description Red Nails Overview
'Red Nails' is a sword and sorcery novella by Robert E. Howard featuring his character Conan the Barbarian. Serialized in three parts in 'Weird Tales' magazine in 1936, it was the final Conan story published before Howard's death. The narrative follows Conan and the female pirate Valeria as they explore a cursed, ruined city in the southern jungles and encounter its warring inhabitants.
It is considered one of the defining works of the genre.
insights Ranking position
Red Nails ranks #93 of 263 in the Adventure Novel ranking, behind The Eye of the Needle, ahead of The Wine-Dark Sea.
help Red Nails FAQ
Is 'Red Nails' the last Conan story written by Robert E. Howard?
Yes, 'Red Nails' was the final Conan story published before Robert E. Howard's tragic death in 1936. It is widely considered one of his darkest and most mature sword and sorcery works.
Where was Robert E. Howard's 'Red Nails' originally published?
The novella was serialized in three parts in the classic pulp magazine 'Weird Tales' in 1936. The installments appeared in the July, August-September, and October issues of that year.
Who is the female lead in the Conan story 'Red Nails'?
The narrative follows Conan the Barbarian and the fierce female pirate Valeria. Together, they become trapped in the weird, ancient cursed city of Xuchotl where its inhabitants are engaged in a bloody civil war.
What happens in the cursed city of Xuchotl in 'Red Nails'?
Inside the city of Xuchotl, Conan and Valeria discover a society that has been locked in a savage, generations-long civil war fought entirely indoors. The story involves dark magic, a resurrected horror, and intense swordplay.
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