Introduction

Have you ever wanted to travel in time to change or reveal something? What if you can prevent a world event or disaster from occurring? What if you can do all of that?  

Explore the what ifs involved in time travel by reading through a a great selection of time travel literature. Below is a list of annotated bibliography of time travel themed adult fiction. The selected novels will take you back to a historical setting, some may involve romance, adventure and/or mystery. All will leave you feeling nostalgic and wondering about the impact of time travel on those around you and the present world you leave behind.  

All titles on this blog are compiled from Novelist Database, WorldCat and Goodreads. 

11/22/63

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: New York: Gallery Books, 2012.

Stephen King renowned for his distinct take on horror novels sheds new light on time travelling. Based on the assassination of John F Kennedy on November 22^nd 1963, this suspenseful and fast-paced novel takes readers back to a crucial point in time which shocked the world. Through the voice of the narrator, Jake Epping, a high school teacher, is lead by a gruesome murder mystery which takes him back to 1958 to Jodie, Texas. Al, Jakes friend, has a dying wish for Jake to prevent the assassination of JFK and kill Lee Harvey Oswald. Jake pursues the mission and faces two things he did not expect: 'true love and the fact that the past doesn’t want to change' (Booklist).Readers who enjoy Stephen King’s riveting style writing will enjoy this intricately plotted novel that encapsulates thrilling themes with time travelling and ends with a possible history altering twist. Available to read as an ebook. 

Links

Goodreads review

About the author
John F. Kennedy biography 

If I never get back

Author: Darryl Brock

Publisher: New York: Crown Publishers, 1990.

This historical fantasy novel blends a baseball story and time travel fantasy into a baseball fan's epic fantasy. It follows the story of a journalist, Sam Fowler, a troubled alcoholic on the brink of a break down, who finds himself back in the year 1869 as he steps off a train in Ohio. Through this time slip he finds himself apart of the Cincinnati Red stockings baseball team and experiences baseball in its infancy. More to it, he was taken back in time for a special reason— to avenge the death of Colm, his best friend’s relative. Through the stint, Sam gets involved in an 'over-plotted but well sustained' set of instances involving gambling and robbing (Kirkus). A great read for those who are great fans of the reds baseball team or looking to experience a time slip back to the 19th century. Available to read as an ebook. 

Links

Goodreads review
Cincinnati Red Stockings baseball team biography

 

Kindred

Author: Octavia Butler

Publisher: Boston, Mass.: Beacon Press, 1988.

Set in the old south, 1819 Maryland, Dana repeatedly travels to the antebellum South to prevent the death of Rufus, a son of a slave-owner who in fact is Dana’s ancestor. Written in the voice of Dana, this bleak and compelling memoir details themes of slavery and interracial relationships. As she travels in time she experiences the harsh realities of life as a slave. One reader described the novel as a great read to 'build empathy and understanding' of the horrors for African American’s living in this particular time period (Goodreads). If you are wanting to read something to open your mind to history of the American experience, this novel will allow you to transport to that time in the Old South. It is also available as an audiobook. 

Links

Goodreads review

About the author

American history timeline

Replay

Author: Ken Grimwood

Publisher: New York: Arbor House, 1986.

This fantasy adventure novel is about a 43 year old man named Jeff who dies of a heart attack, but only to awake up in 1963 as an 18 year old at Emory University. Everything seems familiar, but the only thing that has changed is that he remembers his life and what the future holds. In one point of the novel, after living his life differently and marrying for status instead of love, he finds himself miserable and dies again at 43 in which the cycle repeats. Each life, he experiences slightly different versions of world events and the story goes to show how a person can make an impact on the way the world unfolds.One reader mentioned that this novel “will remind you of lost loves and what could have been“ (Goodreads). Touching on themes of fixing time, “this delightful and completely engrossing story will appeal to a wide variety of readers” (Library journal). It is also available as an audio book.  

Links

Goodreads review 

About the author