Shadows in the Skull
"Shadows in the Skull" is a short story by American writers L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter, featuring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian created by Robert E. Howard. It was first published in the February 1975 issue of the magazine Fantastic, and first appeared in book form by Ace Books in the paperback collection Conan of Aquilonia in May 1977,[1][2] which was reprinted several times through 1994. The first British edition was published by Sphere Books in October 1978.[2]
This article is about a short story. For the protagonist and principal character, see Conan the Barbarian.
| "Shadows in the Skull" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Author | L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Conan the Barbarian |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy |
| Published in | Conan of Aquilonia |
| Publication type | Collection |
| Publisher | Ace Books |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Publication date | 1977 |
Plot
Aided by Zembabwean Wyvern-riders and black Amazons, King Conan of Aquilonia and his son, Prince Conn, track their arch-foe, Stygian sorcerer Thoth-Amon, to the extreme southern end of the Hyborian continent.
The sorcerer has taken refuge with the last remnants of the evil Serpent Men, shape-changers who have menaced mankind throughout its prehistory. Conan's allies locate their skull-shaped hideout, only to fall victim to the Serpent Men's ploy of emulating beautiful Stygian women.
His final battle with Thoth-Amon in the sorcerer's own domain proves as hard-fought as their previous encounters, but is ultimately successful at ridding the world of the fiend. Conan's 13-years old son, Conn, deals the death blow to his father's old arch-enemy.
Notes
- Laughlin, Charlotte; Daniel J. H. Levack (1983). De Camp: An L. Sprague de Camp Bibliography. San Francisco: Underwood/Miller. p. 239.
- Shadows in the Skull title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
| Preceded by "Red Moon of Zembabwei" |
Complete Conan Saga (William Galen Gray chronology) |
Succeeded by Conan of the Isles |
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Works by Lin Carter | |||||||||||
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| Callisto series |
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| The Green Star Saga |
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| The Mysteries of Mars |
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| Zarkon, Lord of the Unknown |
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| Thongor series |
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| Conan series |
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| Kull series |
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| The Gondwane Epic |
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| The Chronicles of Kylix |
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| Other speculative fiction |
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| Anthologies edited |
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| Nonfiction | |||||||||||
| Poetry |
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