Greed | |||||||
L. Ron Hubbard | |||||||
Multi-cast performance, unabridged | |||||||
Galaxy Audio, 2 hours | |||||||
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A review by Susan Dunman
Can one man's actions determine the fate of nations and even worlds? L. Ron Hubbard tackles this question
in "Greed," a short story that describes the exploits of George Marquis Lorrilard, an adventurer seeking fame and
fortune in the wide open frontiers of space. As Earth lies embroiled in a war of stalemates pitting Asia against
the United Continents, Lorrilard concentrates on stealing riches from various Asian ships and outposts throughout
the Galaxy.
When his efforts are thwarted by a top-secret weapon called the cohesion projector, Lorrilard must use all the
craft and cleverness he's developed over the years to try and defeat the Asians' unstoppable weapon. Hubbard's
premise that greed can be a major motivator for explorers (or exploiters, as they are referred to in the story)
offers plenty of food for thought.
The telling of this story benefits from the use of sound effects, which help move it forward, but there's not
much dialogue for the performers to work with, lessening the audio impact which Galaxy Audio performances
usually carry. This was the last Hubbard story published in Astounding Science Fiction in April, 1950.
The second offering, "Final Enemy," takes a look at humanity's reaction when the inhabitants of two different
planets tell of invading aliens who almost wiped out their respective civilizations years earlier. The people
of Earth join together in a concerted effort to prepare for a similar invasion.
The single-minded purpose of the entire planet changes governments, armies, and society into one big cooperative
effort unlike anything the world has ever experienced. Months of careful examination of the two planets in
question eventually reveal the identity of the murderous enemy, but it's not what anyone expects. The audio
talents of the Galaxy team and the clever "gotcha" ending make this a story well worth hearing. Super
Science Stories first published this adventure in September, 1950.
The last story in this collection, "The Automagic Horse," is by far my favorite of the bunch. Published
in Astounding Science Fiction in October, 1949, it took the top slot in Astounding's
monthly reader polls, and I can certainly see why. When Gadget O'Dowd is asked to make a robotic horse for a
highly acclaimed movie production, the gifted mechanic/engineer/inventor demands a hefty price to complete the project.
His creation surpasses all expectations, even fooling seasoned horsemen wagering bets at the local race
track. But O'Dowd's toughest task is fooling the new accountant, who has been sent by the head office to
make sure all of the money O'Dowd has requested for building the horse is spent appropriately. Evidently
Hubbard had a good sense of humor and he unabashedly uses it here to create a story that's a little bit
silly and a whole lot of fun. It's obvious the performers felt the same way because you can almost see them
smiling as they deliver this memorable audio performance.
This collection gives listeners a good idea of the type of fiction being written for the pulp magazines of
the era. The audio production only enhances the signature "pulp" style of the time and provides an enjoyable
way to experience these early science fiction stories.
Susan became a librarian many light years ago and has been reviewing books ever since. Audiobooks and graphic novels have expanded her quest to find the best science fiction in Libraryland. |
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