In the vast expanse of the Star Trek universe, where starships boldly go through space and, occasionally, time, a unique organization operates in the shadows: the Department of Temporal Investigations (DTI). While starfleet explorers encounter the thrills and paradoxes of time travel, it’s the agents of the DTI who grapple with the often-chaotic fallout, meticulously ensuring the timestream remains as intact as possible. These aren’t your typical adventurers; they are the steadfast, detail-oriented individuals tasked with the unenviable job of managing temporal anomalies and preventing history from unraveling.
This is the world of Agents Lucsly and Dulmur, the protagonists of Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Watching the Clock. Author Christopher L. Bennett masterfully brings these previously minor characters from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to the forefront, crafting a compelling narrative centered around the complexities of Time Travel Dti operations. Far from the glamorous voyages of the Enterprise, this novel delves into the bureaucratic yet crucial work of those who safeguard history from temporal incursions, misused ancient artifacts, and the occasional time-bending starship mishap. It’s a universe where sanity is tested daily by the sheer existential uncertainty of time itself, and where only the most disciplined minds can hope to maintain order, or at least, orderly paperwork.
Critics have lauded Bennett’s approach to this intricate subject matter. John Freeman of Star Trek Magazine praised Bennett for avoiding the usual pitfalls of time travel narratives, noting, “While there are moments where his own careful research into the latest chronal theories helps drive this adventure forward, he always strives to ensure his explanations make some kind of sense…. Watching the Clock… also develops some great characters… All in all, an action-packed adventure with some great moments of humor.” Steve Roby from Starfleet Library echoed this sentiment, highlighting Bennett’s ability to flesh out minor characters into believable figures and seamlessly integrate his extensive research without bogging down the story. Ian Coomber of Whatculture! even described the novel as “borderline epic” in its ambition and execution.
From Time Travel Skeptic to DTI Champion: The Genesis of “Watching the Clock”
The intriguing premise of Watching the Clock stems from an unexpected source: author Christopher L. Bennett’s own aversion to time travel stories. Disenchanted by the genre’s frequent reliance on clichés and logical inconsistencies, Bennett sought to create a Star Trek novel that would address these very issues. Initially, he considered crafting a definitive time travel narrative that would rationalize the often-complex temporal mechanics within the Trek universe. However, he found himself uninterested in conventional plots involving altering or repairing history.
This led him to the concept of the Department of Temporal Investigations, an organization briefly introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Inspired by the fleeting appearances of Agents Lucsly and Dulmur in “Trials and Tribble-ations” and a passing mention in “Past Tense,” Bennett envisioned a procedural drama focused on DTI agents. These agents wouldn’t be time travelers themselves, but rather investigators tasked with managing the repercussions of temporal incidents. Lucsly and Dulmur would become the central figures, supported by a new cast of characters within the agency. Bennett even considered incorporating familiar faces like Clare Raymond from TNG’s “The Neutral Zone” as a counselor for time-displaced individuals, and the crew of the Bozeman from TNG: “Cause and Effect” as a time-related mission unit attached to the DTI.
However, the initial pitch to editor Marco Palmieri was met with lukewarm reception. Bennett himself admits he hadn’t fully developed the idea at that stage. The concept remained dormant until a change in editors and a new opportunity arose.
From Back Burner to Front and Center: “Watching the Clock” Gets Its Green Light
Following editorial changes at Simon & Schuster, incoming editor Jaime Costas requested new Star Trek story pitches from Bennett. Amongst a collection of older ideas and comic pitches, Bennett almost as an afterthought included a brief paragraph outlining his DTI concept – the first time he had actually put the idea in writing. To his surprise, it was this unconventional pitch that resonated with Costas.
While other submitted ideas were more developed, the DTI concept, focusing on time travel DTI, was chosen. This meant Bennett was essentially starting from scratch with the most complex project imaginable. He had to expand upon two barely-seen characters, create an entire supporting cast, and undertake extensive research. This research spanned not only Star Trek canon and expanded universe time travel stories, but also real-world quantum theory and classic science fiction literature exploring time travel. Bennett aimed for a level of plausibility rarely seen in time travel narratives, making Watching the Clock his most challenging Star Trek writing endeavor to date.
Science Meets Science Fiction: Grounding Trek Time Travel in Theory
Bennett’s deep dive into quantum theory proved surprisingly fruitful. He discovered that many seemingly absurd aspects of Star Trek time travel could be rationalized through legitimate, albeit unproven, theoretical physics. This research allowed him to solidify and detail his pre-existing theories about how time travel might function within the Trek universe. The process became a fascinating exercise in bridging science fact and science fiction.
Beyond the theoretical underpinnings, Bennett found immense satisfaction in creating a new ensemble of characters for the DTI. Despite its complexity, Watching the Clock became a deeply fulfilling project. For readers more inclined towards established Trek characters and storylines, the novel offers guest appearances from familiar faces and revisits well-known time travel events from the DTI perspective, enriching the tapestry of the Star Trek universe. Furthermore, Bennett has been commissioned to write a TOS novel that will explore the origins of the DTI, further expanding this compelling corner of Star Trek lore.
For those eager to delve deeper into the intricacies of Watching the Clock, Bennett provides extensive annotations:
Character Notes
Annotations Page 1 (Ch. I-VIII)
Page 2 (Ch. IX-Epilogue)
Alien Calendar Notes
NDB Media audio interview about DTI:WTC
Share this:
Like Loading…
