The Ship of Ishtar

John Kenton experiences eternity in one night when he becomes a pawn in the cosmic struggle between the Babylonian gods Nergal, the Destroyer, the Lord of Death, and Ishtar, the Mother, Goddess of Life. An academic, Kenton, contemplating a curious artifact from an archeological dig, is pulled from his quiet cultured New York apartments to treachery and war on the vast enchanted seas the ship sails upon.

The Ship of Ishtar – A queer, inscribed block of stone found in the ruins of Babylon! And out of it came a call, strong across the centuries, from an ancient, enchanted sea, where sailed—The Ship of Ishtar
Chapter I – The Block From Babylon
Chapter II – The First Adventure
Chapter III – The Sin Of Zarpanit
Chapter IV – “Am I Not—Woman?”
Chapter V – Slave Of The Ship
Chapter VI – Under The Lash Of Zachel
Chapter VII – The Chains Are Loosed
Chapter VIII – The Snaring Of Sharane
Chapter IX – Black Priest Strikes
Chapter X – Down The Rope Of Sound
Chapter XI – The Isle Of Sorcerers
Chapter XII – The King Of The Two Deaths
Chapter XIII – “Ishtar! Show Thy Face!”
Chapter XIV – Of The Black Priest
Chapter XV – The Wakening Of Sharane
Chapter XVI – To The Open Sea
Chapter XVII – The Ship’s Last Battle
Chapter XVIII – The Broken Toy!

Abraham Grace Merritt (1884–1943) – known by his byline, A. Merritt – was born in Beverly, New Jersey. A highly successful writer and editor, Merritt made $25,000 per year by 1919, and at the end of his life was earning $100,000 yearly—exceptional sums for the period.

The Ship of Ishtar was first published in six installments in Argosy All-Story magazine, November 8 – December 13, 1924.

The Ship of Ishtar contains 9 illustrations.