Firehand (Paperback)

~ (Author), P. M. Griffin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a satisfying return to Norton's Time Trader world, a young man finds himself as he teaches guerrilla warfare to a feudal, nonterrestrial offshoot of humanity in order to prepare them properly for a future in which space- and time-traveling humans are battling for survival against murderous aliens. Ross Murdock, a young criminal recruited as a Time Agent for his survival skills, is sent to the Dominion of Virgin, which had abruptly turned from a populous planet to a burned cinder as a result of time-travel by the Baldies, as the aliens are known. The key development that would have saved the planet was the evolution of mental powers that were delayed because of the turmoil following a warlord's conquests 700 years previously. Murdoch, scientist Gordon Ashe and arms expert Eveleen Riordan are sent back in time to Dominion to develop a resistance movement without revealing the existence of Earth or drawing the attention of the Baldies. The authors, who collaborated on Redline the Stars and several Witch World books, have developed an attractive world and likable characters. This coming-of-age novel may be better suited for the young-adult market, however.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Time Agent Ross Murdock and his companions travel to the past of a distant planet to defeat an alien invasion and prevent a future disaster. Veteran collaborators Norton and Griffin cloak a medieval fantasy in sf trappings in this latest adventure in the "Time Traders" series. Smooth narration and appealing protagonists rescue an otherwise ordinary story. Large sf and YA collections may want to consider purchase.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc (August 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812519841
• ISBN-13: 978-0812519846
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,319,522 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Utterly disappointing, February 16, 2009

By	Brent Butler (Charlotte NC) - See all my reviews

**** Spoilers follow, but that's OK because you want to avoid the book like the plague anyway ****

Having recently read the first four books in the Time Traders series (which are OK but not the best of Norton), I expected this book to be more of the same.

I was disappointed to find out that the book was not in fact written by Norton, and this is clear from the cloying parsing and utter lack of dramatic plotting which the book suffers from throughout. Griffin, the co-author, is obviously the author of this book, with little to no input from Andre Norton herself.

Worse, it was obvious to me that Griffin's original effort was not a Time Trader's story at all, but a book written by her otherwise, and then hastily and ineptly adapted to wedge it into the Time Traders series. Yep, add a chapter to the beginning and to the end, globally replace a few character names, insert a few references to the project, and there you have it ... a Time Traders series book! Well, not really.

Griffin is so in love with her characters that they NEVER suffer a setback to their plans, completely relieving any possibility of dramatic tension. The very evil plans of the bad guys are briefly discussed by the bad guys ... and never again bear on the course of the book.

The two sets of 'bad guy' leaders are found and dispatched in the most contrived and simplistic way (un)imaginable.

Ashe's contributions to the story are effectively completely dumped for Griffin's newly introduced character Eveleen Riordan, with whom she is completely in love.

Let me just tell you that Ross Murdock falls in love and marries Riordan during the course of this book. Knowing that, you can safely bypass this and you are caught up for the next installment.

You may notice that Griffin was dumped as the new author of the series very quickly after the appearance of this stinker.

I'm not a big fan of authors turning over their work to a 'guest author', and having their name appear on the cover only to spur sales. This book is a perfect example of why that can go VERY VERY wrong. The book has nothing of Norton but a few character names. The plot is completely broken, and even action sequences near the end that resolve the conflict are contrived and unworkable.

Book 6, written by the replacement 'guest author', Sherwood Smith, is a big improvement, and I recommend that you skip this pitiful sell out and go directly to Echoes in Time!!

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the new Time Traders, July 9, 2009

By	nc guy (NC) - See all my reviews

This is the best of the new Time Trader stories. Very good plot and characters. As good as any of Norton's earlier works.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars surprise, March 30, 2000

By	"shaelyn" (MO) - See all my reviews

I picked up this book at a resellers shop with no cover on it or any idea what it was about.(It is hardback,not stolen).Norton is great and she doesn't let you down here.Smooth writing and great characters who you feel you know by the end of the book.My only complaint is that the book is fairly short and therefore not a terribly engrossing novel.Try it,you might be surprised as pleasantly as I was.