The Shadow Kingdom
Encyclopedia
"The Shadow Kingdom" by Robert E. Howard
is the first of Howard's Kull stories, set in his fictional Thurian Age
. It was first published in the pulp magazine
Weird Tales
in August 1929.
The story introduces Kull himself, the setting of Valusia, the supporting character Brule the Spear-slayer and the Serpent Men
(who do not appear in any other work by Howard but were adopted by later authors for derivative works and inclusion in the Cthulhu Mythos
).
In the early night, Brule climbs into Kull's bed chamber, identifying himself with a "bracelet of gold representing a winged dragon coiled thrice, with three horns of ruby on the head" that had been shown to Kull at the feast. Brule explains that Kull's life is in danger and show him secret passages that riddle the palace. Through these Kull sees that the guards outside his room are all dead and their bodies hidden, although they still seem to be on guard at the same time. A visit by Chief Councillor Tu, with exposition from Brule, reveals the truth as Tu attempts to assassinate the sleeping King but meets him awake and armed:
Brule reveals that the Serpent Men
, an ancient pre-human race that had built Valusia but was almost extinct, ruled from the shadows, using their Snake Cult religion and ability to disguise themselves with magic. They intended to replace Kull with a disguised Serpent Man, just as they had done with his predecessors.
The next day, the Serpent Men again attempt to replace Kull. He and Brule are, through illusion, tricked into a separate room instead of the real council, surrounded by Serpent Men disguised as the councillors. Kull realises the trap in time, however, and the two barely defeat their attackers. Heading to the real Council Room, they see another Kull. The fake Kull is killed by the real one, revealing himself to be a Serpent Man and so also revealing the truth of the existence of Serpent Men in general. The story ends with Kull's oath to hunt and destroy the Serpent Men for good.
Kull, as a barbarian, sees the diplomacy and politics of Valusia (and the others of the Seven Empires) as a form of illusion. Early in the story, before the Serpent Men appear, Kull's thoughts on the matter are described:
Musing on his own identity later in the story, Kull extends the mask metaphor
to himself:
This is touched on again shortly afterwards when, on seeing a Serpent Man masquerading as himself, Kull is momentarily confused:
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....
is the first of Howard's Kull stories, set in his fictional Thurian Age
Thurian Age
The Thurian Age is a fictional period within the artificial mythology created by Robert E. Howard, in which the sword and sorcery tales of Kull of Atlantis are set. It is within the same shared universe as the Hyborian Age of Howard's Conan the Barbarian stories, but at an earlier period. The...
. It was first published in the pulp magazine
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
Weird Tales
Weird Tales
Weird Tales is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine first published in March 1923. It ceased its original run in September 1954, after 279 issues, but has since been revived. The magazine was set up in Chicago by J. C. Henneberger, an ex-journalist with a taste for the macabre....
in August 1929.
The story introduces Kull himself, the setting of Valusia, the supporting character Brule the Spear-slayer and the Serpent Men
Serpent Men
Serpent-Men have also appeared in the Marvel Comics universe.The original Serpent-Men were a race of reptilian semi-humanoids who were created by the demon Set and who ruled areas of prehistoric Earth. Due to the efforts of Kull and Conan, the original Serpent-Men became extinct about 8,000 years...
(who do not appear in any other work by Howard but were adopted by later authors for derivative works and inclusion in the Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
).
Plot
The story starts shortly after the Atlantean barbarian Kull has conquered Valusia and become its King. Kull is invited to a feast by the Pictish ambassador to Valusia, Ka-nu the Ancient. Despite the fact that the Picts are the ancient enemies of the Atlanteans, Ka-nu confides in Kull and tells him to expect the arrival of Brule the Spear-slayer later.In the early night, Brule climbs into Kull's bed chamber, identifying himself with a "bracelet of gold representing a winged dragon coiled thrice, with three horns of ruby on the head" that had been shown to Kull at the feast. Brule explains that Kull's life is in danger and show him secret passages that riddle the palace. Through these Kull sees that the guards outside his room are all dead and their bodies hidden, although they still seem to be on guard at the same time. A visit by Chief Councillor Tu, with exposition from Brule, reveals the truth as Tu attempts to assassinate the sleeping King but meets him awake and armed:
Brule reveals that the Serpent Men
Serpent Men
Serpent-Men have also appeared in the Marvel Comics universe.The original Serpent-Men were a race of reptilian semi-humanoids who were created by the demon Set and who ruled areas of prehistoric Earth. Due to the efforts of Kull and Conan, the original Serpent-Men became extinct about 8,000 years...
, an ancient pre-human race that had built Valusia but was almost extinct, ruled from the shadows, using their Snake Cult religion and ability to disguise themselves with magic. They intended to replace Kull with a disguised Serpent Man, just as they had done with his predecessors.
The next day, the Serpent Men again attempt to replace Kull. He and Brule are, through illusion, tricked into a separate room instead of the real council, surrounded by Serpent Men disguised as the councillors. Kull realises the trap in time, however, and the two barely defeat their attackers. Heading to the real Council Room, they see another Kull. The fake Kull is killed by the real one, revealing himself to be a Serpent Man and so also revealing the truth of the existence of Serpent Men in general. The story ends with Kull's oath to hunt and destroy the Serpent Men for good.
Style
The subjects of masks and identity are repeated throughout the story. The most obvious instance of this is the Serpent Men's ability of disguise through magic and their use of this to steal identities at will.Kull, as a barbarian, sees the diplomacy and politics of Valusia (and the others of the Seven Empires) as a form of illusion. Early in the story, before the Serpent Men appear, Kull's thoughts on the matter are described:
Musing on his own identity later in the story, Kull extends the mask metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
to himself:
This is touched on again shortly afterwards when, on seeing a Serpent Man masquerading as himself, Kull is momentarily confused: