Summary
Key Out of Time is the fourth novel in Andre Norton’s Time Traders series, a blend of science fiction, time travel, and lost civilizations. It follows Ross Murdock, a former delinquent turned government time agent, as he embarks on a dangerous mission to explore the past of an alien world.
Ross and his companion, Gordon Ashe, arrive on the planet Hawaika, an oceanic world with echoes of ancient Polynesian culture.
They intend to use time-travel technology to uncover the history of a mysterious alien race known as the Baldies—advanced beings whose past influence shapes many worlds.
However, a sabotage event sends their time gate awry, scattering the team across time and space.
Ross must survive in a distant past version of Hawaika, navigate an unfamiliar society, and reunite with Ashe—all while avoiding the manipulative Baldies and uncovering the key to protecting the future.
The novel combines action, mystery, and cultural exploration, as Ross learns to rely not just on technology, but on instinct, empathy, and alliances with the native people to succeed in his mission.