Spy Killer

A full cast, music, and sound effects help bring to life the novellas that L. Ron Hubbard wrote for cheap pulp magazines of the 1930s and 1940s, before he founded the Church of Scientology. Long out of print, 150 of his novellas are now available for $9.95 apiece, each with incredible pulp cover art. It's disconcerting to hear Bart Simpson as a circus midget, in "If I Were You," but Nancy Cartwright's Bart/midget voice works when you surrender and picture Bart as the haggard protagonist. "Spy Killer" is interesting but over the top. A villain with scales? Still, Lori Jablons and friends skillfully deliver the tale of a burley American in the Orient. They even describe a character with eyes "the color of bichloride mercury" without flinching. M.S. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine


Tough guys, sexy girls, and vile villains: Yeah, it's the return of the pulps. Before he founded Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard wrote hundreds of stories in the 1930s-40s for pulp magazines. They're being released on disc for the first time, and "Spy Killer" is one of the coolest. The full-cast recording combines skillful actors, music, sound effects, and handsome packaging that belies the $9.95 price point. Lori Jablons, R.F. Daley, Shane Johnson, Kim Meskimen (who also directed), and Tait Ruppert deliver the tale of a burly American who jumps a freighter when he's framed for murder in pre-Communist China. Listeners hear every punch, gunshot, and scream and will be impressed at how well the story holds up. M.S. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

July 21, 2008
In this fast-paced short novel of espionage and intrigue from pulp master Hubbard, Kurt Reid, bucko mate of the tanker Rangoon
, jumps ship to avoid a murder rap. His goal is the city of Shanghai because “behind it lay all of China” and a fair chance for escape. Instantly, Reid is drawn into a plot involving a beautiful Russian spy, Varinka, and the sinister Gen. Lin Wang and his executioners known as “the Death Squad.” The equally beautiful Anne Carsten complicates the romantic equation. While not as polished or prolific as Max “King of the Pulps” Brand, the future founder of Scientology carved a solid career as a contributor to the popular magazines of his day. This action yarn first saw print in the April 1936 issue of Five-Novels Monthly
—the bright primary colors of that original cover, reproduced here, add nicely to the timeless pulp appeal.

Starred review from July 28, 2008
This classic 1936 Hubbard tale takes listeners to pre-Communist China where a man named Kurt Reid has fled murder charges only to find himself thrust into the exotic world of foreign espionage. This multicast performance brings an air of the old radio theater shows of the '30s and '40s, transporting listeners to another time and place. An exceptional performance by Lori Jablons is a true highlight of this production, as she assumes the role of the mysterious and beautiful Russian rebel, Varinka Savischna. With the perfect blend of background sounds that are often as simple as crowd murmuring or distant animal noises, the result is a genuinely entertaining listening experience. A Galaxy Press paperback.