Time travel has long been a fascinating theme for writers and readers alike. These books take us on journeys through history, let us change events, and explore the outcomes of messing with time. Not to mention, they tell us stories that make us rethink how we see reality and the steady march of time. From old favorites to new finds, every book on this list lets you explore the mix of the past, present, and future.
‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’ by Mark Twain
Mark Twain’s finest, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, zooms in on Hank Morgan, a savvy mechanic from 19th-century Connecticut, who finds himself mysteriously thrust back into the medieval court of King Arthur in England. Initially facing capture and imminent execution, Morgan deploys his technological know-how to astound the superstitious Arthurian society.
As Morgan ascends in influence, he tries to drag Camelot into the modern era by introducing inventions and concepts that utterly bewilder the denizens of that time. He transitions into the ‘Connecticut Yankee,’ disrupting the established order, societal rules, and the authority of the medieval monarchy.
‘Time and Again’ by Jack Finney
Time and Again by Jack Finney balances time travel and romance with perfect precision. The heart of the story beats around Simon Morley, an artist living in 1970s New York City, who gets roped into a classified government experiment. This experiment, centered on time travel, thrusts Simon into the life of New York City in 1882.
Now in the 19th-century milieu, Simon immerses himself in the society of yesteryear, encountering notable historical figures and becoming part of events that shaped history. One of the novel’s strongest points is the way it vividly portrays New York City in the 1880s and the 1970s, offering readers a chance to feel what separated the two eras.
‘The Time Machine’ by H.G. Wells
H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine is a sci-fi novel that introduces the concept of time travel through a mechanical device called the time machine. The story follows an unnamed Time Traveller who ventures far into the future, discovering a world that has drastically changed. He encounters two distinct species, the Eloi and the Morlocks, representing different evolutionary paths for humanity.
The book’s enduring appeal lies in its intriguing exploration of time travel, allowing Wells to comment on his contemporary society while posing timeless philosophical questions. It’s easily one of the best classical sci-fi works, and there’s lots to enjoy with this one too.
‘The Time Ships’ by Stephen Baxter
Speaking of time machines, ‘The Time Ships’ is an authorized sequel to H.G. Wells’ iconic novel. Picking up right where Wells’ story concluded, the story resumes with the protagonist, aka the Time Traveller, returning to his laboratory to share the extraordinary tales of his time-travel exploits.
In Baxter’s continuation, the Time Traveller, driven by his first-hand experience of Earth’s future devastation, journeys once again to the distant future. To his surprise, he discovers a world transformed into an alien landscape. The once-familiar races of Morlocks and Eloi, encountered in Wells’ original novel, have evolved into entirely new forms.
‘To Say Nothing of the Dog’ by Connie Willis
Connie Willis’ ‘To Say Nothing of the Dog’ talks about a future where archaeologists and researchers use time travel for thorough investigations into past events. Our main character, Ned Henry, grapples with a phenomenon called time lag, a product of extensive temporal journeys. Entrusted with a critical task, he must hunt down a specific artifact – the bishop’s bird stump – from Victorian England.
In this mission, Ned finds an ally in Verity Kindle, another adept time traveler. Together, the duo turn the clock back and travel to the Victorian era, landing in the year 1888. With its many honors, such as the Hugo and Locus Awards, it has cemented its position as a masterpiece within the time travel fiction genre.
‘All Our Wrong Todays’ by Elan Mastai
Elan Mastai’s ‘All Our Wrong Todays’ zooms in on Tom Barren, a resident of a utopian future where technology has successfully nailed all of humanity’s challenges. This world thrives on a breakthrough in energy production, leading to the formation of a utopian society that is free from war, poverty, and natural troubles like global warming.
Tom, however, stands out as a bit of a misfit in this utopian world, struggling to find his purpose and fit into this perfect society. In the heat of the moment, Tom disrupts his father’s time-travel experiment only to woo a woman. Like every other thing, this one goes awry as well, and he finds himself in an alternate version of the 21st century—our world.
‘Kindred’ by Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler’s ‘Kindred’ chronicles Dana, an African American author living in 1976. But here’s the twist: Dana unexpectedly time-travels back to the early 19th century on a Maryland plantation. What makes it even more interesting is that Dana’s time trips are bonded to a young white boy named Rufus Weylin. Whenever Rufus is in serious trouble, Dana gets pulled through time to protect him.
This throws Dana right into the tough reality of slavery, dealing with the harsh conditions of the plantation and trying to steer through it all for survival. Many praise “Kindred” for its brutal portrayal of the slave trade and the dehumanization it entailed. The time travel heightens the stress as Dana struggles to understand the impact she has on the future and the moral ramifications of her choices.
‘Time Salvager’ by Wesley Chu
Wesley Chu’s ‘Time Salvager’ is set in a world where time travel has become an important part of life. Set in a dystopian future, Earth faces imminent collapse, teetering on the edge due to over-exploitation and environmental catastrophes. To secure resources and guarantee humanity’s survival, a unique group known as “chronmen” is deployed. These people journey back in time to retrieve valuable items and resources before they succumb to destruction.
The plot focuses on James Griffin-Mars, our hero, who is a chromatin who has been through a lot. During a mission, James comes across a woman named Elise on the brink of peril. Going against the strict rules of his organization, he chooses to rescue her and brings her back to their present time, disrupting the flow of time.
‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’ by Audrey Niffenegger
At the core of Audrey Niffenegger’s masterpiece lies the incredible love story of Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire. Henry grapples with an unusual genetic quirk that lends him an involuntary time-traveling ability that whisks him away to moments from both his past and future without any prior signs or warnings.
Clare first encounters adult Henry when she’s just a child. As the sands of time slip through their fingers, Clare and Henry confront the hurdles posed by his time traveling, plus the toll it levies on their relationship. The novel stands out for its creative use of time travel, using it as an anchor to explore the hooks and crannies of marital life.
‘The Man Who Folded Himself’ by David Gerrold
David Gerrold’s ‘The Man Who Folded Himself’ is an absolute masterpiece. The story tracks Daniel Eakins, a young man inheriting a time belt from his Uncle Jim. This device grants the wearer the power to journey through time and regale with different versions of oneself. As Daniel travels back in time, he meets alternate versions of himself and tries to alter the trajectory of his life.
Things turn interesting when Daniel is faced with the repercussions of changing his past, siring multiple versions of himself. This toils the relationship Daniel shares with the people in his life. Daniel’s journey creates a story that circles back on itself, exploring how much control we have over our lives and questioning what it means to exist.
‘Life After Life’ by Kate Atkinson
‘Life After Life’ by Kate Atkinson holds a torch against alternate timelines and how small decisions shape a person’s destiny. The focus is on Ursula Todd, born in England in 1910, an ordinary woman with an extraordinary destiny. What makes Kate’s story unique is that she experiences different lives – she dies and is reborn, each time living a varied life.
The novel is told through interconnected stories as Ursula lives her life repeatedly, facing mixed situations and making different choices each time. Across multiple timelines, the story captures Ursula’s adventures during historical events like World War I and World War II.
There we have it. These are the best books to read about time travelling. So, if you are looking for a good sci-fi flick, these are well worth a read. Have you read any of these novels? Do you have your own recommendations? Comment below and let us know!
Great list!! you’ve included some of my all time favorites