The Professor Was a Thief

The awesome possibilities of science take center stage in this installment of Stories from the Golden Age. The collection features three tales: A newspaper reporter discovers why New York City landmarks are mysteriously shrinking, a space colonist must rely on science to outwit the fear-mongering magic of a distant planet, and a professor who discovers "Equation C" finds himself teleporting through the galaxy at a single stray thought. As in other editions in the series, the narrators deliver capable acting. Music is stellar, as are the otherworldly sound effects. While we may not dream of Mars in the way that we did in Hubbard's day, polished production makes these speculative stories good listening. F.G. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

September 28, 2009
Seasoned reporter Pop has just been told his career will prematurely end within two days thanks to the new changes at World-Journal
. Hoping to salvage his career, he takes the first lead he can get and finds himself at the doorstep of Professor Pertwee, a short man with big plans about making things smaller. Two other stories, “Battles of Wizards” and “The Dangerous Dimension,” round out this collection, reminding listeners that though Hubbard wrote science fiction, he often had a great sense of humor. The integration of sound effects, musical score and a full cast nostalgically harkens listeners back to the world of old-time radio. The main narrator carries the brunt of all three stories with a pitch and edge to his voice that is quite evocative of pulp fiction and while in other stories might feel overdramatic, fits perfectly well with Hubbard's tone.