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    The Slickers
    The Slickers
    The Slickers
    Ebook144 pages1 hour

    The Slickers

    By L. Ron Hubbard

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Tex Larimee is a grizzled Arizona sheriff who’s leaving the deserts of Cactus County behind, blazing a trail east to mix it up with The Slickers in the canyons of Manhattan. Years later Clint Eastwood would follow the exact same trail in Coogan’s Bluff—a western lawman on the loose in New York City.

    Tex’s welcome to New York is a rude one. Robbed of his cash, gun and badge, he’s locked in a room in back of a run-down bar. Breaking out of the bar, he goes looking for his best friend … only to find him dead, his throat cut. And the cops accuse Tex of committing the murder….

    But none of that’s going to keep a good Arizona lawman down. Discovering he’s been the subject of an elaborate frame-up job, Tex has got a few tricks of his own up his sleeve—and in his recovered Colt .45—to make even the toughest of city birds sing a different tune.

    Much like Tex, L. Ron Hubbard was born and bred on the western frontier and made his way east to explore and experience life in New York City. But unlike the sheriff, Hubbard enjoyed his time in the city, where his writing career took off as he became a leading figure in its literary world. He came to know the streets and haunts of Manhattan as well as he knew the arroyos and canyons of the west, giving him the kind of insights he needed to write stories like The Slickers.

    Also includes the mysteries Killer Ape, in which a man frees a mistreated orangutan, only to end up with a monkey on his back, as he’s accused of aiding and abetting the ape in a case of murder, and Murder Afloat, the story of a top narcotics cop in the U.S. Secret Service who’s pursuit of a million-dollar score could land him in some hot—and deadly—water.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGalaxy Press
    Release dateOct 21, 2014
    ISBN9781592126163
    Author

    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.

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    Reviews for The Slickers

