Rogues in the House
Episode #2 podcast
Now online!
https://anchor.fm/rogues-in-the-house
The Robert E. Howard Newsline
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Monday, December 3, 2018
The Art of Robert E. Howard
By Bill Thom
This is the second in a series of articles that provides a showcase for the many fine artists that have illustrated the works of Robert E. Howard over the years.
Virgil Finlay
Virgil Finlay was born July 23, 1914 in Rochester, New York. His father, Warden Hugh Finlay, was of Irish ancestry, and was a wood-lathe worker at a furniture shop. His mother, Ruth Finlay, raised their two children, Virgil and his younger sister Jean. Virgil’s father died at age 40 when Virgil 18 years old. This left the Finlay family to support themselves during the Great Depression. After high school, Virgil worked as a house painter, bridge painter, an assembly-line worker at a radio manufacturer, and a stock boy. Virgil began reading AMAZING STORIES in 1928 and WEIRD TALES a year later.
In 1935, Finlay sent six unsolicited black and white illustrations to WEIRD TALES. Farnworth Wright, editor of WEIRD TALES, purchased one of the illustrations to see how it would reproduce. The illustration appeared in the December 1935 issue of WEIRD TALES, following a story by Paul Ernst and Finlay soon received his first assignments as a published freelance artist. Finlay’s first WEIRD TALES cover art appeared in the February 1937 issue where he provided the cover illustration and interior art for “The Globe of Memories” by Seabury Quinn and interior art for “The Poppy Pearl” by Frank Owen and “Dig Me No Grave” by Robert E. Howard..
In November 1937, Finlay received a letter from Abraham Merritt, the editor of THE AMERICAN WEEKLY newspaper, saying that as a reader of WEIRD TALES he liked Finlay’s art very much and that “there might be an advantageous opening on THE AMERICAN WEEKLY at the present time for you.” THE AMERICAN WEEKLY was a Sunday newspaper supplement that was distributed with all of the Hearst newspapers. It boasted the largest circulation of any newspaper section in the world. Finlay worked for the newspaper as a staff artist paid $80 a week and produced illustrations for the newspaper supplement. In late 1937, Finlay moved to New York City and studied art at night classes at the Mechanics Institute. Once in New York, he discovered that many pulp magazines were published there. He soon began doing illustrations for numerous science fiction and fantasy pulps such as: ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, ASTONISHING STORIES, STARTLING STORIES, THRILLING WONDER, PLANET STORIES, CAPTAIN FUTURE, and STRANGE STORIES.
Finlay married his high school sweetheart from Rochester, New York, Beverly Stiles, on November 16, 1938. They moved to Long Island where they raised their daughter, Lail.
In 1939, Arkham House published its first title, THE OUTSIDER AND OTHERS by H. P. Lovecraft. The dustjacket art is a montage of drawings for WEIRD TALES by Virgil Finlay.
During WWII, Finlay served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer on Okinawa. After the war, he resumed his freelance art career by creating interior illustrations and cover paintings for FANTASTIC NOVELS, SUPER SCIENCE STORIES, THRILLING WONDER, and FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES.
In the early 1950s, the collapse of a major magazine distributor in the United States sent many publishers into bankruptcy. Paperback books that did not contain interior illustrations were replacing the pulp magazines. As a result, Finlay found many of his markets drying up. He continued to do both interiors and covers for the digest science fiction magazines, IF, AMAZING STORIES, FANTASTIC UNIVERSE, GALAXY, and others. He also found a new market in the astrology publications; ASTROLOGY, YOUR DAILY HOROSCOPE and EVERYWOMAN’S DAILY HOROSCOPE. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream and had a few gallery shows.
In the 1960s, many Finlay illustrations were republished for the Health Knowledge Inc. digest magazine line, MAGAZINE OF HORROR and STARTLING MYSTERY STORIES. Finlay’s interior illustration for “Pigeons from Hell” appeared on the cover of MAGAZINE OF HORROR #21 which reprinted Howard’s “Kings of the Night.”
MAGAZINE OF HORROR #18 features “Out of the Deep” by Robert E. Howard. The cover illustration by Finlay features a skeleton in armor standing in the surf and was originally published in WEIRD TALES (June 1938) to illustrate “The Skeleton in Armor (excerpt),” a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In Howard’s story it is the corpse of Adam Falcon that is washed up by the sea and eventually becomes reanimated. There is no skeleton or armor, but this was the first appearance of the story and with just the story title to go by, this illustration seems to be a fit.
