What do you think?
Rate this book
Dig Me No Grave
Dig Me No Grave by Robert E. Howard is a dark and chilling tale of supernatural horror, exploring themes of occultism, fate, and the consequences of dabbling in forbidden knowledge. The story is narrated by John Conrad, who recounts a terrifying experience he shared with his friend, John Grimlan.
The story begins when Conrad and Grimlan are summoned to the home of a recently deceased man named Malcomson. Grimlan, a close friend of the deceased, has received a mysterious letter instructing him to open a sealed chest in Malcomson's room at midnight. Despite Grimlan's unease, the two men follow the instructions, only to discover that the chest contains evidence of Malcomson's involvement in dark rituals. Malcomson had made a pact with an ancient, malevolent entity known as "The Black Master."
As the clock strikes midnight, the full horror of Malcomson's pact is revealed. The two men are drawn into a terrifying confrontation with the forces of darkness, as the spirit of the Black Master is summoned into the room. Howard masterfully builds tension as Conrad and Grimlan struggle to survive the supernatural encounter.
Dig Me No Grave is a gripping and atmospheric tale, highlighting Howard's skill in blending occult horror with fast-paced action, leaving readers with a sense of dread and awe.
PLEASE when you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
The story begins when Conrad and Grimlan are summoned to the home of a recently deceased man named Malcomson. Grimlan, a close friend of the deceased, has received a mysterious letter instructing him to open a sealed chest in Malcomson's room at midnight. Despite Grimlan's unease, the two men follow the instructions, only to discover that the chest contains evidence of Malcomson's involvement in dark rituals. Malcomson had made a pact with an ancient, malevolent entity known as "The Black Master."
As the clock strikes midnight, the full horror of Malcomson's pact is revealed. The two men are drawn into a terrifying confrontation with the forces of darkness, as the spirit of the Black Master is summoned into the room. Howard masterfully builds tension as Conrad and Grimlan struggle to survive the supernatural encounter.
Dig Me No Grave is a gripping and atmospheric tale, highlighting Howard's skill in blending occult horror with fast-paced action, leaving readers with a sense of dread and awe.
PLEASE when you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
Unknown Binding
31 people want to read
About the author
Robert E. Howard
2,984 books2,650 followersRobert 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 28, 2024
Narrarated by Kirowan the ghost hunter, as he is awoken by his friend Conrad, their acquaintance John Grimlan, just died horribly. This brings to talk of an envelope Grimlan had made Conrad swear to follow the instructions, sealed after his death. Conrad was to follow these instructions no matter how much Grimlan might change his mind. As he was dying Grimlan begged Conrad not to follow the instructions but to burn the envelope...
There's black magic, hints of dark lovecraftian rituals and uncanny funeral rites.
The narrative is as unexceptional as the atmosphere, the characters in "Dig Me No Grave" and their relationships with each other are declared and they demonstrate little agency. They have little at stake in what is happening. We are told Grimlan was evil, but can't remember any actual crimes being ascribed to him, the "silent oriental with drooping lids" never speaks with , and Conrad and Kirowan are not at risk, do not make any decisions or pursue any goals, they just see odd events.
2/5, little better than filler.
There's black magic, hints of dark lovecraftian rituals and uncanny funeral rites.
The narrative is as unexceptional as the atmosphere, the characters in "Dig Me No Grave" and their relationships with each other are declared and they demonstrate little agency. They have little at stake in what is happening. We are told Grimlan was evil, but can't remember any actual crimes being ascribed to him, the "silent oriental with drooping lids" never speaks with , and Conrad and Kirowan are not at risk, do not make any decisions or pursue any goals, they just see odd events.
2/5, little better than filler.
June 2, 2020
Genial relato del maestro Robert E. howard .originalmente publicado en la mítica revista Weird Tales en 1937. Pertenece a los mitos de Cthulhu
May 23, 2024
Nette Unterhaltung, aber kaum Grusel. Hatte mir mehr Lovecraftian-Stil erwartet. Es war jedoch etwas mau und eher unspektakulär.
Read
January 15, 2025Heard on HorrorBabble
April 8, 2018
This lurid horror story appeared in Weird Tales in 1937 after Howard's death in 1936. Although filled with more implausibilities than required, it is still an entertaining example of pulp horror. One should suspend critical faculties and just enjoy.
The protagonists are the occultist quasi-detective John Kirowan and his somewhat weak-minded acolyte Conrad who appear in several stories as representatives of 'white magic' working against black magicians such as the evil John Grimlan in this tale.
One of the oddities here is that the two heroes seem to have forgotten their status as heroes and intellectuals of the occult and prove themselves remarkably stupid in their complicity with evil and then seem to behave a couple of frightened young girls when the inevitable happens.
There is no point in spoilers here so suffice it to say it is a fairly standard tale of a Faustian bargain with Satan only made interesting by Howard's vigorous almost hysterical style. The atmosphere of devilment is well drawn even if the hysteria is perhaps too much by the very end.
Unfortunately, in his ignorance, Howard manages to cast a number of slurs on non-Western religions, notably that of the yazidis and Shinto but this is the mid-1930s and not the 'enlightened' twenty-first century. I hope you got my irony there.
Read
March 12, 2024The fire burn old secret
bad oth one
candle shut her eyes
who will wake the sleeper
i whom and the whom
strang in dark road
black magic hold the air
orintl risk at death grave
ghost take thee way
holy water far away
risk hint of peace
envolve has all kind od dark words
in wild night the pain was unbilivel
without break
rain at window
and who we wait to come
come like Malk prince of death
return at night like tired moon
bad oth one
candle shut her eyes
who will wake the sleeper
i whom and the whom
strang in dark road
black magic hold the air
orintl risk at death grave
ghost take thee way
holy water far away
risk hint of peace
envolve has all kind od dark words
in wild night the pain was unbilivel
without break
rain at window
and who we wait to come
come like Malk prince of death
return at night like tired moon
June 5, 2018
A classic short story with a wonderful sense of building suspense. This is basically an old-fashioned story of a man making a bargain with the devil and regretting it too late, so the references to Lovecraftian mythology didn't quite fit in, in my opinion. Still, Howard's "in-your-face" style works very well here.
November 4, 2023
This is a very good short horror story that just has such a classic feel to it, I really enjoyed it. This is one of my favourite Robert E. Howard horror stories & it even has Lovecraftian elements contained within. Howard and Lovecraft were friends & I think I'm right in saying that on a few occasions they tipped the hat to one another in a few of their stories.
Read
August 22, 2021One just loves Cthulhu stories with their fractal horror, but this is by the guy who gave us Conan! So wow 💫💫💫🙊🙊🙊🙊
March 29, 2025
A very fun and pleasant story, and an amazing piece of cheesy horror.
August 18, 2025
great short story by a master.
December 16, 2025
This ones mostly all atmosphere but damn Howard could write some damn creepy atmosphere
July 5, 2023
Howard is a master of suspense. This short story was originally published in Weird Tales in February 1937. It is a short tale of occult and suspense. There won't be a grave for Grimlan. Has he made a deal with a devil? An old tale with a skillful retelling, with some HPL references thrown in. Available in 'HorrorBabble's Ultimate Weird Tales Collection, Volume 2'; Audible version narrated by Ian Gordon. Also available in 'The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard', and narrated by Robertson Dean. 3.5 stars.
January 4, 2024
Personally, I think that it’s a really compelling story, which more people should read
July 16, 2025
classic tale by a master
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews