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Time Traders
This omnibus edition includes: "The Time Traders" and "Galactic Derelict."
DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY OF TIME
DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY OF TIME
Intelligence agents have uncovered something which seems beyond belief, but the evidence is incontrovertible: the USAs greatest adversary on the world stage is sending its agents back through time! And someone or something unknown to our history is presenting them with technologies -- and weapons -- far beyond our most advanced science. We have only one option: create time-transfer technology ourselves, find the opposition's ancient source...and take it dawn.
When small-time criminal Ross Murdock and Apache rancher Travis Fox stumble separately onto America's secret time travel project, Operation Retrograde, they are faced with a challenge greater than either could have imagined possible. Their mere presence means that they know too much to go free. But Murdock and Fox have a thirst for adventure, and Operation Retrograde offers that in spades.
Both men will become time agents, finding reserves of inner heroism they had never expected. Their journeys will take the battle to the enemy, from ancient Britain to prehistoric America, and finally to the farthest reaches of interstellar space...
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
318 people are currently reading
925 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
698 books1,390 followersAndre Norton, born Alice Mary Norton, was a pioneering American author of science fiction and fantasy, widely regarded as the Grande Dame of those genres. She also wrote historical and contemporary fiction, publishing under the pen names Andre Alice Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. She launched her career in 1934 with The Prince Commands, adopting the name “Andre” to appeal to a male readership. After working for the Cleveland Library System and the Library of Congress, she began publishing science fiction under “Andrew North” and fantasy under her own name. She became a full-time writer in 1958 and was known for her prolific output, including Star Man’s Son, 2250 A.D. and Witch World, the latter spawning a long-running series and shared universe. Norton was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America and authored Quag Keep, the first novel based on the Dungeons & Dragons game. She influenced generations of writers, including Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey. Among her many honors were being the first woman named Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and SFWA Grand Master. In her later years, she established the High Hallack Library to support research in genre fiction. Her legacy continues with the Andre Norton Award for young adult science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
February 11, 2018
This book is fine for what it is--a fast-paced, time-travel pulp fiction. I'm not familiar with Andre Norton or 1950s sci-fi pulp, so I don't know if this is standard in the genre. To me, plot, characters, and narration are pretty straightforward, though there isn't much depth to them, and the social climate and politics of the time, mainly the Cold War, feature heavily in the plot.
The story overall didn't interest me. I found it rather bland actually. However, there was lots of action and something was always happening to keep the momentum going. That made it easy to keep turning the page, but I was never drawn into the story and never felt fully engaged. I could have set it down and never pick it back up. I didn't though because it's a book club pick, but probably wouldn't have if I'd read on my own.
Andre Norton has been on my priority list for a long time now, but I never knew where to start with her backlist. Although this book wasn't the right choice as an intro to her work, I'm still interested and will most likely pick up one of her Witch World books next time when the mood for a genre classic strikes.
The story overall didn't interest me. I found it rather bland actually. However, there was lots of action and something was always happening to keep the momentum going. That made it easy to keep turning the page, but I was never drawn into the story and never felt fully engaged. I could have set it down and never pick it back up. I didn't though because it's a book club pick, but probably wouldn't have if I'd read on my own.
Andre Norton has been on my priority list for a long time now, but I never knew where to start with her backlist. Although this book wasn't the right choice as an intro to her work, I'm still interested and will most likely pick up one of her Witch World books next time when the mood for a genre classic strikes.
August 1, 2016
Executive Summary: I'm not a great gauge for Science Fiction, especially older works as I generally don't read and enjoy it as much as fantasy. There were elements here I liked, but not enough ever really get into the story. I considered giving this a 2.5 and rounding up, but opted to just stick to 2.
Full Review
Of all the science fiction tropes, time travel has always been one of my favorite. Back to the Future, Doctor Who, Looper, Primer, Terminator among others. You'll notice though that all of those are movies/TV and not books. I tend to enjoy Sci-Fi far more in video form than I do in the written word. I especially don't have the best track record with older works.
I was unfamiliar with Ms. Norton, which probably shouldn't be a surprise. She seems a decent enough writer, but I just never got sucked into this particular story. I read the revised edition of this book. I have no idea how much was revised, but the story itself didn't feel that dated. I grew up during the tail end of the cold war, so I get the context well enough.
Instead of the space race it's now focused on time travel. I'm a little unclear as to why however. There is a brief mention that space travel lost its appeal shortly after the moon landing. But why time travel? Both sides are afraid to change the past, so what do they hope to gain? Maybe that is made clear in later books, as this is the start of a series.
