The Slithering Shadow
The Slithering Shadow is a horror novel by Robert E. Howard, first published in Weird Tales magazine in 1929. The novel follows the adventures of Steve Harrison, a young man from the American Midwest who is drawn to the mysterious and dangerous jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula. There, he discovers a lost Mayan city and a sinister cult devoted to the worship of an ancient serpent god. As Steve delves deeper into the secrets of the cult, he finds himself in a desperate battle against a powerful and evil force that threatens to consume him and all of humanity. The novel is a classic example of Howard's unique blend of horror and adventure, and is considered one of his best works. It is also notable for its vivid descriptions of the Yucatan jungle and its inhabitants, as well as its exploration of the themes of fear, faith, and the power of the unknown.
By Robert E. Howard · First published 1928 · Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Adventure · 4 chapters · 13,090 words
First lines
The desert shimmered in the heat waves. Conan the Cimmerian stared out over the aching desolation and involuntarily drew the back of his powerful hand over his blackened lips. He stood like a bronze image in the sand, apparently impervious to the murderous sun, though his only garment was a silk loincloth, girdled by a wide gold-buckled belt from which hung a saber and a broad-bladed poniard. On his clean-cut limbs were evidences of scarcely healed wounds.
What this Textopian page supports
The Slithering Shadow 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: Fantasy, Horror, Adventure, Mystery
- Length: 13,090 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 436 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Slithering Shadow by Robert E. Howard
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Slithering Shadow?
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Similar titles
- The Pool Of The Black One by Robert E. Howard
- Skulls In The Stars by Robert E. Howard
- The Devil In Iron by Robert E. Howard
- Dig Me No Grave by Robert E. Howard
- The Pool Of The Stone God by Abraham Merritt
- The People Of The Black Circle by Robert E. Howard
Genres
- Fantasy — The title of the book implies a supernatural element, which is a common element of fantasy literature.
- Horror — The title of the book implies a sense of dread and fear, which is a common element of horror literature.
- Adventure — Robert E. Howard is known for writing adventure stories, so this book is likely to contain elements of adventure.
- Mystery — The title of the book implies a sense of mystery and intrigue, which is a common element of mystery literature.
Tags
fantasy · adventure · sword and sorcery · heroic · mythical creatures · dark magic · ancient civilizations · action · suspense · supernatural · pulp fiction · exploration