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David N Edwards's debut novel, I Remember Captain Heart, introduces exciting heroes and villains to the field of super hero novels.
Pop-culture is bursting with comic book style super heroes. Not just for the comics anymore, costumed avengers now appear in television, movies, and novels. Super heroes have fought their way into modern museums. The likes of Superman, Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four exert their influence everywhere we look. Not only are established comic book heroes appearing in novels, original creations arrive on retail shelves with increasing frequency. So why add to an already crowded market? More than just another adventure story, I Remember Captain Heart asks what it means to be a hero. Edwards offers an exploration of the danger of ambition, the power of desire, and the true meaning of heroism. Childhood Dreams“Captain, what can we do? They’re all around us, we can’t move. This is the worst situation we’ve ever been in.” “There is no need to fear, Fox; we have them right where we want them. They can’t get away from us now.” Young Tony and Cindy are the kind of friends who stand back-to-back against troubles – both real and imagined. Tony plays the brave and true Captain Heart; Cindy, the fierce and loyal Scarlet Fox. At school they are bullied by others. Tony hates them, and would use superpowers to exact revenge. Cindy reminds him that heroes must use their powers in the service of all, no matter how poorly they’ve been treated. Cindy’s turbulent home life ultimately separates the two friends, and Tony grows into an aimless day-to-day existence. As he struggles to overcome feelings of personal inadequacy his childhood dreams of Captain Heart are forgotten. Aunt Em’s Special BookSuper heroes get their special abilities from many places – fateful accidents, mutated genes, alien physiology, etc. In this case a book is the source of power. Cindy receives a unique gift from her Aunt Em. It is a book covered in silver and bearing more or less blank pages. When she places her finger on a page, she gains the super power printed at the top. Cindy becomes the Scarlet Fox. But the book may also be used for evil. When Cindy shares the secret with Tony, he carelessly allows the gift to fall into the hands of a petty criminal. Mark Dobbins, a.k.a. The Boss, abuses the book to become a powerful villain. DialogueDialogue is the weakest aspect of I Remember Captain Heart. Early in the book Cindy declares, “I’m with you all the way, Captain Heart. I will always stand with you, proud and brave. We are an American fighting team. We stand for right and justice, and will continue fighting against evil wherever we find it. As long as you stand, I will stand with you.” This kind of repetition occurs throughout the book. In places the dialogue sounds unnatural and occasionally becomes explanatory, telling readers things that are obvious. Aunt Em insists she is not a witch so many times that we begin to doubt her sincerity. PlotUnnecessary back story consumes the first two chapters, and Cindy and Tony’s reunion as adults, where the story actually begins, resolves too quickly. A stronger opening would give book lovers more incentive to continue reading. The beauty of I Remember Captain Heart lies in its exploration of what it means to be a hero. Cindy is a hero to Tony before receiving super powers. Tony looses his opportunity to gain powers, but overcomes his victim mentality to stand with the Scarlet Fox against evil. When they come to a final confrontation with The Boss, Tony saves the day by learning that super powers have little to do with being super. Captain Heart is a part of him. All he must do is remember. What Dreams May ComeUnfortunately, Cindy commits her own indiscretion with the book, allowing it to fall into the hands of another who will use it for selfish reasons. The stage is set for a new villain and the next book in the series. I remember Captain Heart is the first book of a planned trilogy. About the AuthorDavid N Edwards is a retired art teacher. He says, “The best part about retirement is that you get to do those things you truly love to do.” He is the author / illustrator of two books for children of all ages: The Unicorns Prayer and Turtle-Go-Round. His songs and poetry are collected in Songs and Memories and Songs and Memories II.
The copyright of the article I Remember Captain Heart in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction is owned by James A Woods. Permission to republish I Remember Captain Heart in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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