Man-Killers of the Air

Written by L. Ron Hubbard

Narrated by Shane Johnson and Corey Burton

High-flying, hard-living Smoke Burnham's in a life-and-death race in pursuit of big money... and big trouble. Because one thing you can count on — in the air, in a fight, or in his girlfriend's arms — where there's Smoke, there's fire. Set a course for the Andes and the Amazon as the audio version of Man-Killers of the Air takes you on a death-defying flight from heaven to hell and back again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Galaxy Audio
• Release date: Apr 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9781592124787

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 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.

Reviews for Man-Killers of the Air

[jmourgos · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the pulp fiction coming out of Galaxy Press lately. In the past there were expensive leather-bound books of L. Ron Hubbard’s pulp works by Easton Press and others, but this is truly a great thing.

I heard the audio books were good as well. In fact I have been present for some of these live audio presentations and they’re great. Reminds me of the old radio programs I’ve heard on CD.

Story, Plot, Etc:

First impression is the pace at which the story flies. Hubbard was a barnstormer in his younger years before creating Dianetics and his experience clearly shows. The story is written at a time of Japanese aggression in the Pacific, but years before America was hit in Pearl Harbor.

Smoke is a pilot, who has a sidekick (Andy his PR man) and a girl who thinks Smoke loves piloting more than her. Smoke has a secret. He’s very broke, no cash, no dinero. What to do?

Girard, a newspaper mogul who cares more for circulation numbers than how many lives need to be lost or reputations ruined in search of it, offers Smoke a chance at making a lot of money in exchange for a plane that Smoke’s girlfriend has the rights to, a plane that could make a difference if the “Japs” get tough.

As with all of Hubbard’s characters, Smoke has a quirk that makes him stand out – he has a pet cheetah named Patty! She’s really a pussycat but you’d never know it from seeing her. Plot-wise Hubbard does not draw out the cat too much. He’s much more interested in building the tension between Smoke and Girard (never giving up in the face of adversity) and between Smoke and his girlfriend, the babe knock-out, Mel, who is conflicted between Smoke’s love of flight and the love of him.

Fun adventure as they travel across South America. Someone spikes the gasoline and they come down! Will they win the race in time? Or die as a few others have, crashed into the Andes or sunk in the Caribbean?

Conclusion:

As with most pulps of the time, this one has a moral attached to it, along with some sneak peek into the human condition that Hubbard does so well. Hubbard’s output with science fiction is very minimal, despite popular belief. His stories were adventure, and this one really takes off!

Can’t wait for the audio book.

[bruce_deming_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Able pilot, Smoke Burnham, flies in the teeth of vested interests with three cents to his name to deliver on his promises out witting both physical hazards and intentions counter to his own. Very well written and performed in audio book format.

"Man-Killer" is a reference to the dangerous and unreliable nature of a certain plane, not the pilot himself, who would be the victim of a "man-killer."

I think Frank Capra would have loved this story as it reminds me or Mr Smith Goes to Washington or It's a Wonderful Life.