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Must-read Time Travel Books
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items Time travel is a troupe that has been reimagined in media, be it as a movie, show, book, or game countless times. Sometimes it is genre-defining sometimes convoluted, and other times something somewhere in-between. As you may have guessed its also on...
Sections
5
Romance
Science Fiction
Change the Past, Change the Future
Children and Young Adult
Short Stories, novellas, and Collections
Romance
If you can't find the love of your life in this time, maybe they're in the past and future? Hop into time machine, its time to find your love!
Newlywed Dana is celebrating her 26th birthday when she is suddenly transported to the antebellum South. There, Rufus, the son of a plantation owner is drowning and Dana saves him. She is thrust to the present and back to the past abruptly, and each ...
This is a very well-crafted time travel story by Octavia E. Butler, one of the greatest science fiction minds of the modern erat What more is there to say? What makes this novel shine too are the seamless transitions to the past and present (not some...
This is a very well-crafted time travel story by Octavia E. Butler, one of the greatest science fiction minds of the modern erat What more is there to say? What makes this novel shine too are the seamless transitions to the past and present (not some...
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
In Outlander, we are introduced to Claire Randall, who is on a second honeymoon with her husband in the aftermath of World War II. Curiosity getting the best of her she slips back in time to 1743. While there she meets Jamie Frazier, a larger than li...
There are currently nine books in this series (with a tenth in the works). Outlander is a fantastic time travel romance series. It has also sparked a liveaction series.
There are currently nine books in this series (with a tenth in the works). Outlander is a fantastic time travel romance series. It has also sparked a liveaction series.
Outlander (Outlander Series #1) by Diana Gabaldon
Clare and Henry meet when she is six and he is thirty-six, and then again and again throughout their lives at different ages. You see, Henry has a condition where he randomly is pulled into his past or future. This story follows both their lives as t...
The Time Traveler's Wife is a well-written time travel story that weaves in some nice transitions between periods and a bit of mystery.
The Time Traveler's Wife is a well-written time travel story that weaves in some nice transitions between periods and a bit of mystery.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
There are not many time travel books set in the prehistoric era and this book proves more should be. Transcendance is a well-written and well-thought out time travel romance. Unlike some, it faithfully considers the language and cultural barriers wou...
Transcendence by Shay Savage
This is How you Lose the Time War is a book you either love or hate.
The story centers on two rival time-traveling agents, Red and Blue, who begin exchanging secret letters across battle-scarred timelines and slowly fall in love. As their affection deepens, loyalty to their opposing sides threatens to destroy the frag...
The story centers on two rival time-traveling agents, Red and Blue, who begin exchanging secret letters across battle-scarred timelines and slowly fall in love. As their affection deepens, loyalty to their opposing sides threatens to destroy the frag...
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
“A Thousand Pieces of You” is a fun-filled young adult time travel romance that offers a lot of well-developed insights into time travel. This is the first book is a series (and one that has some of the most beautiful covers).
The story centers on Marguerite Caine, who travels across alternate dimensions using a device called the Firebird to hunt down the man she believes killed her father. As she leaps from one world to another—including a futuristic London and tsarist Ru...
The story centers on Marguerite Caine, who travels across alternate dimensions using a device called the Firebird to hunt down the man she believes killed her father. As she leaps from one world to another—including a futuristic London and tsarist Ru...
A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
Science Fiction
Time travel and science fiction often go hand-in-hand.
In the distant future, a race of turtle-like creatures conquer Earth and they impose their own set of values on humankind and ban destructive technology. Two twin brothers, vying for the love of one woman, search for a way to change the world after t...
This is a fun time travel novel and out of print. If you can find a copy (it generally sells for a couple bucks used) it is worth your time.
This is a fun time travel novel and out of print. If you can find a copy (it generally sells for a couple bucks used) it is worth your time.
The Singers of Time by Frederik Pohl and Jack Williamson
The popular movie “Edge of Tomorrow” is based off this popular Japanese novel. It's an engaging story that offers some fun looks into timeloops and blends in a healthy dose of science fiction.
In “All You Need is Kill”, Keiji Kiriya is a new recruit fighting a brutal alien invasion who dies in battle—only to wake up and relive the same day over and over. As he repeats the cycle, he grows stronger, uncovers the truth behind the time loop, a...
As mentioned early on, this was adapted into the movie “Edge of Tomorrow” starring Tom Cruise. There is also a manga adaptation of this book.
In “All You Need is Kill”, Keiji Kiriya is a new recruit fighting a brutal alien invasion who dies in battle—only to wake up and relive the same day over and over. As he repeats the cycle, he grows stronger, uncovers the truth behind the time loop, a...
As mentioned early on, this was adapted into the movie “Edge of Tomorrow” starring Tom Cruise. There is also a manga adaptation of this book.
All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka
Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most unique and well-known authors of the 20th century and his novel Slaughterhouse-Five is one of his best known works. It's also time travel.
In Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim becomes "unstuck in time," experiencing moments from his life out of order—including his abduction by aliens and his survival of the Dresden bombing in World War II.
In Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim becomes "unstuck in time," experiencing moments from his life out of order—including his abduction by aliens and his survival of the Dresden bombing in World War II.
Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death by Kurt Vonnegut
Andrew Harlan is an Eternal—one of a select few who can travel through time and alter history to prevent human suffering. But when he falls in love with a woman from a forbidden timeline, he begins to question the cost of a perfectly engineered futur...
This is a fantastic time travel book but one that is sadly out of print physically. It has been released on kindle but you'll need to search used bookstores or thrift shops, or ebay to find a physical copy.
This is a fantastic time travel book but one that is sadly out of print physically. It has been released on kindle but you'll need to search used bookstores or thrift shops, or ebay to find a physical copy.
