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Here and Now and Then Paperback – August 27, 2019

by Mike Chen (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,826 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Brotherhood

A Goodreads Choice Awards 2019 Semifinalist

One of BookBub’s Best Science Fiction Books of 2019

One of Book Riot’s Best Books of 2019 So Far

One of The Nerd Daily’s Best Debut Novels of 2019

Featured in The Millions “A Year in Reading”

One of Entropy’s Best Fiction Books of 2019

He’ll go anywhere and any when to save his daughter

Kin Stewart is an everyday family man: working in IT, trying to keep the spark in his marriage, struggling to connect with his teenage daughter.

But his current life is a far cry from his previous career…as a time-traveling secret agent from over a century in the future.

Stranded in suburban San Francisco since the 1990s after a botched mission, Kin has kept his past hidden from everyone around him, until one afternoon, his “rescue” team arrives—eighteen years too late.

Their mission: return Kin to 2142, where he’s been gone only weeks, not years, and where another family is waiting for him. A family he can’t remember.

Torn between two lives, Kin’s desperate efforts to stay connected to both will threaten to destroy the agency and even history itself. With his daughter’s very existence at risk, he will have to take one final trip to save her—even if it means breaking all the rules of time travel in the process.

“Heartfelt and thrilling… Chen’s concept is unique, and [his characters’] agony is deeply moving. Quick pacing, complex characters, and a fascinating premise.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    MIRA
  4. Publication date
    August 27, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5.28 x 0.84 x 7.99 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0778308987
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0778308980
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  1. “Before long, you’ll be married. And you’ll find that you’ve outgrown the concerns of your old life. Like wedding planning.”
    Highlighted by 61 Kindle readers
  2. Did a missing past even matter anymore compared to human touch in the here and now?
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From the Publisher

1

2

3

3

Here and Now and Then
A Beginning at the End
We Could Be Heroes
Light Years from Home
Vampire Weekend
A Quantum Love Story
Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,826
3.9 out of 5 stars 365
3.9 out of 5 stars 443
3.9 out of 5 stars 309
4.3 out of 5 stars 97
4.1 out of 5 stars 301
Price $10.34 $15.91 $16.99 $11.55 $14.39 $11.91
Enter worlds of warped time and space with more sci-fi reads from Mike Chen He’ll go anywhere and any when to save his daughter Four survivors come together as the country rebuilds in the aftermath of a devastating pandemic. An extraordinary and emotional adventure about unlikely friends and the power of choosing who you want to be. Every family has issues. Most can’t blame them on extraterrestrials. Being a vampire is far from glamorous…but it can be pretty punk rock. The only thing harder than finding someone in a time loop is losing them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for HERE AND NOW AND THEN

One of BookBub's Best Science Fiction Books of 2019
One of Book Riot's Best Books of 2019 So Far
One of The Nerd Daily’s Best Debut Novels of 2019
Featured in The Millions “A Year in Reading”
One ofEntropy’s Best Fiction Books of 2019
A Goodreads Choice Awards 2019 Semifinalist


“Clever, thrilling and full of heart, it is an instant sci-fi classic.” —Hypable.com

"A subtly woven meditation about the fragility of time raises the bar in this smart, fun, and affectionate story." —Kirkus Reviews

“In this heartfelt and thrilling debut, Chen revitalizes the trope of the absent and unavailable father… Chen’s concept is unique, and [his characters’] agony is deeply moving. Quick pacing, complex characters, and a fascinating premise make this an unforgettable debut.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This gripping, fast-paced time-travel thriller is also a warm, moving story of a man pulled between two lives and families. With plenty of humor and suspense, Chen has crafted an original and captivating story.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review


“At its core, Chen's book is really about the prides and perils of parenthood, and I'm certain that's what I'll always remember about it…. The plot twists and turns…in speedy, page-flipping style, defying me each time I thought I knew what was coming. But even more than these delightfully surprising turns, the novel's strength lies in Kin's actions as he tries to save [his daughter,] Miranda.” —NPR

"Chen’s debut novel is a welcome addition to this well-traveled genre, with the theories and mechanics of time travel not getting in the way of the character- and plot-driven story. Highly recommended for readers both new and familiar with the genre, and for fans of Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife or books by Connie Willis." —Library Journal, starred review

“Chen carefully balances heart, humor, and precise world building to bring alive an emotional and genre-bending story.” —Booklist


“[An] enjoyable venture into time travel. … Although Chen’s novel is set in a futuristic world, it is ultimately about the bond between a father and his daughter. While Kin’s dilemma is one that readers will never face, they will be drawn in by the human questions at its heart.”—BookPage

