by Jimmy Guieu
They would remain primitive for a long time, fighting among the provinces, waging wars, suffering sicknesses that they knew not how to treat. But they would follow the normal path of slow evolution to which they had to submit in order to give birth, later, to the race that would create the Retrotimeship and not the triangular spaceships of tyrants.
“Heading for 1961,” Commander Taylor announced, activating the time travel mechanism.
“But Taylor,” Harrington said, “can’t our departure wait a few days?”
“No, Red. No, my friends. You didn’t have time to start your work educating the Iron Age men. An admirable work at first but in the future centuries it would turn into rivers of blood and the slavery of all the people on Earth. In a few days you could start this vast project of accelerated evolution that is altruistic in your eyes but disastrous for future humanity, even though you were far from thinking of it. But by leaving now, by escaping now, it won’t happen. It will never take place. Our escape will cancel the History of a civilization… that will be replaced by ours.”
“And ours is really much better than what you were about to give birth to,” Clark completed the thought, remembering the suffering endured by the people under the tyrant’s yoke.
The words of Vrish-Ju, the Messenger of Good, cited by Dr. Avshton, came back to mind: Time will deliver them one day.
Clark shook his head, as if trying to chase away a bad memory, and a radiant smile grew on his face. Taylor had just left the time travel controls and it was up to him now to take control of the RT2 to pilot it back to Earth.
He sped up, straightened the ship in the atmospheric layers and descending lower and lower came out under the cloud cover. He gave a long sigh of relief on seeing the vast extent of Paris, divided by the wandering Seine, and in the middle of which the Eiffel Tower stood proudly.
Afterword
Prisoners of the Past was the last novel featuring Jean Kariven and his friends that Jimmy Guieu wrote. No doubt, the utopia-like Earth of the Earth-Polarian Alliance was too limited a subject to provide good materials for future novels. As mentioned in our introduction, Guieu developed the characters of William Blade and Ronny Baker to continue to explore space opera themes, while Gilles Novak eventually took over the exploration of X-files-type phenomena in today’s world.
The indomitable Kariven, however, made a recent return under the pen of Frank Schildiner in a number of short stories published in our annual anthology Tales of the Shadowmen; these stories also feature elements from the Polarian-Denebian war. They are:
TOTS 5. The Smoking Mirror
TOTS 6. Laurels for the Toff
TOTS 7. The Tiny Destroyer
TOTS 8. The Death Bird
TOTS 12. Ancient Space Lizards and Other Visitors
Finally, in January 2011, our French sister imprint, Rivière Blanche, published a homage anthology to Jimmy Guieu entitled Dimension Jimmy Guieu, edited by Richard D. Nolane. In addition to a translation of The Smoking Mirror, it also featured a new Kariven story by French author Thomas Geha entitled La Ballade de Yuln [Yuln’s Ballad]. The story, however, is not, strictly speaking, in the original continuity, sionce it takes place in 1982, in the rewritten & updated versions of the original novels republished in the 1990s.
Notes
1 Global Center of Scientific Research.
2 Taiwan.
3 Department store on Boulevard de la Madeleine, Paris.
4 (26 February 1786-2 October 1853), was a French mathematician, physicist, astronomer, freemason, supporter of the carbonari and politician—25th Prime Minister of France.
5 See Volume 1.
6 See Volume 1.
7 See Volume 1.
8 We can still find traces of the Celtic language in old Irish, Manx (Isle of Man), Gaelic (Scotland) and various Indo-European dialects. (Author’s Note)
9 If you want peace, prepare for war.
10 See Volume 1.
11 Military base on the east bank of the Potomac in Washington, DC. (Author’s Note)
12 Point in space represented by Vega (in the constellation Lyra) toward which our solar system is heading. (Author’s Note)
Other Fleuve Noir Translations
Black Coat Press has published a fair sampling of Fleuve Noir novels in translation:
Marc Agapit: Despair, a screenplay faithfully adapted from an Angoisse novel by Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier (ISBN 978-1-932983-06-7).
G.-J. Arnaud: The Ice Company, an award-winning Anticipation novel, the first in a long, popular series, translated by Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier (ISBN 978-1-935558-31-6).
Richard Bessière: The Gardens of the Apocalypse (which also includes The Seven Rings of Rhea) two Anticipation novels translated by Brian Stableford (ISBN 978-1-935558-68-2), followed by The Masters of Silence (which also includes They Came from the Dark), two more Anticipation novels translated by Michael Shreve (ISBN 978-1-61227-297-9).
André Caroff: The ever-popular series of 18 Madame Atomos novels from the Angoisse imprint, collected in nine omnibus volumes, the first translated by Brian Stableford; the others by Michael Shreve (ISBNs: 1: 978-1-935558-41-5; 2: 978-1-61227-018-0; 3: 978-1-61227-030-2; 4: 978-1-61227-069-2; 5: 978-1-61227-087-6; 6: 978-1-61227-119-4; 7: 978-1-61227-157-6; 8: 978-1-61227-223-8; 9: 978-1-61227-259-7).
P.-J. Hérault: The Clone Rebellion, an Anticipation novel translated by Michael Shreve (ISBN 978-1-61227-385-3).
Gérard Klein: The Mote in Time’s Eye, an Anticipation novel translated by C.J. Richards (ISBN 978-1-935558-48-4).
Maurice Limat: Mephista, the translation by Michael Shreve of three Angoisse novels starring private eye Teddy Verano and the eponymous female incarnation of evil (ISBN 978-1-61227-434-8).
Kurt Steiner (pseudonym of André Ruellan): Ortog (which also includes Ortog and the Darkness), two Anticipation novels translated by Brian Stableford (ISBN 978-1-935558-28-6).
Pierre Pelot: The Child Who Walked on the Sky (which also includes What if Butterflies Cheat?), two Anticipation novels translated by Michael Shreve (ISBN 978-1-61227-107-1).
For the record, one should also mention Pierre Barbet, whose Fleuve Noir novels The Napoleons of Eridanus, The Emperor of Eridanus, Games Psyborgs Play, Baphomet’s Meteor, The Enchanted Planet, The Joan Of Arc Replay and Stellar Crusade were translated and published by DAW Books.
FRENCH SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY COLLECTION
105 Adolphe Ahaiza. Cybele
102 Alphonse Allais. The Adventures of Captain Cap
02 Henri Allorge. The Great Cataclysm
14 G.-J. Arnaud. The Ice Company
152 André Arnyvelde. The Ark
153 André Arnyvelde. The Mutilated Bacchus
61 Charles Asselineau. The Double Life
118 Henri Austruy. The Eupantophone
119 Henri Austry. The Petitpaon Era
120 Henri Austry. The Olotelepan
130 Barillet-Lagargousse. The Final War
180 Honoré de Balzac. The Last Fay
103 S. Henry Berthoud. Martyrs of Science
23 Richard Bessière. The Gardens of the Apocalypse
121 Richard Bessière. The Masters of Silence
148 Béthune (Chevalier de). The World of Mercury
26 Albert Bleunard. Ever Smaller
06 Félix Bodin. The Novel of the Future
173 Pierre Boitard. Journey to the Sun
92 Louis Boussenard. Monsieur Synthesis
39 Alphonse Brown. City of Glass
89 Alphonse Brown. The Conquest of the Air
98 Emile Calvet. In A Thousand Years
40 Félicien Champsaur. The Human Arrow
81 Félicien Champsaur. Ouha, King of the Apes
91. Félicien Champsaur. The Pharaoh’s Wife
133 Félicien Champsaur. Homo-Deus
143 Félicien Champsaur. Nora, The Ape-Woman
03 Didier de Chousy. Ignis
166 Jacques Collin de Plancy. Voyage to the Center of the Earth
97 Michel
Corday. The Eternal Flame
113 André Couvreur. The Necessary Evil
114 André Couvreur. Caresco, Superman
115 André Couvreur. The Exploits of Professor Tornada (Vol. 1)
116 André Couvreur. The Exploits of Professor Tornada (Vol. 2)
117 André Couvreur. The Exploits of Professor Tornada (Vol. 3)
67 Captain Danrit. Undersea Odyssey
149 Camille Debans. The Misfortunes of John Bull
17 C. I. Defontenay. Star (Psi Cassiopeia)
05 Charles Derennes. The People of the Pole
68 Georges T. Dodds. The Missing Link and Other Tales of Ape-Men
