Time Crime

by H. Beam Piper

"Time Crime" by H. Beam Piper is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story revolves around the operations of the Paratime Police, tasked with investigating a sinister slave trade that transgresses multiple timelines. The protagonist, Kiro Soran, a guard captain, uncovers a chilling link between slaves bought at a plantation and their origins on a different temporal line, leading to a complex investigation that intertwines with various characters while grappling with moral dilemmas. The opening of "Time Crime" introduces readers to a plantation on the Third Level Esaron Sector, where Kiro Soran and Dosu Golan, the plantation manager, are involved in the purchase of a hundred slaves from a Calera dealer. As Soran observes the slaves, he realizes they are not local but from the Kholghoor Sector in India, suggesting they were kidnapped and brought through time for sale. This discovery prompts Soran to take action, alerting the Paratime Police and setting the stage for a deeper investigation into the criminal activities of the mysterious slave traders known as the Wizard Traders. The opening establishes a tense atmosphere and the gravity of the situation, hinting at the broader implications of time travel and ethics in the context of slavery and commerce.