Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Paperback)

by Kevin J. Anderson (Author) "In the gathering dusk, a snowstorm settled around the huge streamlined shape that eased through the cold fog..." (more)
Key Phrases: sonic atomizer, flight stick, robot monsters, Sky Captain, Flying Legion, Flying Wings (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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: 256 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451411633
• ISBN-13: 978-0451411631
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,374,844 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

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!

11 of 16 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)

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.

3.0 out of 5 stars Super Reader, February 3, 2009

By	Blue Tyson "- http://freesf.blogspot.com" - See all my reviews

Giant robots and nebulous bad guy.

There are also some other fun bits - gynoid assassins, and underwater plane battles and geeky inventor sidekicks. The ex-lover plane pilot is actually a lot more interesting than the reporter that hooks up with Sky Captain, too, and is a far more believable pulp hero.

The overall plot and antagonist is in this case, however, is just not very interesting, unfortunately.


2.5 out of 5