I didn't particularly like Ross Murdock either. I'm not sure how popular the anti-hero was back when this was written, but I've read plenty of anti-hero stories and this one just never pulled off the likable scoundrel that the best ones seem to.
Overall this was a quick read, with some interesting ideas that just seemed to fall flat for me. I'm glad to have given it a shot, and I'm not ruling out trying another story by Ms. Norton in the future, but I'm not rushing out for it, and likely won't read the second story that came with the first one.
Full Review
Of all the science fiction tropes, time travel has always been one of my favorite. Back to the Future, Doctor Who, Looper, Primer, Terminator among others. You'll notice though that all of those are movies/TV and not books. I tend to enjoy Sci-Fi far more in video form than I do in the written word. I especially don't have the best track record with older works.
I was unfamiliar with Ms. Norton, which probably shouldn't be a surprise. She seems a decent enough writer, but I just never got sucked into this particular story. I read the revised edition of this book. I have no idea how much was revised, but the story itself didn't feel that dated. I grew up during the tail end of the cold war, so I get the context well enough.
Instead of the space race it's now focused on time travel. I'm a little unclear as to why however. There is a brief mention that space travel lost its appeal shortly after the moon landing. But why time travel? Both sides are afraid to change the past, so what do they hope to gain? Maybe that is made clear in later books, as this is the start of a series.
I didn't particularly like Ross Murdock either. I'm not sure how popular the anti-hero was back when this was written, but I've read plenty of anti-hero stories and this one just never pulled off the likable scoundrel that the best ones seem to.
Overall this was a quick read, with some interesting ideas that just seemed to fall flat for me. I'm glad to have given it a shot, and I'm not ruling out trying another story by Ms. Norton in the future, but I'm not rushing out for it, and likely won't read the second story that came with the first one.
July 29, 2017
I don't know how many times I have read this book, but it just gets better with time. It has been some years since last reading it, and I had forgotten the story line. I loved being able to read a book that was new but old at the same time. :D I love almost all the books that Andre Norton has written.
April 9, 2017
To be honest, I didn't read the paperback, but the free digital book offered by Baen. Thank god for them!
I am tired of finding science fiction tailored for today's YA readers with disposable cash and love to be spoon-fed. Classic tales like this one from Andre Norton remind me why I fell in love with science fiction in the first place: stories take place on strange worlds and new technology is met with wonder, not suspicion.
Characters aren't as complex (read: deep) as many in today's best-sellers, but who cares? In this tale, the good guys are traveling back in time and blending in with neolithic tribes in order to find out where the bad guys are getting their advanced technology.
Yeah, I know, time travel isn't advanced enough for these guys?
There are last minute saves that stretch your credulity, but the story is fun and I found that I really didn't mind. Heck, I was willing to accept Harrison Ford as a two-fisted action hero in 'Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull' too.
Part two in this novel introduces a new character who ends up joining the gang on an accidental galactic ride aboard a 10,000 year old (?) UFO. When they get to the destination, they didn't find a stagnant interstellar society waiting to embrace them, but something more realistic -- the aftermath of a collapsed star-faring civilization. I could have read another four books (and may write one) on what an archaeological expedition would find there on a subsequent visit.
If you haven't read some of the novels from the "classic" period, I beg you to pick one up and dive in. These books are filled with imagination, wonder, and exploration in a time when we need it most (rebooting old series, movies, and games doesn't come close!)
I am tired of finding science fiction tailored for today's YA readers with disposable cash and love to be spoon-fed. Classic tales like this one from Andre Norton remind me why I fell in love with science fiction in the first place: stories take place on strange worlds and new technology is met with wonder, not suspicion.
Characters aren't as complex (read: deep) as many in today's best-sellers, but who cares? In this tale, the good guys are traveling back in time and blending in with neolithic tribes in order to find out where the bad guys are getting their advanced technology.
Yeah, I know, time travel isn't advanced enough for these guys?
There are last minute saves that stretch your credulity, but the story is fun and I found that I really didn't mind. Heck, I was willing to accept Harrison Ford as a two-fisted action hero in 'Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull' too.
Part two in this novel introduces a new character who ends up joining the gang on an accidental galactic ride aboard a 10,000 year old (?) UFO. When they get to the destination, they didn't find a stagnant interstellar society waiting to embrace them, but something more realistic -- the aftermath of a collapsed star-faring civilization. I could have read another four books (and may write one) on what an archaeological expedition would find there on a subsequent visit.
