Sci-fi pulp at its best

In the era of "Star Wars" and "Space Invaders," it is unfortunate that a name like L. Ron Hubbard would be unknown. Hubbard is one of the giants from science fiction pulp in the "golden age" of the 1930s and "40s, the author of more than 100 novels, 32 novelettes and nearly 150 short stories. "Battlefield Earth" brings him out of retirement to celebrate his 50th anniversary as a writer – he has written almost nothing since 1950 – and he hasn’t lost his touch. The year is 3000 in this 819-page novel, and mankind is all but wiped out by poison gas used by the alien Psychlos who occupied the planet 1,000 years before. There are scattered and alienated communities of humans and one of these Jonnie Goodboy Tyler. The youth spearheads a plan to overthrow the Psychlos and Terl, their evil head of security, and rebuild Earth. The writing remains pure pulp, the characters stereotypical, but Hubbard keeps the pace moving with deft touch. He takes a sweeping look at civiliazation’s follies midst furious action and irresistible entertainment.