Mission Earth (novel series)

Mission Earth is a ten-volume science fiction series written by L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard passed away three months after the first book came out; the rest were released after his death. The publisher, Bridge Publications, created the term "dekalogy" (meaning a series of ten books) to market it. The story runs about 1.2 million words and is a satirical science fiction tale about an advanced alien civilization, the Voltar Confederacy, launching a preemptive invasion of Earth.

Critical reception was largely negative, yet each volume topped multiple bestseller lists, though there were allegations that the Church of Scientology bought copies in bulk. The second book, *Black Genesis*, was nominated for the 1987 Hugo Award for Best Novel but lost to *Speaker for the Dead*; it made the final ballot but finished behind "No Award."

The plot follows the Voltarians, who want to conquer Earth (called Blito-P3 in their star charts) to use as a gas station for an invasion of the galactic center. They decide that Earth's inhabitants will destroy the planet through pollution and war, messing up their timetable. Royal Combat Engineer Jettero Heller—a perfect, incorruptible, and incredibly capable character—is sent to save Earth from humans. Arriving in New York City, he investigates, unaware that he is being tracked and that factions on Voltar want him to fail.

Unknown to Heller, Earth is also the base for a secret operation by the diabolically evil Lombar Hisst, head of the Voltarian Coordinated Information Apparatus (CIA), who wants to usurp the throne. Hisst has been importing illegal narcotics from Earth to enslave Voltar's government heads. He works to make Heller fail. Hisst assigns a stooge, Soltan Gris, to supervise and sabotage the mission. Gris smuggles twelve tons of gold (which is less valuable to Voltarians), tries to launder it through a Swiss bank account for himself, and ends up a prisoner of two man-hating lesbians who marry him after torturing him. He has money and girlfriend troubles, and hires a hit man who eventually targets him.

Heller uncovers a conspiracy led by Delbert John Rockecenter, who keeps Earth's population sedated with drugs and rock music. Heller's attempts to break Rockecenter's demonic control make him a target, and the corporation uses psychiatry, psychology, and a mad public relations genius named J. Walter Madison (aka J.