Ole Doc Methuselah: The Intergalactic Adventures of the Soldier of Light

by L. Ron Hubbard

Ole Doc Methuselah was the name by which he was known on a myriad of scattered planets, for he was the most famous member of the most elite organization of the cosmos, the Solders of Light. But he was no soldier in the military sense, for the enemies he fought were disease, corruption and the warped psychology that spread in the isolation of mankind's lost planetary colonies.

Encountering double-dealing, mutation and the unexpected, Ole Doc and his unique, multi-armed companion Hippocrates share a series of astonishing adventures in their unending journey through the trackless galaxies.

Contents:

· Ole Doc Methuselah [as by René Lafayette] · nv Astounding Oct ’47
· Her Majesty’s Aberration [as by René Lafayette] · ss Astounding Mar ’48
· The Expensive Slaves [as by René Lafayette] · ss Astounding Nov ’47
· The Great Air Monopoly [as by René Lafayette] · nv Astounding Sep ’48
· Plague [as by René Lafayette] · nv Astounding Apr ’49
· A Sound Investment [as by René Lafayette] · nv Astounding Jun ’49
· Ole Mother Methuselah [as by René Lafayette] · nv Astounding Jan ’50

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Science Fiction Fantasy

270 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

L. Ron Hubbard is universally acclaimed as the single most influential author and humanitarian of this modern age. His definitive works on the mind and spirit—comprising over 350 million copies in circulation and more than 40 international bestsellers—have resulted in a legacy benefiting millions and a movement spanning all cultures.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

DAW Collectors Series #: 20

original novelette 1947

13 March 1911 - - 24 January 1986

Alternate Names: Frederick Engelhardt, Ron Hubbard, Rene La Fayette, Rene LaFayete, René Lafayette, Kurt von Rachen, Frankie Rohne

Cover Artist: Josh Kirby

[Althea Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, the Scientologists at BEA like to interview convention-goers about their opinions on ol' Elron.

I told them, truthfully, that I'd read one of his books, thought it was godawful, and declined the opportunity to read any more.

Naturally, they wanted to know which book I'd read, and I couldn't think of the name of it right off the bat. I did however, say something to the effect of: "It featured a super-powerful Golden Age manly hero who went around saving the day."

However, even for Golden Age manly heroes (who, I admit, are not really my thing) this book is godawful. It's actually a series of short stories, originally produced for magazines. Our Hero, Ole Doc, is a Soldier Of Light, who's sort of a Super-Doctor of the Universe. He has an alien slave sidekick, who, of course, loves being enslaved. The tone aims for socially-relevant humor, but for me, it fell flat. The writing is stilted and unexceptional, and for ostensibly 'action-packed' stories, the overall effect was pretty boring.

My Scientologist interviewer allegedly couldn't figure out what I was talking about, and weakly exhorted me to read the Battlefield Earth series. (I could tell he didn't think there was much of a chance that I would.)

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been interested in this book due to the concept of a Soldier of Light. I started by reading the book and I wasn't really enjoying it. So, I tried the audiobook and that was a lot more fun for me.

This is a series of short stories telling the adventures of Ole Doc (Soldier of Light) and his little assistant Hippocrates. They shoot around the universe aiding people. I'm glad I listened to it!

[Martin Doychinov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Книгата е сборник от разкази, посветени на доктор Матусал (и неговия роб - Хипократ). Приятна и неангажираща фантастика, в която хуморът е поне толкова, колкото и действието. Нещо като юношеска версия на поредицата "Мисия Земя".

[Mhorg · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite Hubbard

Space opera at its grandest. Ole doc is a soldier of light, part of the universal medical society, a group of selfless doctors, nearly immortal, who travel the spaceways, unanswerable to any government, whose sole mission is to keep the burgeoning population of humanity safe.

[Réal Laplaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun read. I particularly enjoyed the interaction between Doc and his sidekick, an alien creature who shares in his adventures.

[Michael Albanese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. it was my second finished L. Ron Hubbard book.

[Brock Deskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got started on my L. Ron kick with Battlefield Earth, which led to this. Not a bad read.

[Einzige · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing really noteworthy, even by pulp standards I’m not surprised that when these short stories were published almost all of them didn’t headline the magazine they were in. They all lack the action and humour and spark of cleverness that otherwise masks the standard problems in pulp fiction.

If you want to see Hubbard’s pulp scifi done well try “One was stubborn”.

[Бранимир Събев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Лафайет Роналд Хабърд е много интересна личност. От една страна е създател на сектата на сциентологията (в която членуват Джон Траволта и Том Круз) и е написал противоречивата "Дианетика: Модерна наука за душевното здраве" и такива подобни книги. От друга страна е автор на чутовните поредици "Бойно поле Земя" и "Мисия Земя", които са класика в научната фантастика и вледеняващото романче "Страх". Бях много приятно изненадан, когато се сдобих с тази книжка, за която не бях чувал. Тя не е точно роман, а съдържа седем разказа в общ сетинг, които проследяват различните приключения на д-р Матусал.

Кой е д-р Матусал ли? Д-р Матусал е най-прославеният член на най-елитната организация в космоса: Вселенското Медицинско Общество, известни още като "Воините на Светлината". Набор на учителя Йода, поддържащ младостта си със специални процедури вече над 900 г., той е не просто член, а един от четиримата създатели на Вселенското Медицинско Общество. Членовете му са едва 600-700, което изглежда твърде малко за една галактика, населявана от 160 трилиона разумни същества. Ала въпреки това се оказват достатъчно.

