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  • 2 Audiobooks from The Golden Age and L. Ron Hubbard {Book Review}

    2 Audiobooks from The Golden Age and L. Ron Hubbard {Book Review}

    I don’t listen to audiobooks all that often, but periodically I’ll take over the car selection.  I had another opportunity to do that with 2 more books from L. Ron Hubbard and The Golden Age Stories (read my last review from them).

     

    Man-Killers of the Air

    By L. Ron Hubbard

    Man-Killers of the Air

     

    About the Book:  On the eve of entering an international air race to win much-needed prize money, Smoke and Patty face the usual and the impossible. The race involves a dangerous, grueling flight down Central America, over the Andes and across the Brazilian jungle—that’s typical. The real challenge is that a publicity-hungry newspaper mogul is trying to sabotage Smoke’s plane, the “Super-Comet,” and make sure that this race is his last. Plus, the beautiful woman he loves resents his supposed infatuation with height and speed. Now Smoke must somehow win her over, against lethal odds piled high in the turbulent sky

     
    My Thoughts:  There was a bit of language in this one.  I find language harder in audio books since it’s being said out loud, instead of me just eyeing over it. The storyline was well done. As they set out trying to save reputation, the plane, and his girl – Man-Killers of the air has a bit of everything. Mystery, love, suspense. Adding in the Cheetah was just a fun twist of the story.

    Trouble on His WingsTrouble On His Wings

    By L. Ron Hubbard

    About the Book: Johnny Brice is a hotheaded, hard-working “picture-chaser” for the newsreels. He loves to fly into the mouth of danger (whether forest fire, shipwreck or flood), get the story first, shoot it and send the film back fast so that it can be turned into newsreels for theatres all across America. He’s the best there ever was as a “top dog” reporter . . . up till the day he inadvertently saves the life of a golden-haired girl he pulls out of the ocean while covering a ship burning at sea.

    My Thoughts: Of the two, I enjoyed this book much more. It was faster paced, and seemed to come together better. Action after action, waiting to see who the girl really was. I was actually a little sad when this one ended.  Don’t let the cover of this one fool you though. Although there is a bit of a love story, it stays clean, and doesn’t delve into that genre more than a passing thought of “pretty girl”. 

     
     

    About the Author

    “What is generally missed,” Mr. Hubbard once remarked, “is that my writing financed research.” And although more broadly known for what finally came from that research, his novels and stories will never be forgotten. Having published a full 15 million words between 1929 and 1941, the name L. Ron Hubbard had been virtually synonymous with popular fiction through the 1930s—or as friend and fellow author Frederik Pohl had proclaimed, “The instant Ron’s stories appeared on the newsstands, they became part of every fan’s cultural heritage.” And given the volume of his work through these years—more than two hundred stories and novels spanning all popular genres: mystery, Western, adventure, fantasy, science fiction and even romance—that cultural heritage was indeed rich.

     
     
    *I received these audiobooks to review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
    

  • Golden Age Stories – Audio Book Review

    Golden Age Stories
    The Best in Pulp Fiction
     
    If you haven’t figured out yet, I love books. Reading has always been a passion of mine, thanks to my dad. My parents actually have a room in their home, dedicated to books. They call it the library. They even have a checkout system. It’s probably my favorite room in their house.
     
    Normally I prefer hard copies of books, but periodically I enjoy getting an audio book. Something to listen to while I get the housework done. Or in the most recent case, listening on the drive to our old house to fix some things before sale.
     
    My parents watched the kids, and I got to drive the hour to our previous home, to pick up Mark. He was taking care of some painting in order to comply with the appraisers notes. While he was there, he sold our car, and needed a ride back.
    So there I find myself, alone, in the car. No kids music playing, no talk radio for the hubby. My pick! I pulled out The Iron Duke by L. Ron Hubbard, and one of the many audio’s in the Collection of Stories from the Golden Age. Prior to this one, I had listened to Red Death Over China, another Golden Age Story by L. Ron Hubbard. This one was enjoyed while canning applesauce.
     
    About the Books: The Iron Duke is part of the Far Flung Adventure Stories. When Blacky discovers he looks like the Duke of Aldoria, plans are made, and years are spent perfecting the language and signature to impersonate his majesty. A turn of events lands Blacky and his companion in the midst of Aldoria and the unrest due to a drunken Duke who cares for no one.
     
    Red Death Over China, an Air Adventure, takes place during China’s civil war. American pilot John Hampton, has no allegiances, and works where ever there is money. After his gunner is shot, and he picks up a captain on the run from approaching armies, his attitude begins to change. Could there really be a right and wrong side?
     
    About the Author: L. Ron Hubbard lived from 1911 to 1986.  During the 1930’s and 1940’s Hubbard wrote many stories for pulp fiction magazines.  Best known for his fantasy and science fiction stories, he also wrote many westerns, romances, aviation, travel and many more!
     
    In writing an adventure story a writer has to know that he is adventuring for a lot of people who cannot. The writer has to take them here and there about the globe and show them excitement and love and realism. As long as that writer is living the part of an adventurer when he is hammering the keys, he is succeeding with his story.
    Adventuring is a state of mind. If you adventure through life, you have a good chance to be a success on paper.
    Adventure doesn’t mean globe-trotting, exactly, and it doesn’t mean great deeds. Adventuring is like art. You have to live it to make it real.
    – L Ron Hubbard
     
    My thoughts: I truly enjoyed listening to both these books. They were full of adventure, and life lessons. Not only that, but they were clean as well. These stories would be perfect for middle grade and teen readers looking for an adventure, and adults wanting to step back in time. Hubbard pulls off some well written stories.
    As for the audio version, they were great! It wasn’t just listening to someone read a story, you get the whole experience of sound effects as well, making the book really come alive.
     
    You can purchase paperback or audio copies on Amazon. Then read more reviews, and add your own on Goodreads
     
    You can also download and listen to a few short story samples online HERE.
    If you’re looking for even more, be sure to check out the Golden Age Stories YouTube Channel. You’ll get a full theatrical version of the stories while they are read. 
     
     
    * I received these audio books for my personal use to review, as a member of Business 2 Blogger. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.