The Guardians of Time (1960)

A collection of stories about the Time Patrol, centered around the character is Manse Everard. He goes back and forward in time, with interesting glimpses of past times and future probabilities, but I like Anderson's novels better -- more space to work out the ideas. ( )

Guardians of Time is a collection of short fiction centered around the Time Patrol, an organization responsible for keeping the time streams free of crime and mischief, all while avoiding paradox and anachronisms.

The series’ protagonist is pulled from his own time, given a respectable pay (by the reckoning of when these stories were first published), and access to the time travel facilities, where he is occasionally called upon to rescue a fellow time patrol officer from a backwards past civilization, or stop a ne’er-do-well whose procured a time machine of his own.

Each story covers a different challenge that may arise were such an organization to exist, and for what it’s worth, does a good job of presenting the material.

I for one, though, am glad that this is not my job, due to the constant travel, albeit through time instead of space. ( )

These are a series of short stories about the time-traveler Manson Everard. Written between 1955 and 1975, these five stories span multiple era's of science fiction. From a very simple and innocent "returning war hero" becomes part of secret society of time travel police written in 1955. To a much darker story with a not so innocent Manson Everard and a difficult decision written in 1975.

These stories evolve. The first story in 1955 was a bright, happy, America is good, war hero is good, White man reigns supreme. You get less and less of that as the stories progress, although it never goes away completely. I think Pohl has a had time leaving his origins, for example, women are always cast in supporting roles, such as naturalist, artist, or receptionist, never as a policeman. There are references made to future matriarchial society, but they always seem to be described as extremism. The other thing is Pohl really believes that an English colonized America is the best. In the second to last story, there is an Apache field operative. He is not described as an equal, and even waxes poetic about the way things are, rather than what they could have been.

The series is definitely dated, but it holds up well. Because all the stories are set before 1950, the lack of computers and cell phones don't matter. And, even when in the field, having a small communicator would actually hinder you, it makes sense that these characters don't use high-tech equipment, besides the time travel machine, of course.

Also, this series sets the tone for a lot of time travel science fiction that is currently being writtem, the first that comes to mind is Kage Butler "Company" volumes, but I see shades of this book even in Jasper Ffordes "Thursday Next" series.

As for what did I think? I liked them. The stories were simple, at times seemingly round about, but they were a fun read. ( )

Wonderful stories for the imagination! I first read this when I was 15 and I've never been the same. I especially loved the short story Delenda Est. Mr. Anderson opened up an infinite universe of possibilities for me and I've been in love with science-fiction and alternate-history ever since. ( )

The Guardians of time has more stories of Anderson's Time Patrol, the people set by the posthuman Danellians to guard the timestream from problematic interference. The periods messed around with in this book include fifth century Britain, thirteen century California, third century Greece and the good old Punic Wars in Rome.

These stories are enjoyable enough, really, as the Patrol struggles to do the right thing and have lives.

Guardians of Time : Time Patrol [Manse Everard (Time Patrol)] - Poul Anderson
Guardians of Time : Brave to Be a King [Manse Everard (Time Patrol)] - Poul Anderson
Guardians of Time : Gibraltar Falls [Manse Everard (Time Patrol)] - Poul Anderson
Guardians of Time : The Only Game in Town [Manse Everard (Time Patrol)] - Poul Anderson
Guardians of Time : Delenda Est [Manse Everard (Time Patrol)] - Poul Anderson

Recruiting of a time agent.

4 out of 5

Manse and Cynthia ponder time off, but there is still Patrol work to be done.

3.5 out of 5

Lots of water and interfering.

3 out of 5

Sandoval has to co-opt an Unattached for a mission, and guess who?

3 out of 5

20,000 years back for skiing and winding down for Patrol agents, particularly when a bit grumpy with the super overlords.

3.5 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/02/guardians-of-time-poul-anderson.html ( )