Воините на Светлината не се подчиняват на никого, не обслужват ничии интереси и не приемат възнаграждения. Техни врагове са болестите и епидемиите в галактиката, корупцията и изкривеното мислене на хората и не един и двама държавни глави и диктатори треперят, щом съзрат златистите им кораби, носещи знака на два кръстосани лъчеви жезъла.

И нека да кажем нещо за разказите!

1. Д-р Матусал - пилотният разказ! Запознаване с нашия главен герой, който едва ли не докато лови риба помежду другото спасява човешки животи и се заема да вгорчи живота на хитър тарикат, решил да прецака цяла планета.
2. Лудостта на Нейно Величество - странна болест мъчи кралицата. Ще успее ли да я спаси Великият доктор, и какво крият от него?
3. Скъпите роби - естествено, че е по-евтино да ти работят роби за единия хляб, отколкото да наемеш работници! Още повече, когато тези роби не искат даже да ядат! Хм, да, но евтиното е скъпо...
4. Големият въздушен монопол - грозна е страстта на хората да печелят пари от всичко, особено от природните ресурси. Хабърд показва едно отвратително изкривяване за това как едни злодеи печелят от населението само защото то диша. Това се казва да правиш пари от въздуха!
5. Чума - опасен кораб скита из галактиката! Кораб, тъпкан с народ, заразен със смъртоносна болест. Колкото повече е в неизвестност, толкова по-страховита става опасността от космическа пандемия...
6. Стабилна инвестиция - чудесен екшън разказ за д-р Матусал и неговата вярна дясна ръка: извънземният четирирък Хипократ, висок метър и тежащ половин тон, който се храни само с гипс.
7. Д-р Мама Матусал - нещо се е объркало на обикновена земеделска планета и Матусал ще трябва волю-неволю да влезе в ролята на бавачка на хиляди хлапета.

Тук Хабърд не вкарва на преден план екшъна, характерен за Бойно Поле Земя или не дай Боже, нещо от сциентоложките простотии. Книжката е на практика хумористична фантастика и е много приятна, но за разлика от Мисия Земя, където на много места повествованието се изражда в кървища, цинизъм и сексуални аберации, тук това не се наблюдава.

Просто няколко добри фантастични истории, гарнирани с чудесен хумор.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ole Doc Mehuselah wanders the universe as a Soldier of Light, a long-lived medical professional who handles situations that may have grave results. Assisted by his four-armed comic assistant, the doctor overcomes all in unique ways, usually involving bending of the non-political interference code. The stories are short and fun. L. Ron Hubbard includes some minor political commentary in the stories, but that does not detract from their fun. Roddy McDowell's audio is crisp, clear, and very enjoyable.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a German version of this with only four stories. Quite enough. The writing is not at all bad. The stories are at least amusing. We have one story where eugenics is presented as being a good thing. But at least Hubbard seems to have been against slavery. Although our hero is master to one, Hippokrates. So, I do not really know.

[Troublemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite sci-fi stories. Loved it.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roddy McDowell did a fine job of reading this fun old classic.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short stories about an immortal doctor, a member of an organization called the Soldiers of Light, traveling the Galaxy to heal people’s illnesses. Ole Doc Methuselah is a nice character. He’s not your typical pulp hero. He’s not action-oriented or cunning and sneaky, and his science is medical science instead of gadgetry. He doesn’t engage in machismo, overblown heroics, or toxic masculinity. He’s noble, friendly, and a true hero.

This anthology reminds me the most of Star Trek. This was before Star Trek, but these were the kinds of pulp adventures that Star Trek drew from. Old Doc Methuselah is kind of like if Doctor McCoy was the captain of the Enterprise. Ole Doc flies a ship with the latest medical technology, and the ship is a character of its own. Of course my favorite character is Methuselah’s book-reading, rock-eating alien slave (yes) Hippocrates. Hippocrates is a charming little sidekick, and not annoying like most of them.

Each short story is great in its own way. My favorites are “The Great Air Monopoly”, about a thieving businessman on a space colony that’s like the Wild West, and “Plague”, which reminds me of the COVID pandemic and features Ole Doc Methuselah acting in the role of doctor the most. This is excellent pulp sci fi that benefited greatly from the end of WW2.

[Dave Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really eye opening to see how sci fi written in the 1940's. Surprisingly naïve in his approach to human interactions. It was also funny to see there was a Martian, and he pined for his canals of home. It looks like I first started reading sci fi about 1952.

[Liam Griffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly interesting space cowboy that barely holds your attention. Quant mid-western nostalgia for old values, not all slave owners were bastards you know? I think it was written around 1943. Not one of his best, not as bad as Battlefield Earth either.

[Сибин Майналовски · Rating 2 out of 5]

Слабичко. Или поне не е моята бира.

[Steve Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ole Doc Methuselah ****
Her Majesty's Aberration ***
The Expensive Slaves ***
The Great Air Monopoly *****
Plague *****
A Sound Investment ****
Ole Mother Methuselah ***

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ole Doc Methuselah was a Soldier of Light (#77 of 600) who traveled the spaceways with his loyal alien companion, Hippocrates, in their trusty starship, The Morgue, battling disease and injustice wherever they had taken root. Filled with humor and enthusiasm, the stories are in my opinion Hubbard's best work in the field.

[Sir Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is a space doctor.
He saves earth from alien disease.
Then he is a surgeon in a space war.
He births space babys.
He stops a pandemic.
He creates a anti virus. Vaccination.
Does surgery's and has medication.
On alien worlds with human explorers.
An inter galactic space doctor.

[Cws]

SF-Hub

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellant short stories Sci-Fie from the past