The so-called Golden Age of Radio lasted little more than a quarter century from approximately 1926 to 1952–54. This is what it was like:“Of all the forms of theater, radio drama commanded the most effective stage. No medium—not theater, not film, not television—had more sheer space in which to achieve the basic goal of drama, telling a story. Theater is bounded by the bare boards and the footlights and the flats, film by the white screen, and television by the comparatively tiny t...

Three very successful series of stories aimed at children and teens were created by a man who had a book packaging house and didn’t want to cause confusion. So, none of the stories ever had his name on them. Instead, Edward Stratemeyer hired several writers and provided them with story ideas that were then published under the pseudonym Victor Appleton. They were tales of the adventures of a teenager named Tom Swift. He was portrayed as a youngster who didn’t have a lot of formal education ...

William Sydney Porter had an unusual personal history. He got a job as a teller and bookkeeper at a Texas bank when he was twenty-nine. He did what could be called some careless bookkeeping, and it appeared he may have embezzled some funds. No charges were made until about four years later when an audit found the previous shortages, and he was arrested. Bail was posted by his father-in-law, and Porter headed out to unknown places, living in Honduras for a while. When he returned to the sta...

This detective winds up with situations of an inscrutable variety. Fleming Stone’s contacts are like strings of an instrument he plays. He has a personal magnetic manner and is always willing to share any information he gathers. Stone once said, “The hardest puzzle in this world is a woman,” and that brief comment comes to life in this fourth example of his prowess as he surprisingly falls in love with one of the murder suspects. Learn more about his methods in three previous audiobooks. T...

The term “sour grapes” is often used in reference to an instance in which someone adopts an attitude to something because they can’t equal it themselves. That was certainly the case when a 20th century critic wrote a derogatory article in the New York Magazine, stating:“Who cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?”—Edmund WilsonHe added: “Wasteful of time and degrading to the intellect.”We learn that Wilson was long since misguided when he said he had outgrown detective stor...

This is the first story written about a man who became interested in criminal investigation as just a hobby. It came as somewhat of a surprise to him when it became an occupation. This was Peter Wimsey, referred to as Lord Peter because he was the younger son of a Duke, justifying the courtesy title. He didn’t have a right to sit in the House of the Lords, but that didn’t seem to matter among his friends and associates.This initial disclosure of his activities began when a man’s de...

The idea that the extraordinary narrative which has been called the Joyce-Armstrong Fragment is an elaborate practical joke evolved by some unknown person, cursed by a perverted and sinister sense of humor, has now been abandoned by all who have examined the matter. The most macabre and imaginative of plotters would hesitate before linking his morbid fancies with the unquestioned and tragic facts which reinforce the statement. Though the assertions contained in it are amazing and even mons...

This book is an example of Alternative History. That, in essence, is asking what the future could be like.It suggests the US could have become a Dominion of America. Call this standard history with a twist, or even mythology in part. It is certainly historical material, told in fictional fashion. The basis of the concept can help broaden your personal historical imagination by emphasizing an unorthodox perspective. The key to any such literary approach centers around a point of div...

The author once worked as a dairy farmer in Canada, but returned to his home in Kent, near London, and became a broadcaster, journalist, novelist, and short story writer. He specialized in tales of the supernatural and was described as “Unquestioned master of weird atmosphere,” as he told of incredible adventures. He often used first person narrations, as you will hear … and, very likely feel an abnormal phantom presence. Come along … If you dare!

This story is by the second most translated author in the world, ranking below Agatha Christie and above William Shakespeare. The name is Jules Verne, often called “the father of science fiction,” and he was a tremendous inspiration for many writers that followed. His methods were definitely not scientifically accurate but were made into overwhelming literature by vivid imagination. A myth-like feeling is engendered by dining in Le Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower in Par...

The Middle of Things by J. S. Fletcher will certainly come up to expectations if you’re in the mood for a cracking good classic murder mystery. Fletcher’s novels were essentially puzzles and were not meant to be realistic portrayals of crime and criminals. This fine example has to do with Richard Viner, basically an average young man on the street who, more or less accidentally, finds a dead body in a dimly lit alley while he’s taking his usual nightly stroll. He calls police and ...

Some months back Biff’s father went to India to legally open up some gold mines that had been absorbed by the India Republic. The setting for same was in exotic and mystical segments of India, with much action to be in and around the vicinity of the Himalayas. At first it was more of a sight-seeing tour than adventure with Biff accompanied by two friends from earlier times … Kamuka, met at the headwaters of the Amazon River in Brazil, and Likake (“Lee”) Mahenili of Hawaii. They headed out ...