The Snout in the Dark

"The Snout in the Dark" is one of the original short stories by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian, an untitled fragment begun in the 1930s but not finished or published in Howard's lifetime. It was completed and titled by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter and in this form first published in the collection Conan of Cimmeria (1969). It has first been published in its original form in the collection Jewels of Gwahlur (Donald M. Grant, 1979) and later in The Conan Chronicles Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle (Gollancz, 2000) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume One (1932-1933) (Del Rey, 2003).

This article is about a short story. For the protagonist and principal character, see Conan the Barbarian.
"The Snout in the Dark"
AuthorRobert E. Howard
Original title"The Snout in the Dark"
CountryUS
LanguageEnglish
SeriesConan the Cimmerian
Genre(s)Fantasy
Published inConan of Cimmeria
Publication typePaperback
PublisherLancer Books
Publication date1969

Plot

Howard's untitled synopsis begins in the walled city of Shumballa, in the land of Kush. Shumballa is inhabited by a tribe of warlike blacks called Gallahs, though the lighter-skinned aristocratic rulers are called Chagas. A Gallah commander is killed by a pig-like monster sent by the noble Tuthmes who intends to throw suspicion on Tanada, sister of the king. Part of his plan is to present the king with a white slave, Diana, who he has recently captured. When Tanada rides through the city outside the walls, known as Punt, she is attacked by an angry mob and rescued by Conan, who is made captain. Conan then puts down an uprising and gains the approval of the king. Soon, Tanada kidnaps Diana, who has attracted Conan's eye, and the witch-finder Agara discovers Tuthmes is behind the murder of his commander. Tuthmes has Agara executed, or so he believes. Diana, unable to reveal Tuthmes's plans to Tanada, is rescued by Conan and spends the night at his quarters. Meanwhile, Tuthmes has sent his monster to kill both Conan and Diana. Conan battles the creature into the streets where a sorcerer is being executed, and a still alive Agara appears to accuse Tuthmes. The crowd wildly attacks Tuthmes, his band of nobles, and the city itself as Conan and Diana escape.

Adaptation

The story was adapted for comics by Roy Thomas and John Buscema in Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian #106-107.

In 2014 it was adapted by Fred Van Lente in its new Conan the Avenger series #1-7.[1]

References
  1. Ching, Albert. "NYCC Exclusive: Fred Van Lente Takes on "Conan the Barbarian"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
Preceded by
"The Hand of Nergal"		 Original Howard Canon
(publication order) 		Succeeded by
none
Preceded by
"Queen of the Black Coast"		 Original Howard Canon
(Dale Rippke chronology) 		Succeeded by
"The Slithering Shadow"
Preceded by
"The Castle of Terror"		 Complete Conan Saga
(William Galen Gray chronology) 		Succeeded by
Conan the Barbarian (2011 novel)
(Part 2)
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