“A charming and satisfying tale of a father’s devotion and the hard choices required by love.…The people in the story are all well-drawn and believable, with no real villains.…The ending is clever and surprising, a twist that neatly ties up all loose ends and provides a happy ending for all involved.” —New York Journal of Books

"Chen’s novel about time-travel and protecting those you love resonated strongly for me, but nothing prepared me for how deeply I would be affected by its ending. I want to say something like Chen’s writing is deceptively good but I don’t want that to sound like a backhanded compliment. What I mean is his characters and their story work their magic beyond the text while you’re just flying through the pages. By the end of the book, I was so enthralled to the story I couldn’t help but ugly cry. Only Les Miserables has elicited a similar response, so bravo, Mike Chen." —Jason Jimenez, author of The Wolves, The Millions “A Year in Reading”


"A powerful, tightly paced and plotted book that succeeds equally as a sci-fi story and a clever, character-driven novel.... This is breathable, believable sci-fi...compelling, sensitive, innovative... a glorious read that filled my heart and kept me turning the pages, all the way to the poignant and satisfying conclusion." —20somethingreads.com


"Intelligent, caring characters in an amusingly crafted debut novel that packs an emotional wallop... Convincing and truly wonderful.” —Christian Science Monitor


“A rare, fresh gem of a story that blends high tech time travel thrills with the all-in stakes of a parent's love for their child. The world needs more butt-kicking middle-aged chef heroes.” —Delilah Dawson, New York Times Bestselling Author of Star Wars: Phasma

"Both a tale of a family pulled apart and a brilliant take on time travel. Full of clever worldbuilding, a determined main character, and a heart of gold, Here and Now and Then will not only make you wish Mike Chen had a million books out that you can immediately dive into, but will also probably make you sob."
—Rachel Strolle, Glenside Public Library District


"Mike Chen's Here and Now and Then takes time travel past the 'what if?' and into the 'what after?' all while dealing elegantly 'with what could possibly go wrong!?' A strong and very real father-daughter relationship is tested across the centuries, as Chen's characters navigate adventure and consequences together. A tight net of excitement and wonder." —Fran Wilde, award-winning author of Updraft, and Hugo and Nebula finalist

"Gripping and gorgeously crafted. Chen takes the fabric of space-time and gives it real humanity in this compelling tale of love, family, and the choices made to protect them." —Cass Morris, author of From Unseen Fire


"Chen does what the very best sci-fi writers do--he takes a fascinating concept and elevates it with brilliant execution and deeply heartfelt plot twists that make this story less about the (fun) conventions of the genre and more about the profound experience of being human. Here and Now and Then is a page-turner, an examination of love and loss, and, most of all, a dazzling debut from a wonderfully unique new voice." —Michael Moreci (Black Star Renegades, Star Wars)

“Mike Chen's debut novel is a generous, warm-hearted adventure. It's the story of a father, a daughter, and a love stronger than time itself. I absolutely loved it.” —Kat Howard, Alex Award-winning author of An Unkindness of Magicians

“This thought-provoking read makes us consider what lies ahead and how far we’d go to protect the ones we love.” —BookTrib.com

About the Author

Mike Chen is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Brotherhood, Here and Now and Then, Light Years From Home, and other novels. He has covered geek culture for sites such as Nerdist, Tor.com, and StarTrek.com, and in a different life, covered the NHL. A member of SFWA, Mike lives in the Bay Area with his wife, daughter, and many rescue animals. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @mikechenwriter

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MIRA; First Time Trade edition (August 27, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0778308987
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0778308980
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.28 x 0.84 x 7.99 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 1,826 ratings

About the author

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Mike Chen

Mike Chen

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Mike Chen is a critically acclaimed science fiction author based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. His debut novel HERE AND NOW AND THEN was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice, CALIBA Golden Poppy, and Compton Crook awards. His other novels include A BEGINNING AT THE END, WE COULD BE HEROES, LIGHT YEARS FROM HOME, and STAR WARS: BROTHERHOOD. He has also contributed to the STAR WARS: FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW anthology and covers geek culture for sites like Nerdist, StarTrek.com, and The Mary Sue. In previous lives, Mike worked as a sports journalist covering the NHL, DJ, musician, and aerospace engineer. He lives with his wife, daughter, and many rescue animals. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @mikechenwriter

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,826 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this exciting time travel novel for its captivating plot and interesting premise. The book features compelling characters and is well-written, with one customer noting it provides enough descriptive detail to paint mental pictures. Customers find it emotionally engaging, with one review highlighting its deep exploration of personal impact, and they appreciate its fast-paced action and smooth, breezy pacing. Customers value the book's focus on family relationships, with one review specifically praising its portrayal of parent-child dynamics.

