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.

1 In Trek literature
2 Trivia
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] In Trek literature

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

In the novel The Devil's Heart, by Carmen Carter, the origin of the Guardian is revealed.
In the short-story "Mind-Sifter," by Shirley S. Maiewski, in the collection Star Trek: 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, the portal serves as the focus of the story, creating an alternate timeline where Deanna Troi died at the hands of a scientist from the future in order to reshape the history of his species. The attempt by a future (then Admiral) Riker to undo the changes to the timeline drives the novel to conclusion.
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.
In the novel Star Trek: First Frontier by Diane Carey and Dr. James I. Kirkland, where the Guardian of Forever is instrumental in helping Kirk and his crew return to just before the extinction of the dinosaurs to correct an altered timeline, from which they were spared due to an unexpected effect of an experimental new shielding system.
In the trilogy of novels entitled Crucible by David R. George III, which explores the long-term effects on Kirk, Spock, and McCoy of the only canonical appearance of the Guardian.
In the novels Yesterday's Son and Time for Yesterday, both by A.C. Crispin. Kirk, Spock and McCoy use the Guardian to visit Sarpeion in the past and find Zar, Spock's long lost son from All Our Yesterdays (TOS episode).
In the novel Preserver, by William Shatner. Kirk and Tiberius enter an enormous Preserver obelisk and Kirk discovers a Guardian in the final chamber.
In the novelization of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home by Vonda McIntyre, McCoy angers Kirk before their time travel by asking, "What would the Guardian say?"
In the Star Trek fiction anthology Strange New Worlds VII, the speculative non-canonical short story "Guardians" by Brett Hudgins envisions a future where the Horta are serving as protectors of the Guardian of Forever, preventing any malevolent races from purposely altering the timeline. The story makes use of several popular Trek characters and villains (Odo, Q, the Borg, and Armus (from "Skin of Evil")) during the 50,000 year span of time covered.

In the unofficial mini-series Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, the Original Series character Charlie Evans used the Guardian to go back in time and change history.
The Guardian appears in an episode of Star Trek: New Voyages. The episode also portrays a second Guardian, much larger than the first, through which a starship can fly.

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

In the computer role-playing game Fallout 2 there's a random encounter in which the player is able to enter a time portal resembling the Guardian of Forever which paradoxically makes him start the plot of the game's predecessor, Fallout.