Under the Diehard Brand: Golden Age Stories

Written by L. Ron Hubbard

Narrated by R.F. Daley, Rob Paulsen, Corey Burton and 2 more

Eighteen-year-old Lee Thompson has a chip on his shoulder and a mission in his heart to save his dad, an aging sheriff who's lost control of his town.

Old Diehard's lost control of his town, and it seems every outcast and outlaw west of the Mississippi is on the prowl in Wolf River. Now Lee's come all the way from Texas to stand up for his father, a man who hasn't seen him since he was a boy and who doesn't know him from Adam.

Lee's plan is a dangerous one—mix in with the desperadoes and risk death at their hand Under the Diehard Brand. But sometimes, the only way to restore the rule of law is to break it.

Also includes the Western adventures, Hoss Tamer, in which a circus horse trainer turned bronco buster has to figure a way to tame a gang of outlaws; and The Ghost Town Gun-Ghost, the story of an old prospector who seems to have lost his wits; but is he crazy ... or crazy like a fox?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Galaxy Press
• Release date: Mar 15, 2010
• ISBN: 9781592125463

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 Under the Diehard Brand

[tpmcnulty · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Under the Diehard Brand" is a real gem that dates back to 1938 but is so well-written you'd think a modern writer had penned it yesterday. And therein lies the appeal of author L. Ron Hubbard's work - his writing is timeless. Punctuated by a breathless pace, memorable characters and constant action, "Under the Diehard Brand" is a textbook example of what a western should be. The first chapter is a set-piece of mood, plotting and character development. Hubbard jumps right into the action as Lee Thompson returns home and rides into a cattle rustling (on a dark and stormy night, of course) and witnesses a murder. Initially at odds with his aging father, sheriff Diehard Thompson, Lee has plunged into a murderous situation where his mettle will be tested daily. It's in stories like these where we get to read marvelous descriptive lines like "The mutter of thunder growled across the sky." Or "He upset a bright brass spittoon which went bowling musically off on a voyage across the dusty floor." These seemingly inconsequential details add depth to the narrative and blend into Hubbard's mosaic of crusty cowpokes and blazing six-shooters. "Under the Diehard Brand" has been reprinted as part of Hubbard's "Stories from the Golden Age" series by Galaxy Press who have excelled in producing first-rate editions. Inexpensively priced at $9.95 each, these beautiful books emulate the Pulp Era with retro cover illustrations and easy to read print. "Under the Diehard Brand" also includes two bonus stories - Hoss Tamer and The Ghost Town Gun-Ghost - which are equally entertaining. Hubbard's westerns are especially popular and interested readers will seek out his air adventure, tales from the Orient, science fiction, mystery and sea adventure stories. Hubbard was a rare talent who mastered all of the genres that made the Pulp Era such an exciting time for readers hungry for fiction. Hubbard never let his readers down. These Galaxy Press editions are selling like hotcakes. So saddle up! Load your Winchester and take a ride into the Old West with a master storyteller!