Calling Captain Future

Captain Future #2

by Edmond Hamilton

Il y a Simon Wright, dit le Cerveau, ce qu’il est, littéralement, et dans un bocal de sérum : un scientifique exceptionnel. Et puis Grag, la montagne de fer indestructible dotée d’outils intégrés étonnants. Sans oublier Otho, l’androïde synthétique, spécialiste du combat rapproché, de l’infiltration et du camouflage. Ils sont les Futuristes, la plus stupéfiante association qui puisse s’imaginer. Et enfin il y a celui qu’ils ont élevé, celui qu’ils ont juré de protéger, celui qui est devenu leur leader : Curt Newton, le géant roux, le sorcier de la science doté d’un esprit hors normes, infatigable justicier connu des peuples du Système sous le nom de capitaine Futur.
Tous quatre veillent sur les neuf mondes et au-delà, attentifs, depuis leur base lunaire à l’emplacement secret.
Or l’infâme Dr Zarro ourdit un plan abominable afin d’asseoir son pouvoir sur l’ensemble des mondes connus, un stratagème à l’échelle du Système solaire relayé par sa Légion de l’apocalypse. Une mission pour le Capitaine Futur, en somme, qui pourrait bien le conduire jusqu’aux terribles plaines glacées de Pluton et leurs Montagnes qui marchent…

Figure centrale de l’Âge d’or de la science-fiction américaine, scénariste de quantité de comics, dont Superman et Batman, Edmond Hamilton (1904-1977) est considéré comme l’un des inventeurs du space opera. Avec la série du Capitaine Futur, développée entre 1940 et 1951, traduite dans le monde entier mais plus connue en francophonie sous le nom de Capitaine Flam suite à son adaptation en dessin animé par la Tôei Animation dès 1978, il jette les bases d’une sous-culture populaire appelée à connaître un succès planétaire sous ses incarnations cinématographiques modernes — Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica et autre Star Trek.

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Pulp, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

Edmond Moore Hamilton was a popular author of science fiction stories and novels throughout the mid-twentieth century. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was raised there and in nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania. Something of a child prodigy, he graduated high school and started college (Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania) at the age of 14--but washed out at 17. He was the Golden Age writer who worked on Batman, the Legion of Super-Heroes, and many sci-fi books.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic example of Golden Age Science Fiction. Once again Captain Future and his Futuremen are called upon to save the solar system from an evil villain with designs on ruling all 9 planets. (Yes I said 9 planets! I don't care what they say, Pluto is a planet.) Rushing from planet to planet in his spaceship, the Comet, Captain Future is hot on the trail of the villain, Doctor Zarro. Adventure ensues. I recommend this book to fans of Golden Age Science Fiction and Edmond Hamilton.

[Robbie Sheerin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel originally appeared in the second issue of Captain Future Magazine in 1940. It's a fun pulp adventure, one of the best that I've read in the series thus far. The scientific content is way beyond and behind comprehension (I suspect that it was in 1940, to be honest), but the fast paced plot, the interplay between the main characters, and the face-off between good and evil makes for a great story, full of innocence and good humor. The future just isn't what it used to be.

[Tom Britz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel by Edmond Hamilton is not one of his better endeavors. Written in 1940, it is fairly well dated. Like the old serials of the movies there are many improbable circumstances and at times laughable outcomes. Captain Future must have been trapped in a seemingly impossible trap only to come out of it with the luck of a leprechaun.
Still I went in knowing this. So as the famous quote goes, the Golden Age of Science Fiction is 12. If you enjoy camp and a look back at SF history, then you'll enjoy this as much as I did. As another quote I came across not pertaining to SF but quite applicable here. This is the manure from which great SF grows. I'll be back for more adventures of Captain Future and his sidekicks, Otho, Grag and "the brain".

[Rubén Lorenzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta segunda novela sigue la misma fórmula que la anterior: peligros exóticos, un enemigo misterioso que amenaza todo el sistema, partes humorísticas entre el robot y el androide y una pequeña dosis de romance.

Es un buen ejemplo del pulp más plano, de consumo rápido. Sin embargo, el pulso narrativo de este solvente autor, que no da respiro, entretiene y deja un buen sabor de boca. Más que una novela de ciencia ficción, es una space opera precursora de la Star Wars que popularizó el género.

Seguiré leyendo la saga, porque aún no me he cansado de ella y siempre es refrescante una historia de aventuras, exótica y sin pretensiones. La recomiendo para quién necesite una lectura ligera y bien hecha.

[Joaquin del Villar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante el segundo libro de El Capitán Futuro. Con un guión algo ingenuo, pero bastante entretenido porque tiene acción sin parar. En esta ocasión viajan a Plutón, a sus tres lunas, descubiertas en 1970(!!!). El villano en esta ocasión es el Doctor Zarro que quiere ocupar el puesto de dictador del Sistema Solar. Destacar una nueva mascota de los Hombres del Futuro, un cachorro de lobo lunar, animal telépata que se alimenta de metales y se emborracha con el oro o la plata. El final de la historia bastante previsible, pero una gozada leerla

[Laurence Hidalgo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Future to the rescue! It's a Golden Age of Science Fiction space opera pulp story. Captain Future gets in a scrape and figures out a way to get out of it, repeat. That's the formula for these stories. It's predictable but enjoyable too.

[Mark Mekkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the kind of retro adventure I was looking for.

[Andie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun (if somewhat dated) Golden Age classic. Captain Future is the brainier, more science-oriented member of the Golden Age heroes. An entertaining rainy day read.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sideboard telephone rings. Our intrepid ginger hero answers.

Captain Future: Hello?

Edmond Hamilton: Cap, Ed here. Listen, I wanna put you into another story.

Captain Future: Another? … Will there be peril?

Edmond Hamilton: Peril aplenty. Also, danger. But each problem solved in about 10 pages.

Captain Future: Megalomaniac again? Do I get the girl at the end?

Edmond Hamilton: Yes, and yes. And the possibility of about a dozen more sequels. You in?

Captain Future: Yeah, I’m in. Let me swing by the cleaners and pick up my spacesuit. See you in 10.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pulp era SiFi hero, Captain Future is a more scientific version of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. He and his band of Futuremen are special criminal investigators for the Earth government and are similar to Doc Savage and his band of helpers. Great reads, recommended

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the TV series, and the book was amazing a treat for everybody who enjoys pulp science fiction.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

read SOMETIME in 2002