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48 New and Classic Time Travel Books

Posted by Sharon on June 8, 2023


One unbreakable rule of the human condition is that time moves forward exclusively. So far as we know, it has only ever moved in one direction. This results in tragic things like aging, regret, aching nostalgia, and super-long championship droughts for sports fans. It’s tyranny, really.

Happily for us readers, there is the tradition of the time travel book, in which authors play fast and loose with chronology and physics—think time slips, time loops, and style scenarios. We’ve collected here a sampling of time travel books that have proved popular among readers over the years. The terrible, relentless years.

This is a genuinely fun category with a deep history in both straight-up speculative fiction and the more adventurous variants of other genres. With the time travel trope, the possibilities are endless. Murder mysteries unmoored in time. Future-tense love stories. Turning 16 again.

And, of course, we have an alpha specimen inDiana Gabaldon’s original Outlander novel. Is there anything in the time-space continuum as compelling as a hot Scottish guy wrapped in tartan fabric? We submit that there is not.

This collection is just a sampler of the timey-wimey theme—there are plenty more out there, so feel free to make further suggestions in the comments section. Click the Want to Read button below any individual title that might be in your own future.



What are some of your favorite books that play fast and loose with time? Let us know in the comments below!

Comments Showing 1-21 of 21 (21 new)

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message 1: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Making History - Stephen Fry Making History
Time and Time Again - Ben EltonTime and Time Again


message 2: by Lara (new)

Lara The Ruby Red Trilogy by Kerstin Gier!


message 3: by Rebecca (new)

Rebecca I see To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis but not book 1 in that series, Doomsday Book - maybe an error? One of my faves!!


message 4: by Catnap (new)

Catnap Rebecca wrote: "I see To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis but not book 1 in that series, Doomsday Book - maybe an error? One of my faves!!"

Agreed, Doomsday Book is a fantastic duel timeline story. Better than To Say Nothing of the Dog IMHO.


message 6: by Joel (new)

Joel The Man Who Folded Himself by Dave Gerrold


message 7: by Nicholas (new)

Nicholas Foster 'Ladies Whose Bright Eyes' is a curiosity by Ford Madox Ford if you like a return to the Middle Ages theme. Though 'The Good Soldier' and the four 'Parade's End' books are his masterpieces.


message 8: by Pauline (new)

Pauline "The Map of Time" by Felix J. Palma, and the other books of his trilogy.


message 9: by Robin (new)

Robin Holloway The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer


message 10: by Laura (new)

Laura Replay by Ken Grimwood. It won the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.


message 11: by Carrie (new)

Carrie Laura wrote: "Replay by Ken Grimwood. It won the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel."

Great book!


message 12: by Caro (last edited Jun 08, 2023 07:38PM) (new)

Caro Laura wrote: "Replay by Ken Grimwood. It won the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel."

Loved Replay by Ken Grimwood 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


message 13: by Bryan (new)

Bryan If you don't hate men, you can actually find more than 14 great books for this list. For example:
The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
Pyramids
and the already mentioned:
The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold
Replay by Ken Grimwood


message 14: by Eule (new)

Eule Luftschloss Nightwatch by Terry Pratchett.
Another silly one: Chronicles of St. Mary's by Jodi Taylor.


A.M. Flynn-Davis🪐 Outlander ☺️


message 16: by Rachel (new)

Rachel If you don’t hate men? What a bizarre comment


Léa | songe livresque «The Last Magician» by Lisa Maxwell


message 18: by Kelley (new)

Kelley Stoneking Laura wrote: "Replay by Ken Grimwood. It won the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel."

I LOVE that book! I was blown away when I read it in college. And a wonderful librarian helped me find it several years ago when I couldn't remember its name but wanted to reread.


message 19: by Kelley (new)

Kelley Stoneking Rachel wrote: "If you don’t hate men? What a bizarre comment"

I thought so too.


message 20: by Cornelia (last edited Jun 11, 2023 11:58PM) (new)

Cornelia Kismet On Wings: A scorching, two-generational romance that defies time itself Brand new release - Egyptian Time Travel Romance - spicy

Back To The One I Love: Woodstock - funny - later in life, Woodstock 69, the time travel machine is a 60s volkswagon van


message 21: by Carol (new)

Carol Palmer Rebecca wrote: "I see To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis but not book 1 in that series, Doomsday Book - maybe an error? One of my faves!!"

I liked "Doomsday Book" much better.


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