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Ambrose Bierce’s Birthday, with a Guest Appearance by Robert E. Howard, Part 2: The Effects of Psychological Horror and Snakes

Today we have another guest post by John Bullard.

Ambrose Bierce

Today, June 24th, is the birthday of writer, reporter, and Civil War veteran, Ambrose Bierce. I originally wrote this piece  last year after having thought about Bierce’s influence on some of Robert E. Howard’s stories. Well, I have recently read another Bierce story that Howard may have read, and influenced a story he wrote. At the very least, they both wrote a story on the same idea- the psychological effects of horror on a person’s mind involving snakes. Did Bierce’s story influence Howard in writing his story?

Massive Spoilers follow for both stories.

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