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The works of L. Ron Hubbard By: Alec Housholder

L. Ron Hubbard, or Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, was born March 13, 1911 in Tilden, Nebraska. Hubbard is mainly known for creating scientology and dianetics. Dianetics is a set of practices regarding the relationship between mind and body. His book __Dianetics:__ __The Modern Science of Mental Health__ was published in May 1950 by Hermitage House. Even though his book was published, it wasn’t getting the attention he wanted. He turned to the legendary science-fiction editor John W. Campbell, who had already published some of Hubbard’s work. Campbell answered Hubbard’s cry for help in 1949 when Campbell discussed dianetics in his famous magazine, “Astounding Science-Fiction.” Science-Fiction writers and editors were torn by his new ideas about health and medicine, but even with all the criticism, the book was a hit, selling over 150,000 in the first year. All was looking good with his new theory, but in September 1950 the New York Times ran a column criticizing Hubbard’s dianetics and calling it a fraud. They pointed out that the theory could not be confirmed as a true and effective way of curing life-threatening diseases such as cancer and crippling diseases such as arthritis. Hubbard had claimed that dianetics would cure these and a variety of other diseases. Consumer Reports even warned its readers against the use of dianetics. Despite these difficulties, Hubbard managed to acquire his own research center in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Eventually he had five branches in the United States, but they all folded within a year. Hubbard left the foundation and denounced some of his former associates, telling the FBI that they were communists. Hubbard’s early writing career was influenced by his life in the navy. This included such books as __Final Blackout__, __Fear,__ __Battlefield Earth__, and __Mission Earth__. Later, his works focused primarily on dianetics and scientology as he sought to promote his new “religion.” He also wrote screen plays such as “Revolt in the Stars.” The play was meant to show how advanced scientology really was. Hubbard’s writing has been compared to a lecture, presumably because he instructed people about the ideas and “facts” of scientology. According to a scientology-based website, Hubbard’s novel influenced the genre of science-fiction, fantasy and horror literature. He is credited with changing the genre by adding the “human element,” letting readers in on a character’s feelings, thoughts, and motivations. He was consistently able to enable readers to look into the mind and emotions of characters in a way that heightened the reading experience without slowing the pace of the story. Hubbard is considered by many to be one of the founders of science-fiction during the genre’s golden age in the 1940’s and 1950’s..



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