Balata (The Argosy Library)

It is what it is. An old pulp story (for which the author was paid by the word) I will say it is written better than most of the genre

Action and plenty of it as a group if people head down the Amazon. Native battles, traitors and evil doers abound in the 1930 action book.

This Adventure novel was first serialized in six issues of the great Argosy Pulp Magazine in 1930 and 1931 and has never been reprinted before. That is too bad , because it is rip-roaring good story.The novel was written by Fred MacIsaac who was a favorite of Argosy readers and would go on to create the character of The Rambler who regularly appear in Dime Detective.The Novel is printed in large easy to read print in and features a cover painting by Paul Stahr and all the orginal six illustrations from the Pulp Magazine. This is part of the Altus Press first ten books in their new Argosy Library.It is my third book read in this series and like the previous two I devoured they are excellent. They have been doing a great job of selecting neglected classics.Balata the novel's title referrers to a kind of very durable rubber discovered in South America. Today Balata is still used and is they key ingredient in quality golf balls. In 1930 the Rubber trade had moved from South America to the cheaper Asian countries, but then the discovery of Balata started a get rich boom similar to the Gold Rush.Young Pete Holcomb's career was not working out the way he planned so Pete agrees to follow his rich college buddy Les Gorman down to explore his Balata claim in the Amazon Jungles. Gorman's beautiful but rugged sister Louise insisted on going. Also hired is World renowned explorer Felix Dexter. These four form the core of the party and a love triangle also develops.They must build boats and hire crew and porters, meanwhile a very greedy rubber Plantation owner will stop at nothing to stop their deadly trip.They also must face danger with the Jungle's nasty creatures and Cannibal Natives. At one point our hero finds himself separated from the party and forced to live among the cannibals.This is a non-stop fun action, adventure romp with a little politics and romance thrown in to flavour it.My Highest Recommendation.

Good old fashioned adventure story that should appeal to all who enjoy pulp fiction and has the pedigree of being from the famous. Argosy magazine of the past