time travel Archives - Joelbooks https://joelbooks.com/tag/time-travel/ Selected quality books read by Joelbooks book club Wed, 20 Dec 2023 14:24:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.4 https://i0.wp.com/joelbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/wp-1626157867628.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 time travel Archives - Joelbooks https://joelbooks.com/tag/time-travel/ 32 32 154781010 Top 6 Time Travel Fantasy Books (2023) https://joelbooks.com/top-time-travel-fantasy-books/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 14:20:44 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=31380

Time-travel fantasy, a genre that enthralls with its blend of...

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Time-travel fantasy, a genre that enthralls with its blend of historical allure, speculative fiction, and the enigmatic concept of traversing through time, continues to captivate my imagination.

As a reader who relishes exploring the intricate layers of storytelling, I find these narratives offer more than mere escapism; they present a canvas where the past, present, and future converge, prompting introspection about our perception of time and destiny.

Untangle the Mystique of Time-Travel Fantasy

Time-travel fantasy serves as a mirror reflecting our deepest human desires and fears – the yearning to rewrite history, the curiosity to glimpse into the future, and the existential pondering over the nature of time itself.

These stories often balance on the tightrope of paradoxes and ethical dilemmas, providing a fertile ground for authors to explore complex characters and alternate histories. They invite readers into worlds where the boundaries of reality are blurred, and the impossible becomes tantalizingly plausible.

What Are The Top Time-Travel Fantasy Books?

The Recycling Of Nathan Scrzimshaw (Book 1-2), by John Norman Cooper (2023)

The narrative of these two books revolves around the enigmatic figure of Nathan Scrzimshaw, intricately exploring the realm of soul transmigration, a concept as captivating in its mystique as it is profound in its philosophical implications.

Cooper's portrayal of Nathan's journey, especially his transition into the life of Wake Jones, is masterfully executed. The dual consciousness that emerges challenges the conventional notions of identity and existence.

The author's exploration of Draco Syndrome, a unique twist on the genre, adds an intriguing layer to the story. It's a thought-provoking read that gracefully balances the complexities of time travel with the emotional depth of its characters.

The story of Nathan not only entertains but also invites readers to ponder the intricacies of the human soul and the boundless possibilities of existence beyond the physical realm.

Strands of Time and Magic, by Andrew Platten (2023)

In Strands of Time and Magic the author crafts a world where magic and time intertwine in an epic tapestry. The story of Brylee, a merchant with a veiled magical heritage, is one of courage and self-discovery.

Platten's depiction of Haxley, a town where mages and charmers coexist in a tenuous balance, is richly detailed, immersing the reader in its vibrant culture and complex politics. The narrative elegantly weaves Brylee's journey with that of Gideon, a charmer driven by his own ambitions.

Their paths cross in a manner that is both inevitable and fraught with tension, highlighting the intricate dance of fate and choice. The book's exploration of the ripple effects of time travel is handled with a deft touch, making it a standout in the genre. Platten's skill in building a world where magic is both a blessing and a curse, coupled with his nuanced character development, makes this a must-read for fans of time-travel fantasy looking for a story with depth, intrigue, and a richly imagined world.

Future Shock (Future Shock Book 1), by Elizabeth Briggs (2016)

Elizabeth Briggs' novel is a riveting fusion of young adult drama and time-travel intrigue. The protagonist, Elena Martinez, with her street smarts and photographic memory, is an exceptionally crafted character.

Briggs takes a unique approach by combining elements of sci-fi with a very human story of survival and resilience. The premise of being sent into the future to retrieve crucial data is both thrilling and fraught with moral quandaries.

Briggs balances the tension of time-travel with the personal dilemmas faced by Elena and her companions. The exploration of their intertwined fates in the future creates an absorbing narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The story's pacing is impeccable, blending action, suspense, and emotional depth. Future Shock is a standout series that not only entertains but also provokes thought about the choices we make and their far-reaching consequences.

The Rose Garden, by Susanna Kearsley (2011)

This book is a blend of historical romance and time-travel fantasy. The story of Eva returning to Cornwall to scatter her sister's ashes, only to find herself slipping between centuries, is evocatively written.

Kearsley's skill in painting a vivid picture of both modern and 18th-century Cornwall is remarkable. The romance that blooms between Eva and Daniel Butler, a man from the past, is both poignant and beautifully developed.

The novel explores themes of loss, belonging, and the enduring nature of love across time. Kearsley's narrative effortlessly weaves together the threads of the past and present, creating a tapestry that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. The Rose Garden is a great read, perfect for those who enjoy a story that transcends time and speaks to the heart.

Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel Series Book 2), by Connie Willis (1992)

Doomsday Book is an exploration of time travel set against the backdrop of one of history's most tumultuous periods. The protagonist, Kivrin, embarks on a journey to the 14th century, a time fraught with danger and disease. Willis' depiction of this era is meticulously researched and vividly rendered, immersing the reader in a world of superstition and fear.

The juxtaposition of Kivrin's modern sensibilities with the medieval setting creates a compelling narrative tension. The novel is a profound reflection on the human spirit, resilience in the face of adversity, and the timeless nature of human suffering and compassion. Willis' mastery in interweaving the past and present, and her nuanced character development, make Doomsday Book a good read for fans of historical time-travel fiction. It's a poignant and deeply moving story that stays with you long after you turn the last page.

Outlander (Outlander Book 1), by Diana Gabaldon (1991)

Diana Gabaldon's Outlander is a masterpiece that seamlessly mixes historical fiction with elements of time travel romance.

The story of Claire Randall, a nurse from 1945 who finds herself transported to 1743 Scotland, is captivating in its depth and authenticity. Gabaldon's ability to weave historical details with a compelling narrative is nothing short of remarkable.

The romance that unfolds between Claire and Jamie Fraser is both intense and beautifully nuanced, transcending time and place. The novel also delves into themes of loyalty, identity, and the clash of cultures, making it a rich and immersive read. Gabaldon's storytelling is vivid and engaging, transporting the reader to the Scottish Highlands with an immediacy that is both enchanting and deeply moving.

Outlander is not just a novel it became a classic time travel romance I couldn't skipped from this list.

Final Thoughts on Time-Travel Fantasy Books

Reflecting on these time-travel fantasy novels, I'm reminded of the genre's power to transport us beyond the constraints of our linear experience of time.

Each book in this selection is a testament to the imaginative potential of storytelling. They offer unique perspectives on time travel, each with its distinct flavor and approach. The genre's ability to not only entertain but also to provoke thought and offer new lenses through which we can view our world. For those who seek to journey through time within the pages of a book, these selections promise to be both enriching and mesmerizing.

If you are more interested in the romance part, check out our selection of time travel romance books.

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The Letter by CJ Sandstone https://joelbooks.com/the-letter-by-cj-sandstone/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:12 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=31354

A Psychic Time Travel Story Part of The Calls From...