MAGAZINE OF HORROR #22 features “Worms of the Earth” by Robert E. Howard. The cover illustration by Finlay was originally published in FANTASTIC STORIES (November 1963) to illustrate “Witch of the Four Winds,” Part 1 of a Brak the Barbarian story by John Jakes. The cover illustration by Finlay features a worm like creature which was possibly intended to represent the Howard tale.
Finaly also wrote poetry throughout his life, but it has only been published posthumously.
In 1970, Finlay learned that he had cancer. He died on January 18, 1971, at age 56. After his passing, it was determined that lung cancer was the exact cause of death.
Virgil Finlay/Robert E. Howard Checklist (Initial appearances only)
Popular Fiction Publishing Company
Weird Tales (February 1937)
Interior illustration for “Dig Me No Grave”
Weird Tales (May 1938)
Interior illustration for “Pigeons from Hell”
Weird Tales (May 1939)
Interior illustrations for “Almuric” Part 1
Weird Tales (June-July 1939)
Interior illustration for “Almuric” Part 2
Weird Tales (August 1939)
Interior illustration for “Almuric” Part 3
Popular Publications
Famous Fantastic Mysteries (December 1952)
Interior illustrations for “Skull-Face”
Famous Fantastic Mysteries (June 1953)
Interior illustration for “Worms of the Earth”
Digest Magazines that featured Robert E. Howard with art by Virgil Finlay
Health Knowledge
Magazine of Horror #18 (“Out of the Deep”)
Magazine of Horror #21 (“Kings of the Night”)
Magazine of Horror #22 (“Worms of the Earth”)
Robert E. Howard Fanzine
Dennis McHaney
The Howard Review #9
Anthologies with Virgil Finlay covers that featured Robert E. Howard
Centaur Press
Swordsmen and Superman (“Meet Cap’n Kidd”)
Pyramid
Weird Tales ((“Pigeons from Hell”)
Worlds of Weird (“The Valley of the Worm”)
Swords & Sorcery (“Shadows in the Moonlight”)
The Spell of Seven (“Shadows in Zamboula”)
References:
The Collectors’ Book of Virgil Finlay
Pulpart.com
societyillustrators.org
All art copyright Virgil Finlay and the respective owners.
Weird Tales (May 1938)
Interior illustration for “Pigeons from Hell”
Weird Tales (May 1939)
Interior illustrations for “Almuric” Part 1
Weird Tales (June-July 1939)
Interior illustration for “Almuric” Part 2
Weird Tales (August 1939)
Interior illustration for “Almuric” Part 3
Famous Fantastic Mysteries (December 1952)
Interior illustrations for “Skull-Face”
Famous Fantastic Mysteries (June 1953)
Interior illustration for “Worms of the Earth”
Health Knowledge
Magazine of Horror #18 (“Out of the Deep”)
Magazine of Horror #21 (“Kings of the Night”)
Magazine of Horror #22 (“Worms of the Earth”)
The Howard Review #9
Swordsmen and Superman (“Meet Cap’n Kidd”)
Weird Tales ((“Pigeons from Hell”)
Worlds of Weird (“The Valley of the Worm”)
Swords & Sorcery (“Shadows in the Moonlight”)
The Spell of Seven (“Shadows in Zamboula”)
By Bill Thom
This is the second in a series of articles that provides a showcase for the many fine artists that have illustrated the works of Robert E. Howard over the years.
Virgil Finlay
Virgil Finlay was born July 23, 1914 in Rochester, New York. His father, Warden Hugh Finlay, was of Irish ancestry, and was a wood-lathe worker at a furniture shop. His mother, Ruth Finlay, raised their two children, Virgil and his younger sister Jean. Virgil’s father died at age 40 when Virgil 18 years old. This left the Finlay family to support themselves during the Great Depression. After high school, Virgil worked as a house painter, bridge painter, an assembly-line worker at a radio manufacturer, and a stock boy. Virgil began reading AMAZING STORIES in 1928 and WEIRD TALES a year later.
In 1935, Finlay sent six unsolicited black and white illustrations to WEIRD TALES. Farnworth Wright, editor of WEIRD TALES, purchased one of the illustrations to see how it would reproduce. The illustration appeared in the December 1935 issue of WEIRD TALES, following a story by Paul Ernst and Finlay soon received his first assignments as a published freelance artist. Finlay’s first WEIRD TALES cover art appeared in the February 1937 issue where he provided the cover illustration and interior art for “The Globe of Memories” by Seabury Quinn and interior art for “The Poppy Pearl” by Frank Owen and “Dig Me No Grave” by Robert E. Howard..
In November 1937, Finlay received a letter from Abraham Merritt, the editor of THE AMERICAN WEEKLY newspaper, saying that as a reader of WEIRD TALES he liked Finlay’s art very much and that “there might be an advantageous opening on THE AMERICAN WEEKLY at the present time for you.” THE AMERICAN WEEKLY was a Sunday newspaper supplement that was distributed with all of the Hearst newspapers. It boasted the largest circulation of any newspaper section in the world. Finlay worked for the newspaper as a staff artist paid $80 a week and produced illustrations for the newspaper supplement. In late 1937, Finlay moved to New York City and studied art at night classes at the Mechanics Institute. Once in New York, he discovered that many pulp magazines were published there. He soon began doing illustrations for numerous science fiction and fantasy pulps such as: ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, ASTONISHING STORIES, STARTLING STORIES, THRILLING WONDER, PLANET STORIES, CAPTAIN FUTURE, and STRANGE STORIES.
Finlay married his high school sweetheart from Rochester, New York, Beverly Stiles, on November 16, 1938. They moved to Long Island where they raised their daughter, Lail.
In 1939, Arkham House published its first title, THE OUTSIDER AND OTHERS by H. P. Lovecraft. The dustjacket art is a montage of drawings for WEIRD TALES by Virgil Finlay.
During WWII, Finlay served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer on Okinawa. After the war, he resumed his freelance art career by creating interior illustrations and cover paintings for FANTASTIC NOVELS, SUPER SCIENCE STORIES, THRILLING WONDER, and FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES.
In the early 1950s, the collapse of a major magazine distributor in the United States sent many publishers into bankruptcy. Paperback books that did not contain interior illustrations were replacing the pulp magazines. As a result, Finlay found many of his markets drying up. He continued to do both interiors and covers for the digest science fiction magazines, IF, AMAZING STORIES, FANTASTIC UNIVERSE, GALAXY, and others. He also found a new market in the astrology publications; ASTROLOGY, YOUR DAILY HOROSCOPE and EVERYWOMAN’S DAILY HOROSCOPE. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream and had a few gallery shows.
In the 1960s, many Finlay illustrations were republished for the Health Knowledge Inc. digest magazine line, MAGAZINE OF HORROR and STARTLING MYSTERY STORIES. Finlay’s interior illustration for “Pigeons from Hell” appeared on the cover of MAGAZINE OF HORROR #21 which reprinted Howard’s “Kings of the Night.”
MAGAZINE OF HORROR #18 features “Out of the Deep” by Robert E. Howard. The cover illustration by Finlay features a skeleton in armor standing in the surf and was originally published in WEIRD TALES (June 1938) to illustrate “The Skeleton in Armor (excerpt),” a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In Howard’s story it is the corpse of Adam Falcon that is washed up by the sea and eventually becomes reanimated. There is no skeleton or armor, but this was the first appearance of the story and with just the story title to go by, this illustration seems to be a fit.
MAGAZINE OF HORROR #22 features “Worms of the Earth” by Robert E. Howard. The cover illustration by Finlay was originally published in FANTASTIC STORIES (November 1963) to illustrate “Witch of the Four Winds,” Part 1 of a Brak the Barbarian story by John Jakes. The cover illustration by Finlay features a worm like creature which was possibly intended to represent the Howard tale.
Finaly also wrote poetry throughout his life, but it has only been published posthumously.
In 1970, Finlay learned that he had cancer. He died on January 18, 1971, at age 56. After his passing, it was determined that lung cancer was the exact cause of death.
Virgil Finlay/Robert E. Howard Checklist (Initial appearances only)
Popular Fiction Publishing Company
Weird Tales (February 1937)
Interior illustration for “Dig Me No Grave”
Weird Tales (May 1938)
Interior illustration for “Pigeons from Hell”
Weird Tales (May 1939)
Interior illustrations for “Almuric” Part 1
Weird Tales (June-July 1939)
Interior illustration for “Almuric” Part 2
Weird Tales (August 1939)
Interior illustration for “Almuric” Part 3
Popular Publications
Famous Fantastic Mysteries (December 1952)
Interior illustrations for “Skull-Face”
Famous Fantastic Mysteries (June 1953)
Interior illustration for “Worms of the Earth”
Digest Magazines that featured Robert E. Howard with art by Virgil Finlay
Health Knowledge
Magazine of Horror #18 (“Out of the Deep”)
Magazine of Horror #21 (“Kings of the Night”)
Magazine of Horror #22 (“Worms of the Earth”)
Robert E. Howard Fanzine
Dennis McHaney
The Howard Review #9
Anthologies with Virgil Finlay covers that featured Robert E. Howard
Centaur Press
Swordsmen and Superman (“Meet Cap’n Kidd”)
Pyramid
Weird Tales ((“Pigeons from Hell”)
Worlds of Weird (“The Valley of the Worm”)
Swords & Sorcery (“Shadows in the Moonlight”)
The Spell of Seven (“Shadows in Zamboula”)
References:
The Collectors’ Book of Virgil Finlay
Pulpart.com
societyillustrators.org
All art copyright Virgil Finlay and the respective owners.
