L. Ron Hubbard Pen-Names / Pseudonyms - Fiction
W.R. Colt - Winchester Remington Colt
Lt. Jonathan Daly
Capt. Charles Gordon
Capt. L. Ron Hubbard
Bernard Hubbel
Michael Keith
Rene Lafayette
Legionnaire 148
Legionnaire 14830
Lt. Scott Morgan
Kurt von Rachen
Barry Randolph
Capt. Humbert Reynolds
John Seabrook
Ron Hubbard
Lt. Jonathan Daly
Capt. Charles Gordon
Capt. L. Ron Hubbard
Bernard Hubbel
Michael Keith
Rene Lafayette
Legionnaire 148
Legionnaire 14830
Lt. Scott Morgan
Kurt von Rachen
Barry Randolph
Capt. Humbert Reynolds
John Seabrook
Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard Pen-Names / Pseudonyms - Non-Fiction
Tom Esterbrook
George Kellogg
Capt. B.A. Northrop
Mr. Spectator
George Kellogg
Capt. B.A. Northrop
Mr. Spectator
A story about a pen-name:
Ron had his agent, Ed Bodin, submit a story to Leo Margulies, the editor of Thrilling Adventures, as a new writer. Ron says "Ed was scared stiff. 'but if he finds out...'
"I pushed him hard. It was a gag on Leo. So Ed did it."
"Day or two later, Ed called me in a panic. 'They love it. But they want to know what this guy looks like.'
"So I said, 'He's a huge brute of a man. Tough. Black hair, beard. His idea of a party is to rent the floor of a hotel, get everybody drunk and smash the place to bits. A tough character."
"So Ed hung up and all seemed well."
"Then the next day he called again in even more of a panic. 'They want to know where he is! They want to see him! And sign a contract!"
"So I said 'He's in the Argentine. He's wanted for murder in Georgia!"
"So Ed hung up. All went through smoothly."
"Now it's not illegal to use a pen name. But to play such a joke on an old friend like Leo was bad."
"So I went over to Leo's office to tell him for laughs."
"Unfortunately, Leo met me with a manuscript in his hand."
"He said, 'You old-time pros think you are all there is! Look at this. A story, brand-new, fresh. New writer. Got it all over you.'
"And the manuscript he was holding was 'The Squad That Never Came Back by 'Kurt von Rachen.'
"I let it go."
"I used the name amongst others for some years. But that isn't all there is to the story."
"After the war years, I was riding down in an elevator in Leo's building. A brand-new fresh writer had stepped in with me."
"I just sold three stories,' he said."
"I was glad for him. Most pros are for the new ones that are trying."
"'Yeah,' he said, 'and this sure is a wild town,' meaning New York. 'Last night I was at a party. Guy rented a whole floor of a hotel, got everybody drunk, smashed the place up...'"
"I started, blinked. Could it be?"
"What was his name?' I inquired breathlessly."
"'Kurt von Rachen,' he said. And left me standing there forgetting to get out."
- L. Ron Hubbard
"I pushed him hard. It was a gag on Leo. So Ed did it."
"Day or two later, Ed called me in a panic. 'They love it. But they want to know what this guy looks like.'
"So I said, 'He's a huge brute of a man. Tough. Black hair, beard. His idea of a party is to rent the floor of a hotel, get everybody drunk and smash the place to bits. A tough character."
"So Ed hung up and all seemed well."
"Then the next day he called again in even more of a panic. 'They want to know where he is! They want to see him! And sign a contract!"
"So I said 'He's in the Argentine. He's wanted for murder in Georgia!"
"So Ed hung up. All went through smoothly."
"Now it's not illegal to use a pen name. But to play such a joke on an old friend like Leo was bad."
"So I went over to Leo's office to tell him for laughs."
"Unfortunately, Leo met me with a manuscript in his hand."
"He said, 'You old-time pros think you are all there is! Look at this. A story, brand-new, fresh. New writer. Got it all over you.'
"And the manuscript he was holding was 'The Squad That Never Came Back by 'Kurt von Rachen.'
"I let it go."
"I used the name amongst others for some years. But that isn't all there is to the story."
"After the war years, I was riding down in an elevator in Leo's building. A brand-new fresh writer had stepped in with me."
"I just sold three stories,' he said."
"I was glad for him. Most pros are for the new ones that are trying."
"'Yeah,' he said, 'and this sure is a wild town,' meaning New York. 'Last night I was at a party. Guy rented a whole floor of a hotel, got everybody drunk, smashed the place up...'"
"I started, blinked. Could it be?"
"What was his name?' I inquired breathlessly."
"'Kurt von Rachen,' he said. And left me standing there forgetting to get out."
- L. Ron Hubbard