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A Psychic Time Travel Story

Part of The Calls From the Past Psychic Time Travel Stories

This psychic time travel fantasy-mystery fiction story introduces Amelia Blake, a curious and brave teenager, who develops unique abilities that only a previously-unknown older relative, shunned by her own parents, may be able to help her use effectively.

Old Coins, Hidden Secrets, and Supernatural Mysteries

For Amelia Blake, an inquisitive and dedicated teenager, high school seems so monotonous, especially history class, where lessons looked like a jumble of dry words and dates that she was supposed to memorize.

Then, bored while studying for a history test, she noticed a penny in the corner of her desk—an old, tarnished relic from 1861. Intriguingly, upon picking up the old coin, Amelia experienced a vivid dream about the Civil War. To her astonishment, she aced her history test the next morning.

Soon after, Amelia stumbled upon a mysterious letter accompanied by an invitation to visit Isabel Blake, a previously unknown relative in Dagrun, Massachusetts. The revelation startled her—she wasn't supposed to have any knowledge about her grandmother or the existence of the letter, as it had been concealed from her all this time. But why?

Resolved to find out, she decides to confront her parents and accept the invitation.

The unfolding events will not only test her resolve but also reshape her destiny.

Amazon

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The Ouroboros by Woody Clark https://joelbooks.com/the-ouroboros-by-woody-clark/ Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:08:20 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=30169

Time Cures All Ills The world's wealthiest man builds a...

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Time Cures All Ills

The world's wealthiest man builds a time machine to take him to the future, where a cure for his terminal illness awaits.

When the planet’s wealthiest man receives a terminal diagnosis, he faces the ultimate decision: accept his fate, or deploy his nearly limitless fortune in the quest for a cure. Having exhausted every conventional option, Michel Bouchon is left with little choice but to build the one technological marvel he knows will yield a universal panacea. With his future, and that of mankind’s hanging in the balance, Michel begins construction and names his audacious invention “The Ouroboros”.

The world is stunned when the reclusive trillionaire emerges from seclusion and announces that he has discovered a cure for every disease. Although a remarkable achievement that captivates imaginations around the globe, Michel cautions that his remedy comes with a considerable caveat: he can only extend his life-saving elixir to ten others, and those lucky recipients, will be chosen via a lottery.

As lottery fever grips every man, woman, and child, so too does it consume Michel’s business rival, Yan Huen.

Driven by greed and his desire to surpass Michel, Yan covertly purchases a lottery spot and enlists the services of master spy, Devlin Archer. Employing the mole to steal the secrets behind the cure, Yan schemes to exploit the remedy for his own profit, and ultimately supplant Michel as the world’s richest man.

In this gripping tale of insatiable avarice, burgeoning technologies, and furtive espionage, the destinies of Michel, Yan, and Devlin become inexorably linked across space and time.

Amazon Author's Amazon Page

Excerpt from The Ouroboros © Copyright 2023 Woody Clark

Michel Bouchon, the world’s first trillionaire, earned that monicker when his invention, the Everwake pill, became the first medication in history to be ingested by nearly every living person on the planet.  Taken once a day, the supplement fully oxygenated the body’s bloodstream and in turn, allowed mankind to eliminate its greatest impediment: sleep.

With eight additional waking hours, the human race became more productive than ever before and took innovative leaps at a blistering pace.  Because of his ingenuity, the fifty-eight-year-old’s creation was labeled a “Game Changer” in human evolution and was subsequently compared to the invention of the wheel.

However, with increased human productivity, came the unintended consequence of even faster climate change.  Faced with rising ocean levels, depleted farmlands, and civil unrest, Michel set forth to solve the scourge of global warming.

And did.

After years of work and at great expense to his personal fortune, Michel announced the release of the Orbital Solar Shade.  A satellite that mirrored the Earth’s orbit around the sun, the OSS measured the exact distance needed for its 10,000 square-foot sail to cast a fixed shadow onto the Arctic.  The almost imperceptible change in temperature created by the shade was the precise amount needed to cool the massive ice sheet and prevent further erosion.

With the planet’s temperature stabilized, Michel was labeled a hero, a savior, and to some, The Messiah.

Michel’s life soon began to unravel however when it was announced that due to his work on the OSS, he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.  The disease was said to be ravaging his body, and tragically, had left him with little time to live.

For the next several years, Michel was not seen or heard from, and rampant speculation about his fate varied wildly.  Conspiracy theories abounded, but most assumed he had succumbed to his illness in quiet isolation.  Begrudgingly, the world mourned, and slowly began to accept the fact that the man who had saved the planet had been lost forever.

Until now.

Chapter 1

“By the time I finish this sentence, three weeks will have passed.”

As Devlin Archer digested what he had just heard, he suddenly realized the futility of every maneuver he had orchestrated.  The clandestine drops, false passports, and meticulously chosen safehouses were now worthless.  More importantly, though, so was the money.  He’d never again see the man who had hired him or a dime of the millions he’d been promised.

With his breathing becoming shallow and his pulse quickening, Devlin began to grasp the urgency of his situation.  If he didn’t escape quickly, he would be trapped in this underground tomb, forced to spend an eternity here with these people.

And most likely, to die with them.

Struggling to formulate a plan, Devlin’s mind raced and invariably drifted back to the beginning.  The moment when everything had, ironically, been put into motion.

Chapter 2

Dressed in firefighter’s gear, Devlin waited patiently inside the car he’d stolen earlier that morning.  Several blocks from the Bouchon Industries’ headquarters in the heart of Silicon Valley, the world’s most sought-after spy remained calm as he surveyed the employees scurrying through the building’s main entrance.  Like most of the structures in the tech capital of the world, the exterior was futuristic in appearance and massive in size.  Comprised predominantly of glass, the company’s façade reflected the sun like a beacon in the daylight and stood out even amongst the equally mammoth buildings surrounding it.

In his early fifties, Devlin Archer lit a cigarette as he waited, letting the nicotine course through his body and steady his nerves.   Atop his six-foot frame, he fastidiously maintained his light brown hair recently flecked with gray.  Clean-shaven with an aristocratic nose, Devlin’s resemblance to the 1960s version of Sean Connery was uncanny.

However, perhaps most striking about the mercenary were his piercing light blue eyes.  They radiated from his face like a wolf’s, commanding attention and submissive obedience.  His eyes had been his most valuable tool on numerous occasions, having opened more doors than even his light fingers or legendary hacking skills.

From his vantage point in the parked car, Devlin could clearly make out the “Bouchon Industries” lettering that adorned the roof of the building.  His face broke into a sly smile knowing that the pending diversion would take place atop the twenty-story structure.

He took another puff and peered out the window, gazing towards the fog-filled marine layer.  He was relieved to see that the haze had settled into the Bay Area, as it typically did this time of year.  He took satisfaction in the fact that if he couldn’t see the drones shrouded by the thick mist, neither could anyone else.

