So, last week I was doing an image search on something or other and I saw a pic that caught my eye. As it turned out, it was one of the full-color plates from Clover Press' Rattle of Bones, a loosely horror-themed collection of Robert E. Howard yarns published last summer. The artist for the book was Gabriel Rodriguez.

I vaguely remembered hearing about the Kickstarter for the book. I know that some people on social media were, like, why? Having done some research, I have to say, "Because it's cool to make a cool book."

The selection of stories is fine. Maybe not super-strong, but solid. I'll talk more about those in the commentary. To me, Rodriguez's art made this a stand-out project. I'd never heard of him, but I'm definitely a fan now. Born in Chile, Rodriguez has that Old World sense of craftsmanship and draftsmanship that I've always associated with artists from Spain and her colonies--including the 'Filipino Invasion' of the '60s and '70s.

Let's take a look at Gabriel's art, starting with the cover...

Rodriguez's cover depicts a scene from the title story, naturally enough. I don't consider it a stand-out in the bunch, but it certainly is artistically composed and well-executed.

'Rattle of Bones' is one of the REH's Solomon Kane yarns. Sword-and-sorcery/heroic fantasy/proto-S&S/historical fantasy...however you want to parse it. The fact remains that the horror element is very strong in this tale. S&S authors should be reminded again and again and again that the roots of the genre lie just as much in horror as they do in adventure fiction. Two great tastes that taste great together.

The first story in the collection is 'In the Forest of Villefere'. I first read this REH yarn in junior high and I've always had a soft spot for it. It is, admittedly, a slight effort in some ways, but it was one of Howard's first tales and arguably his first stab at writing heroic fantasy/S&S. In my opinion, Rodriguez did a great job of depicting the antagonist of this story.

Next is Howard's sequel to 'In the Forest of Villefere': 'Wolfshead'. This tale has long been considered REH's first truly memorable tale. Lovecraft, for instance, praised it. Personally, I think it influenced one of Karl Edward Wagner's best Kane stories, 'Reflections on the Winter of My Soul'. Rodriguez's plate for this one is well-wrought and atmospheric, though I prefer the 'Villefere' illo.

I consider Gabriel's plate for 'Sea Curse' one of the true stand-outs in the book. It's just wonderfully done, with an 'engraving' feel to it that I love. Notice how Rodriguez suggests a fanged skull with that starboard sail?

'The Touch of Death' has had its title altered from Howard's original appellation, 'The Fearsome Touch of Death'. I have to say that the compression/abbreviation doesn't bother me much. Rodriguez's illo for it is well-done. It makes me wish he'd do some illos for an Ambrose Bierce or Poe collection.

As a DMR Blog bonus, here’s the monochrome prelim. To me, this has even more of the feel of something that might’ve appeared in a nineteenth century edition of Poe or Bierce.

Gabriel's plate for 'Dig Me No Grave' is truly excellent. I would love to see this used as the cover for the complete, collected tales of Conrad and Kirowan--something that has never been published, but which needs to be done.

'People of the Dark' was in the same collection I read which contained 'In the Forest of Villefere'. A fine REH yarn which was adapted into a memorable Conan comics tale by Roy Thomas and Alex Nino. Gabriel does a great job of depicting the last (?) survivor of the reptilian 'Worms of the Earth'.

Finally, we come to 'The House of Arabu'. I've loved this REH yarn for almost all of my life. One of the true underrated gems of S&S fiction--which is why Dave Ritzlin included it in the first volume of Renegade Swords.

I have to say, I think Rodriguez dropped the ball on this one. The plate, apparently, depicts one of the Underworld denizens that Pyrrhas the Argive encounters toward the end of the tale. In my opinion--for what it's worth--there were about three other scenes in that tale which would've been better to illustrate. Scenes with more drama and just as much horror. Nice art, but there were definitely missed opportunities here.

All in all, Rodriguez can be justifiably proud of his work on this collection. While I'm not sure his art for this beats the illos Greg Staples--another underrated artist--did for Del Rey's The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard, it is certainly right up there. I hope Clover Press brings Gabriel back to illustrate more tales from REH.