The Guardians of Time (Los Guardianes del Tiempo) is among the most eagerly expected novels in 2007. Ever since last February, when the book’s rights were bought by ViaMagna, a well known bestseller publisher in Barcelona, interest has increased steadily. Juan Pina is unheard of as an author of novels, but he’s not exactly unknown to several sectors in the Spanish public, as his articles and public stands on various issues have been controversial in the past. One such issue was his involvement as the founder of the country’s first civil movement in favour of the Gibraltarian’s rights and against his own country’s claim on the Rock. Gibraltar is of course present in the novel, and home to some secret facilities where part of the action taks place.

But Los Guardianes del Tiempo is by no means a novel on Gibraltar (although Pina certainly takes the chance to explain his views on the issue). In fact, the novel’s main characters are a Spanish secret service agent, Diana Roman, and a Romanian dissident and archaeologist, Cristian Bratianu. In 1989, both are compelled to find a chest containing the legacy of a long lost civilization, the one which gave birth to the Atlantis myth.

While this page turner takes the reader on a European tour (London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Bucharest, you name it), the author doesn’t miss his opportunities to open important philosophical and political science issues for debate. But it is fast action and awesome characters that prevail up to the dramatic events in the Romanian capital during the fall of communism by the end of the year. Bucharest is about to explode and the Ceausescus may be overthrown any minute. Diana and Cristian must find the key or else, humankind will be endangered, as the legacy contains crucial data to face a terrible threat against our species.