Devlin leaned back in the driver’s seat.  For a moment he reminisced about the countless missions like this one he’d engaged in over the previous decades.  As with those, every detail of this job had been meticulously planned down to the nano-second.  Sure, there had occasionally been times when things had gone less smoothly than he would have liked, but that was to be expected when assassinating Sudan’s head of state or installing malware into the mainframe of Indonesia’s largest Biotech firm.

In the end, he’d always found a way to make things work.

Always.

The most significant difference between those jobs and this one, however, was simple: the size of the payday.  Blackmailing Fortune 500 company CEOs or instigating regime changes in war torn countries had always paid handsomely, but for reasons only his employer understood, this commission had taken his compensation to an entirely different level.  The speed and urgency with which this assignment had manifested had certainly caught his attention, but not nearly as much as the massive crypto-currency payments that had flooded his blockchain accounts.

The watch alarm began to beep on his wrist, anchoring Devlin to the present.  He was forced to quickly regather his thoughts and focus on the task at hand.  Leaning over the passenger’s seat next to him, he opened up his laptop and entered a few commands into the keypad.  Concentrating intensely, within moments he saw his screen light up with the message he was waiting for, “Drones Targeting”.

Devlin let out a deep breath of relief as a timer on the screen began to countdown from five minutes, and as he expertly synchronized his watch to it, he closed the laptop and left it on the passenger’s seat.

Devlin exited the car and grabbed a five-gallon canister of gasoline that he had stashed in the car’s trunk.  He methodically began to pour fuel on top of and inside of the car, conscientious not to let the cigarette that hung from his mouth get too close.  Taking one last drag, he inhaled deeply until the end burned bright and then tossed the butt inside of the car; making sure he left the door open so that the ensuing fire would have the oxygen it needed.

Devlin swung an oxygen tank over his shoulders as he donned his firefighter’s helmet and gloves.  He calmly strode towards Bouchon Industries Headquarters as the vehicle erupted into flames behind him.

Approaching the front door of the building, Devlin paused for a moment as he checked his watch.  Waiting for the timer to count down from nineteen, to eighteen, to seventeen, he slowly reached for the door handle and entered the administrative office.

Once inside, Devlin glanced at the enormity of the lobby and the massive crystal chandeliers that hung from the rafters, fifty feet above the entryway.  Replete with white leather couches, workers scampered along the lobby’s marble floor to elevators that lined the walls, their steps echoing in the open space.  As expected on a typical workday, the inside of the Bouchon Industries’ corporate headquarters was bustling with activity, just as Devlin had planned.

Devlin strode towards the security checkpoint with purpose, where a large security guard rose to greet him.

“Where’s the fire?”  the security officer asked incredulously.

Devlin looked skyward, pointed, and said, “The roof.”

Confused, the security guard looked up and said, “I haven’t heard about any fire on the –“

Suddenly, there was a massive explosion from above and the entire building began to shake.  The interior lighting flickered as the five-ton chandeliers slowly swayed in large arcs from one side of the atrium to the other.  Stunned, everyone in the lobby area froze and glanced around nervously in bewilderment.

“Get everyone out of here, now,” Devlin commanded the security guard.

In shock, the guard remained motionless as his mind raced, trying to process what was happening before him.  Without warning, a second violent explosion rocked the building.  In an instant, screams rang out as the swaying chandeliers forcibly collided with one another, dropping massive shards of crystal that exploded onto the marble floor below.

The lobby quickly devolved into mayhem as shrieking office workers covered their heads and bolted toward the building’s front door.

“I said NOW!” Devlin ordered.

The glare of Devlin’s steel blue eyes jolted the security guard back to the moment, and as he pulled out his walkie-talkie, he yelled into it, “We’ve got a fire on the roof!  I repeat, a fire on the roof!  Evacuate the building!”

Still confused and unsure how to proceed, the security guard turned to Devlin for guidance and pleaded, “Who should I call?”

“Everyone’s on their way!” Devlin shouted over the cries of the office workers that jostled past him, “Just get everyone out of here!”

Immediately, another detonation concussed the building, and after locking his panicked eyes with Devlin for a moment, the security guard quickly spun around and pressed a large red button on the wall behind his desk.  Deafening alarms began blaring throughout the entire building while red and white lights flashed along the walls.  Within moments, workers began streaming out of their offices and swarmed the security check point, trying to exit the building as quickly as they could.  Surrounded by a mass of white-collared employees, Devlin pushed through the crowd and became lost in the throng of bodies.

Devlin wove through the pandemonium of frightened office workers and raced up a crowded stairwell.  He moved with purpose down a labyrinth of hallways until he reached the office he had mapped out weeks before.  Staring intently at its door, he became impatient as the seconds ticked by and countless workers pushed past.

“Come on…”  Devlin whispered to himself as he continued to glare.

After a few more moments, the door to the office thankfully sprang open, and the rotund man he was waiting for finally waddled through.  Rubbernecking wildly, the middle-manager quickly closed his office door and merged in with the rest of the crowd as they scampered towards the nearest exit.

Like a salmon swimming upstream, Devlin made his way toward the man and swiped his dangling key card as he brusquely brushed past.  Adroitly palming the key, he continued down the hall until he reached the non-descript door he knew held his immense fortune behind it.  With a quick tap, Devlin used the newly acquired key card and opened the door to the high-tech computer room, which housed scores of multi-million-dollar machines that functioned as the building’s central nervous system.

Once inside, Devlin closed the door behind him and was relieved to find that the cutting-edge equipment room was bereft of evacuated office workers and security personnel, just as he had anticipated.  Filled with servers, cameras and a bank of computers, the secrets these humming machines held were just moments from his fingertips, and Devlin began to tremble with excitement as he sat down in front of a computer workstation.

Disguised in his helmet, mask and gloves, Devlin smirked at the security cameras lining the walls, knowing his face shield kept his identity safeguarded.

Expertly, Devlin inserted a USB encoder into the computer’s main drive and immediately began entering a series of commands that lit up the monitor’s screen.   He ran a number of customized scripts he had coded over the years and his azure eyes gleamed as the screen filled with hundreds of highly encrypted files.

“Bingo,” he murmured as a smile spread across his face.

Each dossier was undoubtedly worth a fortune to any one of Michel Bouchon’s competitors, and yet Devlin remained focused, reminding himself that his client had paid him to procure only one specific file.  Scanning scores of documents, Devlin quickly found what he was looking for and pulled out a large capacity flash drive which he inserted into the computer.

After a few strokes on the keyboard, he clicked on the file labeled Photosynthesuit, and the download of what his employer had labeled “the world’s most highly sought-after secret” began.

With each agonizing second that passed, Devlin remained transfixed as he anxiously waited for the file to transfer from the computer to his flash drive.  Devlin focused intensely, monitoring the transmission of data as it rose from “25%” to “50%”.

So engrossed was the spy in his furtive efforts, he was unaware of an innocuous camera that slowly began to rotate towards him.