125 Charles Dodeman. The Silent Bomb
49 Alfred Driou. The Adventures of a Parisian Aeronaut
144 Odette Dulac. The War of the Sexes
145 Renée Dunan. The Ultimate Pleasure
10 Henri Duvernois. The Man Who Found Himself
08 Achille Eyraud. Voyage to Venus
01 Henri Falk. The Age of Lead
51 Charles de Fieux. Lamékis
108 Louis Forest. Someone Is Stealing Children In Paris
31 Arnould Galopin. Doctor Omega
70 Arnould Galopin. Doctor Omega & The Shadowmen
112 H. Gayar. The Marvelous Adventures of Serge Myrandhal on Mars
88 Judith Gautier. Isoline and the Serpent-Flower
163 Raoul Gineste. The Second Life of Dr. Albin
136 Delphine de Girardin. Balzac’s Cane
146 Jules Gros. The Fossil Man
174 Jimmy Guieu. The Polarian-Denebian War 1
175 Jimmy Guieu. The Polarian-Denebian War 2
176 Jimmy Guieu. The Polarian-Denebian War 3
177 Jimmy Guieu. The Polarian-Denebian War 4
178 Jimmy Guieu. The Polarian-Denebian War 5
179 Jimmy Guieu. The Polarian-Denebian War 6
57 Edmond Haraucourt. Illusions of Immortality
134 Edmond Haraucourt. Daah, the First Human
24 Nathalie Henneberg. The Green Gods
131 Eugene Hennebert. The Enchanted City
137 P.-J. Hérault. The Clone Rebellion
150 Jules Hoche. The Maker of Men and his Formula
140 P. d’Ivoi & H. Chabrillat. Around the World on Five Sous
107 Jules Janin. The Magnetized Corpse
29 Michel Jeury. Chronolysis [NO LONGER AVAILABLE]
55 Gustave Kahn. The Tale of Gold and Silence
30 Gérard Klein. The Mote in Time’s Eye
90 Fernand Kolney. Love in 5000 Years
87 Louis-Guillaume de La Follie. The Unpretentious Philosopher
101 Jean de La Hire. The Fiery Wheel
50 André Laurie. Spiridon
52 Gabriel de Lautrec. The Vengeance of the Oval Portrait
82 Alain Le Drimeur. The Future City
27-28 Georges Le Faure & Henri de Graffigny. The Extraordinary Adventures of a Russian Scientist Across the Solar System (2 vols.)
07 Jules Lermina. Mysteryville
25 Jules Lermina. Panic in Paris
32 Jules Lermina. The Secret of Zippelius
66 Jules Lermina. To-Ho and the Gold Destroyers
127 Jules Lermina. The Battle of Strasbourg
15 Gustave Le Rouge. The Vampires of Mars
73 Gustave Le Rouge. The Plutocratic Plot
74 Gustave Le Rouge. The Transatlantic Threat
75 Gustave Le Rouge. The Psychic Spies
76 Gustave Le Rouge. The Victims Victorious
109-110-111 Gustave Le Rouge. The Mysterious Doctor Cornelius
96 André Lichtenberger. The Centaurs
99 André Lichtenberger. The Children of the Crab
135 Listonai. The Philosophical Voyager
157 Ch. Lomon & P.-B. Gheusi. The Last Days of Atlantis
167 Camille Mauclair. The Virgin Orient
72 Xavier Mauméjean. The League of Heroes
78 Joseph Méry. The Tower of Destiny
77 Hippolyte Mettais. The Year 5865
128 Hyppolite Mettais. Paris Before the Deluge
83 Louise Michel. The Human Microbes
84 Louise Michel. The New World
93 Tony Moilin. Paris in the Year 2000
11 José Moselli. Illa’s End
38 John-Antoine Nau. Enemy Force
156 Charles Nodier. Trilby * The Crumb Fairy
04 Henri de Parville. An Inhabitant of the Planet Mars
21 Gaston de Pawlowski. Journey to the Land of the Fourth Dimension
56 Georges Pellerin. The World in 2000 Years
79 Pierre Pelot. The Child Who Walked On The Sky
85 Ernest Perochon. The Frenetic People
161 Jean Petithuguenin. An International Mission to the Moon
141. Georges Price. The Missing Men of the Sirius
165 René Pujol. The Chimerical Quest
100 Edgar Quinet. Ahasuerus
123 Edgar Quinet. The Enchanter Merlin
60 Henri de Régnier. A Surfeit of Mirrors
33 Maurice Renard. The Blue Peril
34 Maurice Renard. Doctor Lerne
35 Maurice Renard. The Doctored Man
