Synopses & Reviews
The Chinese city of Shunkien is under siege, the Japanese military laying it to waste. In the middle of the city sits the American consulate, a fragile sanctuary packed with refugees, threatened not only by artillery, but by the ravages of starvation and cholera.
200 miles away, on the USS Miami, stands their only hope—Marine Gunnery Sergeant James Mitchell. As tough as Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan—and just as stubborn—if anybody can negotiate a crucial supply of gold and medicine through 200 miles of bullets, bombs and butchery, it’s Sergeant Mitchell.
But the Japanese are the least of his problems. First there’s Goldy Brown, the American fan-dancer who’s hitched along for the ride—a girl as unpredictable as her skirt is tight. And then there’s the greatest enemy of all: alcohol. Mitchell has a weakness for the bottle, and if he falls into one, it’s America that will pay the price.
As a young man, Hubbard visited Manchuria, where his closest friend headed up British intelligence in northern China. Hubbard gained a unique insight into the hostile political climate between China and Japan—a knowledge that informs stories like Orders Is Orders. In addition, he served as a First Sergeant with the 20th United States Marine Corps Reserve—giving him first-hand knowledge of what it means to be a Marine.
“Originally published in 1937, this tale is a splendid audio, filled with sound effects, Asian-inspired music, and lively characterizations.” —Booklist
Review
"Hubbard’s tale, originally published in a pulp magazine in 1937, takes listeners to the war-torn Chinese city of Shunkien, where the Japanese have launched an assault of epic proportions. The lone building left standing among the piles of flaming rubble is the American consulate, where innocent refugees are trying to stave off hunger and a deadly flu epidemic. Demonstrating his unique ability to relate even the most complicated story with a keen eye for detail and realism, Hubbard’s stunning writing ability and creative imagination set him apart as one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century. The recording, as usual, is stunning and well directed by Jim Meskimen. Featuring brilliant performances by Brooke Bloom, R.F. Daley and Meskimen himself, the story captivates thoroughly." —Publishers Weekly starred review
Review
"Originally published in 1937, this tale is a splendid audio, filled with sound effects, Asian-inspired music, and lively characterizations. The American consulate in a Japanese-occupied city in China is in dire need of cholera serum and food. U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant James Mitchell and Private First Class Spivits are trying to reach the consulate with serum and enough gold to purchase food. Along the way, they pick up Bronx-born fan dancer Goldy and Mitchell’s missionary father. Bloom reads the role of Goldy in an authentic Bronx accent. When Goldy initially tries to pass herself off as the daughter of a millionaire, listeners know she is lying because her dialect gives her away. Remaining cast members do their part as well, bringing authenticity to the dialogue. Background sound effects place listeners in the action, and brackets of music create an old-time radio atmosphere. Give this to patrons (mostly males) looking for a short adventure story set against the backdrop of war." —Booklist
Review
"Hubbard’s dialogue uses the lingo of the time, and the production includes background sounds and music from the period. All the narrators do a good job keeping listeners engaged." —AudioFile Magazine
Synopsis
Triumphant tale of heroes, honor and impossible odds... The Japanese have led a heavily armored assault against the Chinese city of Shunkien, pounding wreckage into ashes and wiping out a city dating back to Genghis Kahn. One of the few buildings still standing is the small American consulate, now packed with one hundred and sixteen frightened American refugees. Food is low and deadly Asiatic cholera is starting to run rampant, with carnage and corpses piling up in the streets.
Two hundred miles away, the USS Miami drops anchor, well equipped with the needed gold to buy food and a cholera serum to prevent disease and death. The dilemma is that should the Marines take military action to rush supplies to the consulate, it could force the US into an all-out battle with the Japanese.
Marine Gunnery Sergeant James Mitchell and Private First Class Spivits instead are ordered to conduct a treacherous supply mission facing impossible odds to reach and rescue the trapped Americans. "The story captivates thoroughly." —Publishers Weekly starred review
Synopsis
The doomed Chinese city of Shunkien was being systematically destroyed. Japan's war machine was pounding wreckage into ashes--wiping out a city that had thrived since the time of Genghis Khan. One of the few buildings still standing is the American consulate where one hundred and sixteen US refugees are facing almost certain death, either from high explosives, the ravages of starvation or Asiatic cholera. Unbeknownst to the refugees, their fate rests in the hands of two US Marines--Gunnery Sergeant James Mitchell and Private Spivits--and their ability to negotiate two hundred miles of occupied territory in order to bring desperately needed gold and medicine, while overcoming bullets, dive bombers, butchery and Mitchell's own personal nemesis and deadly vice--alcohol. Add to these seemingly insurmountable odds, a seductive American fan-dancer who hitches along for the ride and saving the lives of the hostages is far from a fait accompli.
As a young man, Hubbard visited Manchuria, where his closest friend headed up British intelligence in northern China. Hubbard gained a unique insight into the hostile political climate between China and Japan--a knowledge that informs stories like Orders Is Orders. In addition, he served as a First Sergeant with the 20th United States Marine Corps Reserve--giving him first-hand knowledge of what it means to be a Marine.
"Demonstrating his unique ability to relate even to the most complicated story with a keen eye for detail and realism, Hubbard's stunning writing ability and creative imagination set him apart as one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century." --Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Marine Gunnery Sergeant James Mitchell and Private First Class Spivits are assigned to brave a 200-mile trek to bring anti-cholera serum to a remote American consulate in Shunkien, China. It’s a treacherous mission set against impossible odds—they must reach the trapped Americans that are caught in the crossfire of the invading Japanese forces.
Synopsis
The Chinese city of Shunkien is under siege by the Japanese. In the middle sits the American consulate, packed with refugees, facing starvation and cholera. Marine Gunnery Sergeant James Mitchell—as tough as Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan—is their only hope. But he’ll have to negotiate 200 miles of bullets, bombs and one bombshell dancer to get there. And then his greatest enemy of all: alcohol. If he gives in to temptation, it’s America that will pay the price.
As a young man, Hubbard visited Manchuria, where his closest friend headed up British intelligence in northern China. Hubbard gained a unique insight into the hostile political climate between China and Japan—a knowledge that informs stories like Orders Is Orders. In addition, he served as a First Sergeant with the 20th United States Marine Corps Reserve—giving him first-hand knowledge of what it means to be a Marine.
“Originally published in 1937, this tale is a splendid audio, filled with sound effects, Asian-inspired music, and lively characterizations.” —Booklist
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.