Anderson Rearick III’s Reviews > Calling Captain Future > Status Update

Hamilton envisions a solar system filled with both sentient and animal and plant life on all nine worlds. Sadly this was not the case.

Sometimes Hamilton’s writing is a bit redundant. “‘What’s this?’ asked Captain Planet quizzically.”

A bit more problematic is Captain Future’s and Joan Randall’s (his female companion) response when they find another crew, but an alien one, in stasis and assume that their intent would be malevolent if they came out of suspended animation. To stop the process they kill the captain and copilot who never have the chance to explain themselves.

Hamilton shows his skill as an episodic writer since at the at the end of various chapters there is always a strong sub-climax which must be fulfilled in the next chapter. Easy to see this being used in a serial film series. Also of note Captain Future has the first example of a spaceman finding a dead crew at their posts and honoring them with a salute.

Hamilton’s hero, Captain Future, and his Futurmen is the wellspring of all the super hero teams I grew up with. Especially with the wide range of abilities that each team member.