Synopses & Reviews
Review
." . . the adventure ones are just so much fun, that you wish there were more things written like them." —Kevin J. Anderson
Review
"A master of the fast-action short story." —Robert A. Heinlein
Review
“As part of The Professor Was a Thief book, you'll find two additional stories, ‘Battle of Wizards’ and ‘The Dangerous Dimension,’ round out this collection, reminding listeners that though Hubbard wrote science fiction, he often had a great sense of humor. The integration of sound effects, musical score and a full cast nostalgically harkens listeners back to the world of old-time radio. The main narrator carries the brunt of all three stories with a pitch and edge to his voice that is quite evocative of pulp fiction and while in other stories might feel overdramatic, firs perfectly well with Hubbard’s tone.” —Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Primed for promotion to the World-Journal city editor, grizzled senior reporter Pop is stunned when it's announced that young Leonard Caulborn, the publisher's son-in-law, will get the post. Worse, the lad wants him out. In protest, Pop demands to be given a beat again and gets his wish. . . only now he's got just two days to find the "real" story about a dead-end assignment— a month-old physics lecture— or be fired.
When Pop starts searching for the story's source, a professor named Pertwee, he lands in the middle of the story of a century after the Empire State Building, Grant's Tomb and Grand Central Station all disappear. Apparently, Pertwee's the mastermind behind it all. But Pop soon discovers that, instead of inventing a new way to blow things up, the professor may be doing quite the opposite.
Synopsis
Extra Extra Read all about it The Empire State Building has vanished into thin air Gone, too, are Grant's Tomb and Grand Central Station, and all hell is breaking loose in New York City
What's the story? One grizzled old newspaper reporter known simply as Pop is on top of it ... and better stay there, because his livelihood is on the line. If Pop fails to get to the bottom of the vanishing landmarks, his job will disappear as well--and land in the hands of the newspaper publisher's son-in-law.
Any cub reporter could find a someone breaking the laws of the city, but tracking down a suspect who's breaking the laws of physics is a different story altogether. But Pop's like a dog with a bone, and he won't let go until he gets at the truth ... no matter how strange or astounding it is. In the end, he gets a lesson in larceny, proving that when you get down to business, size really does matter.
Also features the science fiction adventures "Battle of Wizards," in which an epic battle between science and magic unfolds with an entire planet hanging in the balance; and Hubbard''s first published foray into science fiction and fantasy, "The Dangerous Dimension," the story of a mathematics professor who discovers an equation that enables him to teleport anywhere he can imagine ... even if he doesn't want to go.
The city that never sleeps comes vibrantly to life as The Professor Was a Thief takes you on a magical mystery tour of one of the greatest disappearing acts ever.
Synopsis
The Empire State Building has vanished into thin air Gone, too, are Grant's Tomb and Grand Central Station, and all hell is breaking loose in New York City One grizzled old newspaper reporter known simply as Pop--a role made for Walter Matthau--is on top of it . . . and better stay there, because his livelihood is on the line. If Pop fails to get to the bottom of the vanishing landmarks, his job will disappear as well, not to mention the fate of Earth's remaining landmarks and the missing people within.
Battle of the Wizards: When the natives of planet Deltoid refuse to grant mining rights to the Galactic Council, and invasion by force is impossible, a Battle of Wizards is the only option. An epic battle between science and magic unfolds with an entire planet hanging in the balance.
"A biting sci-fi satire." --JG
Dangerous Dimension: A mathematics professor who discovers an equation that enables him to teleport anywhere he can imagine ... even if he doesn't want to go.
By the spring of 1938, L. Ron Hubbard's stature as a writer was well established. As author and critic Robert Silverberg puts it: he had become a "master of the art of narrative." Hubbard's editors urged him to apply his gift for succinct characterization, original plot, deft pacing and imaginative action to a genre that was new, and essentially foreign, to him--science fiction and fantasy. The rest is Sci-Fi history.
Synopsis
Pop is a down-on-his-luck reporter needing a big story—one he finds after the Empire State Building, Grant’s Tomb and Grand Central Station disappear. When Pop digs deeper, he discovers a professor behind it all who, rather than inventing a means of blowing things up, is doing quite the opposite.
Synopsis
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Empire State Building has vanished into thin air and all hell is breaking loose in New York City! What’s the story? One grizzled old newspaper reporter known simply as Pop—a role made for Walter Matthau—is on top of it . . . and better stay there, because his job is on the line. But how do you track down someone who can break the laws of physics? Pop won’t let go until he gets at the truth . . . no matter how strange or astounding it is.
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.