| Author: | Poul Anderson |
| Copyright: | 1983 |
| Date Reviewed: | 6/21/84 |
| Rating: | 9.0 |
Synopsis: The Time Patrol is organized by the Danellians. The Danellians live at the very edge of time and it is the function of the time patrolmen to preserve time for them. The time patrolmen assure that no one from any time disturbs the flow of time, either accidentally or on purpose. "Time Patrolman" is two stories in one novel.
In the first, Manse Everard, Unattached operative, is assigned to the 10th century B.C. Israel. It is the time of Solomon and the ten tribes, King Hiram of Tyre, the Phoenicians and the Philistines. Some radical madman has threatened to destroy Tyre. Since Tyre is a nexus in time, this would have disastrous effects up time. Manse guesses where in the past the fugitive has shown up in preparation for his diabolical plan, and goes back to set a trap for him.
The second story follows Professor Carl Farness, who is assigned to fourth century Europe to trace the developments of poetry from that time. Posing first as a man and then as the Godlike Wodan the Wanderer, Carl gets much too involved in his work. He falls in love with the young Jorith, who too soon dies in child birth. Coming back every few years at pivotal occasions, Carl, as Wodan sees the development of his family through four generations until they are all but destroyed by King Ermanaric.
Review: The first story about ancient Israel is an average time travel story. The are many common themes which remind us of "The End of Eternity" by Asimov. Most of the story is simply about the time agent getting used to the Tyre society and becoming enough a part of it to get to the King's castle. Once inside, he gets enough evidence to find the exact date of appearance of the man threatening history. The final capture came very quickly and was some what contrived.
On the other hand, the second story, which is most of the book, is fantastic. It is one I will remember for a long time. There is little science fiction here. Instead we are immersed in the lives of people from 4th century Europe. We follow them through warfare, struggle, marriage, happiness and death. Watching the Professor is also interesting. While in the past he is a mystical and powerful figure who directs the lives of a war-faring family. Back in the future, he is an ordinary man living an ordinary wife. It is possible for him to make errors, such as giving the people of the past gifts that may tell of the future. For this mistake, Carl is reprimanded. In the end he is forced to betray his family and ensure the destruction of two great-grandsons. He does this because that is the way history happened. His grief is obvious and we feel it right along with him. Once I got used to the fact that this was going to be essentially a historical novel, I thoroughly enjoyed it.