Publishers Weekly
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.(Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Midwest Book Review
Offering the reader a true 'roller coaster' ride of intrigue, suspense, action and adventure, Spy Killer is pulp fiction at its best.
Library Journal
Hubbard wrote a ton of pulp stories in every genre during the 1930s and 1940s. Galaxy is reissuing all of them in paperback-80 books in all (told you it was a ton). Each book features a killer pulp cover along with other illustrations, a glossary (parts of a ship for the briny swashbucklers, etc.), and background on the author.
Michael Rogers
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—"Kurt went to the back of the room and found the round-faced, slit-eyed proprietor." So goes the story of Kurt Reid, who has been accused of murder, and his adventures on "the Yellow Continent." Originally published in 1936, this is part of a series of stories by L. Ron Hubbard that have been recorded by a full cast, with music and sound effects. Like a lot of pulp fiction from that era, there are obvious stereotypes and distinct language that will make it a difficult sell to today's audiences. The narration is very dramatic, but the accents used for the Russian and Chinese characters border on ridiculous. Unless it is tied to a lesson on cultural stereotypes of the past or American pulp fiction, skip this title.—Genevieve Gallagher, Charlottesville High School, VA
From the Publisher
“Offering the reader a true ‘roller coaster’ ride of intrigue, suspense, action and adventure, Spy Killer is pulp fiction at its best.” —Midwest Book Review
“A superb storyteller with total mastery of plot and pacing.” —Publishers Weekly
OCT/NOV 08 - AudioFile
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. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine