Invaders Plan

However, Mission Earth is worth a look for an entirely different reason, and that is the insight it gives into the mind of Hubbard in his later years. Completely insulated from the outside world, surrounded by totally unquestioning Scientologist followers and convinced of a massive world conspiracy to destroy him, Hubbard's grip on reality at the time was poor at best, and the contents of the books reflect this to a surprising degree.

The book, as the introduction clearly states, is a "satire" on real-world events and institutions. Generally, most satirists don't feel the need to state this so blatantly in the first lines, but presumably Hubbard was worried that some of his more subtle allusions might go over the heads of his readers, such as the "Co-ordinated Information Apparatus", the intergalactic secret service in the novels, or the appearance of a "Delbert John Rockecenter" on Earth.

As the series progresses, Hubbard's bizarre world view begins to shine through more and more. References are constantly made to "Earth Psychology", which, according to Hubbard, is used by all Earth governments to keep their populations subdued and under control. Ludicrously effeminate homosexuals appear as minor characters, bursting into tears and falling into each other's arms in terror at the slightest provocation while the central character, through whose perspective the story is told, makes various derogatory remarks regarding them to the reader.

No review of "Mission Earth" would be complete, however, without reference to the characters in the novels. When read as fiction, the characters in seem near-totally one-dimensional and stereotyped. However, viewed as part of Hubbard's increasingly insane satire, they begin to make a little more sense. One example is Jettero Heller, the shining, flawlessly perfect hero of the books, who is sent by the aforementioned Co-ordinated Information Apparatus to Earth, where he sets out, against the wishes of the evil Apparatus, to save the world from psychology, rock music and homosexuality.

My assumption is that Heller represents Scientology, or perhaps Hubbard himself in this hilariously blatant satire - he is portrayed as perfect in every respect and the only person who can save the world from impending doom. The introduction of "PR Genius J. Walter Madison", who starts a huge advertising campaign to slander and discredit Heller, is presumably a reference to the vast global conspiracy that Hubbard believed was targeting him and Scientology.

Overall, Mission Earth is poorly written, mind-bogglingly dull and occasionally incoherent as a novel. However, for those who seek an insight into the true mindset of Hubbard, glorified and near-worshipped among Scientologists and reviled or unknown elsewhere, it's a decidedly interesting read. Those of you seeking to truly learn more about Scientology's views and history without picking up the squeaky-clean, vapidly self-promoting books published by the church may find this well worth a look. Those of you looking for a good sci-fi novel should try elsewhere. My personal recommendation is Isaac Asimov's "Foundation".


Superb and gripping series   February 5, 2006
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I'm on my fourth time of reading the Mission Earth series, and it never fails to impress me with the authors carefully studied satire on the actions and antics of Rockecenter(Rockefeller), Psychiatry and the CIA. I decided to reread it recently as I have been reading up on CIA and the Rockefellers. And yes L. Ron Hubbard seems to have got them spot on. It's a great read, and I found myself wishing that it would be so nice if someone like Jettero Heller could come to earth and help us sort out the mess here. But I have to agree with the other reviewer who found the antics of Soltan Gris to be unbelievably stupid, but hey I'm on my fourth reading so can skip these bits without missing too much.


Insane, and the series gets even more so.   January 7, 2002
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I first read this book years ago, after reading Battlefield Earth (well before the film was made, although my copy of the book insists that it will soon be 2 major motion pictures?!?).

Anyway, this is perhaps the slowest book of the decology(spelling?) but introduces the series to you in a reasonably normal manner.

The characters are sublime, from the most compentant and heroicly good Jettro Heller, through to the people that populate the Co-Ordinated Information Apperatus or C.I.A. (ah ha.....ha...........ha, humm?) including my favorite anti-hero of all time Soltan Gris, pure incompentent slime...