Publishers Weekly - Audio
11/24/2014
Betsy Trotwood has come west to find her father, Slim Trotwood, a ruthless land grabber. Those who resist his entreaties seem to wind up in gruesome situations or outright dead. But cowboy Sunset Maloney looks to set things right—with or without the help of Slim’s naïve daughter. The audio edition of Hubbard’s western mystery is embellished with a musical score, sound effects, and a full cast. The character voices are appropriately caricatured and add to the entertainment value of the whole production. R.F. Daley voices the main narrator and provides an energized and excited tone throughout to keep listeners’ attention. All these elements create a listening experience that’s reminiscent of old-time western radio. (Oct.)
APRIL 2015 - AudioFile
During the 1930s and ‘40s, L. Ron Hubbard wrote in almost every pulp genre imaginable and wasn’t afraid to mix and match. The story “The Slickers” is a fine example of this experimenting. It combines the easygoing twang of a Western with the hard-boiled rhythms of an urban detective mystery as an Arizona sheriff who travels to New York City doesn’t take kindly to having his wallet stolen and being framed for murder by tough-talking mobsters. Combining state-of-the-art sound effects and music with Golden Age Radio acting styles, ace Galaxy Press narrator R.F. Daley and the cast read all three unabridged short stories in this collection (“The Slickers,” “Murder Afloat,” and “Killer Ape”) with affection, humor, and, especially, a sense of good old-time adventure. B.P. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
