Sunday 17 April 2022

Time Criminals

In Poul Anderson's Time Patrol series -

The Nine were the original time criminals because they aimed to prevent the births of their enemies.

Rozher Schtein, "Stane," from 2987 is a time criminal because he:

murdered a time traveller;
stole his time shuttle;
tried to change history for the better.

Phrontes and Himilco, Neldorians from the 205th millennium, are time criminals because they change history for their own aggrandisement.

Merau Varagan and his fellow Exaltationists from the 31st millennium are time criminals because they stole timecycles and tried to change history that their wills might be wholly free.

Luis Castelar is a time criminal because he uses a hijacked Neldorian timecycle to crusade through time.

Charles Whitcomb is a time criminal because he prevents his fiancee's death in an air raid.

Manson Everard is a time criminal because he helps Whitcomb.

Lorenzo de Conti is not a time criminal but a personal causal nexus.

A different motive each time. 

2 comments:

S.M. Stirling said...

Just like real crime!

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I would have worded what you said about "Stane" somewhat differently: "...he tried to change history for what he thought would be for the better."

And the unlucky Lorenzo de Conti was the victim who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Ad astra! Sean