Wolves Beyond the Border
Encyclopedia
"Wolves Beyond the Border" is one of the original stories by Robert E. Howard
about Conan the Cimmerian
, a fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard's lifetime. It is a peripheral story in the canon in that while it takes place in Conan's "Hyborian Age" and during Conan's lifetime, Conan does not actually appear, but is merely mentioned. The story was completed by L. Sprague de Camp
and in this form first published in the collection Conan the Usurper
(1967). It has since been published in its original form in the collection The Conan Chronicles Volume 2: The Hour of the Dragon (Gollancz
, 2001) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933)
(Del Rey, 2003).
Set during the time of Conan's conquest of Aquilonia, the Forward and story refers to ongoing battles between the armies of Conan and King Numedides. The Picts see an opportunity however.
Told by a border ranger named Gault Hagar's son, the Gault witnesses a secret Pictish ceremony conducted by Tenayoga, a Ligurean shaman, and witnessed by Lord Valerian, an Aquilonian nobleman.
Gault flees to Fort Kwanyara, thence to the town of Schondara where he meets an old friend, exchanges news on Conan's forces and discovers Lord Valerian. Valerian is imprisoned but escapes.
Gault escapes the attack of a giant ape and with others, follows Valerian to a cabin where they watch him meet with the old shaman and a band of Gunderman guards. The leaders of four Pictish tribes plan to meet together and consult a wizard in the swamp. Gault, Hakon and their rangers attack the cabin setting it alight. The two track those who escaped the carnage to the swamp meeting and are captured.
The tribes agree to attack Schondara and depart, leaving the captives bound to stakes. Gault escapes his bonds, slays the wizard and the pair are just in time to sabotage the Pictish assault and be proclaimed as heroes.
and John Buscema
in Savage Sword of Conan #59.
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
about Conan the Cimmerian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
, a fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard's lifetime. It is a peripheral story in the canon in that while it takes place in Conan's "Hyborian Age" and during Conan's lifetime, Conan does not actually appear, but is merely mentioned. The story was completed by L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
and in this form first published in the collection Conan the Usurper
Conan the Usurper
Conan the Usurper is a 1967 collection of four fantasy short stories written by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp featuring Howard's seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. Most of the stories originally appeared in the fantasy magazine Weird Tales in the 1930s...
(1967). It has since been published in its original form in the collection The Conan Chronicles Volume 2: The Hour of the Dragon (Gollancz
Gollancz
Gollancz often refers to the British publishing house Victor Gollancz Ltd.Gollancz, a family name originating from the Polish town Gołańcz , is mainly known as the name of a prominent British Jewish family, including:* Sir Hermann Gollancz , rabbi* Sir Israel Gollancz , scholar of...
, 2001) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933)
Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933)
The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian is the first of a three volume set collecting the Conan stories by author Robert E. Howard. It was originally published in 2003, first the United Kingdom by Wandering Star under the title Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One , and shortly thereafter in the United States...
(Del Rey, 2003).
Plot summary
(From the Conan The Usurper version, ISBN 0-441-11459-8)Set during the time of Conan's conquest of Aquilonia, the Forward and story refers to ongoing battles between the armies of Conan and King Numedides. The Picts see an opportunity however.
Told by a border ranger named Gault Hagar's son, the Gault witnesses a secret Pictish ceremony conducted by Tenayoga, a Ligurean shaman, and witnessed by Lord Valerian, an Aquilonian nobleman.
Gault flees to Fort Kwanyara, thence to the town of Schondara where he meets an old friend, exchanges news on Conan's forces and discovers Lord Valerian. Valerian is imprisoned but escapes.
Gault escapes the attack of a giant ape and with others, follows Valerian to a cabin where they watch him meet with the old shaman and a band of Gunderman guards. The leaders of four Pictish tribes plan to meet together and consult a wizard in the swamp. Gault, Hakon and their rangers attack the cabin setting it alight. The two track those who escaped the carnage to the swamp meeting and are captured.
The tribes agree to attack Schondara and depart, leaving the captives bound to stakes. Gault escapes his bonds, slays the wizard and the pair are just in time to sabotage the Pictish assault and be proclaimed as heroes.
Adaptation
The story was adapted by Roy ThomasRoy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and John Buscema
John Buscema
John Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
in Savage Sword of Conan #59.
External links
- Conan wiki • Wolves Beyond the Border • Synopsis, characters, locations, and publishing history
- Conan the Barbarian at AmratheLion.com