Synopses & Reviews
He’s a lady’s man, a man’s man—and a wanted man, on the run in 1930s Europe….
Meet Blacky Lee, ruggedly handsome with a quick wit and a roguish charm. Think Clark Gable—with larceny in his heart and a price on his head. A price put there by the German Gestapo. But Blacky’s always got an angle, and this time it’s as audacious as they come. He’ll hide in plain sight, impersonating the crowned head of a Balkan kingdom. He’ll become The Iron Duke.
Can he pull it off? Win the love of a country…and of a beautiful woman? All Blacky has to do is risk everything—and, for once in his life, find a way to do the right thing.
Hubbard and Gable were fast friends and fellow adventurers. While Hubbard was writing for Columbia Pictures in 1937, the studio often called upon him to doctor scripts for Gable—giving him a unique knowledge of the man and inspiration for characters like Blacky Lee.
“Colorful prose, lively action writing, exotic locales…excellent.” —Ellery Queen
Review
“Two novellas, first published in the magazine Five-Novels (in 1940 and 1947 respectively), reiterate the case for Hubbard as one of the great pulp writers, with colorful prose, lively action writing, exotic locales, fresh variations on standard characters and situations, and well-constructed plots. In Iron Duke, Blacky Lee, fleeing the Nazis with his less adventurous sidekick, impersonates the archduke of a Balkan country coveted by the Communists. Both find romance along with derring-do. As with other Hubbard volumes from this publisher, the packaging (including bright cover art, interior illustrations, glossary, and added information on the author) is excellent.” —Ellery Queen
Review
“. . . the adventure ones are just so much fun, that you wish there were more things written like them.” —Kevin J. Anderson
Review
"Prolific pulp-fiction author Hubbard (1911-1986) offers a variation on a familiar romantic theme with this fast-paced…thriller set in WWII Europe. Blacky Lee, an American weapons dealer, just happens to be the spitting image of Archduke Philip of Aldoria, a coincidence that enables him to dodge Nazis and ensnare the heart of the attractive Countess Zita." —Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Breathtaking, pulse-pounding adventure that would put Indiana Jones on edge. American arms merchant Blacky Lee is wanted by nearly every government in 1930s Europe—especially the Nazis. They want Blacky's head for selling them dud weapons, prompting his rapid (and illegal) escape across the Balkans to the kingdom of Aldoria with his business partner in tow.
Aldoria is well chosen. Years before, Blacky discovered he was the spitting image of the country's Prince Philip, learned the archduke's speaking voice and memorized the royal family tree just in case. When Blacky brazenly impersonates the leader, things go surprisingly well . . . that is, until he finds himself caught in the middle of a Communist plot to rig elections and take over. "Primo pulp fiction." —Booklist
Synopsis
He s a lady s man, a man s man and a wanted man, on the run in 1930s Europe .
Meet Blacky Lee, ruggedly handsome with a quick wit and a roguish charm. Think Clark Gable with larceny in his heart and a price on his head. A price put there by the German Gestapo. But Blacky s always got an angle, and this time it s as audacious as they come. He ll hide in plain sight, impersonating the crowned head of a Balkan kingdom. He ll become The Iron Duke.
Can he pull it off? Win the love of a country and of a beautiful woman? All Blacky has to do is risk everything and, for once in his life, find a way to do the right thing.
Hubbard and Gable were fast friends and fellow adventurers. While Hubbard was writing for Columbia Pictures in 1937, the studio often called upon him to doctor scripts for Gable giving him a unique knowledge of the man and inspiration for characters like Blacky Lee.
Colorful prose, lively action writing, exotic locales excellent. Ellery Queen
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Synopsis
Blacky Lee is a man wanted by nearly every government in Europe, who happens to be the spitting image of a leader in the Balkan kingdom of Aldoria. With nowhere else to hide, the enterprising Lee flees to Aldoria and attempts to make the most of his mistaken identity in a startling tale of intrigue, humor and romance.
"Multi-cast performances, sound effects, musical enhancements and flawless production values." —The Midwest Book Review
Synopsis
Blacky Lee is a lady’s man, a man’s man—and a wanted man, on the run in 1930s Europe, a price put on his head by the Nazis. Think Clark Gable—with larceny in his heart and a price on his head. But Blacky’s always got an angle—this time he’ll impersonate The Iron Duke, crowned head of a Balkan kingdom. He could win it all—the love of a country and a beautiful woman—if he’s willing to risk it all.
Hubbard and Gable were fast friends and fellow adventurers. While Hubbard was writing for Columbia Pictures in 1937, the studio often called upon him to doctor scripts for Gable—giving him a unique knowledge of the man and inspiration for characters like Blacky Lee.
“Colorful prose, lively action writing, exotic locales…excellent.” —Ellery Queen
About the Author
With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 230 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most acclaimed and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and '40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.