If you haven't read some of the novels from the "classic" period, I beg you to pick one up and dive in. These books are filled with imagination, wonder, and exploration in a time when we need it most (rebooting old series, movies, and games doesn't come close!)
Read
October 18, 2021I marked this "read", but now I'm not so sure. Time for a re-read, or a first if I missed it. 1959 first pub for Derelict, and I was reading all the Norton I came across then. But as used pbs, so if I didn't happen see one in the very limited selection in Stillwater OK then .....
Here's JD Nicoll's retro-review, just posted @tor.com:
"Humans and alien Baldies are almost contemporaries. What is a mere 50,000 years compared to geological time? Nevertheless, the fifty millennia between the height of the Baldies’ civilization and the 20th century are sufficient to guarantee that humans and Baldies will never meet face to face. Or rather, they would have never met were it not for Operation Retrograde, America’s time-travel agency.
Involuntarily recruited by Operation Retrograde, Native American archaeologist Travis Fox takes part in an attempted salvage operation. A number of Baldie starships were (for reasons unknown) abandoned on Earth ages ago. If lucky, time travelers might be able to locate and retrieve a functioning space craft. It’s a bold venture and one that succeeds all too well."
Now on the Wish List.
Here's JD Nicoll's retro-review, just posted @tor.com:
"Humans and alien Baldies are almost contemporaries. What is a mere 50,000 years compared to geological time? Nevertheless, the fifty millennia between the height of the Baldies’ civilization and the 20th century are sufficient to guarantee that humans and Baldies will never meet face to face. Or rather, they would have never met were it not for Operation Retrograde, America’s time-travel agency.
Involuntarily recruited by Operation Retrograde, Native American archaeologist Travis Fox takes part in an attempted salvage operation. A number of Baldie starships were (for reasons unknown) abandoned on Earth ages ago. If lucky, time travelers might be able to locate and retrieve a functioning space craft. It’s a bold venture and one that succeeds all too well."
Now on the Wish List.
July 24, 2016
The July S&L pick, this was a refreshingly quick read. I like time travel books, so the premise of this one was good to start out with. I think it started strong and got a little weird in the middle/last third or so. But luckily, it didn't have time to meander too long, as it was a rather short book overall. I could point out flaws and concerns with the book, but honestly, it was a quick and fun romp into the past with an unlikeable dude as the narrator, and the flaws didn't kill the book for me. I guess it's the first in a series, and maybe at some point I'll go and read the next one (seeing as I have it already in this edition), but I was pretty good with how it ended. I liked the book.
July 10, 2016
This was not the Andre Norton book I wanted to read. This book borrows from the past, not improving much on the Edgar Rice Burroughsliterary invent of a modern man in a pre-modern society (John Carter). This time instead of a magical cave, Norton uses a time travel plate. I hope this is not representative of Norton's style, rather writing for the literary market of the 1950s with its "go it alone" main protagonist against the "Reds"
July 7, 2016
I finished it.
December 21, 2016
So, just to be confusing, I've completed the first novel in this two-in-one edition, which is also called Time Traders.
And it's good reading. Ross Murdock, ne'er do well, is offered the choice of rehabilitation or volunteering by the judge in charge of sentencing. So he signs up for something with the military, that turns out to be time travel. Mostly, though, it's the story of Ross fighting it out with pre-historical people and survival in the wilderness.
For those who care, there isn't any sex or swearing, and the fighting is all in self-defense.
I could see Norton scoring big with the middle-grades for the adventure aspect alone.
Now having completed the second volume, I have a few more thoughts. I'm disappointed that there aren't really any female characters, except one in the first volume. And the science isn't really important, being so advanced as to be magic to the characters.
But there are lots of positives. Both stories are action-packed, from the subtle tension of trying out alien food to see if humans can use it, to thrilling fights with fierce creatures, to the constant tension of survival in a large and unknowable universe. And although the stories are relatively brief, there's time to comment on the architecture, the art, the culture of aliens.
I'd suggest these to younger readers particularly, because there isn't a lot of ambiguity. Our heroes are able to distinguish intelligent beings from animals pretty quickly, and reliably, nor do they encounter any culture they can't quickly identify as such. And the introduction of an Apache in the second book is an opportunity to deal with discrimination without being too heavy-handed.
Fun stuff. The second volume will remind readers of The Time Machine for its quick survey of other beings, thankfully without the moralizing.
