From the Publisher
"... the story, which first appeared in the May 1940 issue of Five-Novels Monthly , is primo pulp fiction, written in an urgent style (plenty of exclamation marks and short paragraphs); but it drives the reader through to the exciting--and surprisingly moving--conclusion." —Booklist
“Hubbard’s thoroughly researched adventure, inspired by the 1939 Winter War between Finland and Russia, was originally published in the May 1940 issue of Five Novels Monthly. As a testament to its historical worth, it was translated and reprinted 14 years later for distribution in the Nordic world….Hubbard’s love of storytelling comes through clearly here, and though the protagonist’s G.I. Joe-like Americanism may not appeal to all listeners, the sound effects—e.g. the ‘clanking and wheezing’ of bomber engines revving up for an impending suicide mission—greatly enhance the weight of this thoughtful tale.” —Library Journal
Library Journal
Hubbard's thoroughly researched adventure, inspired by the 1939 Winter War between Finland and Russia, was originally published in the May 1940 issue of Five-Novels Monthly. As a testament to its historical worth, it was translated and reprinted 14 years later for distribution in the Nordic world. David Duane is an American ace pilot fighting for the Democratic People's Government of Finland when he takes down a squadron of Russian bombers he sees in the clouds. There, he discovers a mythical land of war heroes, Puhjola, where he is reunited with members of his air team who died in action as well as the Soviets he just shot down, and ultimately faces the challenge of changing his destiny. R.F. Daley narrates while John Mariano, Phil Proctor, Bob Caso, Kelly Ward, and Christina Huntington voice the 23-character cast. Hubbard's love of storytelling comes through clearly here, and though the protagonist's G.I. Joe-like Americanism may not appeal to all listeners, the sound effects—e.g., the "clanking and wheezing" of bomber engines revving up for an impending suicide mission—greatly enhance the weight of this thoughtful tale.
School Library Journal - Audio
Gr 9 Up—L. Ron Hubbard gained fame and name recognition as the founder of Scientology and the author of Dianetics, but his novels and short stories often go unmentioned. This World War II-era story, first published in The pilot meets people who have previously died, including those he has personally killed, and pursues romance with a forbidden Russian woman, all after being shot down in a strange and mysterious place. Narrator Bob Caso and five other cast members make a valiant attempt to bring this pulp novella to life, performing amidst gunfire and other sound effects, but they can't overcome the story line. Take a pass and give students something more current.—Bernie Morrissey, The Harker School, San Jose, CA
DECEMBER 2011 - AudioFile
David Duane, an American fighter pilot, is fighting in Finland against the Russians in the 1940s. The story starts out as if it’s a documentary about Duane’s life, with narration as matter-of-fact as a newsreel. The action-packed war story is made vivid by sounds of gunfire, airplane engines, and men screaming. Then it eerily veers into fantasy as Duane’s plane is shot down and he visits a mysterious land whose ruler sends him back to his real life—doomed to die unless he can change his fate. The full cast does a great job with the various accents, while music and sound effects add to the strange story, making it an even more surreal experience. M.M.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
