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THE ICE WORM (1969)


SOURCE: "The Lair of the Ice Worm" by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter (Conan of Cimmeria, 1969)

DESCRIPTION: "Then in the gloom before him opened two cold green eyes, which stared into the roots of the soul. These luminous orbs cast a gelid, submarine light of their own. By their faint, fungoid phosphorescence, he could see that the cavern ended in a round well, which was the ice worm's nest. Coil on undulating coil, its immense length was curled in the hollow of its nest. Its boneless form was covered with the silken nap of thick white fur. Its mouth was merely a jawless, circular opening, now puckered and closed. Above the mouth, the two luminous orbs gleamed out of a smooth, rounded, featureless eel-like head." ("The Lair of the Ice Worm" by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter)

NOTES: The Ice Worm uses a trilling song and its 'luminous orbs' to hypnotize its prey. Conan kills it by throwing hot coals into its mouth. None of the artists in Savage Sword followed the de Camp/Carter diescription much, making it look more like a plush toy than an eel-like monster. (See cover above.)

HISTORY: This story was adapted in Savage Sword of Conan #34 (October 1978)