Guardian of Forever

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The Enterprise crew (TOS) in front of the Guardian of Forever.

The Guardian of Forever is a time portal portrayed in the fictional universe of Star Trek. The first appearance of the Guardian was in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" (1967). In that episode, the voice of the Guardian was provided by Bartell LaRue. The Guardian's only other on-screen appearance was in the animated episode "Yesteryear" (1973), in which the Guardian's voice was provided by James Doohan (best known as Scotty). The Guardian has proven popular in both fan fiction and the "official" Star Trek novels published by Pocket Books. However, none of these writings, nor the animated series, are considered canon.

In the Star Trek universe, analysis of the ruins on the Guardian's home world suggests it may be billions of years old but no one knows who built the Guardian. The Guardian is able to speak to anyone who asks it a question, though the meaning of its responses is not always clear. For instance, when asked if it was machine or being, it responded, "Both, ... and neither." When Spock says that there is no reason to speak in riddles, the Guardian says that it answers in the way that is best for "your limited understanding." The Guardian can detect changes in the timeline, but typically provides its users little help in figuring out how to change it back. And being in the vicinity of the Guardian when such changes occur isolates those there from the effects of the change in the timeline.

[edit] In Trek literature

The Guardian makes a few appearances in non-canon published Star Trek literature, most notably:

In the short-story "Mind-Sifter," by Shirley S. Maiewski, in the collection Star Trek: The New Voyages.

In the novel Federation by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, the Guardian apparently stopped responding to questions several years after the events of "The City on the Edge of Forever".

In the novel Imzadi by Peter David.

In the novel Provenance of Shadows by David R. George III, where the Guardian and "The City on the Edge of Forever" are pivotal to the story and the fate of the Guardian may be indicated.