Weird Tales (May 1938)
Interior illustration for “Pigeons from Hell”
Weird Tales (May 1939)
Interior illustrations for “Almuric” Part 1
Weird Tales (June-July 1939)
Interior illustration for “Almuric” Part 2
Weird Tales (August 1939)
Interior illustration for “Almuric” Part 3
Famous Fantastic Mysteries (December 1952)
Interior illustrations for “Skull-Face”
Interior illustration for “Worms of the Earth”
Health Knowledge
Magazine of Horror #18 (“Out of the Deep”)
Magazine of Horror #21 (“Kings of the Night”)
Magazine of Horror #22 (“Worms of the Earth”)
The Howard Review #9
Swordsmen and Superman (“Meet Cap’n Kidd”)
Weird Tales ((“Pigeons from Hell”)
Worlds of Weird (“The Valley of the Worm”)
Swords & Sorcery (“Shadows in the Moonlight”)
The Spell of Seven (“Shadows in Zamboula”)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Previous articles in this series.
The Art of Robert E. Howard
Sunday, December 2, 2018
The Last Line of the Last Letter
by Todd B. Vick
New post at the On An Underwood No. 5 blog.
https://onanunderwood5.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-last-line-of-last-letter-by-todd-b.html
by Todd B. Vick
New post at the On An Underwood No. 5 blog.
https://onanunderwood5.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-last-line-of-last-letter-by-todd-b.html
The Gods of Easter Island
and other poems by Robert E. Howard
Now available!
Read by Donald Sidney-Fryer, and scored by Graham Plowman, this is the next installment in the "Weird Tales Poets" audio CD series.
Cover art by Jim and Ruth Keegan with liner notes by Morgan Holmes.
$12.95
CONTENTS:
Which Will Scarcely Be Understood
The Symbol
The Gods of Easter Island
The King and the Oak
The Heart of the Sea's Desire
A Lady's Chamber
Slumber
The Song of Horsa's Galley
The Legend of Tubal Cain
When the Gods Were Kings
Whispers on the Night Winds
The Gladiator and the Lady
I Praise My Nativity
The Last Word He Heard
A Challenge to Bast
The Call of Pan
The Dreams of Men
To A Nameless Woman 1
To A Nameless Woman 2
Song From an Ebony Heart
The Song of the Last Briton
An Echo from the Iron Harp
Cimmeria
The Road to Babel
Solomon Kane's Homecoming
Lines Written in the Realization that I Must Die
and other poems by Robert E. Howard
Now available!
Read by Donald Sidney-Fryer, and scored by Graham Plowman, this is the next installment in the "Weird Tales Poets" audio CD series.
Cover art by Jim and Ruth Keegan with liner notes by Morgan Holmes.
$12.95
CONTENTS:
Which Will Scarcely Be Understood
The Symbol
The Gods of Easter Island
The King and the Oak
The Heart of the Sea's Desire
A Lady's Chamber
Slumber
The Song of Horsa's Galley
The Legend of Tubal Cain
When the Gods Were Kings
Whispers on the Night Winds
The Gladiator and the Lady
I Praise My Nativity
The Last Word He Heard
A Challenge to Bast
The Call of Pan
The Dreams of Men
To A Nameless Woman 1
To A Nameless Woman 2
Song From an Ebony Heart
The Song of the Last Briton
An Echo from the Iron Harp
Cimmeria
The Road to Babel
Solomon Kane's Homecoming
Lines Written in the Realization that I Must Die
Conan The Barbarian:
The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2
By Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Rich Buckler
Illustrated By: Neal Adams, Rich Buckler, John Buscema, Gil Kane
ISBN: 9781302915148
Publisher: Marvel
Imprint: Marvel
On Sale: August 6, 2019
Format: HARDCOVER BOOK
Price: $125.00 ($158.00 In Canada)
Category: COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
Pages: 792
Description: The legend of Conan continues! Tired of the thieving life, Conan signs on as a mercenary for the warring kingdom of Turan. The enemy will tell of Conan's legendary skill in battle - if any of them live to tell the tale - but palace intrigue may prove more dangerous to the barbarian. After all, it's never wise to bed a wizard's woman. Then, Conan joins with Red Sonja for a multipart adventure. Last, but far from least, we present Roy Thomas and Gil Kane's never-before-reprinted GIANT-SIZE adaptation of "The Hour of the Dragon," the iconic story of how Conan became king and conqueror and met the woman who would become his wife. And it's all restored to the original coloring!