    3.5/5

    37 ratings16 reviews

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    • 4/5
      All i can say is i really love l ron hubbards books. And this one dosent dissapoint . great charachtors and a really good storyline. Highly reccomend
    • 3/5
      I own a lot of L. Ron Hubbard's reprinted editions of his pulp fiction work. I am a HUGE fan of pulp fiction and film noir and when I first saw these new editions, I knew I would be collecting them all. First, the front cover artwork is a tell-tale sign that you are stepping back in time to a world where anything can happen and where the unusual is...well, usual. The spine of the books have miniature versions of the front cover artwork, so even when you book them on a bookshelf, they still look great as a collection.Now, on to the actual story. The Slickers is actually only 26 pages long--which is another reason I love pulp fiction. The authors jam so much adventure into so few pages that there is NEVER a dull moment and you feel as though you're in the adventure as you tear through the pages. The Slickers was okay-- not my favorite (which is Twenty Fathoms Down) but not awful. I live in the south and I hate having to read about slow-talking, know-it-all, rude southerners which is how the main character was cast. With that being said, I move on to the next story. Murder Afloat is 41 pages long and is about "a top narcotics cop in the U.S. Secret Service who’s pursuit of a million-dollar score could land him in some hot—and deadly—water." This was my favorite story in this book, I wish it would have been the main focus instead of the much shorter "The Slickers." The pace is fast, the adventure is amazing (secret service searching for illegal drugs), and it was just an all-in-all good story.And the final story Killer Ape is 26 pages. It was a mystery, suspense story about a possible Orangutan, Ape Killer named Joe.My opinion: buy the book for Murder Afloat as it is the longest story in this book and is, in my own opinion, the best out of this book's collection.
    • 3/5
      Typical Hubbard. I didn't really care for this. I decided to read it because I'd heard it was better than his other stuff. I was disappointed.
    • 3/5
      Won this through the early reviewers group. This is an entertaining throwback to the pulp fiction days of the 30's and 40's. I have won or read several of these L. Ron Hubbard collections and usually find them quite entertaining. This one for some reason didn't quite live up to the enjoyment of some previous volumes but it was still entertaining. If you crave action and adventure these are a good way to find it.A word to the wise though. Skip all the "L. Ron Hubbard is the greatest writer that ever lived" crap in the back.
    • 3/5
      I did like this book, mostly because it reminded me of watching an old Mickey Spillane movie. Although I probably wouldn't have choosen it if I were in a Library selecting books to read, once I got into it, I found it a 'fun' read. Nothing heavy, and rather predictable, but a good book to take to the beach, where there isn't anything majorly thought-provoking to digest.
    • 5/5
      The stories in The Slickers are presented in an artfully designed volume from the L. Ron Hubbard Fiction Collection published by Galaxy Press. The story was originally published in the September 1936 issue of Detective, one of the many “pulp” magazines that had their heyday in the 1930s and 1940s. This is the 5th book in the collection I have read, and each one has colorful dramatic artwork on the cover and rough cut pulp pages to simulate the historical pulp magazines. Unlike the novels I review on my blog that focus on the insightful Imagined Experiences of authors, the three short adventure fiction stories in The Slickers are no holds barred narratives of exciting action, in this book detailing the interactions of cops and miscreants. The title story, tells the tale of a hick Sheriff from “Arizony” who is called to New York City for a body guard gig protecting a rich man from “city slicker” assassins. The second story is “Murder Afloat” that follows the heroic activity of a U. S. Federal Agent attempting to bust a heroin smuggler on board a cruise ship. The third story, “Killer Ape,” describes the relationship between an orangutan accused of the murder of an abusive owner and a newspaper reporter who sets out to investigate the killing. All three stories are page turners that are just long enough for the reader to keep excitement going for an hour.At first glance, would be writers may think that it is easy to write in the simple declarative sentences loaded with adjectives and adverbs. But, there was a great amount of competition to have work published in the pulps. Only a few writers were able to publish regularly in the market, and L. Ron Hubbard had a phenomenal 80% publication record. All of his stories in the Galaxy series are exciting adventures, and Hubbard explained his success in terms that are parallel to the novels I select for review in my blog. He stated that in writing good adventure stories, the writer has to be an adventurer himself. Hubbard's life, described a final piece at the end of the volume was one of personal adventures on land and sea throughout the world. I highly recommend The Slickers for fast reading at any time readers get a break from work or other obligations and young people who could learn from the revived pulp stories to enjoy reading as one of life’s reliable pleasures.
    • 1/5
      for a short read this was fine. not my kind of writing. i was really lost most of the time. i guess i just do not appreciate it.
    • 4/5
      These storys from L.Ron Hubbard are the throw back to the days from the past, when the times before TV. All people had was a radio, I've listened to a number of these "Golden Age" L. Ron Hubbard stories and this is one of the better ones. They come across like Old Time Radio which I enjoy. The recording has a large cast and background music so it is pleasant to listen to. This is the first book I read, just as good.
    • 4/5
      I have never read Pulp Fiction and was pleasantly surprised at this read. Quick and easy to read and very different from anything I ever read, I enjoyed the book. The style was like stepping back in time. Thank you for sharing this with me.
    • 4/5
      My biggest beef with this book is that I wish it was longer! The stories were fast-paced and interesting, and I got an education on the golden age of pulp fiction, including a glossary of terms. In the past, I've avoided L. Ron Hubbard since the Scientology connection seemed like his dominant trait. After reading these short stories, I'm going to rethink that.
    • 4/5
      This was an entertaining book. I liked all three stories, and the feeling of kind of being a detective or a newspaper reporter. I wouldn't mind reading more of Hubbard's books.
    • 3/5
      I received this as an Early Reviewers copy from LibraryThing.com, and I freely admit that I only requested it based on the author. I knew that L. Ron Hubbard was a sci-fi writer, but I didn't know that he has an enormous body of work from the days of pulp. This book contains three short stories:The Slickers is a noir-ish story about a Western sheriff visiting New York City for a job, only to be embroiled in more trouble than he bargained for. With a fish-out-of-water point of view, the story is fine, exactly as advertised: Fun, escapist pulp.The next story [too lazy to find the title] concerns a T-Man aboard a ship from the Caribbean, unraveling a mystery of drug smuggling, corruption, and murder. No, I am not playing Pulp Novel Mad Libs.The final story is about an orangutan on the loose. [Could have been a different primate. Again, lazy.] Good story, but as with all of this, it is what it is: nothing too deep, just a fun adventure for a few dozen pages.
    • 4/5
      This book was a bit better than the previous books I have read by L. Ron Hubbard. The overall book is a like a bunch of short stories. I think the stories were a bit predictable but the era in the book is a classic and I will continue to read more of this books.
    • 2/5
      Maybe I would be less disappointed in The Slickers if the extra long forward hadn't constantly compared the stories and the author to the all time greats of the "Golden Age" of pulp and adventure like London, Hammett, and L'Amour, but that comparison does the author no favors at all. Not having read any other writing from the author, I was really expecting a lot more from a guy with his level of fame and following. Overall it was just disappointing, and quite frankly, hackish.No amount of "It's just pulp, its fun!" disclaimers from the publishers can fix what's wrong with the book. Pulp can be great writing and storytelling, and this is not it.
    • 5/5
      The Slickers was another great Ron L Hubbard book. Filled with great characters and a good story it made for a very enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys mystery/ westerns. Two thumbs up.
    • 5/5
      In this book you get three and a pinch stories under one cover! The Slickers, Murder Afloat, Killer Ape and The Chee-Chalker. Written in the 1930s-40s in the hardboiled detective style, the action is fast and direct.

