Danger in the Dark

L. Ron Hubbard
Galaxy Press, $9.95, 124 pages, ISBN: 9781592123674 - paperback, ISBN: 9781592122400 - CD
reviewed by Barry Hunter

One thing about this series is that it makes me think of the way the world has changed. The book is made to resemble the pulps of the past complete with the original illustrations. The CD is made to state of the art processes and is a multicast recording featuring Karen Black, so it is more than a book on CD. The vast majority of readers today don’t remember the smell of the pulp paper that would creep up as you read. They don’t remember listening to The Shadow, The Lone Ranger, Gangbusters, or Gunsmoke on the radio and then a small screen black and white television. Old 78 rpm records gave way to lps; 8 track tapes gave way to cassettes and now CDs; and now they are only found in antique shops. It’s a good thing that Galaxy Press is bringing back these "golden age stories" for a new generation to show them what they missed.

This volume features three stories, each showing a different view of Hubbard the writer. We have a white man taking on the 75 foot tall living god of the island, a young man finding out his uncles best kept secret, and a man who hates cats who is repaid in kind.

All are presented in their original form and a glossary is included to explain some of the terms that aren’t as familiar today. This is a marvelous collection as an introduction to Hubbard and the pulps and a tremendous series to collect. You can even sign up to receive new ones each month. To learn more, check out the website at www.goldenagestories.com.