__NOTOC__ ''The Defiant Agents'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novel by American writer

Andre Norton Andre Alice Norton (born Alice Mary Norton, February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005) was an American writer of science fiction and fantasy, who also wrote works of historical and contemporary fiction. She wrote primarily under the pen name ...

, the third book in her ''Time Traders'' series. It was first published in 1962, and as of 2012, had been reprinted in ten editions with cover changes, as well as twice in a combined edition with '' Key Out of Time''. It is part of Norton's ''Forerunner'' universe. ''The Defiant Agents'' continues the series’ premise, an encounter between Western heroes, and the Russian Communists, and a mysterious alien race that has used time travel to alter Earth. Most interaction in this novel is in an American Indian-like setting.

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

comments, “Andre Norton, a polished writer of science fiction, weaves eroutlandish fare in patterns intricate enough to attract the most devoted addict. Do not try to contrive a consistent political allegory out of erflight into fantasy. This is pure science fiction ...”

Plot

The alien library discovered in the previous novel proved to have locations of many unknown worlds. Finding the secure location of planet Topaz compromised, Apache operatives, including Travis Fox, are sent on an emergency trip with a mind-altering machine, ''Redax'', which activates their ancestral memories. Their ship crash lands. Travis discovers he has the ability to communicate with the coyotes, but none of the survivors have any idea why they are there. They encounter Russians who have undergone similar treatment, and similarly lacking their memories, which have been replaced by those of ancestors from the Mongolian Golden Horde. Unlike the Apache, the Mongols are subject to governing mind-control. With their common experience, they join forces against the modern Russian mind-controllers. Memories gradually return. After finding alien technology too dangerous for the anybody to have, Travis seeks allies. They lay a successful trap for the Russian controllers. Defeating the source of Russian control, the allies agree to guard the alien technology from outsiders in the years to come.

Novels in the series

* ''

The Time Traders ''The Time Traders'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Andre Norton, the first in ''The Time Traders'' series. It was first published in 1958, and has been printed in several editions. It was updated by Norton in 2000 to account for r ...

'' (1958) * '' Galactic Derelict'' (1959) * ''The Defiant Agents'' (1962) * '' Key Out of Time'' (1963) * ''Firehand'' (1994) (with Pauline M Griffin) * ''Echoes in Time'' (1999) (with

Sherwood Smith Sherwood Smith (born 1951) is an American fantasy and science fiction writer for young adult literature, young adults and adults. Smith is a Nebula Award finalist and a longtime writing group organizer and participant. Smith's works include t ...

) * ''Atlantis Endgame'' (2002) (with Sherwood Smith)

References

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External links

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The Defiant Agents
at

Open Library Open Library is an online project intended to create "one web page for every book ever published". Created by Aaron Swartz, Brewster Kahle, Alexis Rossi, Anand Chitipothu, and Rebecca Malamud, Open Library is a project of the Internet Archive, ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Defiant Agents 1962 American novels 1962 science fiction novels American science fiction novels Novels about time travel Novels by Andre Norton