      In The Slickers Tex Larimee, Sheriff of Cactus County, Arizony, comes to New York to escort an old friend back home. What Tex finds is his friend murdered and Tex the prime suspect. Fast action, old West know-how prove that New York slickers are no match for Tex.

      Bob Clark, ace operative of the Narcotics Squad, U.S. Secret Service, is hot on the case of smuggled drugs aboard a luxury cruise ship. Things turn hotter when the ship is set afire and there has been sabotage to all the escape equipment. Why would the suspects want to go up in flames with their stash? It is up to the tough and quick thinking Clark to get help to the ship and find out who are the fiends who set things ablaze.

      News reporter, Bill Lacy, always seems to report the human interest side of the story, even on the most gorey of murders. This time out he finds he winds up with a monkey on his back. Actually an orangutan named Joe. Someone has pinned a murder on the ape and Bill isn't buying it.

      The pinch is a preview of The Chee-Chalker. Ketchikan, Alaska is where FBI Agent Bill Norton finds an heiress, a string of corpses and a missing G-man rolled into one mystery.

      Good fun, pulp fiction style and quick reads.

    Book preview

    The Slickers - L. Ron Hubbard

    SELECTED FICTION WORKS

    BY L. RON HUBBARD

    FANTASY

    The Case of the Friendly Corpse

    Death’s Deputy

    Fear

    The Ghoul

    The Indigestible Triton

    Slaves of Sleep & The Masters of Sleep

    Typewriter in the Sky

    The Ultimate Adventure

    SCIENCE FICTION

    Battlefield Earth

    The Conquest of Space

    The End Is Not Yet

    Final Blackout

    The Kilkenny Cats

    The Kingslayer

    The Mission Earth Dekalogy*

    Ole Doc Methuselah

    To the Stars

    ADVENTURE

    The Hell Job series

    WESTERN

    Buckskin Brigades

    Empty Saddles

    Guns of Mark Jardine

    Hot Lead Payoff

    A full list of L. Ron Hubbard’s

    novellas and short stories is provided at the back.

    *Dekalogy: a group of ten volumes

    Illustration of the book cover.

    Published by

    Galaxy Press, LLC

    7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200

    Hollywood, CA 90028

    © 2014 L. Ron Hubbard Library. All rights reserved.

    Any unauthorized copying, translation, duplication, importation or distribution, in whole or in part, by any means, including electronic copying, storage or transmission, is a violation of applicable laws.

    Mission Earth is a trademark owned by L. Ron Hubbard Library and is used with permission. Battlefield Earth is a trademark owned by Author Services, Inc. and is used with permission.

    Cover art; cover artwork thumbnail on back of book; The Slickers story illustration and Story Preview illustration from Detective Fiction Weekly is © 1936 Argosy Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from Argosy Communications, Inc. Story Preview cover art from Top Notch Magazine and horsemen illustration from Western Story Magazine are © and ™ Condé Nast Publications and is used with their permission. Fantasy, Far-Flung Adventure and Science Fiction illustrations: Unknown and Astounding Science Fiction copyright © by Street & Smith Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission of Penny Publications, LLC.

    ISBN 978-1-59212-616-3 EPUB version

    ISBN 978-1-59212-789-4 Kindle version

    ISBN 978-1-59212-357-5 print version

    ISBN 978-1-59212-271-4 audiobook version

    Library of Congress Control Number: 2007903615

    Contents

    FOREWORD

    THE SLICKERS

    MURDER AFLOAT

    CHAPTER ONE

    CHAPTER TWO

    CHAPTER THREE

    CHAPTER FOUR

    CHAPTER FIVE

    KILLER APE

    STORY PREVIEW

    THE CHEE-CHALKER

    L. RON HUBBARD IN THE

    GOLDEN AGE OF

    PULP FICTION

    THE STORIES FROM THE

    GOLDEN AGE

    GLOSSARY

    FOREWORD

    Stories from

    Pulp Fiction’s

    Golden Age

    AND it was a golden age.

    The 1930s and 1940s were a vibrant, seminal time for a gigantic audience of eager readers, probably the largest per capita audience of readers in American history. The magazine racks were chock-full of publications with ragged trims, garish cover art, cheap brown pulp paper, low cover prices—and the most excitement you could hold in your hands.

    Pulp magazines, named for their rough-cut, pulpwood paper, were a vehicle for more amazing tales than Scheherazade could have told in a million and one nights. Set apart from higher-class slick magazines, printed on fancy glossy paper with quality artwork and superior production values, the pulps were for the rest of us, adventure story after adventure story for people who liked to read. Pulp fiction authors were no-holds-barred entertainers—real storytellers. They were more interested in a thrilling plot twist, a horrific villain or a white-knuckle adventure than they were in lavish prose or convoluted metaphors.