Library copy.
And it's good reading. Ross Murdock, ne'er do well, is offered the choice of rehabilitation or volunteering by the judge in charge of sentencing. So he signs up for something with the military, that turns out to be time travel. Mostly, though, it's the story of Ross fighting it out with pre-historical people and survival in the wilderness.
For those who care, there isn't any sex or swearing, and the fighting is all in self-defense.
I could see Norton scoring big with the middle-grades for the adventure aspect alone.
Now having completed the second volume, I have a few more thoughts. I'm disappointed that there aren't really any female characters, except one in the first volume. And the science isn't really important, being so advanced as to be magic to the characters.
But there are lots of positives. Both stories are action-packed, from the subtle tension of trying out alien food to see if humans can use it, to thrilling fights with fierce creatures, to the constant tension of survival in a large and unknowable universe. And although the stories are relatively brief, there's time to comment on the architecture, the art, the culture of aliens.
I'd suggest these to younger readers particularly, because there isn't a lot of ambiguity. Our heroes are able to distinguish intelligent beings from animals pretty quickly, and reliably, nor do they encounter any culture they can't quickly identify as such. And the introduction of an Apache in the second book is an opportunity to deal with discrimination without being too heavy-handed.
Fun stuff. The second volume will remind readers of The Time Machine for its quick survey of other beings, thankfully without the moralizing.
Library copy.
July 4, 2016
A slightly revised edition of a book originally published back in the good old pulp days. The overall story had some good ideas and it's not bad, but unfortunately it follows a formula that gets old really quickly if you have read enough of them. It goes something like this:
Protagonist is thrown into an unusual situation.
Gets captured by tribe A, but then escapes.
Gets captured by tribe B but escapes again.
.. repeat several times ..
Is facing certain death from tribe C but is then rescued by an ally he befriended at the beginning while escaping from tribe A.
Throw in a betrayal from someone who appeared to be an friend and you have most of the plot for a large number of books.
Burroughs was the master of this and even his books get weary after a time. Norton is close, but for me fails in the excitement department.
Protagonist is thrown into an unusual situation.
Gets captured by tribe A, but then escapes.
Gets captured by tribe B but escapes again.
.. repeat several times ..
Is facing certain death from tribe C but is then rescued by an ally he befriended at the beginning while escaping from tribe A.
Throw in a betrayal from someone who appeared to be an friend and you have most of the plot for a large number of books.
Burroughs was the master of this and even his books get weary after a time. Norton is close, but for me fails in the excitement department.
July 6, 2016
Let's send criminals back in time to steal alien technology to end the Cold War! Dang. I almost made it sound interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2016
Okay! I feel a bit like I'm back in an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel! Lovely pulp novels, huzzah! While I'm not a huge ERB fan, Andre Norton is (thus far) moderately more fun, and definitely less full of the racist and sexist norms of the period!
That's not to say that it's an amazing novel - in fact, I balked at reading it based on the title alone. It's not something that really jumps off the shelf at you, and I think it's a bit of a poorly-titled novel in general. Also: it's pulpy as hell - I don't see this baby winning any awards. But, anyway: for something so action-packed, it's certainly selling it short to think that it's about time-traveling traders - that sounds like an absolute dud.
I used to wonder whatever I might do with an English major after I graduated from college (mind you: this is ten+ years ago now, while I've been working in information technology and writing boring stand operating procedures and work instructions and doing data entry and programming and etc. etc.). But here we go: this is what editors are for! Erm. Actually, that may be the domain of marketing as well? But c'mon, you can't tell me a better title wouldn't be worth contracting your friendly neighborhood English major! Speaking for myself, I work for sushi and beer. Contact me at your leisure!
Regardless: I found myself thinking that I'd probably put this novel down at any moment and forget about it. But after 30-40 pages, I found myself fairly immersed - it's a very fun, fast narrative, and while there are holes a-plenty, I didn't find myself obsessing over them (note: this is a rarity for me). Something about the writing and the storyline itself makes you concern yourself more with the bigger picture than any of the glaring oversights (show me the time-travel story that [i]isn't[/i] full of them - please). So, I found myself rather enjoying the novel by the conclusion, and then it was just done and over. I wanted more. I wanted details and some more interesting confrontations. But, that's cool; I have the following novel to read at some point. And I do need a few more quick novels to finish my challenge for the year...
