Black Canaan

Robert E. Howard

Publisher: DigiCat

Summary

In "Black Canaan," Robert E. Howard weaves a tale that masterfully combines elements of horror, adventure, and folklore, set against the backdrop of post-Reconstruction Southern America. The narrative follows the protagonist, a rugged hero named Steve Costigan, who confronts both supernatural forces and human treachery in a clash that reveals the depths of racial tensions and societal decay. Howard's prose is visceral and vivid, characterized by its dynamic pacing and rich imagery, which transports readers into a world where primal fear and ancient traditions intertwine. Influenced by the early 20th century pulp fiction movement, Howard's writing captures the zeitgeist of a nation grappling with its own shadowy past while evoking the mythic resonance of timeless legends. Robert E. Howard, best known for his creation of the Conan the Barbarian character, drew inspiration for "Black Canaan" from his own Texan upbringing and a lifelong fascination with folklore, history, and the macabre. His keen interest in the conflicts between civilization and barbarism, coupled with a deep-seated understanding of racial dynamics in the early 20th century, informs this gripping narrative. Howard's poignant and often controversial explorations of themes such as heroism, identity, and moral ambiguity reflect both his personal beliefs and the turbulent times in which he lived. This compelling work is not only a thrilling adventure but also a profound meditation on race and humanity, making it essential reading for those intrigued by the complexities of American folklore and the genre's evolution. Readers interested in the intersections of horror and social commentary will find "Black Canaan" a stimulating and thought-provoking addition to the canon of American literature.

Available since: 09/15/2022.

Print length: 32 pages.

Other books that might interest you

The Horror Beneath Reality -...

SULI Daniel Johnson

I used to question my memories of those events and, at times, speculated on my mental stability. However, such a volume of experiences has assailed me during my journey, that I must conclude their validity. Having developed the insight I now have, I am as like the person who has been hypnotized to remember a crucial forgotten memory. Upon remembering and possessing the new insight, I find myself wondering if I have always possessed it and, through the interactions of life, had merely forgotten it.
All of our perceived reality comes to us through our senses, and these are filtered further by our mental interpretation of that sensory input. From the moment of our birth, we have shaped our perception to select from the Kaleidoscope of colors only those that are perceived as useful to us. Who is to say that much has been ignored? This is why at times, we hear sounds altogether unfamiliar yet possessing an undeniable presence. Sound and touch are senses we little understand, and for this reason, the merciful filters we develop in childhood are not as verbose as with our sight. Yes, we fear the darkness for what it reveals, yet we should just as easily fear the light for what it conceals. At times in the light, I am aware of the terrible beasts that ravage unknown aspects of our being. These terrible and decisive beings have now become my constant companion, and I am ever aware of their continued progress toward me. They seek to coerce me and manipulate me, and it is only with the utmost and continued presence of mind that I am able to resist their attempts at manipulation. As incessant and exhausting as these are, my impossible resolve is ever steadied by the understanding of what will follow if I should give into their ministrations. For you see, I have touched their very spirit, and they mine. This is my story and the story of us all. It is the story of how I came to understand why we all fear the night and have developed false security in the light.

Show book

Short Horror Stories: Tavern of...

Scare Street, Ron Ripley, David...

Looking for a frightfully good time? Your next scream is on us.... 
Horror is no laughing matter when an antiques dealer discovers a sinister jester costume in an old chest. A trip down memory lane slowly drives a man insane, as he revisits the horrors of his childhood. And evil reaches from beyond the grave, when a famous estate passes on its curse to a new generation.... 
Welcome to Hannigan’s, the tavern of a thousand screams. What’s your fancy on this dark cold night? Ghosts? Ghouls? Ghastly creatures beyond comprehension? Whatever your taste in terror, Hannigan’s will serve up a bone-chilling cocktail of your favorite frights. 
This diabolically delightful new collection features 11 tales of skin-crawling horror. So sit back and relax. 
Your next scream is on the house. 
As well as the next, and the one after that.... 
Step into the eerie world of Scare Street, where supernatural horror and suspense await you at every turn. Our collection of ghost stories, urban legends, and haunted house stories offer the perfect mix of scary and spooky tales. Whether it's a creepy campfire classic, short horror stories, or unsettling creepypasta, our tales are crafted to bring thrills and chills that will keep you hooked.

Show book

The Broken Darkness

Theresa Braun

In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire—forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.

Show book

Devil May Care

Jonathan Yanez

This line of work is slowly taking his humanity. And all that he holds dearest may be at a greater risk still. 
Because a crueler evil waits in the wings. 
  
Jonny and Hunters for Hire are quickly making a name for themselves in the monster-hunting world. 
Life is good but all good things must come to an end. Frankie is about to get a call she feared was coming. This call alters the trajectory of her already tenuous relationship with Jonny. 
In the meantime, the Court procures Hunters for Hire's services to investigate how the Sphere, the psychiatric hospital/prison for the supernatural, was infiltrated and who helped the lunatic Dr. Frankenstein escape. 
Twenty thousand leagues under the sea, time is running out. Shannon Van Helsing's greatest fears are realized and the team must strike a deal with the devil himself, Rasputin, to return to their own realm. 
If this wasn't enough, Jonny uncovers more secrets as to what being a hybrid means to him and a foreboding warning from an Archangel about a war not coming, but already here.

Show book

Zed and the Cormorants - winner...

Clare Owen

A spellbinding slice of Cornish Gothic – a Daphne du Maurier for the 21st century!        Piers TordaySHORTLISTED FOR HOLYER AN GOF AWARDZed and her family move unwillingly from London to Cornwall, in an attempt to support her mother’s mental health.Gradually the family fall apart, and it is only when Zed realises that the local cormorants are playing a part in the disasters that consume them, in revenge for an ancient wrong, that she and her sister, Amy, start working together to find a solution and call a truce.

Show book

He (The Work of H P Lovecraft...

H. P. Lovecraft

'He' is a short story by American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written August 1925, it was first published in Weird Tales, September 1926. Plot: The story's anonymous narrator has moved from New England to New York City, and greatly regrets it. One night, while wandering in a historic part of Greenwich Village, he happens upon a man dressed in garments from the 18th century. The man offers to show the narrator the secrets of the town. - The man brings the narrator to his home; there, he tells him the story of a squire who bargained with Native Americans for the secrets of their rituals concerning time and space, which were practiced on the land where the squire had recently taken up residence. After learning these secrets, the squire killed the Native Americans by giving them "monstrous bad rum"; within a week all of them were dead, and he alone had the secret knowledge. The man shows the narrator visions of the city's past and future so terrifying that the narrator begins to scream wildly. The screams rouse the spirits of the Native Americans to take vengeance on the man, who is the same squire from 1768.

Show book