COLLECTING: CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1970) 27-51, ANNUAL (1973) 1, GIANT-SIZE CONAN (1974) 1-4 AND MATERIAL FROM SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN (1974) 1, 8 AND 10
https://www.hachettebookgroup.biz/titles/none/conan-the-barbarian-the-original-marvel-years-omnibus-vol-2/9781302915148/
The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2
By Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Rich Buckler
Illustrated By: Neal Adams, Rich Buckler, John Buscema, Gil Kane
ISBN: 9781302915148
Publisher: Marvel
Imprint: Marvel
On Sale: August 6, 2019
Format: HARDCOVER BOOK
Price: $125.00 ($158.00 In Canada)
Category: COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS
Pages: 792
Description: The legend of Conan continues! Tired of the thieving life, Conan signs on as a mercenary for the warring kingdom of Turan. The enemy will tell of Conan's legendary skill in battle - if any of them live to tell the tale - but palace intrigue may prove more dangerous to the barbarian. After all, it's never wise to bed a wizard's woman. Then, Conan joins with Red Sonja for a multipart adventure. Last, but far from least, we present Roy Thomas and Gil Kane's never-before-reprinted GIANT-SIZE adaptation of "The Hour of the Dragon," the iconic story of how Conan became king and conqueror and met the woman who would become his wife. And it's all restored to the original coloring!
COLLECTING: CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1970) 27-51, ANNUAL (1973) 1, GIANT-SIZE CONAN (1974) 1-4 AND MATERIAL FROM SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN (1974) 1, 8 AND 10
https://www.hachettebookgroup.biz/titles/none/conan-the-barbarian-the-original-marvel-years-omnibus-vol-2/9781302915148/
New at Howard Works
Editrice La Scuola (Italian)
Fantasy. Racconti di spade, magie e draghi
Featuring: "The Hall of the Dead"
http://howardworks.com/Fantasy-Editrice_La_Scuola.html
Edizioni Agpha Press (Italian)
Il vento delle stelle. Storie in versi e no
Featuring:
"Midnight"
"With a Set of Rattlesnake Rattles"
"The Beast from the Abyss"
http://howardworks.com/Il_vento_delle_stelle-Storie_in_versi_e_no-Edizioni_Agpha_Press.html
Thanks to Rob Roehm for the scans and info.
Roehm's Room Press
Onion Tops #9 / REHupa #198
Featuring:
"The Kissing of Sal Snooboo" (poem)
"To a Woman" (2, poem)
http://howardworks.com/OnionTops9-REHupa198-RoehmsRoomPress.html
Marvel Comics
Conan the Savage Volume 1 Number 5
Featuring: "The Treasures of Tartary"
(Conan tale based on the REH story, Part 1 of 2)
http://howardworks.com/ConantheSavage5-Marvel.html
Editrice La Scuola (Italian)
Fantasy. Racconti di spade, magie e draghi
Featuring: "The Hall of the Dead"
http://howardworks.com/Fantasy-Editrice_La_Scuola.html
Edizioni Agpha Press (Italian)
Il vento delle stelle. Storie in versi e no
Featuring:
"Midnight"
"With a Set of Rattlesnake Rattles"
"The Beast from the Abyss"
http://howardworks.com/Il_vento_delle_stelle-Storie_in_versi_e_no-Edizioni_Agpha_Press.html
Thanks to Rob Roehm for the scans and info.
Roehm's Room Press
Onion Tops #9 / REHupa #198
Featuring:
"The Kissing of Sal Snooboo" (poem)
"To a Woman" (2, poem)
http://howardworks.com/OnionTops9-REHupa198-RoehmsRoomPress.html
Marvel Comics
Conan the Savage Volume 1 Number 5
Featuring: "The Treasures of Tartary"
(Conan tale based on the REH story, Part 1 of 2)
http://howardworks.com/ConantheSavage5-Marvel.html
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