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When Shadows Fall
Star Trek’s Captain Kirk has a kindred soul in Lars the Ranger, a commander of his own star fleet. But whereas Kirk’s mission is to boldly go where no man has gone before, Lars is boldly going where other men are—in a desperate attempt to save his home planet … Earth. He’s not exploring the final frontier. He is our last hope.
Earth is way past global warming. It’s totally fried—an environmental disaster—and most of its inhabitants have cut out for greener pastures, colonizing distant worlds. Lars leads an expedition across the galaxy to visit those worlds in hopes that he return with the resources needed to bring Earth back from the brink of extinction.
But Lars has apparently failed. A mammoth fleet of mysterious starships are descending on the third planet from the sun. Is Earth history? Yes … and that may just be its saving grace.
Also includes the science fiction adventures, Battling Bolto, the story of a giant, con man who’s running an interstellar scam, while the biggest trick of all lies right under his nose; and Tough Old Man, in which an aging constable’s lack of feelings is not a matter of insensitivity, but of a secret—and surprising—side of his character.
Earth is way past global warming. It’s totally fried—an environmental disaster—and most of its inhabitants have cut out for greener pastures, colonizing distant worlds. Lars leads an expedition across the galaxy to visit those worlds in hopes that he return with the resources needed to bring Earth back from the brink of extinction.
But Lars has apparently failed. A mammoth fleet of mysterious starships are descending on the third planet from the sun. Is Earth history? Yes … and that may just be its saving grace.
Also includes the science fiction adventures, Battling Bolto, the story of a giant, con man who’s running an interstellar scam, while the biggest trick of all lies right under his nose; and Tough Old Man, in which an aging constable’s lack of feelings is not a matter of insensitivity, but of a secret—and surprising—side of his character.
- GenresScience Fiction
113 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
L. Ron Hubbard
2,015 books673 followersWith 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.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 12, 2026
Yeah, like a 2.589 or something.
I don't have the mental energy to fully review every one of these I plan on reading. They're fun, pulpy fluff. The title story is decent and kind of grim. "Tough Old Man" was probably my favorite of the bunch, but "Battlin' Bolto" was serviceable. I can see why this stuff was devoured as it was back then, it's largely simple, entertaining stuff, often character driven, that doesn't get too deep or bogged down by some of the weight of other SF offerings.
I'll keep reading. If nothing else they're nice short books to catch up on my lagging reading challenge (heh heh).
I don't have the mental energy to fully review every one of these I plan on reading. They're fun, pulpy fluff. The title story is decent and kind of grim. "Tough Old Man" was probably my favorite of the bunch, but "Battlin' Bolto" was serviceable. I can see why this stuff was devoured as it was back then, it's largely simple, entertaining stuff, often character driven, that doesn't get too deep or bogged down by some of the weight of other SF offerings.
I'll keep reading. If nothing else they're nice short books to catch up on my lagging reading challenge (heh heh).
January 27, 2021
This is a great story! I won't give anything away but it is very heartwarming! It will restore your faith in humanity. I highly recommend it!
May 25, 2017
When Shadows Fall collects three of Hubbard's science fiction stories, all from near the end of his pulp career. Curiously, the cover is from the March, 1948 issue of Astounding, in which Hubbard's third Ole Doc Methuselah (published under his Rene Lafayette pseudonym) story appeared, though it's not one of the stories included here. The title story first appeared in the July, 1948 issue of Startling Stories. It's a grim and effective picture of an aging interstellar empire that's passed the Earth home-world by, and the efforts of the survivors to regain their status. The other two stories share an interesting robotics theme; Tough Old Man appeared in the November, 1950 issue of Startling Stories and Battling Bolto was published in the August, 1950 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories. It offers an early version of the robot/human fighting theme explored most recently in the Hugh Jackman Real Steel film, though with a dash more humor. Tough Old Man is notable for being the last of Hubbard's 222 published pulp stories. I suspect that all three of these were originally written with Campbell's Astounding in mind as a market and ended up in these secondary markets when he passed on them, but I thought they were all fun and worthwhile pulp reads.
