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Cronopaisajes / Timescapes (Ultimos Titulos de Nova) (Spanish Edition)

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"Cronopaisajes" is the Spanish translation of "Timescapes" and by agreement with the original editors is enriched with two stories written by Spanish authors.
The book contains a very complete and varied sample of Time Travel stories.
Peter Haining has performed a careful selection including many great names of the sci-fi world and Miquel Barcelo has selected the Spanish ones.

Each story is preceded by a little bio of the author, naming his best works, significant publication dates and trivia.

The volume is divided into three parts: Return to Present, Travel to Past and Future's History. Each part title shows which organization criteria was used by Mr. Haining.

Return to Present.
The first tale is a treat by itself a sample of PKD's universe, full of time loops and characteristically stressed characters.
From Arthur C. Clark we have a tale of "frozen time" and its possibilities.
There are two ultra-short stories one from Asimov (good) and one from Hughes (poor).
Jack Finney the author of the book "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" which served as base for a sci-fi classic movie and its remakes, provide an intelligent tale about a professor that aides people to be happy in past times.
James Gunn contributes a story depicting an authoritarian state that pursues its escapes thru time.
Brian W. Aldiss well known by his "Heliconia" trilogy has produced an intelligent relation about "time displacement".

Travel to Past.
Usually I enjoy more the tales recounting travels to the past, so this is my favorite section.
It starts very promisingly with a gem from the past: Edward Page Mitchell (1852-1925) manages to travel in time even before H. G. Wells, and he imagines a good anecdote.
In this edition appears the first Spanish contribution, an outstanding story full of time twists and solid construction from Ricard de la Casa and Pedro Jorge Romero: I was delighted with this one.
L. Sprague de Camp offers here one of his "dinosaur safari" memorable, leaving the reader astounded with his paleontology knowledge. It is really very dynamic and with a final twist.
Pohl delivers a shorty, focusing on what kind of mess may provide some inordinate good intentions.
The author of "Logan's Run", William F. Nolan, presents the reader with a charming romantic story of a journalist thrown to the past and meddling with early car races.
There is an ultra-short from Robert F. Young and a vampire's story from Eric Frank Russel (why is it here? I have the least idea).
The second Spanish narration authored by late Jose Mallorquin is not at par with the first one.
A satiric time travel classic from Alfred Bester and a tale full of poetry and nostalgia from Bradbury (who else?) magnificently close this section.

Future's History.
It starts with the precursor: a tale from H. G. Wells followed by his intellectual disciple Michael Moorcock.
Next, continuing with the British authors, a typical Ballard's tale full of winks and acid humor.
Subsequently a humoristic story from Kornbluth showing how a wicked mind may outdo itself is delivered.
To complete this anthology two gems: Heinlein's mythic "All of you zombies" and an excellent piece from the cyberpunk master William Gibson.

This book is a fair introduction to Time Travel theme, enjoy it!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.