Typewriter in the Sky

Magical Realism. Alternate History. No Way Out.

By: L. Ron Hubbard

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Stranger Than Fiction meets Pirates of the Caribbean in this humorous genre-twisting adventure—where a man wakes up as the villain in his friend’s swashbuckling novel.

“A true masterpiece of the genre … an exhilarating romp, filled with delightful twists and turns.” —Kevin J. Anderson

“Both funny and profound.” —S.M. Stirling

The author has a plot, but the villain has other plans.

Mike de Wolf is a pianist on the verge of his big break—until his friend Horace Hackett casts him as the tragic villain in a swashbuckling pirate novel. The plot? Buccaneers, lost love, and a duel between a noble English rogue and a poetic Spanish admiral. The villain? Mike himself—reimagined as the brooding Miguel de Lobo.

A freak electrical accident propels Mike from 1940s New York into the magical realism of the 1640s Caribbean—an alternate history shaped by cannon fire, cutlasses, and the whims of a frustrated writer. Trapped inside Horace’s unfinished manuscript, Mike must navigate a world where fiction is fact, plot is fate, and a flame-haired beauty may yet break his heart.

Back in New York, Horace relentlessly plots the demise of the villainous de Lobo with no idea his best friend is living every word. If Mike wants to survive—or escape—he’ll have to outwit the plot itself … and possibly rewrite his own ending.

Typewriter in the Sky is a genre-bending classic of magical realism and alternate history, where the only way out of the story … may be to finish it.

Get it now.

©1995 L. Ron Hubbard Library (P)1995 L. Ron Hubbard Library

The detail of the battles

I read this story about 25 years ago but this rendition made me realize that the god you invoke is the author of your life.

What a story!

Lots of fun and unexpected twists. It’s a classic. A very different twist in time travel.

Great book

Loved it, it was one of the first books I really enjoyed as a kid. That's when I realized that I love to read.

Captivating and Original

Creative plot and story. It kept me fully engaged. Fun to listen to as the performer is amazing with his voices.

Excellent performance, like old times radio

The story is great and I want to know what happens next! Lol. And there is so much fun in the performance. Felt fully immersive and fun to listen to again. Like watching a favorite TV episode. :)