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Operation Time Search

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Operation Time Search (1967) is a standalone SF novel with magical aspects. It concerns a project to record the past. Although the project is searching for fabled Atlantis, the managers are not aware that they have actually found that legendary time. Then their tests accidentally send a man back to the past.

In this novel, Ray Osborne is a former soldier -- a specialist in unarmed combat -- who was released early to take care of his dying mother. After she passed away, Ray decided to return to the Army. Still, Ray does one last job for a friend.

Cho is a Sun-Lord, one of the aristocracy of Mu. He had been captured by pirates and then sold to the Atlanteans. Cho meets Ray in the hold of an Atlantean raider.

Re Mu is the ruler of the Murian homeland. He was selected by testing from all the other Sun-Lords and extensively trained. His charisma and wisdom seem to fill any room that he occupies.

Chronos is the Poseidon -- ruler -- of Atlantis. His evil appears to ooze out of his body. Chronos is both powerful and foolish.

In this story, Ray enters the high security area of the project to take pictures on an Indian mound for an article being written by a friend. As he raises the camera, the time viewer comes on and he vanishes. While monitoring the film, the project leader notices his appearance and sudden disappearance and starts a search for him within the past.

Ray finds himself among huge trees that must be centuries old. The mound is no longer anywhere near. He is thoroughly confused and the waving shadows of the trees spook him. He runs through the forest until reaching a plain. There he is captured by primitive hunters using a ray gun of some kind.

Ray cannot understand any language spoken by his captors. He is taken down a creek to the sea. Yet a sea had not been close to the indian mound where he had been. He is rowed out to a galley without mast or sails. Later, Ray finds that the ship has some kind of motor, but uses oars near the shore.

Within the ship, Ray is chained next to another man. When Ray cannot understand his words, the man uses mind speech to communicate. By this time, Ray is so lost in disbelief that he accepts the telepathy as just another strange thing in his dream world.

The man introduces himself as Cho and tells Ray that they both are imprisoned within an Atlantean raider. They exchange stories and Cho informs Ray that, in Mu itself, a few Flame priests have tried to travel in time, but never returned. Then an Atlantean officer and a red robed priest of Ba-Al come to question them.

When their food is delivered, Cho captures the mind of the soldier and has him release Ray. As the man is unlocking the chains on Cho, the mindlink falters and the soldier hits Cho. Ray attacks the soldier and throws him against the hull. Then he finishes unlocking Cho's chains and both dive into the sea.

Another Murian ship arrives in the area and the Atlantean raider flees. The Murian ship has been searching for Cho, so they quickly go aboard and leave the land. On the way to Mayax and the Inner Sea, the ship rescues the crew of another Murian vessel from an Atlantean raider.

This tale describes the acceptance of Ray into the Murian society. He becomes the sword-brother of Cho and is adopted into the household of Lady Aiee, Cho's mother. Then he is officially instated as a Sun-Lord by the Great One, Re Mu himself.

Ray travels in spirit to Atlantis and sees the evil gathering there. He sees Chronos sharing in a blood sacrifice with the Ba-Al priests and observes him in court. He even spies upon Magos -- the chief priest -- in the midst of evil experiments.

While Ray is living in the past, the director of the project that sent him there is trying to recover him. The director calls upon another secret project to emit a mental lure to draw Ray back to the area where he first appeared. The lure affects Ray, but the Murians have means of protecting him from mental influences.

This story provides continual action. Even when Ray goes out to be alone and think about his situation, other characters starts talking treason in the vicinity. He is constantly on the go from interviews to spiritually spying upon the Atlanteans.

This is not among the best works of the author. It is really a minor tale compared to novels in the prime series. However, it grabs the reader's attention and interest. Be warned that sleep may be lost while reading this book. Read and enjoy.

Recommended for Norton fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of mythical nations, magical technology, and alienated time travelers.

-Arthur W. Jordin