Beyond All Weapons: Golden Age Stories

Written by L. Ron Hubbard

Narrated by R.F. Daley, Bob Caso, Jim Meskimen and 4 more

Firsten Guide is a tough, wise-cracking rebel leader who's light years ahead of his time—and about to lead his crew into a battle that's Beyond All Weapons.

He and his fellow colonizers of Mars have faced a brutal crackdown engineered by Earth's tyrannical government. But the resourceful Firsten has developed an extraordinary new fuel that enables him and his hardy band to escape into space—and time.

Escape, however, is not enough. Firsten wants revenge. But the universe is full of unexpected twists and turns. Just as Prometheus flew too close to the sun, Firsten will soon discover that when you attempt to break the laws of physics, you can get burned.

Also includes the science fiction adventures Strain, the story of a space war's brutality and one man's struggle to keep a secret under the pain of torture; and The Invaders, in which the distant crystal mines are under attack until a technician crystallizes a unique strategy to undermine the attackers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Galaxy Press
• Release date: Jul 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781592124206

L. Ron Hubbard

With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 350 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most enduring 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. Then too, of course, there is all L. Ron Hubbard represents as the Founder of Dianetics and Scientology and thus the only major religion born in the 20th century.

Reviews for Beyond All Weapons

[tpmcnulty · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The latest release from Galaxy Press is a real treat because it features three classic science fiction tales from the golden age. The title story, Beyond All Weapons, tells the tale of Firstin Guide, a tough rebel who leads a group of colonists off earth to escape the tyrannical government. What follows is a suspenseful and often grim tale of survival amidst the hope of one day returning to earth to rescue their families and destroy the Polar regime. Long time fans of Hubbard's work will recognize elements in the story similar to those found in his classic novel To the Stars. But Beyond All Weapons is still a wholly unique and thrilling story. I think if he hadn't written To the Stars then Beyond All Weapons might have been remembered as a classic of space travel after its appearance in the January 1950 issue of Super Science Stories. The second story, Strain, is a compelling and taut thriller that would have made a great episode on the old Outer Limits television show. A study of men under duress and holding dear to their patriotic duty, the ending was a surprise and initially seemed perfunctory. So I read the story again and savored it at a slower pace and I now realize how expertly Hubbard set up the plot. Strain is a classic. The final entry, The Invaders, offers a lighter tone, but still features some wonderful hard-boiled writing by Hubbard. Gedso Ion Brown, a technician from the Extra Territorial Scienticorps, has been sent to offer assistance in the alien attacks being suffered at the Crystal Mines. To say more would give away the twist ending. You'll just have to read it to find out what happens. All in all, these are three great stories from the glorious golden age of science fiction pulps!

[bruce_deming_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well what a fine mess our hero, Firsten Guide, is in here.Earth people have colonized Mars but Earth lost its free government to off planet intruders, "snow devils." --"That strange race who had managed to adapt their metabolism to the blood-chilling climate of the North Pole."Firsten is of the Mars colonists from Earth who are getting their butts kicked by the Polar regime invaders on Earth.Earth has an electronic barrier which can't be penetrated, a force field, and the barrier of light speed travel has yet to be successfully accomplished.It looks pretty grim, morale is horrible for the humans who colonized Mars and have suffered many casualties. Firsten announces to his shipmates calmly, "I think they ought to be whipped."Fuel is needed and an attempt at the light barrier...A great story but I don't want to spoil the ending. :)