Finally, the download was complete, and although it had taken less than a minute, it had felt like an eternity to Devlin.  He quickly pulled out the flash drive and slipped it securely into his pocket.  Expeditiously walking back across the computer room, he paused in front of the door to compose himself, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves.  He then slowly opened the door, exited the room into the bedlam that still filled the hallway, and casually merged with the mass of frenzied people filing for the exit.

Devlin approached the front door’s security checkpoint.  Surrounded by scores of office workers, the overwhelmed security guard noticed his tall frame and firefighter’s equipment in the panic-stricken crowd and shouted, “Hey!  When’s the back-up getting here?”

“Any second,” Devlin replied, continuing to calmly stroll through the lobby door of the Bouchon Industries’ headquarters with the rest of the frantic employees.

In front of her computer in a quiet office, Layah Golden had watched the entire break-in unfold and monitored the actions of the man who was not only stealing her company’s most guarded secret, but irrevocably altering the course of her life.  As her German Shepherds, Hadron and Cern lay at her feet, she picked up her cell phone and sighed deeply.

The tears that filled her eyes obscured her vision, but she kept her focus resolute.  Forlornly, Layah whispered into the phone, “Initiate.”

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Top ​8 YA Time Travel Sci-Fi Books (2023) https://joelbooks.com/top-ya-time-travel-sci-fi-books/ Fri, 20 Jan 2023 08:40:22 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=25961

Time travel is one of the most captivating concepts in...

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Time travel is one of the most captivating concepts in the world. Whether you're 12, 25, or 60, time travel will always represent an appealing idea.

Some may want to travel in the future, while others would rather go back in time. No matter what you’re after, time travel books can definitely give you some great vibes.

Now, choosing the best YA time travel books is a bit challenging. You don’t want them to be too sophisticated and difficult to understand, but you don’t want books for small children either.

With these thoughts in mind, here are some interesting titles that will definitely help you get into the main characters’ boots.

What Are The Best Time Travel Sci-fi Books for Young Adults?

Independence (A Forest of Giant Oaks Book 1), by J.M. Rasinske (2022)

This is the first book in the series, and based on its success, there's plenty more action to come. The action follows Christopher, better known as Topher.

He's 17, and he enjoys living off the grid due to some hacks. But when the cards he was milking go empty, it looks like his happy days are reaching an end.

Things go from bad to worse. He gets shot at, and later on, he is exposed to a group of weirdos known as the Regents. They know everything about him, so they’re about to start hunting him.

To get his details removed from the system, he gets employed as a janitor.

One thing leads to another, and he stumbles upon a group of time travelers who made it from 1776 to 2011.

From this point on, my imagination got to another level. From connections with past presidents to changes to various laws, anything is possible in this book.

And somehow, Topher has to convince time travelers about potential changes that might change the country today.

Timebound (The Chronos Files Book 1), by Rysa Walker (2014)

Timebound is one of those time travel books that will make you dream about going to different periods of time. It’s a must for those who like the idea.

Anyway, the story follows Kate. Her grandma gives her a medallion that looks anything but ordinary. She also tells her a bit about time travel, but 16 year old Kate thinks her grandma is just a bit delusional.

But then, everything goes real…

A murder from the past destroys Kate’s current present.

Unexpectedly, her medallion is the only thing that can keep her alive. Kate starts digging, only to find out that the murder from 1892 was actually part of a more sinister plan. That murder affected plenty of events overtime.

Just like you might have thought already, Kate is the only one who can change the outcome of history by going back in time.

This book builds up tension like no other, but it also feels a bit dramatic later on when Kate needs to choose between a better life and the boy she loves. I won't give you any other spoilers, though.

A Thousand Pieces of You, by Claudia Gray (2015)

If you’re into time travel books, you might recognize some ideas from other books in A Thousand Pieces of You. There's not much more you can come up with in this genre, is it?

Well, you’d think so, but wait until you read this one.

Marguerite is the daughter of a genius family. Her physicist parents are world renowned for their impressive work in the industry. They’re also known for inventing and patenting various technologies.

They’re better known for the so called Firebird, an invention that allows them to go from one universe to another. It’s an invention that can change the face of science, no doubt about it.

However, Marguerite’s father is killed one day. Everyone knows Paul was the killer, her parents’ assistant.

He used the Firebird to jump into another universe before he could get arrested. But Marguerite refuses to let things go, and she decides to chase him, regardless of where the machine takes her.

She keeps jumping from one version of herself to another, and she starts getting more and more clues… But the more she finds out, the more she doubts Paul’s involvement in the murder.

Soon, Marguerite discovers that what seemed to be a simple murder was actually part of a bigger conspiracy. I won’t tell you what it was, but the plot twist will blow your mind.

The Girl from Everywhere, by Heidi Heilig (2017)

Nix is a time traveler. She's only 16, and she keeps traveling from one universe to another along with her family and a crew of refugees.

They do it with a pirate ship known as The Temptation, full of all kinds of treasures.

Relying on a bunch of ancient maps, the crew travels to different parts of the world, as well as different parts of the universe too. However, there’s a catch and this is when the story gets interesting.

You can’t go twice to the same place.

Nix's father is mainly interested in going back to Honolulu, in 1868. Back then, her mother was still alive, but Nix didn't exist.

Nix knows about her father’s goal, but she believes it won’t work. However, one day, he finds a map that could change everything.

This story is not just about time travel, because I found myself as a part of it when I was trying to figure out what I really want in life and who I am.

Passenger, by Alexandra Bracken (2016)

This is the first book in the series with the same name and one of the best YA time travel books out there. Etta has an apparently perfect life, but one night changes everything.

She loses almost everything, apart from her life. Somehow, she gets pushed through time and ends up in 1776, right in the middle of a sea battle.

Nicholas is a privateer on the ship and notices the unusual passenger. He's struggling to try to escape a powerful family that won't let him go.

Now, the family is looking for a magic item, and it seems Etta is the only one who can find it. The two embark on an incredible journey not only miles away, but years away too.

Etta needs to find her way back, while Nicholas wants to find the stolen object and gain his well-deserved freedom.

Into the Dim, by Janet B. Taylor (2016)

Hope Walton is only 16 and loses his mom to a natural disaster, far away from home. Everything she knew crumbles into pieces. She feels like she has to start all over again, and she needs to get over it pretty quickly.

She agrees to spend her next summer in Scotland. While learning more about her mom and her passion, she finds out that she was more than just a professor. She was also a time traveler.

One thing leads to another, and Hope finds out that her mother is still alive, but quite a few centuries ago.

The bad news is she only has three days to get there, rescue her mother and get back to her time. However, getting back into medieval times can expose her to a series of brutal dangers.

Perfect book, if you ask me, especially since that’s where I’d like to go back in time if I could.

All Our Yesterdays, by Cristin Terrill (2014)

Em is a prisoner, somewhere in a military base, that no one can locate. There’s no one around, apart from a boy in the next cell, but Em can only hear his voice.

Then, as she tries to find a way out, she finds some instructions hidden in the drain. She’s against time traveling, but this list she finds in the drain holds quite a few secrets.

The story flies to Marina and her best friend James, who she loves from the bottom of her heart. An unfortunate event ruins their world, and now they need to find a way to survive.

It’s an intricate story of details, but you’ll love the challenge. Besides, everything falls into a massive puzzle as you reach the end, at least for me. It’ll all make sense before you finish the book.

The Here and Now, by Ann Brashares (2014)

This is one of those time travel books that feels like a blockbuster. Everything is about following the rules. And then, there’s one main rule, never fall in love.

Prenna James comes from a world that’s in ruins right now. She has managed to survive, along with a few other people. Their goal is to save humanity, but they do need to stick to some rules.

Fail to stick to those rules, and everything will fall apart, family, friends, morals, and dreams.

Then, you have Ethan Jarves, who’s trying to find out more about Prenna. But Prenna has a secret. She’s not from that time. I’ll let you discover the rest.

Bottom line

These YA time travel books will definitely satisfy your hunger for time travel adventures and action.

Whether it comes to disastrous scenarios, love, rescue or impossible tasks, there’s a little of everything in these books. The list can go on, of course, but these titles are excellent if you’re just getting into this genre.​

Check also our selection of time travel romances.

The post Top ​8 YA Time Travel Sci-Fi Books (2023) appeared first on Joelbooks.

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Top 12+ Time Travel Romance Books (2023) A Timeless Selection https://joelbooks.com/best-time-travel-romance-books/ Sun, 15 Jan 2023 07:30:00 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=15406

Time travel has continuously been used to develop central themes...

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Time travel has continuously been used to develop central themes for books or devise a story's plot. Books that are themed on time travel will focus on depicting the results of the character's time-travelling into the past or the future.

The principle presumption of time travel stories frequently involves changing past occurrences intentionally or accidentally and how alterations to the past change the future or the present upon the traveler’s return. Best time travel romance books will focus on romance as the main theme.

What Are The Top Time Travel Romance Books?

Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander is a historical fiction book by Diana Gabaldon, first published in 1991.

The story begins in 1945, when Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is on a second honeymoon with her husband Frank in Scotland. While visiting a standing stone circle, Claire is suddenly transported back in time to 1743. She finds herself in the midst of dangerous political and social upheaval in Scotland, where she is considered an outlander and is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a young Scottish warrior, to protect her from being arrested as a spy.

As Claire navigates her new life in the 18th century, she struggles to reconcile her feelings for Jamie with her love for Frank. She also becomes deeply involved in the Jacobite risings, a series of political events in Scotland that sought to restore the Stuart dynasty to the British throne.

Throughout the series, Claire and Jamie's relationship evolves as they face many challenges and adventures together. They also have to deal with the fact that Claire is from the future and Jamie's time is not her time, and the fact that Jamie is wanted by the Redcoats. The story is set in Scotland, France and America and covers a period of 20 years.

The series is known for its rich historical research and its blending of genres, including romance, historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction. The books have been adapted into a television series which has been highly successful.

Finding Lorena, by Michael Bartos

What would it be like to go back in time and live all over again, with what you learned and finding out what happened when you lived?

Connor Grace is hit by a car in Charleston and finds herself young again as a teenager in the late 80’s. In his young self, he finds the woman he is aware will become his lover and tries to correct his past wrongs. Miraculously, he is not the only one who has come back from 2018. He is also allowed to meet his mother, who died of cancer and his friend Oscar.

Connor was troubled by these deaths, and he is now allowed to keep away these premature deaths as he tries to understand the turbulent times he went through. What makes this time travel story unique is that Connor still has the memory of the life he had already lived. His knowledge appeals to other people, and his relationship with Lorena is honest and touching.

In this delightful read, time travel, charm, and a journey of self-discovery are unified into creating an adventurous, romantic story. Finding Lorena is an instant page-turner packed with twists. You will enjoy the characters used in developing impeccable storytelling.

Time Change, by Elyse Douglas

Time Change is the kind of book that will have you hooked right away. You will fall for the characters, and you will be compelled to follow them throughout the book in a quest to find out what happens to them in this captivating time travel romance story.

The year is 1948 when a celebrated actress, Rita Randal, comes across a strange man in her photographs. In 2019, Clint West, a writer, also comes across a strange woman in his photographs. The two occupy a beach house years apart, where they meet face to face in a very unusual moment.

Clint is trying to move on after his wife’s death, while Rita has left LA after a deadly confrontation. When they see each other in the photos, Rita is troubled, and Clint is bewildered. Clint delves into and finds out about time travel experiments performed in the 1940s. He meets with Oscar, who had previously been a time traveler and used time portals. Rita is wandering by the beach when a blue wave pivots and takes her to 2019(the future). She meets Clint, and their lives are incessantly changed.

Time After Time, by Lisa Grunwald

Who would not want to be transported to a different time when the world becomes too much? Even better, romantically. Time After Time is a magical romance story that will sweep any reader from the 1920s era into World War II and further. Influenced by Nora Lansing, a woman who vanishes from Grand Central Terminal, this one is a must-read.

Nora is a socialite and aspires to be an artist. When she meets with Joe, she appears to be out of place. He is captivated by her but is now hopeless when she disappears after trying to walk her home. His life and love’s focus now becomes finding her. Later, they form the “Terminal City”, where they create inexhaustible love and fully maximize the use of this space. When the construction of a different landmark impends their future, their love and freedom limits are tested.

Time After Time is an accurate illustration of historical fiction with a delightful twist. It is a blend of history, time travel, and a splendid romance not dependent on time.

Trapped in Time, by Denise Daye

What should a modern woman do the moment she finds herself trapped in the past without a prospective future? Find out from this tale of resilience, Trapped in Time.

Emma has sworn to never fall in love after she and her mother escape her brutal father. She has returned to school to further her studies in medicine, and she has better and bigger things to focus on. One day, heading home from a party and slightly drunk, a car’s shiny white light crashes towards her. She wakes up in 1881 Victorian London instead of a 21st-century hospital and is now trapped in a time where anything she knew is thought of as witchcraft. It is a tough world for a woman who bears no status or riches. The bigger twist is that to survive, she must get married and marry well.

When the devised plan she had with her friend Lily does not go according to plan, she is caught up with John Evergreen and his family. She must marry the most powerful, feared and disgraceful England duke, William Blackwell. Being a modern woman, Emma comes up with tricks and uses her knowledge to remain ahead of society’s game. The twist is that what starts as a fight for her life may just become her opportunity to find true love.

This time travel romance book will keep your tension high from the developing twists. However, this is a story of the power of love and strength.

The Prophesy, by Kim Sakwa

If you love a time travel love story with staunch lovers and filled with hysterical humor, get yourself The Prophesy. The storyline employed will seamlessly carry you across centuries until fate unites the strong and likable characters. The creative plot connects Scotland’s 1500s with the 21st century.

Gwendolyn Reynolds has a secure and stable career path being a well-established surgeon. She, however, feels very restless and is frequented by repetitive dreams. An inner urge leads her to leave her job and go on a soul-searching trip to Scotland’s coast. During a storm, she is forced off the road and violently enters the icy waters. When she resurfaces, she meets Greylen MacGreggor, a Scottish laird that she is destined to meet.

Greylen is waiting for an old prophecy in which he is to meet the woman he desires to come true. He could never have imagined or expected her to be from the 21st century with an aggressive temper. The moment he touches Gwendolyn, he confirms that she is the one destined for him.

Sparks fly between them, and they find out that their fiery fate could be powerful and fatal. Is it possible for them to overcome time differences and find legitimate love?

When Lightning Strikes, by Kathryn Kaleigh

For lovers of historical time travel, this one is a must-read. When Lightning Strikes is an appealing time travel love story with a Cinderella twist. This book defies time and will alter your expectations as a reader regarding romance built upon time travel. The gripping and page-turning story will keep you yearning for more. It will make you believe that true love can conquer anything, even time.

When a modern girl goes back to her hometown, she is employed in a local historical house. The house has a lingering good-looking ghostly appearance haunted by a female ghost that the colonial man can only see.

The moment Hannah Sinclair is taken to her past, she finds out more details about her childhood other than the secrets. She realizes an overlooked time in a world with a homely sensation and a man who steals her heart with a kiss. What comes after? Find out in this intriguing story.

A Wagon Train Weekend, by Stephenia H. McGee

The characters in this time travel romance book are unintentionally sent on an adventure which will reveal their weaknesses and also assist them in growing their strengths. Collette Donaldson and Seth Stone had been in a relationship that was not working out well, and when they are transported back in time, they get to know each other and realize that they need God and one another.

Collette should never have introduced her boyfriend to her family nor taken him to her cousin’s wedding. After one terrible weekend, all Collette wants is to go home and work out her messed up relationship. They fight, have a flat tire, and are also inconvenienced by a storm, being forced to stay the night in a Victorian Bed and Breakfast inn. When Collette comes across her antique photo, the situation shifts from weird to unthinkable. Seth had been ready to propose, but now he is in great doubt.

They wake up in 1857 but are now stranded in a wagon train headed west on the Oregon Trail. Seth is hell-bent on getting home. However, they can only get out of their past by confronting the problems that are stealing and affecting their future. This is when they start getting to know each other better and rethinking their marriage plans.

Tangled in Time, by Barbara Longley

Regan MacCarthy inherited a gift from her Irish ancestors to see ghosts but wishes to give it back. As she attempts to return this power, she goes to Ireland to employ the ancient magic that pervades Newgrange, where a gorgeous warrior awaits her. He claims to be an old Celtic warrior and swears that he is not dead despite Regan believing he is a ghost.

Ahead of being cursed to a fae princess, Faelan was an elite Fionn MacCumhaill soldier. To free himself, he must fall deeply in love and sacrifice himself. The dilemma is, he is not recognized by many. Regan, however, is attracted to him and sees him, especially for his complexity. Faelan must work to persuade Regan to help him even as he falls for her. It is too late when he realizes that drawing her into the world endangers them both. This may lead to the destruction of his long-awaited happiness.

Time of the Rose, by Bonita Clifton

Madison Calloway’s life is filled with despair. She is downhearted following her divorce but has directed all her energy strength in her travel agency. She is from the 21st century and is visiting Jackson Hole for business. Here, she meets a gunslinger at a shooting exhibition, and his skill captures her attention. He claims he is from 1878.

Colton Chase is pursuing his parents’ murderer. A mysterious flower takes him to more than a hundred years into the future. He is ready to explore his relationship with a good looking and feisty stranger.

They are drawn to each other, and Colton persuades Madison to spend a day with him. By accident, she returns to his time where he protects her, claiming to be his wife. Madison is reluctant about the whole situation, and Colton agrees to help her go back in her time, but he must first follow a lead for his revenge. As Madison tries to help him, she gets captured.

Will he be able to save her? and if so, can she choose to stay, or will she want to go back and leave him behind? Find out from Time of the Rose.

The Sunstone Brooch, by Katherine Lowry Logan

The Sunstone Brooch is an instalment of the incredible Celtic Brooches series. However, this one gets better and better. You will want to dive in as much as possible. The character development makes you feel like family with the adventure filled with much joy, love, and mystical mysteries. The dangerous adventure changes the characters’ lives risking the survival of the Celtic Brooches and the Clan.

Ensley Williams is getting ready for a dinner date with James Cullen Fraser and her cousin George Williams. As she goes through her jewelry box to choose a piece to add to her outfit, she picks a sunstone brooch that once belonged to her late mother.  Inside the brooch’s stone is an engraved inscription.

The moment she recites the words written in Celtic, she is taken into a scented fog and to the 1885 Dakota Badlands. There, she meets Teddy Roosevelt on his ranch. She is not in a hurry to return to the future as being on a ranch is her liking. James Cullen finds out that she has discovered and decides to keep his trip to find her from the family.

Ensley wants to go on a round-up while James visits the MacKlenna Farm to “borrow” gold. He ends up leaving Ensley with Roosevelt, and as she faces ranch struggles and challenges, he fights an evil force that throws him into a crucible that could bring the MacKlenna Clan down.

Falling through Time, by Nancy Scanlon

Since Fates determined that Reilly O’Malley would be the trainer and leader of a time-travelling clansmen group, he has been sure of everything. He has been to all physical and verbal battles, certain that he will emerge a victor. He lives up to all the titles given to him, confident that he will never die.

Since he met with Gwendolyn Allen many years ago, she has been in love with him. He is her best friend. However, her dreams are shattered when she accepts that Reilly may not reciprocate her love as he is focused on moving on, and somehow, he has.

Reilly is exhausted by living according to the Fates directives, and for weeks, he and Gwendolyn find themselves together. The Fates now choose to leave, and all that Reilly knows is strongly shaken. His other abilities begin to fall through time, and he may have to start trusting something else and not fate. Probably love.

Highlanders Captive, by Mariah Stone

This time travel romance book is for lovers of dauntless warriors, witty heroines, and appealing historical details. Amy MacDougall, a search and rescue officer from the future, has had several fears since her childhood and is lost in the past. She fears relationships, tiny and dark spaces.

When she is a chaperone for a school trip, she must face her fear of tiny spaces to save a student in a dungeon. A magical rock throws her in 1307 AD. There, she shockingly meets Craig Cambel, a powerful and attractive Scottish warrior. He declines to trust anybody; his sister having been kidnapped and abused by Amy’s clan. Cambel and his clan trusted Amy’s clan before. When he discovers her, he becomes established and locks her up to keep her away from warning his enemy. However, when Amy proves to be helpful to Craig and his people, his mistrust starts turning into desire.

Amy tries to find her way home, but her fear to commit is now vanishing, and she falls for Craig. Craig finds out about Amy, and his doubts are reignited.

Will, the disparity of centuries, break them apart, or will they concede to destiny and build themselves a happy future?

Final Thoughts on the best Time Travel Romances

Best time travel romance books are highly engaging and intriguing. Their explanations as time travels give an “imperative distancing effect “that metaphorically allows fiction to communicate present-day romances. This aspect and sometimes the paradoxes and opposite timeliness created are what makes these books enjoyable reads. Also if you are into historical fictions, check out our selection from 2020 and 2021 books.

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Before I Wake by Mary Ellen Johnson https://joelbooks.com/before-i-wake-by-mary-ellen-johnson/ Mon, 19 Dec 2022 06:05:00 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=24123

Travels Across Time Book 1 A Novelist’s Fanciful Obsession with...

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Travels Across Time Book 1

A Novelist’s Fanciful Obsession with a Dark-Eyed Knight Becomes Reality in Before I Wake, a Historical Time-Travel Romance by Mary Ellen Johnson

13th Century England, Tintagel Castle

After being haunted by a past life regression in which she is married to an enigmatic knight, historical novelist Magdalena Moore is transported to thirteenth-century Tintagel, where she discovers the truth about the knight Ranulf Navarre is very different from her imaginings.

At Tintagel Castle, Magdalena is miraculously transported to thirteenth-century England, where she is Lady Jane, and Lord Navarre is her husband. But Ranulf is not the man of her imagination.

Why is Ranulf so cold and Janey so erratic? What secrets are they hiding? When England plunges into civil war, Ranulf backs the wrong side. Knowing he is destined to die in battle, Magdalena tries desperately to cheat fate, save Ranulf, and finally find happiness. But secrets can ruin everything, and Magdelena’s secret is too fantastical to be believed.

Amazon

Excerpt From Travels Across Time

The area surrounding Tintagel Castle  was ruggedly beautiful—treeless and bare, with ground covering clinging like moss to great slabs of  slate, scarred by the ruins of a long-ago lord’s Arthurian  obsession.

While today’s buildings, those that had not tumbled into the relentlessly encroaching Celtic Sea, might be little  more than rubble, nature’s landscape remained inviolate.

I am seeing what you saw, I thought, striding along the pathway. What you and Lady Jane both saw.

Breathing the air you breathed.

Feeling the  sun, as if it were the same.

The breeze.

Hearing the screeching of seagulls, just as you did.

The cawing of ravens.

The barking of seals.

 As did you both.

I was assaulted by a sudden wave of dizziness and swayed, nearly losing my balance. After several moments, after convincing myself I was imagining things, I continued my walk

When did  I first notice something around me had changed? The atmosphere had grown unnaturally still, the way it does before a tsunami. Even the light was peculiar–the colors different, as if  veiled by a mist or  diffused  through smoky glass.

I assured myself I was fine, but I wasn’t. With each step, I felt more… vague…  Like when you  emerge from a fever, or a particularly intense dream. The landscape shimmered, like heat haze rising from asphalt. I forced myself to resume walking, but soon experienced a tingling, beginning at the tips of my toes, rising up my legs and torso.  Higher, higher until a thousand prickles warmed my face. Drifting upward and  out the top of my skull.

I paused until the tingling passed. Glancing down, I was startled to see,  not the veined hands of a well-worn woman, but supple skin. I flexed my fingers. Small, delicate, with  smooth knuckles. These were not Magdalena Moore’s hands, not now, not ever. And my hiking clothes had somehow been replaced by a  long-sleeved undergown topped by a brilliant blue surcoat.  My feet were shod in short leather boots tied around the ankle.

Odd. I wasn’t all that bewildered or upset. I experienced more a sense of anticipation, as though I were about to welcome a long-anticipated guest.

I continued on, my body feeling smaller and slighter, my  stride more graceful  without the stiffness and clumsiness inevitable with age. Physically, I seemed to have been transformed into someone else–at least until I could come up with a better explanation. In the meantime, I was still thinking like Magdalena Moore. Pretty much. At least I seemed to be. Wasn’t I?

It was then I noticed I was standing in front of  Tintagel Castle’s gatehouse. Not a ruin but an actual gatehouse, with a raised portcullis and the porter’s lodge above. I recognized all this, even though I’d only seen it in reconstructions.

“This can’t be right,” I  whispered. The gatehouse hadn’t existed for hundred of years. None of this could be real.

And yet it all seemed familiar.

After passing beneath the portcullis, I heard  voices from the upper ward, where knights daily practiced their sword play and other martial exercises. This I knew, not from research, but because I’d walked this walk before. Another impossibility.

Once I passed the upper ward, I strode along the courtyard until I reached Tintagel’s stable.

Which was also familiar.

Automatically,  I veered to a vice located past the deserted stable, leading to  the battlements. No need to question how I knew its location. Or why I approached it with such certainty.

I had climbed those stairs many times. As had he.

The wind picked up. The curtain wall had been constructed so dangerously close to the sea I could hear its roar. I climbed to the top of the vice. Paused.

This is it.

Now, this very moment.

The moment I had waited for–for how long? Knowing what I would see, I turned my head.

There you are. As I knew you would be.

In the middle of the battlement, looking out at the sea. That wine-red jupon, belted at the waist since he wasn’t wearing his sword. Exactly as I remembered. The curve of his long warrior’s body as he leaned forward on a crenel, his gaze fixed upon the horizon. The wind whipping his long black hair about his head, hiding his face.

I paused. My heartbeat hadn’t accelerated, as it surely should. This all seemed so right, so normal.  And yet a part of me was terrified, wanted  to race down those stone stairs and  reverse my steps, back to my hotel and to a contemporary March morning.

I wet my lips, as if to call his name, though nothing escaped my throat. Hesitantly, I approached him, my tread stealthy upon the walkway. He could not possibly hear me above the moaning wind, the thundering waves.  Yet I saw his shoulders stiffen. Ever so slightly, not so much that most people would notice. But I noticed. The way I’d learned to  notice everything about  him.

He straightened and turned toward me. The wind  slashed  strands of  hair across his face, as if still seeking to hide his identity. Impossible.

I would know you anywhere.

Here you are. Finally.

Capturing me with those cursed, hypnotic eyes that had so long haunted me.

Now I felt it, all my senses exploding.  I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, could only stare at him, this man I’d chased down the centuries.

Ranulf Navarre’s  mouth turned up in the ghost of a smile.

“Welcome home, Janey,” he said.

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It’s a Wonderful Time by Doug Stebleton and Reinhard Denke https://joelbooks.com/its-a-wonderful-time-by-doug-stebleton-and-reinhard-denke/ Mon, 24 Oct 2022 09:49:22 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=24727

Evan West lives, breathes, and exists for everything film. His...

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Evan West lives, breathes, and exists for everything film. His heart beats at 24 frames per second. He aspires to be much more than a film trailer editor, but he’s lucky to live and work in Hollywood.

