Spoilers DTI: Time Lock by Christopher Bennett Review Thread
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I'll have to check that one out then--I've kept current on the Bennettverse since the first DTI novel, but I haven't gone back to read the older stuff.
I meant DTI specifically, actually--both of the DTI novellas were awesome, and I mean, we don't all have time dilation fields to help make the wait between them seem shorter.
TC
It would've been three million, but once I realized I could use it as more than an in-joke, I figured I should make the reference a bit less direct...
There's another Red Dwarf allusion hidden in there too, to one of their newer episodes.
Downloaded and read yesterday. Another solid DTI story.
Between this and Live by the Code, this is a lot of Denobulan culture. Did anything in particular prompt this, Christopher?
Between this and Live by the Code, this is a lot of Denobulan culture. Did anything in particular prompt this, Christopher?
What prompted the exploration of Denobulan culture in Live By the Code was "Gee, we've never seen Denobulan culture -- I should make sure to do a storyline set there sometime." When I mentioned in The Collectors that the new DTI branch office would be on Denobula, I don't think I gave it much more thought than wanting an established Federation world in an area where more coverage might be needed. However, I wrote Time Lock shortly after LBtC, and I took advantage of that to get more use out of all the Denobulan worldbuilding I'd done.
The device which Daiyar stole is theoretically untraceable to the DTI. Is this meant as a nod to the Na'kuhl's "stealth time travel" from ENT?
A bit less direct given the wording in the episode in question, specifically a reference to a need for a faster than light drive in order to make it slightly more useful.
Got to re-read Time Lock again in order to locate that allusion, it'll now be stuck in the back of the mind.
LOVE DTI!!!!! - what do I have to do to get official permission to make “Department of Temporal Investigations” T-Shirts? Because I would TOTALLY wear them
9.1/10
Nearly as fun as The Collectors, and not as broad-scaled and delightfully intricate as the first two books, but still interesting and fun. It’s lovely to see the ongoing adventures of Lucsly and Dulmur, how they grow and develop as a team of partners who clearly love and respect each other, but who are no longer together. Leave it to Ye Master of Trek Via Actual History and Physics to turn the simplicity of time dilation into a source of interesting drama and good characterization.
The whole cast of characters, the setting, and the events of the story being only peripherally related to the main ST universe is BRILLIANT - and what I mean is, none of the traditional series regulars or ships or whatever has to be present, in order for ALL of that to be present as the warp, woof, and weave of the background of the story. Subtle details like the subspace field regulators worn on the arms, the mention of Voyager’s experience in Parallax...all display an unparalleled affection for and knowledge of the Trek universe that, respectfully, I’ve only seen you, Chris Bennett, exercise with such effortlessness, fastidiousness, and cleverness...OK, maybe the Reeves-Stevenses in their so-called “Shatnerverse” novels come close, but that series is its own unique universe and clearly focused its lens on Kirk and Company.
I’ve got a few questions - why not have all the temporal artifacts been simply destroyed? That would preclude their theft AND ensure none of them get used to disturb the timeline any further. And why stockpile them in only one place?
When do the annotations come out?
Is the sphere in D7 a reference to Seven Days? LOVED that show. It was such a fun way to just accept the idea of a Reset Button and OWN it and use it EVERY SINGLE WEEK. Way to subvert the misuse of that trope.
Oh yeah loved the Continuum easter egg also!
When do the annotations come out?
Is the sphere in D7 a reference to Seven Days? LOVED that show. It was such a fun way to just accept the idea of a Reset Button and OWN it and use it EVERY SINGLE WEEK. Way to subvert the misuse of that trope.
Oh yeah loved the Continuum easter egg also!
I want more DTI but I’m at a loss to see what other avenues could be pursued beyond the clear thrust of the cliffhanger. Maybe something involving interactions with Ducane and the 29th century? That was an interesting period that we still don’t have very much information on. We’ve done the 31st (excellently handled in The Collectors), we’ve resolved the Temporal Cold War (though I would certainly be happy to see another “front” open up and get handled, maybe even some temporal espionage/intrigue leading to the Temporal Defense Network’s creation)...this is by FAR and away my favorite Star Trek novel series, favorite set of dealings with ST time travel, and a delight to consume like delicious ice cream in the moments soon after its arrival on the “shelves” of my Kindle
Well, let me back up. Watching The Clock was hearty like a steak...I often felt like I was getting a graduate level education in temporal mechanics with that book. Forgotten History was subtle, like a fine wine/cheese pairing. The Collectors was definitely ice cream, and so was this one - just different flavors. ALL DELICIOUS.
To think that you makes a living writing these? That thought is so freaking inspiring.
Thanks again for this series, Christopher Bennett!!!
Wow, thanks!