I've written about this before, I suspect, but when I was growing up, my family had this tiny cabin in northern Minnesota. The previous owner, who basically gave the place away to prevent it being seized for tax deliquency, had a whole shelf of yellowing, mouse-chewed old sci-fi and fantasy novels squirreled away in there. I kick myself constantly when I think of the number of novels my dad eventually ended up just trashing or selling off in a garage sale. I wonder if there was anything else in there that was out of print? I know for certain that The Time Traders was one of those novels. There was also a wealth of Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Varley, and Poul Anderson.
Sigh. To go back in time and save those novels...
That's not to say that it's an amazing novel - in fact, I balked at reading it based on the title alone. It's not something that really jumps off the shelf at you, and I think it's a bit of a poorly-titled novel in general. Also: it's pulpy as hell - I don't see this baby winning any awards. But, anyway: for something so action-packed, it's certainly selling it short to think that it's about time-traveling traders - that sounds like an absolute dud.
I used to wonder whatever I might do with an English major after I graduated from college (mind you: this is ten+ years ago now, while I've been working in information technology and writing boring stand operating procedures and work instructions and doing data entry and programming and etc. etc.). But here we go: this is what editors are for! Erm. Actually, that may be the domain of marketing as well? But c'mon, you can't tell me a better title wouldn't be worth contracting your friendly neighborhood English major! Speaking for myself, I work for sushi and beer. Contact me at your leisure!
Regardless: I found myself thinking that I'd probably put this novel down at any moment and forget about it. But after 30-40 pages, I found myself fairly immersed - it's a very fun, fast narrative, and while there are holes a-plenty, I didn't find myself obsessing over them (note: this is a rarity for me). Something about the writing and the storyline itself makes you concern yourself more with the bigger picture than any of the glaring oversights (show me the time-travel story that [i]isn't[/i] full of them - please). So, I found myself rather enjoying the novel by the conclusion, and then it was just done and over. I wanted more. I wanted details and some more interesting confrontations. But, that's cool; I have the following novel to read at some point. And I do need a few more quick novels to finish my challenge for the year...
I've written about this before, I suspect, but when I was growing up, my family had this tiny cabin in northern Minnesota. The previous owner, who basically gave the place away to prevent it being seized for tax deliquency, had a whole shelf of yellowing, mouse-chewed old sci-fi and fantasy novels squirreled away in there. I kick myself constantly when I think of the number of novels my dad eventually ended up just trashing or selling off in a garage sale. I wonder if there was anything else in there that was out of print? I know for certain that The Time Traders was one of those novels. There was also a wealth of Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Varley, and Poul Anderson.
Sigh. To go back in time and save those novels...
September 26, 2024
Still classic Science fiction!
I'm reading this for the third time this year, just because the tale holds up well despite the anachronistic technology that seems quaint today. The basic story line is character driven with well defined individuals. Good storytelling defies being set in a future that has a mix of tech we don't have yet while not having things we already take for granted.
Ross Murdock is an intelligent juvenile delinquent who is caught up in a situation where instead of the traditional “join the military or go to jail” narrative so often used by authors, instead he is given a different choice. The current situation is a blend of the actual Cold War with the Soviet Union plus a higher level of technology than we currently have. The unnamed USA is involved in a barely cold war against the “Reds” in a race to gain knowledge about intergalactic alien shipwrecks in various time periods in the distant past. Ross begins with the goal of learning what he can before escaping. He is surprised to discover that he is growing increasingly unwilling to leave the people who he is beginning to respect and want to emulate. The task is starting to become important to him despite his early cynicism…
I'm reading this for the third time this year, just because the tale holds up well despite the anachronistic technology that seems quaint today. The basic story line is character driven with well defined individuals. Good storytelling defies being set in a future that has a mix of tech we don't have yet while not having things we already take for granted.
Ross Murdock is an intelligent juvenile delinquent who is caught up in a situation where instead of the traditional “join the military or go to jail” narrative so often used by authors, instead he is given a different choice. The current situation is a blend of the actual Cold War with the Soviet Union plus a higher level of technology than we currently have. The unnamed USA is involved in a barely cold war against the “Reds” in a race to gain knowledge about intergalactic alien shipwrecks in various time periods in the distant past. Ross begins with the goal of learning what he can before escaping. He is surprised to discover that he is growing increasingly unwilling to leave the people who he is beginning to respect and want to emulate. The task is starting to become important to him despite his early cynicism…
June 28, 2016
I'd compare this book to a Cold War-era version Time Salvager by Wesley Chu. Rather than agents time traveling to collect rare artifacts needed in a future society, it is to compete with the Russians, who are winning, in developing technology.
