"The Black Abbot of Puthuum" is a short story by American author

Clark Ashton Smith Clark Ashton Smith (January 13, 1893 – August 14, 1961) was an American writer and artist. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Algernon Charles Swinburne ...

as part of his

Zothique ''Zothique'' is a collection of fantasy short stories by Clark Ashton Smith, edited by Lin Carter. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books as the sixteenth volume of its Ballantine Adult Fantasy series in June 1970. It was the firs ...

cycle, and first published in the March

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – George V of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India, dies at his Sandringham Estate. The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King E ...

issue of ''

Weird Tales ''Weird Tales'' is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger in late 1922. The first issue, dated March 1923, appeared on newsstands February 18. The first editor, Edwin Baird, prin ...

''.

Plot

In Yoros, Zobal the archer and Cushara the pike-bearer are assigned by king Hoaraph to retrieve the maiden Rubalsa from Izdrel for the king's harem. They are accompanied by the eunuch Simban. While they retrieve Rubalsa and head off for Yoros, a darkness envelops them. Surrounded by darkness, strange sounds haunt them. Eventually they are met by a black man Ujuk, who is an abbot for the monastery Puthuum. Ujuk invites them to a feast, but Zobal and Cushara are skeptical of his intentions. Later that night, Zobal finds an animate mummy named Uldor. Uldor tells Zobal he was the last survivor of a monastery. However, in the final days, Uldor was visited by a lamia and they had a son, Ujuk. Uldor pleads with Zobal to kill Ujuk. Zobal does this and Puthuum disappears. Meanwhile, Sibman dies. Deciding this is outside the deal the king made with them, Zobal and Cushara draw lots to decide who will take Rubalsa for their own. Instead, Rubalsa chooses Cushara.

Themes

In the 1988 book ''Fantasy: The 100 Best Books'', James Cawthorn and

Michael Moorcock Michael John Moorcock (born 18 December 1939) is an English writer, best-known for science fiction and fantasy, who has published a number of well-received literary novels as well as comic thrillers, graphic novels and non-fiction. He has work ...

noted the stories "

Necromancy in Naat "Necromancy in Naat" is a short story by American author Clark Ashton Smith as part of his Zothique cycle, and first published in the July 1936 issue of ''Weird Tales''. Plot Nomad prince Yadar finds his betrothed Dalili taken up by bandits duri ...

", "

The Witchcraft of Ulua "The Witchcraft of Ulua" is a short story by American author Clark Ashton Smith as part of his Zothique cycle, and first published in the February 1934 issue of ''Weird Tales''. Plot Sabmon lives in a house made of bones on the edge of a northern ...

", and "The Black Abbot of Puthuum" on the theme of love and lust.

References

External links

*
Text of "The Black Abbot of Puthuum"
Short stories by Clark Ashton Smith Fantasy short stories 1936 short stories Works originally published in Weird Tales {{1930s-fantasy-story-stub

Plot

Themes

See also

References

External links