Department of Temporal Investigations: Time Lock by Christopher L. Bennett

Department of Temporal Investigations: Time Lock
by Christopher L. Bennett
Pages: 112
Date: September 5 2016
Publisher: Pocket Books/Star Trek
Series: Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations (4th in series)

Review
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0
Read: March 25 2016

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Pocket Books/Star Trek in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth book in the Department of Temporal Investigations, and the fifth book I’ve read by this author (though one of those books is a full length novel hidden inside a longer collection of novels. It is titled ‘Places of Exile’, and is roughly 192 pages in length, and is found inside the book titled ‘Infinity’s Prism’).

As the Acknowledgments and notes section . . . um . . . notes, Agents Lucsly and Dulmer ‘were introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine “Trials and Tribble-ations”’ episode. This explains to me where there was a note at the beginning of this that indicated that this was somehow connected to Deep Space Nine. This confused me, since I didn’t recall any of the previous books specifically including DS9 people. As in, since DS9 takes place at the same time, same century/year, as The Next Generation, and Voyager, I was confused as to why DS9 was specifically mentioned. But I realize now why it was.

Just like the previous books in this series, this book is about a government agency that has the directive to safeguard any and all time travel devices that it comes across. Unlike the previous books, the two main characters who were partners in the previous books, have been separated. Lucsly is working on the ice-moon Eris, while Dulmer is now an assistant director setting up a new branch of DTI on Denobula.

Before I get too far down this road, I need to note something(s): (1) I was excited to have the opportunity to read this book – regardless of the next comment, I am/was excited to be able to read this book; (2) one of the reasons I decided to read this specific book right now, instead of any other book I have access to, is relatively simply the idea that I felt a small need to dive into something that did not/does not have romance in it. Well . . . that idea failed. One of the main characters gets himself involved in a bit of romance. Who knew, eh?

Right, back to business –

While doing his job in the ‘vault of secret time devices’, Lucsly’s day is interrupted when one of the objects d’time suddenly activates. And spits out military personal carrying weaponry. A bit of Trojan Horse going on here (a phrase, well ‘Trojan Horse’) specifically used in this book. Agent Gariff Lucsly, several scientists stationed at the base, and the DTI director Laarin Andos (who just happened to be there for some reason or another) attempt to fight off the invaders. Hampered, somewhat, by the fact that while they might be agents, they are not, and I wish to word this carefully, highly trained military personal. I think. At least Lucsly makes a comment to that effect at some point.

While the fight commences in the secret base, Dulmer, and the rest of star fleet, attempt to provide some assistance. Hampered, somewhat, by the defensive measures put in place when the invaders invaded. That whole thing, the ‘defensive measures’ and the like were quite neat.

Long and short of it – this was a quite neat, fun, exciting novella. I already knew it was only 112 pages, so that didn’t specifically matter to me – as in, I knew I was reading a short story. As a short story, it had almost everything it needed. Ended on kind of a cliff-hanger, but still, a fully formed story. Though access to knowledge of the previous books in the series would help – plus access to knowledge of the books that occur – or are set around this specific point in time (2385) could conceivably help – there was mention of several books that this story falls in between so it is possible that my lack of knowledge of those books might have had an adverse impact on my enjoyment of this story. Or, in other words, it is possible, however slight or large this possibility might be, that I might have had a higher level of enjoyment if I had read those other books – the Titan ones, not the other books in this series, since I’ve read the other books in this series.

Now off to double check when it is that I can post this review at this time.

March 25 2016