Showing results by narrator "Phil Chenevert" in All Categories

Tanks and the future of war is what Murray Leinster speculates about in this story. Written in the 1920's he observed the terrible new inventions that were used in World War I to kill people, armored tanks and poisoned gas and then tells us how war will be fought in the future. In this case the war will occur in 1932 and be between the US and the 'Yellow enemy'. It was published in the very first issue of "Astounding Stories of Super Science", January 1930.

Conan escapes betrayal and exacts savage revenge with the help of slave girl Olivia.

The full title of Swift's pamphlet is A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burtden to their Parents, or the Country, and for Making them Beneficial to the Publick."The tract is an ironically conceived attempt to "find out a fair, cheap, and easy Method" for converting the starving children of Ireland into "sound and useful members of the Commonwealth." Across the country poor children, predominantly Catholics, are living in squalor because their families are too poor to keep them fed and clothed.

A strange imp appears to the unhappy miller's daughter and offers to spin straw into gold after the king orders her to. By doing so, he'll save her life and make her queen. There's just one small price to pay: her firstborn child.

The world-class con man and thief known as the Stainless Steel Rat (diGriz) has another very big problem to solve and this science fiction novella by the great Harry Harrison will see if he can solve it and perhaps four or five more like it before this fascinating and funny tale is finished. "Use a thief to catch a thief" sounds great but it sometimes has unexpected results.

This classic story by Margery Williams, published in 1922, imparts the timeless message that toys need not be expensive or modern to be appreciated and loved. Through giving and receiving love, even a commonplace stuffed animal can become real in the eyes of a child, and millions of them do every day. Love is the magic ingredient of course, and it works on all of us.

Conan the Barbarian is after fabulous treasure in this exciting story. But he finds himself in more difficulties than he had counted on. Crafty and powerful human opponents seek to skin him alive, bestial mutations seek to rip his arms off, denizens of the deep want to devour him whole and scantily clad dusky beauties try to waylay him at every step. And all of this to find the Jewels of Gwahlur, the most fabulous treasure every hidden in a secret temple.

"The Marvelous Land of Oz" is the sequel to Baum's first novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". The protagonist of the novel is an orphan boy called Tip. For as long as he can remember, Tip has been under the guardianship of a cruel Wicked Witch named Mombi who lives in the northern quadrant of Oz called Gillikin Country. Mombi has always been extremely mean and abusive to Tip. As Mombi is returning, Tip plans to rebel with the help of his friends Jack Pumpkinhead and Scarecrow.

Retief, the somewhat reluctant diplomat, does not always follow what his superiors define as "proper procedure". His suave and sardonic approach to intergalactic maneuvering and his attempts to smooth over the bumblings of his other diplomats is documented in this funny story. Keith Laumer adds another delightful episode in Retief's career here.

Conan the Barbarian is employed by one of the civilized countries to help in it's push to claim lands from the primitive Picts. The Picts are not excited about the idea, however. Old gods and mythical creatures are called up by the Pict witches to contest the invading army and Conan finds himself battling for his life amid the bloodthirsty hordes that include saber-toothed tigers, 40-foot-long venomous snakes and a demon from another dimension who is intent on crushing him.

As the title indicates, here are three science fiction stories by Frank Herbert: "Missing Link", originally published in "Astounding Science Fiction", 1959; "Operation Haystack", also published in "Astounding Science Fiction" 1959; and "Old Rambling House", published in "Galaxy Science Fiction" 1958.

The story of Peter Pan, retold by Daniel O'Connor from the fairy play by Sir J. M. Barrie. O'Connor took the story from the original play, with the approval of Barrie, and shortened it into a book. This shorter story was published before Barrie wrote the longer novel Peter and Wendy, using the same plot and characters.

A Witch Shall Be Born is one of the original sword and sorcery novellas by Robert E. Howard about Conan the Cimmerian. The story concerns a witch replacing her twin sister as queen of a city state, which brings her into conflict with Conan who had been the captain of the queen's guard. Themes of paranoia, and the duality of the twin sisters, are paramount in this story but it also includes elements of the conflict between barbarism and civilization that is common to the entire Conan series.

Wahb (meaning White Bear) is an orphaned Grizzly Bear who learns to respect his fears, fight for peace, and trust the healing powers of a stinky hot-spring. The story is aptly titled "The Biography of a Grizzly" because it is about the life of a Grizzly. Seton writes with a folksy tone that will enlighten children to the gore and war that Grizzly Bears endure.

This classic collection contains The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

Sound interesting? The author thinks so too! Listen to Jack London Collection and experience the compelling world of the Call of the Wild, White Fang.

The war with the Yucks from Proxima Centauri was claimed to be a stalemate but they were really winning. The mine belts they laid seemed to propagate themselves and were slowly strangling Terran planets. How did they do that? What was their secret? The answer was baffling and the best human minds could only conclude that their ships and mines were somehow alive. So, the next desperate step was to ask "If they are using organic ships, why can't we do the same?"

Here is a story starring the always unconventional Terrestrial Diplomat Retief. As a diplomat, Retief does not always follow procedure. Well, the truth is that he almost never follows procedure but somehow his wit and strength manage to salvage most situations from the bumbling of the other diplomats. His sardonic approach to inter galactic negotiations is always a delight to hear. Keith Laumer at his sardonic best.

"The Repairman" (1958) is a straight fun science fiction story of a man getting a job done. It is most typical of his later style in series like the Stainless Steel Rat.

Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775-76 that inspired people in the Thirteen Colonies to declare and fight for independence from Great Britain in the summer of 1776. In clear, simple language, it explained the advantages of and the need for immediate independence. It was published anonymously on January 10, 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolution and became an immediate sensation.