Publishers Weekly
Hubbard's 1940 fantasy tale centers on a circus dwarf named Little Tom Little who becomes obsessed with the idea of swapping bodies with the circus's larger-than-life chief. This fantastic production features a large supporting cast of readers, sound effects and a variety of brilliant voices provided by The Simpsons' Nancy Cartwright. The only downside is that Little Tom Little bears a striking resemblance to Bart Simpson, so much so that the entire story is jeopardized because audiences will be hard pressed not to see a Simpsons episode playing out in their minds. As talented as Cartwright is, especially in voicing child characters, one would have expected her to come up with a more original voice. A Galaxy Press paperback.(Sept.)
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Library Journal
Hubbard wrote a ton of pulp stories in every genre during the 1930s and 1940s. Galaxy is reissuing all of them in paperback-80 books in all (told you it was a ton). Each book features a killer pulp cover along with other illustrations, a glossary (parts of a ship for the briny swashbucklers, etc.), and background on the author.
—Michael Rogers
School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up—Two stories from the Golden Age by L. Ron Hubbard are featured here: If I Were You (approx. 95 min.), and The Last Drop (approx. 30 min.). In If I Were You, Little Tom Little hates being a midget, along with his accompanying feelings of invisibility and powerlessness. He inherits an ancient set of books from an evil, dying professor containing the secret of switching bodies. Tom believes he has found the answer to his dream of becoming a visible, all-powerful circus ringmaster. He learns to migrate between bodies, and does so several times, encountering numerous dire situations. This is ultimately a tale about being careful about what you wish for. A concoction sent from Borneo that, when imbibed, causes drinkers to swell up in size, is the focus of the second equally fantastic story. The antidote causes the opposite effect. What makes these completely unbelievable stories so wonderfully entertaining is the excellent audio quality, the cast of talented performers, great sound effects (growling lions and tigers, murmuring crowds, etc.), and intervals of dramatic, ominous music that draws listeners into the tales and holds their attention to the end.—Mary Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
From the Publisher
“Hubbard’s 1940 fantasy tale centers on a circus dwarf named Little Tom Little who becomes obsessed with the idea of swapping bodies with the circus’s larger-than-life chief. This fantastic production features a large supporting cast of readers, sound effects and a variety of brilliant voices.” —Publishers Weekly
"L. Ron Hubbard wrote some of the most gripping and imaginative fantasy stories of the Golden Age of pulps—Hubbard’s work has influenced generations of writers, and his stories are as lively and startling as anything being written today.” —Tim Powers
“A master of the fast-action short story.” —Robert A. Heinlein
OCT/NOV 08 - AudioFile
A circus midget is both the hero and the villain of L. Ron Hubbard's imaginative story "If I Were You." In the spirit of the fiction that appeared in 1930s’ pulp magazines, the bizarre story is made better through the talents of the narrators, including the voice of Bart Simpson, Nancy Cartwright. She's aided by a full cast, including Lynsey Bartilson, Corey Burton, and a host of others who recreate the backstage of a seedy circus. Roaring lions, cracking whips, screaming victims, and a full musical score bring this odd adventure to life when the midget discovers he has the ability to switch minds with the handsome lion tamer. He's so happy at reaching his life's desire that he doesn’t realize the blessing is a curse. M.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
