"The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" by Robert E. Howard

(1929)

First appearance Weird Tales, September 1929.

Plot: Kull is bored and frustrated with his role as king, so when a mysterious servant girl tells him of the wizard Tuzun Thune and his magic, he must seek him out. The wizard is of the Elder Race that held the Valusian continent before the present masters. He mystifies Kull with clever speech before showing him his mirrors which can see the past, the future and other worlds. Kull becomes a frequent visitor, neglecting his throne, delving deeper and deeper into one mirror in particular. He almost crosses over to the other side when Brule pulls him back, after killing Tuzun Thune. The wizard, the servant girl and Kaanuub, the Baron of Blaal, planned to trap Kull in the mirror and then take over the throne.

Monsters: None.

History: The only other Kull story to appear in Weird Tales, it is quite different from "The Shadow Kingdom", more of a mood piece and perhaps more typical of WT. It covers similar ideas as "The Striking of the Gong" but has more of a story. Fritz Leiber would use a similar story shape when he would write "The Bazaar of the Bizarre" in 1963. C. L. Moore used a similar friend-rescuing-a-friend-type device with Northwest Smith and Yarol in "Shambleau" (Weird Tales, November 1933).

"The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune" has appeared three times: as an insert into a Conan adventure in Conan the Barbarian #25 (April 1973) adapted by Roy Thomas and drawn by John Buscema, Sal Buscema and John Severin.

Again in The Savage Sword of Conan #34 (October 1978) adapted by Roy Thomas and drawn by Mik Ploog (Read the entire comic here.)

 

Lastly, in a loosely based version called "Demon In a Silvered Glass" in Bizarre Adventures #26 (May 1981) written by Doug Moench and drawn by John Bolton.

 

 

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