The book was entertaining at times but all plot developments were brought on from pretty much the same problem cropping up time after time (the problem omitted for spoiler reasons). And that gets boring when it happens the third time.
The free ebook version comes with the 2nd book in the series, but I'm not likely to continue.
The book was entertaining at times but all plot developments were brought on from pretty much the same problem cropping up time after time (the problem omitted for spoiler reasons). And that gets boring when it happens the third time.
The free ebook version comes with the 2nd book in the series, but I'm not likely to continue.
December 29, 2012
Travel back to the far reaches of history! Race against time versus Russian spies! Blast off into outer space using thousand-year-old alien tech! Encounter strange alien creatures on distant worlds! This book basically is a kitchen sink of everything nifty in science fiction, a fun ride following a batch of fairly interesting characters. After getting used to Ross's point of view during the first half, the switch to Travis in the second kind of threw me, and I missed getting to hear Ross's thoughts, but it was still an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 10, 2012
Dated and extremely YA, the first half was pretty boring and the second half picked up well, seemed like a couple of long short stories sewn together to make a novel. Norton has skill to be sure, I would like to read something more adult from her.
July 19, 2016
3.5 rating
December 18, 2017
Great adventure sci fi book. Looking forward to reading more of the series.
March 29, 2015
Me gusta la editorial Baen, no solo por ser una referencia en la ciencia ficción que cobija a varios de mis escritores favoritos, tambien porque conoce el valor de su catálogo de libros y que no hay mejor cebo para un lector que un libro gratis. Y no libros de hace cincuenta años, como este, tambien libros actuales o de series aún en publicación ("Honor Harrington" de David Weber). Que estén en inglés es un reto asequible para quién no se asuste y tenga un poco e imaginación para cubrir los huecos allí donde el diccionario no llega.
"Time Traders" es en realidad la suma de dos libros: Time Traders y Galactic Derelic. Los dos son parte de una misma historia y con los mismos personajes. Un grupo de investigadores de los USA(es un libro escrito en plena Guerra Fría) es enviado al pasado para descubrir una base establecida por la URSS en plena Edad del Bronce y decubrir el motivo por el que han decidido viajar en el tiempo.
Lo que descubren los llevará a un viaje por las estrellas hasta la capital de un anitguo imperio estelar...Y hasta aquí puedo contar.
En realidad son dos novelas sin más pretensiones que las de entretener, en una aventura en la que los personajes son planos, heroes sin apenas defectos que se lanzan a la aventura. Los secundarios de despachan con un par de pinceladas porque lo importante es la acción, la aventura. Puede que muchos de los giros del argumento nos parezcan evidentes y muy vistos, pero hay que tener en cuenta que se publicó en 1958.
En resumen, un libro que sin grandes pretensiones logra su objetivo principal: entretener.
Y un descubrimiento personal: una intereante autora y una pionera de la Edad de Oro de la ciencia ficción.
"Time Traders" es en realidad la suma de dos libros: Time Traders y Galactic Derelic. Los dos son parte de una misma historia y con los mismos personajes. Un grupo de investigadores de los USA(es un libro escrito en plena Guerra Fría) es enviado al pasado para descubrir una base establecida por la URSS en plena Edad del Bronce y decubrir el motivo por el que han decidido viajar en el tiempo.
Lo que descubren los llevará a un viaje por las estrellas hasta la capital de un anitguo imperio estelar...Y hasta aquí puedo contar.
En realidad son dos novelas sin más pretensiones que las de entretener, en una aventura en la que los personajes son planos, heroes sin apenas defectos que se lanzan a la aventura. Los secundarios de despachan con un par de pinceladas porque lo importante es la acción, la aventura. Puede que muchos de los giros del argumento nos parezcan evidentes y muy vistos, pero hay que tener en cuenta que se publicó en 1958.
En resumen, un libro que sin grandes pretensiones logra su objetivo principal: entretener.
Y un descubrimiento personal: una intereante autora y una pionera de la Edad de Oro de la ciencia ficción.
November 17, 2017
I was definitely in the mood to read something light and quick, and The Time Traders fit this nicely. Baen has a free ebook version that also includes Galactic Derelict, which is the second book in the series.
Ross Murdock is a convicted criminal who is brought to a secret base and told he will be part of a special operation that involves traveling back in time. The Russians are plotting something back in the time of the Beaker people (somewhere around 2,000 BCE in Great Britain).
