Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow [Paperback]

Kevin J. Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

A BRAVE NEW WORLD
New York City, 1939. Crack investigative reporter Polly Perkins unearths plans to create a violent new World of Tomorrow.

A BRASH NEW THREAT
Soon after, gigantic mechanical robots are unleashed upon New York and other major cities of the world, meting out death and destruction in their wake.

A BOLD NEW HERO
The call goes out to Joe Sullivan, leader of the heroic Flying Legion, to save the day. As Joe and Polly circle the globe, encountering mutant creatures, monstrous mechanical machines, and dangerous tentacled robots, they are drawn ever closer to the lair of evil genius George Totenkopf. Together, they must battle the forces of the World of Tomorrow in order to savethe world of today.

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451411633
• ISBN-13: 978-0451411631
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,334,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kevin J. Anderson has written 46 national bestsellers and has over 20 million books in print worldwide in thirty languages. He has been nominated for the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the SFX Readers' Choice Award. Find out more about Kevin Anderson at www.wordfire.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good, fun read, July 14, 2004

By 

"chris0159" (Ambler, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Paperback)

A novelization version of the upcoming film, "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" is set in 1939 New York City. The story follows Lois Lane-like reporter Polly Perkins, who's always looking for the latest scoop, as she covers the disappearances of many famed German scientists. After an interesting meeting with a stranger, who claims he's "the only one left" and leaves Polly with just a name (Totenkopf- German for "Death's Head") and a blueprint, the city falls under attack by giant trampling robots, but the day is saved when Sky Captain and the Flying Legion enter the scene and ward them off. Polly, naturally determined to find out what's going on, teams up with Sky Captain as they both fly around the world to search for Totenkopf, aided along the way by Sky Captain's right-hand man Dex and old-time friend Captain Francesca "Franky" Cook.

As I'm anticipating this film very much, my thoughts on the book may be a bit biased, but I found it very entertaining and simply fun to read. It probably could have been written a bit better, though we're not asking for the next Lord of the Rings, here.

To appreciate it fully, you need to read this in the right state of mind. As a homage to the old and slightly cheesy "LOOK! UP IN THE SKY!" types of sci-fi serials of the 1930s and 40s, the storyline is obviously going to be full of cliches and missing backstory, and might even seem a bit ridiculous at times. It's these kinds of thing that you just have to accept and move along with and let your imagination do the rest.

If you like pulp, camp, sci-fi, or just a good (and predictable) classic mystery, (or even if the film just interests you), you may want to try this book out.

As for the film, see you in September!

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sky Captain is fun, 30's style film, September 13, 2004

By 

J. Strand (dallas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Paperback)

I saw the film at a screening in Plano, TX about 3 or 4 weeks ago. For the first 10-15 minutes I thought that it might fall apart as it just seemed a little too "corny". However, once you realize, and accept, that the characters take things seriously, there's no irony and treat it like a old-style comic adventure it really takes of and was a fun Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon/Wizard of Oz type film from there on out. My favorite "fun" film of the year by a longshot. I heard Roper on Ebert & Roper complain about Angelina Jolie's "bad British accent". When I was watching I thought she sounded just like all the old English soldiers in films like "The Four Feathers" or "The Charge of the Light Brigade". She sounded over the top becuase that's how she was SUPPOSED to sound Richard! Anyway her role isn't much more than a cameo. A great looking film that also is very entertaining.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for the movie!, July 8, 2004

By 

Bee-Bee "the bink" (Washington area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Paperback)

Kevin Anderson is a fantastic writer (Dune series), and he makes this a book that's a lot of fun to read. Can't wait for the movie!