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113 customers mention "Story quality"103 positive10 negative

Customers find the book's story captivating, particularly appreciating its exciting time travel elements and interesting premise. One customer describes it as a wild romp through time, while another notes its proper pacing.

"...Well written, suspenseful, and a happily ever after!" Read more

"...The story itself is paced properly, giving us enough time to really absorb the situation that Kin is in as it changes and shifts, as well as the..." Read more

"...Mike Chen weaves an excellent storyline. And he peoples that story with characters you grow to care about...." Read more

"Well, the time travel thing hooked me. Really like that from another rather popular series, so gave this a try...." Read more

66 customers mention "Readability"66 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a marvelous and entertaining read that keeps them engaged.

"...fans looking for something a bit less action oriented and more literary check this out. I also consider the novel appropriate for teen readers." Read more

"...Bottom line - a very entertaining and provocative novel. It makes you consider - how much would you go through to save your family?..." Read more

"...Loved the characters especially the surprise towards the end. A good solid read." Read more

"...It all flowed naturally and easily and overall a 10/10 read that I am so glad I got to finish. I will be rereading this again in the near future." Read more

36 customers mention "Character development"32 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them all compelling, with one customer noting the emotional depth of the main character.

"...It’s so adorable to watch, even as it changes. The other characters were fleshed out enough, with other sources of support and foils for Kin...." Read more

"...Usually I can get over that if the plot is good and the characters are rich and developed (see: Chronicle’s of St Mary’s)...." Read more

"...I raced to a very satisfying end that brought tears to my eyes. Loved the characters especially the surprise towards the end. A good solid read." Read more

"...What Mike Chen has created here is so full of character and familial love - a father willing to do most anything to protect his daughter a century..." Read more

35 customers mention "Writing quality"33 positive2 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with one customer noting it provides enough descriptive detail to paint mental pictures.

"I wasn’t sure how this story could have a happy ending, but it did. Well written, suspenseful, and a happily ever after!" Read more

"...It’s more literary in nature. At it’s core, it’s a father trying to be a good family man and trying to adjust to returning to his old life...." Read more

"...There’s just enough descriptive detail to paint mental pictures, and the personal tics of characters add to their identities and helps fill in story..." Read more

"Fairly good, easy read. Falls along the same concepts of the butterfly effect...." Read more

23 customers mention "Emotional content"21 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, finding it thought-provoking and heartwarming, with one customer noting how it explores personal impact.

"...Bottom line - a very entertaining and provocative novel. It makes you consider - how much would you go through to save your family?..." Read more

"...It's a suspenseful, emotional, moving thriller about a father who has loved ones a century apart...." Read more

"A quite splendid tale!! Evocative interplay in characterization. A must-read for Time-Travel fans...." Read more

"...evidently has a gift for science fiction, he also has a true talent for emotional clarity that I found irresistible...." Read more

21 customers mention "Pacing"18 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, describing it as fast-paced and smooth, with one customer noting that the action moves along snappily throughout.

"...I liked the scenery of both the 2000’s and 2142, vivid and we get an idea of what the Bay Area in the future might look like, where fast food is..." Read more

"...And Miranda, his daughter from the late early 2000s, is so well fleshed out despite so much of the story taking place literally a century away from..." Read more

"3.5 Stars A very quick and easy read with characters and situations that pull you in...." Read more

"...The main character was well formed and the pace was smooth and breezy...." Read more

13 customers mention "Entertainment value"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and exciting, appreciating its creative exploration of sci-fi elements.

"...With an amazing amount of thoughtfulness and creativity, this author makes time travel seem believable because the story is so real...." Read more

"...Then is a perfect book to take to the beach or on a flight: entertaining for a while, easy to skim, but ultimately forgettable...." Read more

"...In this creative exploration Michael Chem explores issues of love and the ties that bind us no matter what time period we live in." Read more

"This was a fun and exciting time travel story. Great characters and really creative use of setting. Nicely woven plot and GREAT ending." Read more

12 customers mention "Family bonding"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate how the book focuses on family relationships, with one customer particularly noting the portrayal of parent-child bonds, while another highlights the themes of career versus family decisions.

