Annals of the Time Patrol

Time Patrol #1-2 omnibus

by Poul Anderson

Includes The Guardians of Time (1981) and Time Patrolman (1983).

Genres: Science Fiction, Time Travel, Fiction, Short Stories, Space Opera, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fantasy

312 pages, hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Pseudonym A. A. Craig, Michael Karageorge, Winston P. Sanders, P. A. Kingsley.

Poul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories. He received numerous awards for his writing, including seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards.

Anderson received a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1948. He married Karen Kruse in 1953. They had one daughter, Astrid, who is married to science fiction author Greg Bear. Anderson was the sixth President of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, taking office in 1972. He was a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America, a loose-knit group of Heroic Fantasy authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose works were anthologized in Lin Carter's Flashing Swords! anthologies. He was a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Robert A. Heinlein dedicated his 1985 novel The Cat Who Walks Through Walls to Anderson and eight of the other members of the Citizens' Advisory Council on National Space Policy.[2][3]

Poul Anderson died of cancer on July 31, 2001, after a month in the hospital. Several of his novels were published posthumously.


Series:
* Time Patrol
* Psychotechnic League
* Trygve Yamamura
* Harvest of Stars
* King of Ys
* Last Viking
* Hoka
* Future history of the Polesotechnic League
* Flandry

Reviews

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't quite know what to expect from Annals of the Time Patrol by Poul Anderson, but that was actually pretty cool and imaginative. Of course, it is fairly episodic in nature (the two books included in this collection are actually put together from several short stories the author had written between the 1950s and the 1970s), but I enjoyed reading Anderson's take on time travel. If you're interested in scholarly time travel where it's clear that the author has done their research, Doctor Who, and The Time Tunnel (a totally underrated 1960s sci-fi show), I have a feeling this series could be for you.

[Mariangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is of the second part of the book, “Time patrolman”, which contains two longer stories than the ones on the first volume (“Guardians of Time”, see my review here

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The first story in “Time Patrolman” takes place in Phoenicia around 1000 bC, the second one among the ostrogoths on the Dnieper in the 4th century. Both have great historical characterizations. The second one is a retelling of the tragic last part of the Volsunga saga, in which the time patrolman intervenes and is taken for the god Woden.

[Robert L]

If you are worried about the past or present changing the world, this is the organization for you. Not everyone has the qualifications to be a Time Patrol member. There have been other stories about such an organization but this is the best one, written by one of the greatest SF writers of the 20th century, Poul Anderson. It is in two sections, The Guardians In Time and Time Patrolman. He is one of the few SF writers I will buy just by seeing his name on the spine of a book!

[Povilas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive scholarly knowledge of history shines out of this book. Author enables us to engage to ancient civilizations and their customs as real as our waking life is. I would say this is half sci-fi, half historic novel. Dozens of sci-fi movies may be created relying to this plot.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent romp on this theme! The short story/chapters make for easy reading.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently read Sea of Tranquility and found it okay. It was fine. But I kept feeling I have read much better time travel stories, so I went to my bookshelf and pulled out a time travel book from a lower shelf. I like Poul Anderson, and I wasn't disappointed in this book. It's actually a collection of short stories about a man born in the 1940's who is recruited by the Time Patrol. He becomes one of the special agents who safeguard our timeline. It's good. Really good. Anderson was a brilliant writer, and the stories are meticulously researched. And it's not just the facts and details. Anderson makes you feel you are there: the sights, sounds, customs. The agents speak and act like natives, and they are so well prepared for their assignments, they fit into each era seamlessly. The eras are varied and disparate: Jutes in Kent during 464 AD, ancient Iran, Gibraltar during the Xanclean flood (had to look that one up), Tyre in 950 BC, the Ostrogoths in 300 AD (my favorite of the stories).
This book is a pleasure for the history buff/sci-fi adventure lover. So, me. And I liked it. A lot. It was infinitely better than Sea for all the historical details and perfect pacing and excellent story-telling. This book had depth and scope, and I felt immersed in the stories. The biggest problem I found was--and I can't believe I'm saying this--the writing for the female characters felt dated. All the women were eye candy or worse--bed warmers. The only female agent was poorly developed, and she was instantly in need of rescuing. One supporting character was married to an agent, and she was ridiculously understanding and supportive of her husband's affair with a 16 year old in the 300's. She was all, "Yes, dear" and "You poor thing; put your head on my shoulder; let me get you a drink, dear". The list of beautiful, sexy, and subservient women goes on. I can't say this ruined the book for me, but I was surprised that the writing was so dated—I think it was mostly written in the 1950's?
I’’ve owned this book for a long time. I know I read it long ago although I didn’t remember the stories. I really enjoyed reading it again for the first time as it were. But now I'm wondering if some of the other books I loved as a young reader will be the same. Will The Compleat Enchanter fail to delight on reread? Will I still love The Accidental Time Machine and The Stainless Steel Rat the next time around? Gosh, I hope so.
I give this book a solid 3.5 stars. It's still fun and well written (better than most of the drivel written these days). And Anderson is intelligent and well-educated. But it's a little dated. (Im so punny).

[Rich]

Time Patrol

[Silver Swan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read one "episode," and may continue at some point. Interesting...in a "scholarly" sort of way.