All Frontiers Are Jealous - A Pulp Fiction Story

During the pulp fiction era, the 1920s to the 1950s, writers churned out stories from all genres, such as fantasy, science fiction, romance, hard boiled detective, spicy detective, westerns, air and sea adventures and tales from the orient etc. "All Frontiers are Jealous" falls into the category of "far flung adventure," something that was dear to the heart of L. Ron Hubbard.

Hubbard was quotes as saying, "Adventuring is a state of mind. If you adventure through life, you have a good chance to be a success on paper." I think this is so true. In his story, "All Frontiers are Jealous," you experience the flavor of the country and its people and adventuring is an understatement!

The story, originally published in June of 1937, takes place in Africa in the south west portion of the Sudan. American engineer, Dan Courtney, is attempting to survey the route of the Sudan railway in its first attempt to connect major cities together. If surveying through the harsh jungle is not tough enough, he soon finds himself in tremendous danger. Of course there is an alluring American woman involved whom he must save from the terrifyingly fierce "Dinka Tribe." (An ethnic group believed to be some of the tallest men in all of Africa, who herd cattle during the warm dry season and grow grains in the rainy season.) Not much was known about these people in the early nineteen hundreds other than they were fiercely protective of their people and lands.

In true Hubbard style, he creatively weaves the story from an avenue you believe the story is going, and then he throws a curve ball you did not see coming. In this story, as if Courtney wasn't already in deep trouble, in his attempt to save the girl, he inadvertently kills a "Diamond Cop," who is part of an international police force that fights the lucrative but dangerous diamond smuggling business.

The pulp fiction era, (named such because of the cheap pulp paper they were printed on) had its own unique style but remains a great read none-the-less. Galaxy Press Publishing in addition to recreating the books in their original format and illustrations has produced the audio book version of "All Frontiers are Jealous."

In reading the book you create in your own mind how the characters may look and sound but the audio book gives a whole new experience with the story. The full-cast audio version is professionally done with cinematic quality sound effects and music. The voice talents of Richard Rocco, R.F. Daley, Christina Huntington, Jim Meskimen, Enn Reitel and Thomas Silcott, all give their characters the realism and life that carries the story right to the very end. It's refreshing to have the options of reading or listening to the stories.

This book is one of sixteen far flung adventure novels that Hubbard wrote but by no means his only style. He contributed stories in most of the genres of that time period but I found this particular book a fun read! I also learned a little history of Africa that I may not have known if not for the book. Check it out!

Fred Duckworth is working to reintroduce Stories from the Golden Age, a line of 80 books and multi-cast, unabridged audio books, featuring 153 stories written by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and 1940s. Click here to view the "Spy Killer trailer; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqUD5tiTZo&feature=youtu.be

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If I Were You! A Fantasy Story

If you could be anyone who would you be? Would you want to be that person or would you want to be as you are but in the other person's body? This begs an answer from the age old human problem of "is the grass really greener on the other side?"

In the Pulp Fiction fantasy novel "If I Were You" published in 1940 issue of Five-Novels Monthly, the circus midget Little Tom Little, unhappy about his short stature and being a side show attraction, comes face to face with this issue. When the mysterious and sometimes frightening professor dies Tom is bequeathed his ancient set of books on black magic and discovers the spell the professor assigned to him, the ability to jump from body to body. Tom is bewildered as to why the professor chose him and just as stunned to find out it was because he was the only person who could make fun of him without the fear of retaliation.

With his new found power he wastes no time trying it out, jumping from body to body. His admiration and desire to be like the tall imposing men of stature such as the ringmaster, leads him down a path of unexpected danger when he lands in the body of the big cat trainer. Tom's fear of the large savage cats overwhelms him as he quickly realizes his need for height may lead to a gruesome and untimely death.

"If I Were You," was one of four Pulp Fiction fantasy novels written by New York Times best selling author L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and 40s. There is a richness and believability to the story with unexpected twist and turns that keep you guessing to the very end. Although Hubbard was well versed in the genre of fantasy, he was equally versed in science fiction, mystery, air and sea adventures and westerns.

Fantasy novels really took root during the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction in the late 1920s where many authors made an indelible mark on the industry such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E Howard, Lester Dent and L Ron Hubbard, giving readers a much needed respite from the daily rigors of life.