"...books is that his characters are full of love and will do anything for their family and friends...." Read more

"...This is a story for anyone who loves great fiction with a powerful family feeling...." Read more

"...It's a book about family, and parenting, when the move on, when NOT to move on...." Read more

"Really enjoyable time-travel story of love and family...." Read more

Time travel full of heart
4 out of 5 stars
Time travel full of heart
This is the second book I’ve read by Mike Chen and what I’ve noticed most about his books is that his characters are full of love and will do anything for their family and friends. In this time travel book, Kin is trapped in the 1990’s and ends up falling in love, getting married, and has a daughter. Eighteen years later, his peers from his own time of 2142 come back to rescue him and take him back to 2142. But Kin loves his life and his family and doesn’t want to go. Due to time travel effects, his memory has erased the life he knew in 2142. Upon his return to his own time, he realizes that only a couple of weeks have passed there and he has a fiancé and a great life in his own timeline. Once his memory is restored, he spends all of his time obsessing about his family back in the past. I loved the ending of this story and can’t wait to see what Chen comes up with next! I listened to this book on audiobook narrated by Cary Hite and it was a good performance. Some work is needed for accents, but the rest of it was good.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amy B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars perfect way to end it!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I wasn’t sure how this story could have a happy ending, but it did. Well written, suspenseful, and a happily ever after!
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  • Janine
    4.0 out of 5 stars A provoking look at what happens to stranded time travelers
    Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Mike Chen’s debut novel Here and Now and Then gives us an answer to the question of what happens if a time traveler is stranded in an unfamiliar time period for many years and that getting back home is just the beginning.

    Unable to return to 2142, Kin Stewart makes a life in the 1990’s with wife Heather and daughter Miranda. However, he has headaches, memory losses and other side effects from being stuck in the past for too long, which he explains to the pair as PTSD. Something about your mind being unable to live in two eras or whatever. He’s eventually able to get home, but his heart and mind wavers between his old life in the future and the life he left in the past.

    Every time I read a story involving time travel, I fear the story will become convoluted to the point where I can’t understand. Thankfully, the concepts are explained and easy to digest, with health consequences to time traveling and that it can’t be done at will. The time dilation was a bit of an odd concept, but it was consistent, which is good.

    The story itself is paced properly, giving us enough time to really absorb the situation that Kin is in as it changes and shifts, as well as the rest of the cast. I didn’t feel like it went too slow at any point. Despite Kin’s title as a Time Traveling Agent and the beginning of the book describing the aftermath of a firefight, this isn’t an action type novel, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s more literary in nature. At it’s core, it’s a father trying to be a good family man and trying to adjust to returning to his old life. The themes of “an evolving self” and “dealing with the present instead of the past” were done well, even if some would say it’s a bit on the nose.

    I liked the scenery of both the 2000’s and 2142, vivid and we get an idea of what the Bay Area in the future might look like, where fast food is more or less forbidden and social media is a thing of the past. While I sometimes complain about pop culture references in books (especially if it feels like they are randomly dropped everywhere), this was done well. Most of the references were to soccer and to mainstream science fiction shows that most of the audience is likely familiar with, and it didn’t feel like they were being dropped every chapter.

    The characters were interesting, especially Kin. In his core, he wants to be a good family man. And I love the interactions he has with Miranda and Heather. It’s so adorable to watch, even as it changes. The other characters were fleshed out enough, with other sources of support and foils for Kin. At times, I felt that characters at times were a bit too “accepting” of certain things without really exploring what they meant.

    I thought the ending was satisfying in how everything played out and I like the conclusion that Kin came to. I recommend Science Fiction fans looking for something a bit less action oriented and more literary check this out. I also consider the novel appropriate for teen readers.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Mark W. Bohrer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Personal Impacts of Timeline Maintenance
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Draconian rules really mess things up, even when there’s good reason for them. Kin Stewart gets stuck in the Bay Area in the 1990s, 150 years in his past. Several years later, people from the timeline control organization he works for come to find him. Trouble is, he resigned himself to being marooned, and now has a wife and daughter. And because of physiological issues with time travel, he no longer remembers the time he came from.

    When he disappears to return to his future, his daughter finds the journal he used to try to record his home time when he could still remember. And that starts the problems with the organization he works for.

    Mike Chen weaves an excellent storyline. And he peoples that story with characters you grow to care about. Even the sticklers for the rules are likable, unlike some of the folks I worked for during 25 years as a design engineer in Silicon Valley. The settings are familiar from my time there - San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Mountains and driving Highway 17 through them, the Oakland Cemetery where my grandfather is buried.

