Sunday, 23 August 2020

The History Of The Publication Of Poul Anderson's Time Patrol Series, Part 1

In The Magazine Of Fantasy And Science Fiction
"Time Patrol," May 1955
"Delenda Est," December 1955
"Brave to Be A King," August 1959
"The Only Game in Town," January 1960
"Gibraltar Falls," October 1975

Guardians Of Time (1960)
"Time Patrol"
"Brave To Be A King"
"The Only Game in Town"
"Delenda Est"

Because "Delenda Est" involves a historical alteration, it is placed at the end of the volume as a climax and is slightly rewritten so that it refers the other three stories. "The Only Game in Town" is slightly rewritten so that it refers to "Brave To Be A King."

The Guardians Of Time (1981)
"Gibraltar Falls" is inserted in the middle of the volume so that "Delenda Est" remains the climax. Also included is "Of Time And The Rover," an Afterword by Sandra Miesel.

Since, in "Time Patrol," Manse Everard is recruited in 1954 whereas, in "Gibraltar Fall," Tom Namura has been recruited in 1972, a generation later, I think that "Gibraltar Falls" should have been placed at the end of the volume.

To Be Continued.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I too have a copy of the 1981 collection THE GUARDIANS OF TIME, which I purchased mostly because of it containing the Sandra Miesel article. The title pages includes what I thought an excellent illustration of Manse Everard and Keith Denison (posing as angels) browbeating a terrified King Astyages (from "Brave To Be A King").

Ad astra! Sean