Echoes of Valor III

The third Echoes of Valor anthology gets really obscure - while Howard's Shadow of the Vulture is certainly famous for Red Sonya reasons, not so Prince Raynro, Hok, or theauthor Nictzin Dyalhis. The other feature is a long essay on the last author, going through the deatils of some of his other stories, and his strange, occult character. Echoes of Valor III : 1 The Shadow of the Vulture - Robert E. Howard Echoes of Valor III : 2 Cursed Be the City [Prince Raynor] - Henry Kuttner Echoes of Valor III : 3 The Citadel of Darkness [Prince Raynor] - Henry Kuttner Echoes of Valor III : 4 Hok Goes to Atlantis - Manly Wade Wellman Echoes of Valor III : 5 Wolves of Darkness - Jack Williamson Echoes of Valor III : 6 The Red Witch - Nictzin Dyalhis Echoes of Valor III : 7 The Sapphire Goddess - Nictzin Dyalhis Echoes of Valor III : 8 The Sea-Witch - Nictzin Dyalhis Not much sorcery to be seen in this historical adventure, but it is the origin of the character that Roy Thomas and others adapted with such success for Marvel in comics form, so of interest to fans of Conan and Red Sonja as she currently stands, chainmail bikini wearing barbarbian Hyrkanian warrior. It is also a sterling Robert E. Howard tale, as well as being the origin of the flame haired swordswoman. Von Kalmbach is a knight who managed to injure the Turkish leader in battle in the past, when his other 31 comrades died. When it is learned he is still alive, an assassin is sent after him: ""Enough of excuses," interrupted Ibrahim. "Send Mikhal Oglu to me. ... The man whose very name was a shuddering watchword of horror to all western Asia was soft-spoken and moved with the mincing ease of a cat..." "...nor could Ibrahim guess that he was taking the first steps in a feud which should spread over years and far lands, swirling in dark tides to draw in thrones and kingdoms and red-haired women more beautiful than the flames of hell..." Von Kalmbach is drinking in a small town outside Vienna when he realises an invasion is coming, and rides quickly for the city, where a defense is being mustered. Looking around, he is surprised: "Turning toward the abandoned gun, he saw a colorful, incongruous figure bending over the massive breech. It was a woman, dressed as von Kalmbach had not seen even the dandies of France dressed. She was tall, splendidly shaped, but lithe. From under a steel cap escaped rebellious tresses that rippled red gold in the sun over her compact shoulders. High boots of Cordovan leather came to her mid-thighs, which were cased in baggy breeches. She wore a shirt of fine Turkish mesh-mail tucked into her breeches. Her supple waist was confined by a flowing sash of green silk, into which were thrust a brace of pistols and a dagger, and from which depended a long Hungarian saber. Over all was carelessly thrown a scarlet cloak. This surprizing figure was bending over the cannon, sighting it in a manner betokening more than a passing familiarity, at a group