The Iron Duke Book

Eternally brief and pulpy, L. Ron Hubbard's "The Iron Duke" is a brazen romp through pre-WWII Europe, complete with radical communists, looming Nazis, and drunk monarchists. Blacky Lee, the sneaky little liar, takes refuge in Aldoria via a handy moustache and prince impersonation. Drama, romance, and ridiculousness ensue. So how does "The Iron Duke" fare against other WWII pulp fiction and work I've reviewed by L. Ron Hubbard? Read on!

At somewhere around fifty pages, "The Iron Duke" is formatted in the classic pulpy way. We are dropped into the action, exchange quick handshakes with the characters, and get cozy as everyone is injured. Always the contrarian, I actually would have liked to see this story longer. There is simply too much goodness in a story about royalty impersonation and a con artist that perpetually calls his partner "sweetheart". Blacky is a studly dudly, but he also has so many winning quotes, like: "remember, don't be careless with good liquor." I won't, Blacky! This hero was part Frank Abagnale Jr. from "Catch Me if You Can", part Tom Sawyer…it all makes sense. And for the ladies, we even have a bit of romance between Blacky and Countess Zita; the marriage blackmail is an especially touching moment. Sniffle.

"The Iron Duke" might be trapped endlessly a 50-page jail, but I like to think that a book starring a hunkosaurus such as Blacky could be easily stretched into a 200 page novel. It could also make a pretty successful two hour movie, in my opinion. In fact, just send me a check for the idea, I've been wanting one of those "3D" TVs recently. What works well for pulp fiction, and especially works by L. Ron Hubbard, is the combo of hilarity, adventure, inappropriately timed romances, one liners, and gunfire that make standard, but always surprising, pulp fiction fare. The royalty mix-ups just make "The Iron Duke" that much classier.

Don't you think I look a little like a female Prince Charles…? Just a thought.

EZ Read Staffer Jenifer