Customer Reviews

Time Scout

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Asprin and Evans' novel is a good adventure, with fun, interesting characters and a nicely moving plot. The story-line -- about time travel thru a series of closed-ened "threads of time" -- does not contain much to interest hard-science or technology fans, however. What is differeent about this time-travel concept is the complete INABILITY to change the past. Time travelers cannot alter history here. All in all a good read, if you want a fun story in an exotic setting.

Anything by Robert Asprin is worth reading, and this book is a side of his work different than anything else of his I've read. While the style of the writing is a little stilted and sometimes sounds very unedited and choppy, his world comes through to the reader. And a neat world it is, too.

The characters and situations and even the location it's set against make you just sit back with a silly grin on your face--you really don't know why. There's nothing spectacular about his writing, but Asprin brings his usual sense of humor to a well-researched and lifelike background, and the combination is wonderful. The plot and locations leave this series open to so many stories, and I can only hope that Asprin will be the one to write them.

Here for the first time we the readers meet the honorable and tough as nails time scout Kenneth "Kit" Carson.

I have read all the other books in the series (see my reviews) and I like this one most of all for 2 reasons
In "Wagers of Sin" we see the story from Skeeter Jackson's perspective and in "Ripping Time" we see most of the story from the point of view of Marius (the ex-Roman slave) in this book a much more of a kaleidoscope effect is achieved you are everywhere at once by it up or down time.

Time Scout is probably the first time travel novel I've ever read that tried to deal realistically with the problems of actually interacting with our ancestors.

Several novels simply paint pie in the sky interactions, with the ancients behaving entirely out of character, acting as though they were contemporary with the time traveler.

Not so in Time Scout!

Asprin and Evans have created a wonderful premise, and dealt with it realistically. An example of this detail is their description of a shop at TT-86, (the TT-# is a station designation for each of the time travel locations), Clothes and Stuff, run by Connie Logan. Not only does it include details about the differences in the clothes the social classes wear, but it points out how small details, like machine stitching, can stand out like a sore thumb to someone in the past.

The crux of the story is "Kit" Carson and his relationship with a young woman, Margo Smith. I won't spoil most of the details, but in the process of learning to be a Time Scout, Margo matures, and Kit learns a thing or two about himself. In particular, Margo finds out why women Time Scouts are discouraged, in a particularly horrific way.

This is not a novel for little kids, so those of you used to Aprin's lighter works, be prepared for a more adult adventure than in his Myth Adventures series.

I've been reading SF (Rocket Ship Galileo by Heinlein in the 3rd grade being my first) for 45 years. I enjoyed this book as good quality escape fiction. I don't look for egghead-type literary qualities in my science fiction, just a good read that sustains my interest. This book accomplished that, and I look forward to reading new books by the same authors.

Readers familiar with Asprin's lighter work (the Myth and Phule books) may be dissappointed with with one of his later works, Time Scout. While that may be the case, Time Scout is still a hell of a book. Working with Linda Evans, Asprin gives us a well researched and well written book. Based on the premise that, in the near future, a cataclysmic accident has opened up "gates" that allow travel through time, Time Scout shows a society that has recovered, even prospered, in the wake of that event. Kenneth "Kit" Carson, the protagonist, is the most successfull of the time scouts, a new occupation created by the accident. Time scouts explore newly opened gates, a job requiring incredible learning and more lives than a gaggle of cats. Kit, at the opening of the book, is retired and living peacefully. That is, until a young woman steps into his life and makes him a request he only wishes he could refuse. I won't ruin the book for you if haven't already read it, but I will say that it's definately worth reading. If you're only in the market for Asprin's lighter stuff, skip this one, otherwise I highly reccomend Time Scout

"Time Scout" revists the theme of time traveling explorers and tourists coping with the inherent hazards of taking jaunts to the past. Such a premise has already been deftly explored by Poul Anderson in his "Time Patrol" series and Robert Silverberg in his novel "Time Gate." Asprin's effort, however, falls somewhat short. While he creates a plausible and somewhat intriguing society, his main characters are one-dimensional and obnoxious (especially Margo, who is an annoying brat). While the narrative is fast-paced and mildly interesting, it ultimately never captivates us. A decent novel, nothing more...

Asprin and Evans have created a well-thought-out universe with many intriguing characters. While the writing is not as smooth as it might be (hence four stars), it qualifies as excellent hard science fiction, in that they carefully set up the rules of time-travel, then stick to them meticulously. The insular world of station 86 is fascinating.

What appeals to me particularly is the wonderful attention to detail in historical fact. They provide a very clear picture of the societies to which the protagonists travel, both in technology, culture and mores. As a firearms and personal security instructor, I find the sections on firearms particularly good and right on the mark, both in this book and its sequels. Even if you find some characters to be painful (Margo comes to mind), they are very real. I certainly have met a few Margos, although no Kit Carsons.
I strongly recommend this series for real history buffs and time-travel fans.

I'm a big fan of time travel scifi. This one is just not one of them. It takes way too long to set up, with long drawn out descriptions of surroundings and the education of the young main character. You'll be down to the last 5 chapters before things actually start to happen. At several points I almost decided to quit reading it and start something else. I kept on only because I hate to read more than half a book and not completing it. If you want to get into the meat of a book no later than the 3rd chapter, this book is not it.

it was not the "Myth" series. Well written, but I read it coming off the "Myth" series, so my expectations were on a different line. I will go back and read it again with a different frame of mind when I get the time.