Moore, an Indiana native, was one of the first female writers to publish in the fantasy genre. With her character Jirel of Joiry she may have created the first English language female fantasy hero(ine) who battles wizards and warlocks just as adeptly as any barbarian. Though influenced by Robert E. Howard's Conan stories, Moore adds much more of a supernatural element to her world. The title story was billed as "the weirdest story ever told" when published in Weird Tales circa 1934.