place in the desert of Afghanistan. Great ending.

[Shadowsword · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nette Abenteuergeschichte mit Anleihen an Lovecraft

[Bella Pickup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indian Jones meets cthulhu baby

[Macomfort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent setting and surprisingly good characters. Still way racist though.

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tras una larga búsqueda por el Golfo Pérsico (y con una banda de beduinos acechándoles), el buscavidas Steve Clarney junto al agfano Yarn Alí logran dar con la mítica Ciudad del Mal, donde esperan obtener una milenaria joya. Como suele darse en estos casos, tardarán poco en descubrir que ciertas cosas deben mantener su descanso.

La astucia narrativa de Robert E. Howard no se limitó a sus populares relatos de Espada y Brujería, como demuestra en este relato cuyas innegables raíces Pulp (y leves conexiones al Horror Cósmico engendrado por Robert E. Howard) perfilan una impronta más aventurera, cercana al matiné y la popular saga fílmica de Indiana Jones. Muy buen compuesto, ajenos a los visos racistas que suele derramar su autor y con un desenlace que llama a leer más, "El Fuego de Asurbánipal" es con seguridad uno de los mejores cuentos de Howard.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cursed gem, a slithery protector, an army of Arabs, violent hijinks ensue. That's Robert E. Howard pulp for you!

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Moorcock's Elric stories.

[Per · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://archive.org/details/WeirdTale...
https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/060...