Rating: 
Summary: A reasonable first effort; here's hoping for more
Review: I'm a fan of Robert Asprin (have read all of the Myth book and both of the Phule books), but I was never much interested in the Theives World saga that he edited. The few stories I managed to read seemed less than satisfactory.This, though, is far more satisfactory. There are some obvious rough edges that need to be smoothed out before I'll say that Evans & Asprin are really a team, but they have a lot going for them already.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast read. Sustained my interest.
Review: I've been reading SF (Rocket Ship Galileo by
Heinlein in the 3rd grade being my first) for 45 years. I enjoyed this book as good quality escape fiction. I don't look for egghead-type literary qualities in my science fiction, just a good read that sustains my interest. This book accomplished that, and I look forward to reading new books by the same authors.
Rating: 
Summary: As always, amazing
Review: It seems that no matter who Mr. Asprin writes with, his books continue to be funny & fun to read. The surprises thrown in are fun & frequent. The historical trivia dropped in so casually throughout the book left me feeling like I'd been there with them. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: As always, amazing
Review: It seems that no matter who Mr. Asprin writes with, his books continue to be funny & fun to read. The surprises thrown in are fun & frequent. The historical trivia dropped in so casually throughout the book left me feeling like I'd been there with them. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: This book is not the typical Asprin-lite.
Review: Readers familiar with Asprin's lighter work (the Myth and Phule books) may be dissappointed with with one of his later works, Time Scout. While that may be the case, Time Scout is still a hell of a book. Working with Linda Evans, Asprin gives us a well researched and well written book. Based on the premise that, in the near future, a cataclysmic accident has opened up "gates" that allow travel through time, Time Scout shows a society that has recovered, even prospered, in the wake of that event. Kenneth "Kit" Carson, the protagonist, is the most successfull of the time scouts, a new occupation created by the accident. Time scouts explore newly opened gates, a job requiring incredible learning and more lives than a gaggle of cats. Kit, at the opening of the book, is retired and living peacefully. That is, until a young woman steps into his life and makes him a request he only wishes he could refuse. I won't ruin the book for you if haven't already read it, but I will say that it's definately worth reading. If you're only in the market for Asprin's lighter stuff, skip this one, otherwise I highly reccomend Time Scout
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting premise, poor story
Review: The premise behind Time Scout is an interesting one. An industrial accident has opened up "time gates", and created a profession for "time scouts", who travel through them to discover if they are valuable for taking the super-wealthy on historical tours. The story centers on a hub for several of these gates.
The narrative is quite readable and the story flows well. Unfortunately, the characters in the story are remarkably shallow. The lead female (Margo) is the best developed character in the book, although she seems to be little different than a conservative's stereotype of a headstrong but foolish feminist. The authors further degrade her character by surrounding her with "beautiful people": characters with no flaws.
Margo is at best a terribly frustrating character, and at worst completely unbelievable. She is driven by an inexplicable desire to be a time scout, yet time and time again we discover that she knows nothing about it. Furthermore, it seems that she would not have the desire to become a time scout if she knew what it entailed. The authors drop various hints that she is merely trying to escape an abusive relationship, but her desire to be a time scout seems decidedly false.
The extent of Margo's hubris is such that it becomes impossible to empathize with her (or even pity her). In several situations, she commits blunders that should result in her death, yet she is always lucky enough to survive them. Unable to appreciate the extent of her good fortune, she attributes her survival to skill.
The telling of the story is another problem. The story is told in third person omniscient perspective, though for the most part the reader hops on the back of one of several characters (either Margo, Kit, or Malcolm, who is an established time scout). The problem with telling the story from this perspective is that the authors use it to allow us to be privy to the thoughts, fears, and desires of each of the characters. The motives of each of the characters appear hollow when mentioned in this perspective. Furthermore, the authors spend far too much time on irrelevant narrative (e.g., pages upon pages of descriptions of Margo's beauty, or similarly lengthy treatises on varied topics such as historical dress, weaponry, etc.) This further detracts from what is already a weak story. The book would probably benefit greatly by being told from a non-omniscient narrator; not only would this eliminate a good deal of tedious narrative, but it would force the authors to advance the plot through character actions, rather than rhetoric.
The story and the characters doom "Time Scout" to mediocrity. At the end of the book, I was untouched. The story is empty, and the characters inspire no attachments. In the end, there is nothing more compelling about this book than just a means to pass time.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: Time Scout is an enteratining tale. The writting pulls you through and leaves you with a finished feeling; you know that there will be other adventures, but it doesn't leave you hanging. "Kit" Carson is a retired "Time Scout", but he's still considered the best of the best in the profession. A girl, who's middle name should be Trouble, shows up full of hero worship and begs him to teach her the profession. Like a lot of people she takes the easy way and it lands her in trouble. The story travels through Ancient Rome, Victorian London, and South Africa around the 1540s. While this story won't change the world, it was a fun read and I look forward to the next book in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: Time Scout is an enteratining tale. The writting pulls you through and leaves you with a finished feeling; you know that there will be other adventures, but it doesn't leave you hanging. "Kit" Carson is a retired "Time Scout", but he's still considered the best of the best in the profession. A girl, who's middle name should be Trouble, shows up full of hero worship and begs him to teach her the profession. Like a lot of people she takes the easy way and it lands her in trouble. The story travels through Ancient Rome, Victorian London, and South Africa around the 1540s. While this story won't change the world, it was a fun read and I look forward to the next book in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: Time Scout is an enteratining tale. The writting pulls you through and leaves you with a finished feeling; you know that there will be other adventures, but it doesn't leave you hanging. "Kit" Carson is a retired "Time Scout", but he's still considered the best of the best in the profession. A girl, who's middle name should be Trouble, shows up full of hero worship and begs him to teach her the profession. Like a lot of people she takes the easy way and it lands her in trouble. The story travels through Ancient Rome, Victorian London, and South Africa around the 1540s. While this story won't change the world, it was a fun read and I look forward to the next book in this series.
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