Orders Is Orders

by L. Ron Hubbard

Overview

The Chinese city of Shunkien is under siege, the Japanese military laying it to waste. In the middle of the city sits the American consulate, a fragile sanctuary packed with refugees, threatened not only by artillery, but by the ravages of starvation and cholera.
200 miles away, on the USS Miami, stands their only hope—Marine Gunnery Sergeant James Mitchell. Tough and stubborn, if anybody can negotiate a crucial supply of gold and medicine through 200 miles of bullets, bombs and butchery, it’s Sergeant Mitchell.
But the Japanese are the least of his problems. First there’s Goldy Brown, the American fan-dancer who’s hitched along for the ride—a girl as unpredictable as her skirt is tight. And then there’s the greatest enemy of all: alcohol. Mitchell has a weakness for the bottle, and if he falls into one, it’s America that will pay the price.
Gunshots, dive bombers, and seductive fan dancers are all here, as Orders Is Orders takes you to the heart of war.
“Demonstrating his unique ability to relate even to the most complicated story with a keen eye for detail and realism, Hubbard’s stunning writing ability and creative imagination set him apart as one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century.” —Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592126026
Publisher:	Galaxy Press, LLC
Publication date:	03/16/2009
Series:	Military & War Short Stories Collection
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	168
Lexile:	780L (what's this?)
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	13 Years

About the Author

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.

Editorial Reviews

"Originally published in 1937, this tale is a splendid audio, filled with sound effects, Asian-inspired music, and lively characterizations. The American consulate in a Japanese-occupied city in China is in dire need of cholera serum and food. U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant James Mitchell and Private First Class Spivits are trying to reach the consulate with serum and enough gold to purchase food. Along the way, they pick up Bronx-born fan dancer Goldy and Mitchell’s missionary father. Bloom reads the role of Goldy in an authentic Bronx accent. When Goldy initially tries to pass herself off as the daughter of a millionaire, listeners know she is lying because her dialect gives her away. Remaining cast members do their part as well, bringing authenticity to the dialogue. Background sound effects place listeners in the action, and brackets of music create an old-time radio atmosphere. Give this to patrons (mostly males) looking for a short adventure story set against the backdrop of war." —Booklist

"Hubbard’s dialogue uses the lingo of the time, and the production includes background sounds and music from the period. All the narrators do a good job keeping listeners engaged." —AudioFile Magazine

 

"Hubbard’s tale, originally published in a pulp magazine in 1937, takes listeners to the war-torn Chinese city of Shunkien, where the Japanese have launched an assault of epic proportions. The lone building left standing among the piles of flaming rubble is the American consulate, where innocent refugees are trying to stave off hunger and a deadly flu epidemic. Demonstrating his unique ability to relate even the most complicated story with a keen eye for detail and realism, Hubbard’s stunning writing ability and creative imagination set him apart as one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century. The recording, as usual, is stunning and well directed by Jim Meskimen. Featuring brilliant performances by Brooke Bloom, R.F. Daley and Meskimen himself, the story captivates thoroughly." —Publishers Weekly starred review
   
  
 

From the Publisher

Six narrators join forces in the story of a dangerous mission in China just before WWII. Two Marines embark with orders to carry a special package to the U.S. consulate in a Chinese city 200 miles away. Along the trek, they meet various forces, challenges, and obstacles. The narrators all stay in character as they portray a tired but driven gunnery sergeant, a gravelly voiced older private, a young American fan dancer, a frustrated, whiny man, and others. Hubbard’s dialogue uses the lingo of the time, and the production includes background sounds and music from the period. All the narrators do a good job keeping listeners engaged. M.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2009 - AudioFile