In the Pulp Fiction era, readers would pick up the weekly dime novels and pass them along to family and friends or just throw them out when done. Today we can experience a broader form of story telling with not only novels but e-books, movies and television and audio-books.

Galaxy Press publishing has released the audio-book version of "If I Were You" featuring Nancy Cartwright (yes the voice of Bart Simpson but noticeably different from that character). It also stars Lynsey Bartilson, Corey Burton, Bob Caso, R.F. Daley, Jennifer Darling, John Mariano, Jim Meskimen, Phil Proctor and Tait Ruppert. This production is packed with music and cinema-quality sound effects, putting you right into the heart of the story. The commute to work can be an adventure indeed!

Hubbard has a keen eye and unique ability to create a kaleidoscope of colorful characters and this book is just a fun read!

Fred Duckworth is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning through audio books on cd collections from http://www.goldenagestories.com/. Galaxy Press Publishing, publisher of "The Golden Age Stories" and all genres of pulp fiction stories and novels, offers a convenient subscription service, so you never have to miss an issue. It's a pulp fiction lover's dream!

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Revival of the Pulp Fiction Story "Tomb of the Ten Thousand Dead"

From the late 1930s to the 1950s, L. Ron Hubbard wrote and published hundreds of stories in various pulp fiction magazines and now after six decades these timeless classic stories are being brought back to life by Galaxy Press Publishing.

In October of 1936, Hubbard's story, "Tomb of the Ten Thousand Dead" was released to avid pulp fiction enthusiasts. It is a story about Captain Gordon who is hired to fly a group of American anthropologists into a remote arid mountain region (which is now part of Pakistan bordering the Arabian Sea). This civil group, the Lancaster-Mallard Expedition, is bound by the common goal of obtaining scientific information but soon find themselves pitted against each other when the team finds an ancient map in an old pottery jar that is twenty three centuries old. It tells of a tomb built by "Alexander the Great" and the vast treasure he collected from their conquests in India. Buried there is not only the treasure but 10,000 Macedonian Soldiers. It is a tragic tale of these anthropologists falling prey to greed and their willingness to kill for the contents of the tomb. Captain Gordon will be lucky to make it out of the desert alive, with or without the treasure.

These collections of 153 stories in 80 volumes are being reproduced in their original format as a paper back with the beautifully done original pulp art work and inside illustrations. It also comes in a full-cast audio book with cinema quality music and sound enhancements. Reading the book is great but listening to the story on a cd gives a whole new dimension to the quality of the story that puts you smack in the middle of all the action. The audio book of "Tomb of the Ten Thousand Dead," features Josh R. Thompson and also stars R.F. Daley, Jim Meskimen, Ralph Lister, Joey Naber, Noelle North, Enn Reitel, Fred Tatasciore and Michael Yurchak. These actors breathe life into their characters and are worth listening to.

Included as a bonus is two more adventure stories; "Price of a Hat" and "Starch and Stripes" "Price of a Hat' was originally published March, 1936 tells of a Kubanka (a Russian fur hat) with a secret message stitched into its hatband. It cost the lives of six men in their many efforts to save the last Russian Czar, Nicholas II and his family.

"Starch and Stripes," was originally published January, 1936 and is a story that takes a humorous stab at the expense of the Marine Corps brass. A marine captain tries to capture a dangerous rebel leader, but just as the Marines are closing in on this villainous character, some U.S. senators and top brass decide it is time to inspect the base and decide on future funding for the marines.

Hubbard seems to have an ability to tell a timeless story with unique characters that are as fun to read today as it was in the 1930s. If you are not familiar with pulp fiction stories then it behoove you to explore the writings from that era. Many great writers came from the pulp era such as H.P. Lovecraft, Lester Dent, Agatha Christi, Raymond Chandler etc. all of whom contributed to what is fondly referred to as "The Golden Age of Pulp Fiction" and Hubbard is a part of that alumni.

Fred Duckworth is working to reintroduce Stories from the Golden Age, a line of 80 books and multi-cast, unabridged audio books, featuring 153 stories written by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and 1940s. Click here to view the "Spy Killer trailer; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqUD5tiTZo&feature=youtu.be

View the original article here