Department of Temporal Investigations: Watching the Clock - Christopher L. Bennett

Department of Temporal Investigations: Watching the Clock

By Christopher L. Bennett

  • Release Date: 2011-04-26
  • Genre: Adventure Sci-Fi
Score: 4
4
From 44 Ratings

Description

There’s likely no more of a thankless job in the Federation than temporal investigation. While starship explorers get to live the human adventure of traveling to other times and realities, it’s up to the dedicated agents of the Federation Department of Temporal Investigations to deal with the consequences to the timestream that the rest of the Galaxy has to live with day by day. But when history as we know it could be wiped out at any moment by time warriors from the future, misused relics of ancient races, or accident-prone starships, only the most disciplined, obsessive, and unimaginative government employees have what it takes to face the existential uncertainty of it all on a daily basis . . . and still stay sane enough to complete their assignments.

That’s where Agents Lucsly and Dulmur come in—stalwart and unflappable, these men are the Federation’s unsung anchors in a chaotic universe. Together with their colleagues in the DTI—and with the help and sometimes hindrance of Starfleet’s finest—they do what they can to keep the timestream, or at least the paperwork, as neat and orderly as they are. But when a series of escalating temporal incursions threatens to open a new front of the history-spanning Temporal Cold War in the twenty-fourth century, Agents Lucsly and Dulmur will need all their investigative skill and unbending determination to stop those who wish to rewrite the past for their own advantage, and to keep the present and the future from devolving into the kind of chaos they really, really hate.

Reviews

  • Star Trek. Department of temporal investigations

    1
    By Bill in MS
    Probably the worst ever Star Trek story every written. The need for the author to title every chapter as a moment in time as described by different alien races, coupled with the awkward jumps forward and back in time, make it difficult to keep track. Additionally, in every other Star Trek story written previously, temporally displaced characters influences could and would "alter the time stream" with catastrophic consequences. In this story, these influences were of little or no consequence to history. Also imagine the races in the Axis that had been extinct for thousands of years, happily working with our present day and future races in the Axis. How could they not work towards saving their descendants? I gave it a single star rating because zero was not possible.
  • Temporal Physics Hurt

    4
    By Steamjules
    I can't say this book didn't make my head hurt at times while I tried to comprehend the temporal physics theories and how they affected the plot and actions of the characters. The Temporal Prime Directive being more of a pain than the regular Starfleet issued one but it was quite enjoyable none the less. I hope for more in the DTI vein.
  • Had to sift thru objectionable parts

    1
    By Wahiawa Girl
    If orgies are not your thing (not mine) I would skip this book. Really don't want to read about someone else's (or groups of someone else's ) sex life. Wish it had more Star Trek adventure and less of the other stuff. Won't read this author anymore.
  • Fantastic!!

    5
    By Journeyman2
    If you've been a follower of all things Star Trek over the decades (all the TV series, movies and books), then this book is for you. This expansive story somehow manages to include concepts from dozens of storylines, including many of our favorite characters, and many lesser-considered characters who turn out to be much more significant than they originally seemed. Definitely a great read for the Star Trek aficionado. Highly recommended. Well done!! 
  • Surprisingly good

    5
    By CorranQ
    A refreshing story that takes on several angles of stories we've already seen and read, that introduces plenty of enriching original elements to a promising new perspective from which to read about Star Trek. This book has it all, and was a joy to read if only for the mental feathers it kept ruffling! Job very well done!!