Ross is sent back with a partner, Ashe, and they assimilate into the ancient culture while they investigate.
I liked that there wasn't a damsel in distress or any silly female characters. Granted, the female characters are barely featured, but it made sense within the context.
Everything happens very quickly, due to the nature of pulp fiction. Action takes precedence over character development, description of the rule of time travel, and historical background. I didn't mind so much, as I expected this story to skip over everything fast.
The main character, Ross, isn't very like-able. It did seem like he adapted to the Beaker culture very easily, although there was a balance between Ross's successes and failings. He wasn't perfect at everything and did have to struggle.
The whole plot of Russians vs. Americans is dated. I was surprised by
I think there are few pulp novels which are really going to satisfy a modern audience, as we typically want more development, but I think The Time Traders is a decent pulp.
Ross Murdock is a convicted criminal who is brought to a secret base and told he will be part of a special operation that involves traveling back in time. The Russians are plotting something back in the time of the Beaker people (somewhere around 2,000 BCE in Great Britain).
Ross is sent back with a partner, Ashe, and they assimilate into the ancient culture while they investigate.
I liked that there wasn't a damsel in distress or any silly female characters. Granted, the female characters are barely featured, but it made sense within the context.
Everything happens very quickly, due to the nature of pulp fiction. Action takes precedence over character development, description of the rule of time travel, and historical background. I didn't mind so much, as I expected this story to skip over everything fast.
The main character, Ross, isn't very like-able. It did seem like he adapted to the Beaker culture very easily, although there was a balance between Ross's successes and failings. He wasn't perfect at everything and did have to struggle.
The whole plot of Russians vs. Americans is dated. I was surprised by
I think there are few pulp novels which are really going to satisfy a modern audience, as we typically want more development, but I think The Time Traders is a decent pulp.
May 28, 2019
Time Traders by Andre (actually Alice Mary) Norton, first published in 1958, is a combination of science fiction, space travel. time travel and good old-fashioned American-Russian Cold War propaganda.
Set in the early 21st century (about now), a group of American operatives travel back in time to around 1200 BC in what was ancient Britain to seek out what technological marvels it seems the Russians may have stumbled upon.
It appears the Russians may have discovered, back in time, advanced technology that allows for space travel and the means of world domination.
God forbid the Soviets should gain the upper hand on the good old USA!
Norton has fashioned an adventure tale, set in multiple locations, planets and periods in global history.
There is the usual violence, resilience against the odds, fortunate coincidences and lucky guesses, American superiority over the Russians and alien species in what is designed to be a feel good romp.
But the writing is very uneven and quite fanciful at times. Good sci fi requires a certain conviction to enable the required suspension of disbelief, but this doesn't always cut the mustard.
Norton has at times spent pages on the trivial, and then glossed over major events. Some of the scenes involving mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers and the like are unconvincing, and much of the dialogues is, well, corny.
A fair effort, but well short of the best science fiction from this golden age of the genre.
Set in the early 21st century (about now), a group of American operatives travel back in time to around 1200 BC in what was ancient Britain to seek out what technological marvels it seems the Russians may have stumbled upon.
It appears the Russians may have discovered, back in time, advanced technology that allows for space travel and the means of world domination.
God forbid the Soviets should gain the upper hand on the good old USA!
Norton has fashioned an adventure tale, set in multiple locations, planets and periods in global history.
There is the usual violence, resilience against the odds, fortunate coincidences and lucky guesses, American superiority over the Russians and alien species in what is designed to be a feel good romp.
But the writing is very uneven and quite fanciful at times. Good sci fi requires a certain conviction to enable the required suspension of disbelief, but this doesn't always cut the mustard.
Norton has at times spent pages on the trivial, and then glossed over major events. Some of the scenes involving mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers and the like are unconvincing, and much of the dialogues is, well, corny.
A fair effort, but well short of the best science fiction from this golden age of the genre.
November 11, 2011
Having re-read the book(s) some 30 years after my first reading, they hold up really well (this version of 1888744 is actually an omnibus edition of the first two volumes of the series, 1888744 and Galactic Derelict).
It holds up fairly well - there are few anachronisms introduced by the advance of technology since Norton wrote the stories, but there are a few strange quirks of technology. Why is a refueling station still operative (barely) thousands of years after its abandonment, but the components that store the memory of spaceship navigation are so fragile that they have to worry about even new ones? If your ship's navigation is broken, you're doomed. If the refueler breaks, you call out a repair crew: it doesn't need to be nearly so durable.
