The Fires of Paratime (Mass Market Paperback)

In this novel, Loki is born into a world of virtual immortals. Most of them have some inherent ability to timedive; that is, to travel through time and space without external assistance. Long ago, their society was disrupted by the Frost Giants -- energy eaters who can timedive -- and the technological and manufacturing infrastructure was mostly destroyed. Now the Temporal Guard supplies the population with high tech items bought or stolen from other societies throughout time and space, but fewer and fewer Guard personnel have the abilities needed to maintain this equipment.

Despite efforts by his parents to make him aware of the deficiencies of the organization, Loki follows in his grandfather's footsteps and joins the Temporal Guard. He goes through years of training and gains a reputation as a heavy hitter, with very strong abilities. He is used to transport the more massive items over greater distances in space and time.

Eventually Loki finds a permanent position in maintenance. There he learns patience, foresight and technique from Baldur. He also becomes friends with Sammis and Wryan, learning a lot about unarmed and armed combat. However, he has a enemy in Heimdall, who tries to kill him, but is outfoxed and injured by his own boobytrap. After this incident, the Tribunes send Loki to Hell while Heimdall recovers in the Infirmary, but Loki's equipment is sabotaged by Heimdall's confederates and he almost dies. The lackeys are given chronolobotomies and discharged from the Guard, but Heimdall is not punished.

When Loki recovers from his stint in Hell, he becomes less impulsive and more paranoid. After all, Heimdall is really out to get him. However, the Tribunes protect him to a great extent because he keeps successfully performing impossible assignments that most Guards can't handle. Then the Temporal Guard encounters the sharks.

Gradually Loki begins to comprehend the defects and injustices within the system. He is beginning to get a reputation as the premier timediver, even though he is relatively junior. Some people try to use him as the figurehead for a movement to change the Guard.

This novels depicts the rise and fall of a culture that basically becomes parasitic on other societies within reach of its timedivers. Unlike Piper's Paratime culture, the Queryans are not traders, but scavengers. As with Piper's series, the Queryans begin to obsess over the Paratime secret, even modifying other societies to eliminate all effective knowledge of the nature of time.

Highly recommended for Modesitt fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of young people struggling to understand their society and their own abilities while trying to do the right thing.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles   Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?

Signaler ce commentaire