    There’s just enough descriptive detail to paint mental pictures, and the personal tics of characters add to their identities and helps fill in story details. Internal and external dialog tells most of the story - you discover things through characters’ thoughts and words, as you should.

    Bottom line - a very entertaining and provocative novel. It makes you consider - how much would you go through to save your family?

    Highly recommended.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kate
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not the sci-di time travel read you’re after
    Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This isn’t the hard sci-fi I thought it would be. Usually I can get over that if the plot is good and the characters are rich and developed (see: Chronicle’s of St Mary’s). This story lacks both.

    Markus spends the whole story behaving one way only to switch after a single conversation? Meh, too easy.

    And don’t get me started on the whole “have we tried switching the ingredients” line… I lost it. I lol’d. I lost interest in the book after that and am struggling to finish it.

    Regardless, to the author, thank you for taking the time to write the book. Writing books is hard and reading someone criticizing your work has to be hard. I’m so sorry it wasn’t for me!
    Customer image
    Kate
    3.0 out of 5 stars
    Not the sci-di time travel read you’re after

    Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2022
    This isn’t the hard sci-fi I thought it would be. Usually I can get over that if the plot is good and the characters are rich and developed (see: Chronicle’s of St Mary’s). This story lacks both.

    Markus spends the whole story behaving one way only to switch after a single conversation? Meh, too easy.

    And don’t get me started on the whole “have we tried switching the ingredients” line… I lost it. I lol’d. I lost interest in the book after that and am struggling to finish it.

    Regardless, to the author, thank you for taking the time to write the book. Writing books is hard and reading someone criticizing your work has to be hard. I’m so sorry it wasn’t for me!
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    2 people found this helpful
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  • Gloria B.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Me read sci-fi? Never....
    Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Well, the time travel thing hooked me. Really like that from another rather popular series, so gave this a try. It bogged down at one point, am I really going to finish this? One more chapter, then the story had me. I raced to a very satisfying end that brought tears to my eyes. Loved the characters especially the surprise towards the end. A good solid read.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • kalisto
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story about love and family
    Reviewed in France on September 25, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A beautiful story about a dad who is willing to risk everything for his daughter.
    Report
  • Tammy L. Murray
    5.0 out of 5 stars This was a GREAT READ!!
    Reviewed in Canada on July 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The purchase was a bit outside of my usual genre, but I was hooked from the first page!

    A few things I look for in a great read; make me believe, make me laugh, make me cry, make me think. This book did ALL of this and more.

    When you think about time travel, you’d be hard pressed to make it believable, right? I was concerned I’d get lost in technicalities, the science part of Science Fiction, but it was so well written I was just truly lost in the story.

    I suppose this will come off as sexist, but I LOVE it when a male author GETS the emotions of relationships. Mike Chen nailed the complexities of not just one family, but of two, in two different centuries. At no point did I get confused, have to back up, reconcile, move on. The story was seamless, and hit on all of my favourite reads criteria.

    I HIGHLY recommend you buy this book today! I will definitely be watching for the next book by Mike Chen.
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  • Goody
    5.0 out of 5 stars Original and exciting.
    Reviewed in Australia on February 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Original and exciting take on a time travel story and one that will have you genuinely invested in the characters by the end. The second last chapter had me shouting as I pieced everything together. Worth a read.
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  • Ren
    5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional ride through time
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I really loved the idea of focusing a time travel story on a parent/child relationship, and a dad's struggle to do right by his family when he's suddenly separated from his daughter by more than a century.

    This book isn’t so much ‘about’ time travel as it is about the lengths one man will go for the people he loves. Main character Kin is in an impossible situation, but struggling with familiar, human issues: how to balance being a good parent while also trying to save a struggling relationship, & navigating the trauma of his return from a stint stranded in the wrong era. Ultimately, what makes this book shine isn’t the questions it poses about the grand nature of time, but the questions it asks about a single person’s life, and what it means to be alive here & now (& then).

    With its clear narrative & relatable characters, this book would make a super read to introduce someone who doesn’t typically read a lot of SF to ‘time travel stuff.’ As a reader & longtime SF fan, I’m always here for more emotional, character-focused, gentle sci-fi!
    Report
  • Miss Dee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good
    Reviewed in Australia on July 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It's so hard to find a decent time travel book. Whilst this is not at the top of my list it is certainly not at the bottom. Whilst I won't rave it about it I can't fault it. The method of time travel in this book is new-ish to me. The writing style was easy to follow, characters relatable, and even though this is time travel, people and concepts believable. Would make a good limited run series for TV. Will consider other books by this author.
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