That said, the characters are enjoyable and mostly believable; the technology is not inconceivable; and the plot works. The stories are still, after 50 or 60 years enjoyable enough that now I'll have to read the sequels - which I haven't read before.
It holds up fairly well - there are few anachronisms introduced by the advance of technology since Norton wrote the stories, but there are a few strange quirks of technology. Why is a refueling station still operative (barely) thousands of years after its abandonment, but the components that store the memory of spaceship navigation are so fragile that they have to worry about even new ones? If your ship's navigation is broken, you're doomed. If the refueler breaks, you call out a repair crew: it doesn't need to be nearly so durable.
That said, the characters are enjoyable and mostly believable; the technology is not inconceivable; and the plot works. The stories are still, after 50 or 60 years enjoyable enough that now I'll have to read the sequels - which I haven't read before.
December 12, 2011
This omnibus contains "The Time Traders" and "Galactic Derelict," both written in the late 1950s. I read them in the mid-Sixties, when they were not too old. Fifty-some years after their original publication, they still hold up fairly well as adventure stories. The only anachronistic item at all it the use of the Russians as the bad guys. However, it is the Russians of the new Russian Empire that was formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Not a bad prediction, but it still feels somewhat Cold War-ish. But that is a minor quibble. The interesting projection in the novel was that Americans gave up the Space Race after reaching the moon. Eerily accurate considering that the novels were written before we had even obtained orbit. The story is an interesting mix of time travel and space opera. Mankind venturing into the past to discover the technology of the now seemingly extinct aliens. Good fun.
July 12, 2016
Andre Norton was one of my favorite authors when I was growing up, but I hadn't read this book before. I'm not sure I would have if it hadn't been chosen for a group read as I'm not a fan of time travel stories. The protagonist is not a good guy at the beginning, but he gets involved in a covert mission that he finds is actually fascinating. Then he comes to realize that it's pretty dangerous as well. By that time he's pretty well sucked in to the excitement. And boy does he find excitement. It's a good thing he was trained pretty well on historic practices as he ends up needing all the survival skills he can use.
August 15, 2016
I've read other books by Andre Norton and liked them fine, but this one just could not hook me. The protagonist has no personality to speak of, and neither do any of the supporting cast. (Was it the spirit of the age? A lot of the 60's and 70's scifi I've encountered is very spare in that regard.) Our cardboard renegade is in a top-secret training program, so you'd think there'd be some good training scenes right? Build the world, get to know the rivalries, how the characters relate to each other? Nope. Gloss, gloss, gloss over it, my friend! For a story that's so eager to get going, it was surprisingly uninteresting. Quit at chapter 5.
August 15, 2016
Read as the July pick for The Sword and Laser.
Ironically, for a time travel story, I don't think this book has aged terribly well! Originally published in 1958, it's very short by modern standards and the plot is a bit simplistic.
Having said that, there were some interesting ideas in the set-up and the whole thing romps along quite readably. A slightly generous 3 stars - probably merits 2.5 if Goodreads allowed such things!
Ironically, for a time travel story, I don't think this book has aged terribly well! Originally published in 1958, it's very short by modern standards and the plot is a bit simplistic.
Having said that, there were some interesting ideas in the set-up and the whole thing romps along quite readably. A slightly generous 3 stars - probably merits 2.5 if Goodreads allowed such things!
February 25, 2008
Not a bad book. The writing was a bit light, but ok all in all. Younger readers would enjoy.[return][return]I can recommend this book.
February 28, 2025
Quite an Adventure!
This is a pure adventure story like those I read as a pre-teen and teenagers. Deeds of daring do while our protagonist makes the Hero's Journey. In book one we have two main characters hunting out soviet agents in the far past. In book two Our two main characters from book one return, but this time they add another young adult to their adventure. A good clean yarn without gratuitous sex or excessive cussing like so many modern adventures seem to think are a requirement.
This is a pure adventure story like those I read as a pre-teen and teenagers. Deeds of daring do while our protagonist makes the Hero's Journey. In book one we have two main characters hunting out soviet agents in the far past. In book two Our two main characters from book one return, but this time they add another young adult to their adventure. A good clean yarn without gratuitous sex or excessive cussing like so many modern adventures seem to think are a requirement.
February 22, 2025
An exciting adventure through both time and space written in the late 50s. It is fun and imaginative.
April 25, 2025
A very fun time travel adventure.
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