Key Out Of Time Paperback – August 27, 2008

Of good things to come. Not too mystical, which is a danger where Norton is concerned, but mysterious instead, with plenty of adventure.

Another will written Sci-Fi fantasy thriller novella in the Time Traders Series. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is complicated fast moving with lots of twist and turns leading to the conclusion. I would recommend this series to anyone who reads fantasy. Enjoy reading 🔰2021 👝😉

Whether I read this series ( The Time Traders), in the 1960's or now in the 2022's ...the book is outstanding as was the author, the much celebrated Andre Norton who, though many thought her masculine was actually a rarely seen extreme talented woman author of this series and multiple others. This is the 3rd book in this series, and a welcome addition. For those who want more of similar types of writing look to the authors Forerunner series.

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.Key Out of Time is the fourth book in Andre Norton’s TIME TRADERS series. Ross Murdock is once again the hero (he was not present in the previous book). This time he’s on the planet Hawaika which is being settled by the United States. Ross is accompanied by Gordon Ashe and, because this planet has a lot of ocean, Karara, a Polynesian girl who has telepathic dolphin companions.When Hawaika turns out to be different from what they expected, Ross, Ashe and Karara begin to investigate. What happened to the people who used to live there? Could the enigmatic aliens they call the “Baldies” have anything to do with their disappearance? The trio decides to go back in time to learn about the planet’s history, but when the time gate is destroyed in a storm, they end up in the past with no way to get back. There they get split up, have separate adventures, get caught in the middle of a war between the two native races, meet some witches who are a lot like the witches in Norton’s WITCH WORLD series, and discover that the Baldies have been tampering with the planet. Will the Time Traders find each other again? Can they help defeat the Baldies? Can they get back to their own time?I’ve always found it fascinating that Alice Mary Norton’s young adult science fiction adventures, which she wrote in the 1960s under the name Andre Norton, were so clearly written for young men, the main target audience for young adult science fiction at the time. In fact, I’ve heard several men who loved these books when they were teenagers say they would never have picked one up if the name “Alice” had been on the cover. They report that they were quite surprised when they found out years later that Andre Norton was a woman. Perhaps that’s because Norton mostly conforms to expectations — most of her protagonists are young men and men are always in leadership positions. But, unlike many of the male authors of her age, Norton’s female characters are strong and competent, even if they don’t break out of normative gender roles. Here she gives us Karara, a talented young woman who, despite Ross Murdock’s concerns, is perfectly capable of being a Time Trader.After recently reading a couple of the previous books in the TIME TRADERS series, Key Out of Time feels a little redundant. Though it’s a new setting, so many of the same elements are used — two primitive races on a deserted planet being manipulated by the aliens, telepathic animals helping the modern humans, scary wild animals to fight, Time Traders getting separated by some sort of disaster, Time Traders getting captured by people who may or may not be enemies…. However, Key Out of Time still makes an appealing adventure story for young adults and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who likes old young adult science fiction adventures. Karara and her dolphins are a nice addition, and this is classic Andre Norton.I enjoyed the audio version read by Mark F. Smith. You can purchase the Kindle version for free (it’s in the public domain) and then add the narration for $2.99. Quite a bargain!

I gave this book five 5-Stars because it had a great storyline and plot. If you enjoy reading Science Fiction books I highly recommend buying and reading this book.

Andre Norton made me a believer in science fiction and the power to broaden my worldview. Enough twists in the plot line to keep me wanting more, and wonderful imagery to make me a part of that place.

I grew up and cut my teeth on Andre Norton, so finding a Kindle anthology of stories was great fun. Makes me want to start drawing those little needle shaped space ships like I did as a kid. Good stories, good plot lines and likeable characters with mostly happy endings. Very 1950's.

My first encounter with Andre Norton, great surprice, unbeatable deal (free haha). The writing is clean and the best is that the book is not dated, Norton keeps technology details out and focuses on a - repeated but freshly done - time travel story, then he moves a bit to fantasy and uses some history added details. Interesting, enjoyable and recommended.

Good book

What's not to love with any Andre Norton story? The "Time" series has got me hooked, I want to read more!

An exciting tale. With a great turn of phrase in the telling. Could there be another story to be told.