The Fiction of L. Ron Hubbard: A Comprehensive Bibliography & Reference Guide to Published and Selected Unpublished Works

Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology, was also a popular writer of pulp fiction. Two sections in this laudatory compilation provide summaries of each of his fictional works. These may be useful. The rest of the book is baldly promotional, beginning with the author's romantic presentation of Hubbard's past, followed by interminable lists of honors and awards, flattering appreciations, and softly-tinted photos of the man himself and mounds of his products, awards and other promotional materials. A fascinating cultural artifact. Lacks a serious bibliography and an index. Published by Bridge Publications Inc., 4751 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology, was also a remarkably popular writer of pulp fiction. The two longest sections of this laudatory compilation are those describing chronologically each of Hubbard's fictional works. These sections are well done. Other sections include such lists as "Honors and Awards" and reprints of articles and letters praising Hubbard. The section on "Critical Appreciation" lists one- and two-sentence excerpts that glow with praise for Hubbard, but none gives enough citation information to locate the original. Hubbard's fans might well love this compilation; scholars of popular culture might find its bibliography useful and the book itself a fascinating cultural artifact. However, it would be better if the hymnal paeans to Hubbard were deleted and the "appreciations" replaced with citations to studies and reviews of Hubbard by people who are not members of his flock.
Peter Dollard, Alma Coll. Lib., Mich.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.