The End of Eternity by Issac Asimov
William Mandella is a soldier drafted into an interstellar war against an alien species, where time dilation means centuries pass on Earth while only months pass for him. As he returns home after each mission, he finds society increasingly alien, mak...
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
This is a classic time travel story and a well-written one. For those who enjoy science fiction or time travel this is a must-read.
In a collapsing future, scientists send tachyon (hypothetical particles that travel faster than light) messages back to the 1960s in a desperate attempt to prevent ecological catastrophe. As the messages are received and interpreted, the past and fut...
In a collapsing future, scientists send tachyon (hypothetical particles that travel faster than light) messages back to the 1960s in a desperate attempt to prevent ecological catastrophe. As the messages are received and interpreted, the past and fut...
Timescape by Gregory Benford
Change the Past, Change the Future
Time travel has sometimes been imagined as a tool to change an event in the past in order to change the future. Although this can be a slippery slope. Will it lead to a worse future or a better one? Or something in-between?
11/22/63 is a great time travel novel by Stephen King that has become one of the most quintessential books he's written.
This book follows the story of Jake Epping, who is recruited to prevent the JFK assassination in 1963. This examines his own life and follows his attempt to prevent the infamous assassination. Will he succeed and alter the course of history?
This book follows the story of Jake Epping, who is recruited to prevent the JFK assassination in 1963. This examines his own life and follows his attempt to prevent the infamous assassination. Will he succeed and alter the course of history?
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Timeline follows a group of archaeologists who travel back in time 600 years in order to save their professor who has also time traveled. It turns out to not be a simple rescue mission and the group finds themselves in a fight for their life.
This is a great time travel story by one of my favorite science fiction authors, Michael Crichton. It also had a movie adaptation which is pretty good.
This is a great time travel story by one of my favorite science fiction authors, Michael Crichton. It also had a movie adaptation which is pretty good.
Timeline by Michael Crichton
The Back to the Future trilogy had a novel series in the 80s and 90s that faithfully adapted the novels. What also stands out about these novels is the fact that they include some author reimagining that make complete sense (although not in the movie...
Sadly with some other time travel novels (such as The Singers of Time by Frederick Pohl) these are out of print and may set you back a bit money wise. However, if you enjoy the Back to the Future movies, this series is a must-read and better than the...
Sadly with some other time travel novels (such as The Singers of Time by Frederick Pohl) these are out of print and may set you back a bit money wise. However, if you enjoy the Back to the Future movies, this series is a must-read and better than the...
Back To The Future (Trilogy)
In Nantucket, a strange fog envelops the area one spring morning. After the fog clears its resident realize the strange fog actually pulled them back in time to the Bronze Age around 1250 B.C. As the the modern residents struggle to survive and adapt...
Island in the Sea of Time by S.M. Stirling
Children and Young Adult
Time travel isn't just for adults. These are some of my favorite children and young adult books that feature time travel, including some that got me into time travel.
Ever wonder how cats mysteriously disappear and suddenly reappear as if out of nowhere? Jason finds the reason through his cat Gareth--its because they're traveling through time! This thrilling story sees the two travel to different periods of time (...
This was one of my all-time favorite books as a child and helped kickstart my love of time travel at an early age.
This was one of my all-time favorite books as a child and helped kickstart my love of time travel at an early age.
Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander
As a 90s kid, the Choose Your Own Adventure books was a series I read and absolutely loved. The Time Cave was one I enjoyed enough to read through more than once and picked up again as an adult. Needless to say its a fantastic time travel book for ki...
While hiking in Snake Canyon, you find yourself lost in the strange, dimly lit Cave of Time. And depending on which of the curving paths you take, you’ll find yourself at different points in history.
While hiking in Snake Canyon, you find yourself lost in the strange, dimly lit Cave of Time. And depending on which of the curving paths you take, you’ll find yourself at different points in history.
The Cave of Time by Edward Packard
This is a beloved classic for many people. The story follows the titular Tom who is staying with relatives. While staying with them, he discovers that the old backyard at their house transforms into a magical Victorian garden each night, where he mee...
Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
This is an older book (originally published in 1969) that follows Charlotte, a girl at boarding school who wakes up one day to find she has switched places with a girl named Clare from 1918. As the time shifts continue unpredictably, Charlotte must n...
I actually read this book in middle school and its an enjoyable read that I still remember fondly.
I actually read this book in middle school and its an enjoyable read that I still remember fondly.
Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
Short Stories, novellas, and Collections
Time Travel short stories, novellas and collections that pack a lot of punch and maybe kickstarted or redefined the genre.
The essential time travel novel by H.G. Wells that has spanned numerous movies and reimagining of concepts it introduces. It is a shorter story and easy read and one that sticks with long after finishing.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
This is a haunting time travel short story by Robert Heinlein. The writing is phenomenal and the last line alone still sticks with me. It's a complex story that's easy to digest and takes a refreshing take on time loops/travel. This also was the sour...
All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein
This fantastic collection of short stories and novellas is a fever dream for any time travel lover. The stories in this collection span across genres and decades--from stories written at the turn of the 20th century to ones that raise powerful questi...
It can be hit or miss with collections like this but this one has a lot more hits than misses. Even the misses though help realize how complex time travel is.
It can be hit or miss with collections like this but this one has a lot more hits than misses. Even the misses though help realize how complex time travel is.
Time Travel Short Stories by various authors
This is a great collection of time travel short stories including stories by Ray Bradbury and Phillip K. Dick amongst others. As with any collection, there are going to be some that don't leave quite the same impact as others, but everything in this ...
The Best Time Travel Stories of All Time by various authors