Graveyard Rats by Robert E. Howard

Name: Graveyard Rats
Author: Robert E. Howard

Graveyard Rats is a horror novella by Robert E. Howard, first published in the magazine Weird Tales in 1936. The story follows a man named John Kirowan, who is on a mission to investigate a mysterious graveyard in the small town of Klinefelter, Pennsylvania. He soon discovers that the graveyard is home to a race of rat-like creatures, who are the result of a mad scientist's experiments. The rats are led by a powerful creature known as the Master, and they are determined to take over the town and spread their evil influence. Kirowan must battle the rats and their leader in order to save the town and its inhabitants. Along the way, he discovers the truth behind the Master's origin and the secrets of the graveyard. In the end, Kirowan must make a difficult decision that will determine the fate of the town and its people.

By Robert E. Howard · First published 1928 · Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Adventure · 5 chapters · 9,481 words

First lines

Saul Wilkinson awoke suddenly, and lay in the darkness with beads of cold sweat on his hands and face. He shuddered at the memory of the dream from which he had awakened.

But horrible dreams were nothing uncommon. Grisly nightmares had haunted his sleep since early childhood. It was another fear that clutched his heart with icy fingers--fear of the sound that had roused him. It had been a furtive step--hands fumbling in the dark.

What this Textopian page supports

Graveyard Rats is listed on Textopian as a novel by Robert E. Howard, dated 1928 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Robert E. Howard
Date: 1928 CE
Language: English
Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery
Length: 9,481 words
Structure: 5 chapters, 281 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for Graveyard Rats by Robert E. Howard
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Graveyard Rats?
How does this novel by Robert E. Howard fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Horror first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Horror — The title of the book, 'Graveyard Rats', implies a horror theme, as it suggests a dark and spooky setting.
Fantasy — Robert E. Howard is known for writing fantasy stories, so this book is likely to contain elements of fantasy.
Adventure — The title implies an adventurous plot, as it suggests a journey into a mysterious and unknown place.
Mystery — The title implies a mysterious plot, as it suggests a journey into a dark and unknown place.