June 15, 2026
The title story was lovely and predictable; it is one of the more optimistic stories in Hubbard’a oeuvre. The others, meh.
February 19, 2013
In a continuing effort to republish the fiction of writer L. Ron Hubbard, Galaxy Press put out “When Shadows Fall,” a short anthology of space stories from the 1940s.
The first story in this anthology, “When Shadows Fall” is an indictment of colonization, where the colonizer, committing atrocities on its citizens, itself gets back the “karma”.
In a future where the Earth is dying, both as a planet and as a people, the few citizens left, in an apathy, desire to get in touch with their now-rich colonies across the stars. But the citizens across the stars want nothing to do with Earth’s demands to help it. Bummer!
What I liked about the story was not only the clear criticism of those who ruin a planet and therefore their own lives, but also that there is hope. One can rise out of the ashes, if only to remind those who could help that the civilization, though now broken, was once great and could be great again. Well-written.
“Tough Old Man” is about a young recruit who is sent to work under Keno, a constable who is taking care of the law on a frontier planet, known for its harsh environment but also its billions of dollars’ worth of diamonds lying around. Moffatt at first thinks he’s hot stuff until Keno shows him up. Good ending, with the bad guys captured and a twist ending.
“Battling Bolto” about a guy who works for a charlatan “Professor.” This guy makes robot shells and sells them as the real thing, and takes off before anyone else finds out. To snag our hero, the Prof convinces him to pretend to be a robot and win fights. This is fine until a particular population creates their own fighter. Can “Bolto” fight his way out of this one?
Both stories are not badly done, and reflect the pulp fiction mania of the time.
Recommended, and not just for Hubbard fans, but anyone interested in some quick fiction to get through the day!
The first story in this anthology, “When Shadows Fall” is an indictment of colonization, where the colonizer, committing atrocities on its citizens, itself gets back the “karma”.
In a future where the Earth is dying, both as a planet and as a people, the few citizens left, in an apathy, desire to get in touch with their now-rich colonies across the stars. But the citizens across the stars want nothing to do with Earth’s demands to help it. Bummer!
What I liked about the story was not only the clear criticism of those who ruin a planet and therefore their own lives, but also that there is hope. One can rise out of the ashes, if only to remind those who could help that the civilization, though now broken, was once great and could be great again. Well-written.
“Tough Old Man” is about a young recruit who is sent to work under Keno, a constable who is taking care of the law on a frontier planet, known for its harsh environment but also its billions of dollars’ worth of diamonds lying around. Moffatt at first thinks he’s hot stuff until Keno shows him up. Good ending, with the bad guys captured and a twist ending.
“Battling Bolto” about a guy who works for a charlatan “Professor.” This guy makes robot shells and sells them as the real thing, and takes off before anyone else finds out. To snag our hero, the Prof convinces him to pretend to be a robot and win fights. This is fine until a particular population creates their own fighter. Can “Bolto” fight his way out of this one?
Both stories are not badly done, and reflect the pulp fiction mania of the time.
Recommended, and not just for Hubbard fans, but anyone interested in some quick fiction to get through the day!
December 31, 2015
When Shadows Fall by L. Ron Hubbard is another great multicast performance from the folks at Galaxy Press. This is a great story for those of you how love pulp fiction and/or the old radio plays. Earth has sent much of its population away to colonize. The people remaining are suffering from lack of food, polluted air, and depleted natural resources. President Mankin sends out three costly missions to seek help from our colonies. A story written well before its time, this is a very well told and eye opening, thought provoking story. I truly enjoyed it and recommend it to all. We need to see what we are doing to our home.
The other two stories included are fun and exciting. Tough Old Man and Battling Bolto are both stories I enjoyed and recommend. You won't be unhappy with reading these three stories. Highly recommended.
The other two stories included are fun and exciting. Tough Old Man and Battling Bolto are both stories I enjoyed and recommend. You won't be unhappy with reading these three stories. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews