If you could travel in time where would you want to go? To the past or to the future?
I don’t know about you, but I have often fantasized about time travel. Perhaps the reason is that past is always romanticized and it’s not always easy to accept your reality as it is. When it comes to fiction, the concept of time travel is nothing new. Many authors have written about traveling in time in so many different ways. Some have explored time travel through devices called time machines. Others have used magic to transport their protagonists back or forth in time. Then, there are those who have kept it vague. At times the endings unfold all the mysteries for readers, while sometimes, they are left to our imagination.
It is true that science fiction is a genre usually associated with time travel. Perhaps, it’s because H. G. Wells, father of science fiction himself, is the perpetrator of popularizing it in fiction. However, there is no shortage of fantasy, paranormal, historical, and even contemporary novels that have utilized this theme, in order to concoct most intriguing stories of mystery and mayhem.
Some authors don’t ‘interfere’ with history when they write time travel fiction. They try to remain true to the actual historical events, posing that any change in history will lead to a butterfly effect through time that could very well lead to apocalyptic situation in the present. Although, not all authors confine themselves to such rules. There are many who don’t care about such restrictions. It is fiction after all, so who cares if their protagonist ends up changing history for the rest of the world.
“Yeah, but what if you went back and killed your own grandfather?”
― 11/22/63
In any case, it’s an intriguing sub-genre of fiction that I am personally a fan of. I should probably mention that most of the books I’ve read deal with going back in time rather than going forth.
Let’s talk about romance. Who doesn’t love it, right? And if you have to go, a few decades, back in time to find your one true love, all the better. This is what happens to Jo-Jo in a chick-lit romcom Step Back in Time by Ali McNamara. She is so focused on her carrier that only traveling back in time can make her realize what she is missing for her to be truly happy.
This story is all about people you’re supposed to love, but somehow you forget it, taking them for granted. That’s when you need a rude awakening… or perhaps a magical journey through decades?
Jo-Jo actually travels through multiple decades; 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and the present. Every time she finds herself utterly lost, with a completely different life. Moreover, each time she must solve a metaphorical puzzle to move on to the next step in her mysterious adventure. Because there is something she needs to learn before she can go back to her original time. But what will she find once she returns? Are things going to be the same or is her life about to be changed forever?
Mode of transportation:
Jo-jo is hit by a speeding car, on a specific zebra crossing, and wakes up in a different decade. What an unusual and interesting way to travel back in time!
Young Adult novels are always very imaginative. Every time I pick up one, I find myself in a different world, a different time zone, and sometimes on a different planet. And, in my opinion, mix genres are always the best.
My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris is a YA time travel, historical, contemporary, and romance trilogy. A teenager girl, Cat, just wants to get away from her parents and somehow ends up in Renaissance period. So, okay, that’s a little farther than she wanted to go, but her adventure would be far more interesting now than it would’ve been in present day Italy. Also, the good thing her ancestors are there to help her survive.
It has all the ingredients of a great YA series and time travel is just an added spice. In book two of the series, Cat’s cousin (her actual ancestor) from the past travels to twenty first century. So here we have both, going back in time and coming to the future examples. Book three is a contemporary conclusion to this time travel adventure. Still, the whole trilogy was great; flirty, funny, and heartwarming kind of series.
Mode of transportation:
Some gypsy magic and teenagers’ will to escape reality. Because when you’re traveling in time what can possibly go wrong?
Once again, how can we forget Harry Potter series?
In book three, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, Harry and Hermione go back in time to save Sirius Black and Buckbeak from eminent death. Of course, Harry Potter is a fantasy series that involves witchcraft so it’s no surprise that time travel is possible in Harry’s world. However, it had very limited usage. The author emphasized dangers of changing the past and ramifications that may befall time travelers if they took it lightly. So, in other words, where time travel is all well and good, authors have to consider their story’s plot as well. In a wizardry world if time travel was no hardship then, well, I am not entirely sure what turn the story would’ve taken…
Mode of transportation:
In this case, they used time-turner, a magical device. Despite (or maybe because) of the magical involvement, you can safely go only few hours back in time (according to J.K. Rowling no more than five hours).
So, now that we’ve talked about romance, YA, and fantsay novels, let’s talk about science fiction. Time travel in sci-fic is far more interesting than in any other genre. At least, that’s what I think. Do let me know if you disagree.
I absolutely love Doctor Who novelizations. These books are about the adventures of a time lord, who can travel through time and space. It involves aliens, going back and forth in time, visiting different planets, and all the things in between that we can imagine. There are quite a number of books, but I’ve only read handful of them. I do love the TV series as well. If you are a time travel fan then it’s definitely worth checking out.
TARDIS: The ultimate time travel machine/space ship
I love time travel in historical fiction too and On Highland Time by Lexi Post is one of my most recent favorites. Story is set in 1306 Scotland and Diana is a woman on a mission. It’s her job, as a Time Weaver, to stop history from changing. As far as jobs go, it’s a pretty unique one. Usually, it’s not as complicated as it’s about to get. She is falling in love with the man whose death she is supposed to insure. Rules are there for a reason, however, for the first time in her time travels, she is hoping to find a way around them.
Mode of transportation:
You need a special gene that will help you to travel in time and then back to the present.
Don’t forget to comment with your favorite time travel books. Do you enjoy them or do you think time travel is boring?
Between The Pages Of A Book 