Black Towers to Danger

August 12, 2013
The fast-moving action that’s a trademark of Hubbard’s pulp fiction is present from the very first page of this exciting novella (set in South America), which is stronger on plot than on character. The pressure’s on Bill Murphy, a Texas oilman who owns wells in Venezuela, after a new government order about “concession improvement” gives him just 30 days to prove that one of his wells will produce oil. That’s not all. An American competitor named Stewart has just been murdered, and Stewart’s attractive daughter, Marcia, believes Murphy is responsible. Marcia tells the men under her command to shoot Murphy on sight, but he survives long enough to be taken into custody by the corrupt local police. Will he manage to escape long enough to clear his name and get his well to produce? There aren’t a lot of surprises, but readers looking for a quick dose of escapism will be pleased.

October 1, 2013
This novella, first published in 1936, tells the story of Texas oilman Bill Murphy, who's in love with the beautiful Marcia Stewart. Naturally, this being pulp fiction, she despises him, believing Murphy killed her father. Can Murphy prove he's innocent, save his vast empire, and win the girl? Hubbard is at the top of his game here, hooking us with the setup and reeling us in with his larger-than-life characters and rough-and-tumble story. The book is ever-so-slightly reminiscent of Jim Thompson's classic South of Heaven, which was published 30-odd years later but features a similar setting and theme. Most of the Hubbard reissues feature a main story plus one or two smaller stories, but this one stands alone, which is just fine.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)