Robert E. Howard Readers discussion

I noticed a similar name/character in both Western Tales and Pirate Adventures.

In "The Isle of Pirate's Doom," a pretty good pirate tale, I noted the characters were Helen Tavrel (the pirate) and Steve Harmer. REH has used the name Tavrel a lot in various stories, and a character with the name of Steve Harmer appeared in "Drums of the Sunset", a western. I wonder if it is the same character, or if REH was just recycling the name. Does anyone know?

Also, a Mr. Harmer appeared in The "Judgement of the Desert" (another western), but was a dastardly person who was killed by the villain of the story, and is clearly a different Harmer, which shows that REH may have been recycling the name. But, still, I wonder if they are the same character.

I've wondered about that at times, too. As prolific as was, I usually put it down to reuse. I've never read enough of the stories at the same time or really studied them to find out that truth, though.