Robert E. Howard Readers discussion

One of the two stories for October 2011 is Wolfshead from Skull-Face and Others: Skull-Face Omnibus Volume 1.
by Robert E. Howard.

It's the story of a werewolf and set in Norman France.
You can also read it online here.

If you're interested, there's another short story featuring the same main character: In the Forest of Villefere which can be found in The Dark Man and Others or online here.

Have you read this yet ?

Not yet, Mohammed - I'm in the middle of Origin of Species. I'm expecting to get into Wolfshead next week.

I read "In the Forest of Villefere" first & am glad that I did. It was very short & is part of the "Wolfshead" story, although perhaps a bit of a spoiler for it.

Still in the midst of Origin, but am getting Wolfshead under my belt before Halloween!

So, I finished this story over the last weekend, but only just got the chance to review it.

The setting is similar to that of our last Conan Group Read, The Black Stranger / Treasure of Tranicos: A nobleman builds a rude fortress on a far-away shore, between the sea and the forest. The fortress is surrounded by hostile "savages" and the safety of the nobleman and his guests is threatened by a supernatural agency. The setting is similar, but otherwise the stories are different.

(view spoiler)[In Wolfshead, the threat comes from within the circle of guests in the form of a werewolf. de Montour's agonies over his lycanthropy were well done and the origin of his condition as a case of demonic possession, rather than the usual "bitten by a wolf" scenario was interesting. (hide spoiler)]

I didn't find the story particularly horrific or chilling, but it was very atmospheric and effective. It's a pity that Howard didn't write more stories about this swashbuckling shapeshifter as I think they would have made a great series.