Captain Proton: Defender of the Earth

Star Trek: Voyager

by Dean Wesley Smith

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear when Real Men with ray guns and beautiful women in beguiling outfits battled hideous monsters from outer space! Return with us to the days when Captain Proton ruled the skyways!When the queen of an evil space empire kidnaps Captain Proton's faithful secretary Constance Goodheart, it's only the first step in her diabolical plan to conquer the Incorporated Planets. It soon becomes clear that there is more to her plot than meets the eye when, on the very edge of death, Captain Proton is saved by a power Not Of This Universe. Caught in an eons-old fight between two alien races, who can Captain Proton trust? No one -- not even his sidekick, ace reporter Buster Kincaid. Can Captain Proton save the Galaxy from the forces of evil and save Constance Goodheart from the Giant Demon Squid of Greyhawk II?Extra! Dr. Chaotica plots the Death of the Patrol, Constance Goodheart must find Captain Proton before she shrinks to a size too small to be seen, and Buster Kincaid faces the Swamp of Doom!

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Star Trek Voyager, Fiction, Ebooks

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Pen Names
Edward Taft
Dee W. Schofield
Sandy Schofield
Kathryn Wesley

Dean Wesley Smith is the bestselling author of over ninety novels under many names and well over 100 published short stories. He has over eight million copies of his books in print and has books published in nine different countries. He has written many original novels in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and romance as well as books for television, movies, games, and comics. He is also known for writing quality work very quickly and has written a large number of novels as a ghost writer or under house names.

With Kristine Kathryn Rusch, he is the coauthor of The Tenth Planet trilogy and The 10th Kingdom. The following is a list of novels under the Dean Wesley Smith name, plus a number of pen names that are open knowledge. Many ghost and pen name books are not on this list because he is under contractual obligations not to disclose that he wrote them. Many of Dean’s original novels are also under hidden pen names for marketing reasons.

Dean has also written books and comics for all three major comic book companies, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse, and has done scripts for Hollywood. One movie was actually made.

Over his career he has also been an editor and publisher, first at Pulphouse Publishing, then for VB Tech Journal, then for Pocket Books.

Currently, he is writing thrillers and mystery novels under another name.

Reviews

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get what they were going for with this book. And I applaud them for the idea.
And I loved the "Captain Proton" bits in the Voyager TV series.

But a little bit of the Capt'n goes a LONG way, and this overdoes it, IMO.

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first and only Captain Proton book ever is very good. Captain Proton and Kincaid travel from Earth, to the center of the Univese, trying to save the Incorporated Planets from immenent doom. And at the same time, saving his secratary Constance. This was a Very good book.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what you expect, and better than should be expected.

Surprisingly well worth your time.

[Ross Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Today (1/16/2025) is the 3oth Anniversary of the broadcast of the first episode of Star Trek Voyager.
At the time of broadcast, this show was compared to the series from the 1960's - a lone captain, without the assistance of Starfleet or any allies, trying to make their way back home.

It helped to launch a new TV network, and filled the gap that had been left when Picard's Next Generation went off the air.

Over the new few year, they would have 5 Star episodes (Year of Hell), and a few duds (looking at you, Newt Janeway and Paris!). My friend and I joked that it was "How can Janeway bend the Prime Directive this season" show. (And later, the Seven of Nine show).

In honor of this anniversary, I finished reading this book - based on one of the running themes of the show. Paris' love of the 20th Century serial, Captain Proton.
Not one part of this book was Voyager - you could picture someone else playing the roles of Proton, Kincaid, and Constance. (Although the later better be a good screamer - since that is all she does).
And look for a fun little DSN Easter Egg

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun, but lacking in most of the supporting characters that a "Voyager" fan would hope to see in a "Captain Proton" book. No Arachnia, no President of Earth, no Twin Mistresses of Evil, not even Chaotica!

Seeing that this was published in 1999, it's possible that "Bride of Chaotica" and "Thirty Days" hadn't aired yet while these stories were being written.

The stories we got were still fun, especially the one told from Constance Goodheart's POV. But I hope someday we get another installment, with all the characters a "Captain Proton" fan would hope to see more of.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though their were characters familiar and moving in this book, the story was such a mixed up mess it was hard to get past the continued spoof, It was't horrible just strange from start to finish, Mix Alice in wonderland with Flash Gordon and throw in star wars and many other over done sound effects and you get , Confused. This was a Good? Read.

[Albert Elnen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. It was a fun book. Pretty much like the campy 30's Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. But Paris as Proton Kim as Kincaid, and 7 as Constance. Well you have to like. You would find it hard to believe that 7 would scream. But over all I had to give it 3 stars.

[Tony Loyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was tough. I'm a big fan of Voyager and was really excited for this book when I saw it. I realize I should not be surprised and should not really expected any different but this book just had nothing to it. Mindless pulp. No matter how big of a Captain Proton fan, avoid this book.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhere, I’m certain there’s an audience for this one. I’m sure, however, that it’s not me. This was very campy and just didn’t hold my attention at all. It’s more of a spoof or satire than an actual story. I will admit that I chose to DNF it part of the way through the book.

[Sonya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I read it. Glad it was quick read. It's supposed to be over-the-top exaggerated pulp fiction. I got tired of the secretary screaming all the time before the end of the first short story. Some people might find this funny (and I'm thinking pre-teen boys.)

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really thought I'd like this one. More of a spoof of old serials than an homage. Incredibly boring. Finished the main story, but couldn't make it past the summary of Mercury. Bowed out at 62%. I can't remember the last time I didnt finish a book. Very disappointed. DNF.

[John Barclay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring junk.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books I've ever read, and I've read some pretty bad ones.

[Daniel Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captured old fashioned science fiction feel, but was a little rambling and disconnected between sections of the book.

[Mars · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will read *anything*, pretty much, but even so I only made it to page 9 before giving up and tossing this in the trash.

The only noteworthy text in the first 9 pages:

In all the years Constance had been Captain Proton's secretary, he had never heard her make a rude noise. Lots of screams, but never, ever rude noises.

[Nicolas · Rating 2 out of 5]

A valiant effort, but a failure nonetheless. My expecations were pretty low, but I assumed it would at the very least be a fun little story in the style of the classic movie serials. Instead it was a 100 page long spoof of the genre that really fell flat.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Captain Proton pulp fiction style short stories. This has no Voyager crew in it at all. It feels like its supposed to be a badly written 1950s scifi. There's some fun things like how the girl keeps screaming but apart from that not really memorable. A ok read.

[bluetyson]

isbn,original

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is pretty much a send-up of an old-time pulp SF magazine, nothing more, nothing less. I feel like they dragged the joke out way too long.