The Time Traders

by Andre Norton

"The Time Traders" by Andre Norton is a science fiction novel published in 1958. When petty criminal Ross Murdock joins a secret time-travel project to avoid punishment, he's thrust into a dangerous Cold War conflict spanning multiple eras. Trained as a Bronze Age trader, Ross must navigate ancient Britain while confronting Soviet operatives and a mysterious alien race called the Baldies—bald humanoids using time travel to alter Earth's history. His mission: steal alien technology before the enemy does.