They're not destroyed because the Federation values science. It's a civilization that recognizes that knowledge is a source of danger, but also of great benefits. We didn't deal with the danger of fire by outlawing it, but by learning more about it, figuring out how to control it, and developing better safeguards against its risks. How can the DTI, or Starfleet, learn to detect, control, or contain temporal hazards if they don't fully understand how they work and what they do? (The Centers for Disease Control maintain samples of deadly diseases so they can study ways of treating or preventing them.)
Also, some of these devices are so powerful and poorly understood that there's no way of knowing if they even could be safely destroyed. Destroying them might unleash something even worse. Plus, some of them may be the property of entities in the future who might show up to reclaim them someday, once civilization has advanced enough to be ready for them.
As for stockpiling them in one place, the end of the story did suggest that they were beginning to reconsider that policy.
Probably not long.
Is the sphere in D7 a reference to Seven Days? LOVED that show. It was such a fun way to just accept the idea of a Reset Button and OWN it and use it EVERY SINGLE WEEK. Way to subvert the misuse of that trope.
No, it's a reference to the time kettles from Isaac Asimov's The End of Eternity, which is a real time-travel classic.
I was never much of a fan of Seven Days. I thought it was pretty ridiculous that such massive, cataclysmic threats suddenly started happening on a weekly basis the moment they started using a technology that could undo them. If threats of such magnitude were so routine, then the whole world should've already been destroyed long before. It also just wasn't a very good show.
Thanks again for this series, Christopher Bennett!!!
Thanks for the praise! Now go post it on Amazon, please -- the more reviews a book gets there (good, bad, or indifferent), the better for its visibility.
Thanks!
Hahaha, to each his own I suppose. I respected some of Seven Days as being well-written, and you do make a good point.
Done -
What @foxmulder710 said, more or less! Another wonderful entry in the DTI series - there had better be another one soon (ideally a novel, but I'll take anything)!
While I really enjoyed the goings on in the time locked Eridian Vault, it was Dulmur's story on Denobula that was the highlight for me. It's good to see him having a life outside of the DTI, and one which fits in with his work. I loved the Denobulan parts of Live by the Code, and to get more in Time Lock is a real treat!
One other thing that I'm very happy to see get some more explanation is the Kyushu incident. I think there should be a little snippet about the Kyushu in every Trek book you write, @Christopher (although, I imagine it'll be quite a challenge getting something like that in a TOS book...)
Bravo! and thank you.
P.S. Poor Felbog. I hope he'll be OK?
While I really enjoyed the goings on in the time locked Eridian Vault, it was Dulmur's story on Denobula that was the highlight for me. It's good to see him having a life outside of the DTI, and one which fits in with his work. I loved the Denobulan parts of Live by the Code, and to get more in Time Lock is a real treat!
One other thing that I'm very happy to see get some more explanation is the Kyushu incident. I think there should be a little snippet about the Kyushu in every Trek book you write, @Christopher (although, I imagine it'll be quite a challenge getting something like that in a TOS book...)
Bravo! and thank you.
P.S. Poor Felbog. I hope he'll be OK?
Enjoyed this one, but I really shouldn't have read it when I was tired, because a couple parts made my eyes glaze over a little!
Interesting that it seems to have set up a sequel... is another book in the DTI series already confirmed? Hopefully we get another installment sooner rather than later; I'm really interested to see where this goes.
Enjoyed the Continuum reference!
One weird thing while reading this book: I kept picturing Daiyar as being the same species as Jaylah, even though that's totally not how she was described. I'm guessing it has something to do with the similarity of their names. But also, tired.
Just out of curiosity, is the USS Khatami named after fictional Atish Khatami, or real-life Mohammad Khatami?
Interesting that it seems to have set up a sequel... is another book in the DTI series already confirmed? Hopefully we get another installment sooner rather than later; I'm really interested to see where this goes.
Enjoyed the Continuum reference!
One weird thing while reading this book: I kept picturing Daiyar as being the same species as Jaylah, even though that's totally not how she was described. I'm guessing it has something to do with the similarity of their names. But also, tired.
Just out of curiosity, is the USS Khatami named after fictional Atish Khatami, or real-life Mohammad Khatami?
The names don't strike me as that similar, because I intended Daiyar to be pronounced "dye-yar" rather than "day-ar." (It was Dainar in the outline, but I realized that was too close to Roga Danar from TNG's "The Hunted.")
Atish. I figure if there's a starship James T. Kirk in the 24th century (per Rough Beasts of Empire), there could be one named after another Constitution-class captain of note.
Annotations are now up:
https://christopherlbennett.wordpre...dti-the-collectors/dti-time-lock-annotations/
https://christopherlbennett.wordpre...dti-the-collectors/dti-time-lock-annotations/
Really enjoyed this one. In fact, all the DTI stories have been excellent. I also posted a positive review on Amazon.