    The sheer volume of tales released during this wondrous golden age remains unmatched in any other period of literary history—hundreds of thousands of published stories in over nine hundred different magazines. Some titles lasted only an issue or two; many magazines succumbed to paper shortages during World War II, while others endured for decades yet. Pulp fiction remains as a treasure trove of stories you can read, stories you can love, stories you can remember. The stories were driven by plot and character, with grand heroes, terrible villains, beautiful damsels (often in distress), diabolical plots, amazing places, breathless romances. The readers wanted to be taken beyond the mundane, to live adventures far removed from their ordinary lives—and the pulps rarely failed to deliver.

    In that regard, pulp fiction stands in the tradition of all memorable literature. For as history has shown, good stories are much more than fancy prose. William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas—many of the greatest literary figures wrote their fiction for the readers, not simply literary colleagues and academic admirers. And writers for pulp magazines were no exception. These publications reached an audience that dwarfed the circulations of today’s short story magazines. Issues of the pulps were scooped up and read by over thirty million avid readers each month.

    Because pulp fiction writers were often paid no more than a cent a word, they had to become prolific or starve. They also had to write aggressively. As Richard Kyle, publisher and editor of Argosy, the first and most long-lived of the pulps, so pointedly explained: The pulp magazine writers, the best of them, worked for markets that did not write for critics or attempt to satisfy timid advertisers. Not having to answer to anyone other than their readers, they wrote about human beings on the edges of the unknown, in those new lands the future would explore. They wrote for what we would become, not for what we had already been.

    Some of the more lasting names that graced the pulps include H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, Max Brand, Louis L’Amour, Elmore Leonard, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Erle Stanley Gardner, John D. MacDonald, Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein—and, of course, L. Ron Hubbard.

    In a word, he was among the most prolific and popular writers of the era. He was also the most enduring—hence this series—and certainly among the most legendary. It all began only months after he first tried his hand at fiction, with L. Ron Hubbard tales appearing in Thrilling Adventures, Argosy, Five-Novels Monthly, Detective Fiction Weekly, Top-Notch, Texas Ranger, War Birds, Western Stories, even Romantic Range. He could write on any subject, in any genre, from jungle explorers to deep-sea divers, from G-men and gangsters, cowboys and flying aces to mountain climbers, hard-boiled detectives and spies. But he really began to shine when he turned his talent to science fiction and fantasy of which he authored nearly fifty novels or novelettes to forever change the shape of those genres.

    Following in the tradition of such famed authors as Herman Melville, Mark Twain, Jack London and Ernest Hemingway, Ron Hubbard actually lived adventures that his own characters would have admired—as an ethnologist among primitive tribes, as prospector and engineer in hostile climes, as a captain of vessels on four oceans. He even wrote a series of articles for Argosy, called Hell Job, in which he lived and told of the most dangerous professions a man could put his hand to.

    Finally, and just for good measure, he was also an accomplished photographer, artist, filmmaker, musician and educator. But he was first and foremost a writer, and that’s the L. Ron Hubbard we come to know through the pages of this volume.

    This library of Stories from the Golden Age presents the best of L. Ron Hubbard’s fiction from the heyday of storytelling, the Golden Age of the pulp magazines. In these eighty volumes, readers are treated to a full banquet of 153 stories, a kaleidoscope of tales representing every imaginable genre: science fiction, fantasy, western, mystery, thriller, horror, even romance—action of all kinds and in all places.

    Because the pulps themselves were printed on such inexpensive paper with high acid content, issues were not meant to endure. As the years go by, the original issues of every pulp from Argosy through Zeppelin Stories continue crumbling into brittle, brown dust. This library preserves the L. Ron Hubbard tales from that era, presented with a distinctive look that brings back the nostalgic flavor of those times.

    L. Ron Hubbard’s Stories from the Golden Age has something for every taste, every reader. These tales will return you to a time when fiction was good clean entertainment and the most fun a kid could have on a rainy afternoon or the best thing an adult could enjoy after a long day at work.

    Pick up a volume, and remember what reading is supposed to be all about. Remember curling up with a great story.

    —Kevin J. Anderson

    KEVIN J. ANDERSON is the author of more than ninety critically acclaimed works of speculative fiction, including The Saga of Seven Suns, the continuation of the Dune Chronicles with Brian Herbert, and his New York Times bestselling novelization of L. Ron Hubbard’s Ai! Pedrito!

    The Slickers

    The Slickers

    TEX LARIMEE inserted his cigar below his scraggly mustaches and looked sideways at the stranger.

    Yep, said Tex, "I’m on my way to New York, and I’m here to tell you right now that if any of these greenhorns tries to pull anything on Tex

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