I haven't read the 27-year-old (but newly published in the U.S.) L. Ron Hubbard biography, "Bare-Faced Messiah," yet, but I've read reviews of it over the years. Has anybody here read it? Does the picture of Hubbard in it ring any bells in light of what we read about Heinlein's association with (and opinion) of Hubbard in Patterson's bio of Heinlein?

I'm debating whether to bother getting the Hubbard bio. He's not my favorite SF writer, and I grit my teeth anytime Scientology intrudes on my consciousness for other reasons. <wry grin>

I read Going Clear by Lawrence Wright a few months ago, and Bent Corydon's Messiah or Madman? quite a few years ago. Wright's recent book's first half is basically a biography of Hubbard with emphasis on founding the church and I believe incorporates much of the Bare-Faced Messiah material. At any rate, Hubbard is at least as far from boring as a man could be...

Wright also quotes Patterson, Vol I, in several places on his relationship with the Heinleins, including that Hubbard seems to have had sex with Leslyn--Hubbard is quoted describing it as Robert almost pushing the two together. Whether we can believe LRH on that point, considering his uncertain relationship with the truth, I don't know.

Perhaps someone else on this forum has more detailed knowledge of the known facts on this?

I got the definite impression that Heinlein liked Hubbard a lot when he was young, pre-WWII, but Hubbard's behavior towards women and in other respects had led him to quit trusting the Scientology founder by 1948. I'm not surprised. I wouldn't expose a child or vulnerable adult to the founder of Scientology. :/ At the same time, I suspect that Hubbard's bio is as you say very far from boring.

I'll check out Going Clear.