Under the Black Ensign by L. Ron Hubbard was originally published in the August 1935 issue of Five Novels Monthly. Galaxy Press was republished a lot of the Pulp Magazines stories of the Golden age in book form.Being borned in the early '50's I just missed the Golden Age of stories in magazines. This story is a good sample of the era by one of its best known authors.It is an action packed fun read.From Tom Bristol's joining a pirate crew to its his wedding of his noble born true love.Plot and character while there take a back seat to the action.Tom does not dwell on the dangers he faces or why he just draws his cutlass and charges.We have pirates who live by an unbreakable code and loyalty to crew mates, british Lords who think teir noble birth mean they can treat people anyway they want and a brave woman who will do anything she can for the dashing man she falls in love with.This is a great easy fun read for older middle school kids who are not ready for YA books or for those older readers who can look back on the days when a plastic sword and eye patch could turn into a entire day of play.This book also contains a great bio on L. Ron Hubbard. I got this through the "first reads" program. Otherwise it's unlikely I'd have read a novelette by Hubbard. And be very aware that this is not a novel. Even the 120 page length in the description is padded. The story is 84 pages...roughly. And it's 84 pages of readable, but very unspectacular pulp. Hubbard was a fast, marginally serviceable writer. Had he not founded Scientology he'd be largely forgotten. What you get is a short tight little pirate tale with a pat ending.
A fun rollocking pirate story. Recommended if you like pulp or action adventure type stories.
—zamamee
A short and nicely done 1930's pulp pirate adventure. Depp need not apply.
—luthufia
Classic pulp fiction pirate book. Quick read.
—gela
Good plp fiction about pirates.
—Caroline
yar, pirates
—Sarahlynn254
