Skulls in the Stars, by Robert E Howard

He told how murderers walk the earth

Beneath the curse of Cain,

With crimson clouds before their eyes

And flames about their brain:

For blood has left upon their souls

Its everlasting stain. — Hood

This short story appeared in the January 1929 issue of "Weird Tales".

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Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 – June 11, 1936) was an American writer who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He created the character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre.

From the age of nine, Howard wanted to become an adventure fiction writer but did not have real success until he was 23. Thereafter Howard's writings were published in a wide selection of magazines—mainly Weird Tales—journals, and newspapers, and he became proficient in several subgenres.

Howard was a fan of boxing, eventually taking up amateur boxing; he also spent some time in his late teens bodybuilding.

Howard remains a highly read author, with his best works still reprinted.