The Thing On the Roof
The Thing on the Roof is a horror novella by Robert E. Howard, first published in Weird Tales magazine in 1932. The story follows the adventures of a young man named Steve Costigan, who is hired to investigate a mysterious creature that has been terrorizing the city of San Francisco. Steve soon discovers that the creature is a giant, bat-like creature that has been living on the roof of a local hotel. With the help of a mysterious woman, Steve must battle the creature and uncover its secrets before it can cause any more destruction. The Thing on the Roof is a classic horror story that combines elements of science fiction and fantasy. It is a thrilling and suspenseful tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
By Robert E. Howard · First published 1928 · Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery · 3,669 words
First lines
_They lumber through the night_
_With their elephantine tread;_
What this Textopian page supports
The Thing On the Roof 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, Mystery, Adventure
- Length: 3,669 words
- Structure: 1 section, 129 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Thing On the Roof by Robert E. Howard
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Thing On the Roof?
- How does this novel by Robert E. Howard fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Graveyard Rats by Robert E. Howard
- The Haunter Of The Ring by Robert E. Howard
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- The Haunted Mountain by Robert E. Howard
Genres
- Fantasy — The Thing On the Roof is a horror/fantasy story by Robert E. Howard, which features supernatural elements and a mysterious creature on the roof of a house.
- Horror — The Thing On the Roof is a horror/fantasy story by Robert E. Howard, which features supernatural elements and a mysterious creature on the roof of a house.
- Mystery — The Thing On the Roof is a mystery story as the protagonist attempts to uncover the identity of the creature on the roof and the secrets it holds.
- Adventure — The Thing On the Roof is an adventure story as the protagonist embarks on a journey to uncover the identity of the creature on the roof and the secrets it holds.
Tags
horror · fantasy · weird fiction · adventure · supernatural · mythology · pulp fiction · Robert E. Howard · Cthulhu Mythos · mystery · suspense · ancient evil