36 Maurice Renard. A Man Among the Microbes
37 Maurice Renard. The Master of Light
169 Restif de la Bretonne: The Discovery of the Austral Continent by a Flying Man
170 Restif de la Bretonne: Posthumous Correspondence 1
171 Restif de la Bretonne: Posthumous Correspondence 2
172 Restif de la Bretonne: Posthumous Correspondence 3
41 Jean Richepin. The Wing
12 Albert Robida. The Clock of the Centuries
62 Albert Robida. Chalet in the Sky
69 Albert Robida. The Adventures of Saturnin Farandoul
95 Albert Robida. The Electric Life
151 Albert Robida. Engineer Von Satanas
46 J.-H. Rosny Aîné. The Givreuse Enigma
45 J.-H. Rosny Aîné. The Mysterious Force
43 J.-H. Rosny Aîné. The Navigators of Space
48 J.-H. Rosny Aîné. Vamireh
44 J.-H. Rosny Aîné. The World of the Variants
47 J.-H. Rosny Aîné. The Young Vampire
71 J.-H. Rosny Aîné. Helgvor of the Blue River
24 Marcel Rouff. Journey to the Inverted World
158 Marie-Anne de Roumier-Robert. The Voyages of Lord Seaton to the Seven Planets
132 Léonie Rouzade. The World Turned Upside Down
09 Han Ryner. The Superhumans
124 Han Ryner. The Human Ant
181 Han Ryner. The Son of Silence
122 Pierre de Selenes. An Unknown World
19 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 1. News from the Moon
20 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 2. The Germans on Venus
63 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 3. The Supreme Progress
64 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 4. The World Above the World
65 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 5. Nemoville
80 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 6. Investigations of the Future
106 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 7. The Conqueror of Death
129 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 8. The Revolt of the Machines
142 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 9. The Man with the Blue Face
155 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 10. The Aerial Valley
159 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 11. The New Moon
160 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 12. The Nickel Man
162 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 13. On the Brink of the World’s End
164 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 14. The Mirror of Present Events
168 Brian Stableford (Ed.). 15. The Humanisphere
42 Jacques Spitz. The Eye of Purgatory
13 Kurt Steiner. Ortog
18 Eugène Thébault. Radio-Terror
58 C.-F. Tiphaigne de La Roche. Amilec
138 Simon Tyssot de Patot. Voyages and Adventures of Jacques de Massé
104 Louis Ulbach. Prince Bonifacio
53 Théo Varlet. The Xenobiotic Invasion (w/Octave Joncquel)
&
nbsp; 16 Théo Varlet. The Martian Epic; (w/André Blandin)
59 Théo Varlet. Timeslip Troopers
86 Théo Varlet. The Golden Rock
94 Théo Varlet. The Castaways of Eros
139 Pierre Véron. The Merchants of Health
54 Paul Vibert. The Mysterious Fluid
147 Gaston de Wailly. The Murderer of the World
Prisonniers du Passé (Fleuve Noir Anticipation No. 72, 1956) 2016 by The Estate of Jimmy Guieu. English adaptation Copyright 2016 by Michael Shreve.
Cover illustration Copyright 2016 Genkis.
Visit our website at www.blackcoatpress.com
ISBN 978-1-61227-555-0. First Printing. September 2016. Published by Black Coat Press, an imprint of Hollywood Comics.com, LLC, P.O. Box 17270, Encino, CA 91416. All rights reserved. Except for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The stories and characters depicted in this novel are entirely fictional. Printed in the United States of America.