When Evan crashes into a telephone pole one night, he’s thrust into a temporal vortex—and suddenly transported back to Hollywood in 1946 during the making of the beloved Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Despite his confusion about how he went back in history, he befriends Jimmy Stewart, which leads to a job with director Frank Capra and to Dorothy Paige, the soul mate he could never find in his own time.

Evan also meets Dr. William Cooper (Coop), a brilliant scientist and fellow time traveler who worked for Nikola Tesla in 1899. Can they save the film from being defiled by a greedy studio mogul and protect this timeless classic?

When Evan and Coop both notice alarming physical and psychological changes, they know they must leave 1946…or die trying. Will they remain trapped in the 1940s, or can they solve the problem of time travel and escape back to their own time? If so, how can Evan leave the love of his life?

Don’t miss this spectacular story of obsession, love, courage, and adventure during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Audible

An audiobook produced by e-Audio Productions

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Thunder On The Moor by Andrea Matthews https://joelbooks.com/thunder-on-the-moor-by-andrea-matthews/ Mon, 03 Oct 2022 12:41:10 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=24410

When twentieth century Maggie Armstrong follows her father back four...

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When twentieth century Maggie Armstrong follows her father back four hundred and fifty years to his home on the Scottish Borders, she never expects to find herself falling in love with an Englishman, especially one whose family is in a blood feud with her own.

Maggie Armstrong grew up enchanted by her father’s tales of blood feuds and border raids. In fact, she could have easily fallen for the man portrayed in one particular image in his portrait collection.

Yet when her father reveals he was himself an infamous Border reiver, she finds it a bit far-fetched—to say the least—especially when he announces his plans to return to his sixteenth century Scottish home with her in tow.

Suspecting it’s just his way of getting her to accompany him on yet another archaeological dig, Maggie agrees to the expedition, only to find herself transported four hundred and fifty years into the past.

Though a bit disoriented at first, she discovers her father’s world to be every bit as exciting as his stories, particularly when she’s introduced to Ian Rutherford, the charming son of a neighboring laird. However, when her uncle announces her betrothal to Ian, Maggie’s twentieth-century sensibilities are outraged.

She hardly even knows the man. But a refusal of his affections could ignite a blood feud. Maggie’s worlds are colliding. Though she’s found the family she always wanted, the sixteenth century is a dangerous place. Betrayal, treachery, and a tragic murder have her questioning whether she should remain or try to make her way back to her own time.

To make matters worse, tensions escalate when she stumbles across Bonnie Will Foster, the dashing young man in her father’s portrait collection, only to learn he is a dreaded Englishman. But could he be the hero she’s always dreamed him to be? Or will his need for revenge against Ian shatter more than her heart?

Amazon

Excerpt from Thunder On The Moor © Copyright 2022 Andrea Matthews

Maggie lounged back amongst the fragrant blossoms, the soft sunlight no more than a golden glow along the horizon. Though the air remained damp, the promise of warmth comforted her, and she closed her eyes, letting its delicate cocoon engulf her weary body. A few yards away, a thrush welcomed the coming day, tweeting its morning song in perfect harmony with the steady bass of a croaking frog. The sweet melody soothed her cluttered mind and lulled her into a light sleep.

Images of beaches and warm summer days at the shore filled her dreams. Memories of sandcastles and dabbling her toes in the ocean sent her senses reeling. She could almost smell the salt air, hear the surf crashing against the shore. But wait—those were no breaking waves she heard, but something else, something far more menacing.

With a sudden jolt, she woke, the predawn tranquility shattered by a distant rumble. Maggie sprang up, her eyes widening as she recognized the thunderous beat of hooves rising from beyond the ridge. Behind her, about five hundred yards away, pressed against the graying sky, stood her uncle’s tower. He’d warned her about venturing from the safety of its walls, but she’d been too stubborn to take his words to heart. Perhaps she should have put her dislike of the man aside just this once.

Frantic visions of vengeful reivers sprang to mind, and she rose, determined to make a sprint for the distant peel tower. With the creak of leather armor already echoing in her ears, she struggled to gain purchase on the dew-covered ground, but she slipped and fell into the tall grass of the gentle slope

Pushing herself up, she chanced a glance over her shoulder and froze. He was nearly upon her, his steel-blue eyes reflecting the mood of the moor. A wave of terror washed over her, for somehow she knew this time Will Foster wouldn’t turn and ride away.

She slumped back on her elbows, unable to move, the world around her fading into obscurity. Riders rode by on their way to the tower, their images blurred and distorted, for nothing could pry her attention from Will or the amulet he wore around his neck. He paused a few feet from where she’d fallen, tugging hard on the reins, hunger burning in his gaze.

Maggie swallowed hard, anger and fear lodged in her breast. She tried to embrace the former, but it was tempered by a sudden desire that caused her thighs to quiver and her mouth to long for the touch of the striking young reiver before her.

Will nudged his horse closer, the fire in his eyes intensifying, and this time fear surged to the fore, jarring Maggie back to her senses. No matter how handsome he may appear, he remained at heart a murdering barbarian, his intentions all too clear. Digging her heels into the soft earth, she pushed herself into an upright position and started running for the tower.

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33 Remarkable Sci-Fi Books (Ranked) To Read In Your Lifetime (For 2024) https://joelbooks.com/sci-fi-books-of-to-read-in-your-life-ranked/ Fri, 11 Feb 2022 09:23:00 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=5285

In case of sci-fi books the limit is only your...

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In case of sci-fi books the limit is only your own imagination.

Do you ever dream of a comprehensive collection of sci-fi books of our time? We attempt to mix and rank the classics with the newest works of science fiction books. Sci-fi novels are often written with out of the box ideas that may seem unbelievable, but that is precisely what makes them so appealing.

Part of the best sci-fi books are classics, known by nearly every person who reads. And yet there are still some new ones worth mentioning, they are simply a “must”.

What Are The Best Known Sci-fi Books Genres?

There are a great number of science fiction book categories, just some of the main ones:

Our list ranks the top science fiction novels ever written, starting with #1, but honestly in terms of story #20 is as good as the first, just different. Anyone can suggest new titles on our Twitter page via message, making it more accurate.

These books represent the greatest works in the world of science fiction. It doesn't really matter whether they're classic or modern, utopian or dystopian we tried to find the most relevant ones. We think fantasy is a separated genre so you won't find any Tolkien books here. We preserved not to put more than one work from the same author into this list.

What Are The Essential Must-read Science Fiction Novels of Our Time?

Foundation (Foundation Trilogy), by Isaac Asimov (1951)

The book first shows a “psychohistorian” named Hari Seldon, whose research uses mathematics in order to predict the future. The Emperor (Cleon I) does not have the ability to prevent the decline of the their civilization predicted by Seldon. Seldon collects clever scientists and students to an unkown planet to save the most important knowledge of the humankind, and to start a new society mastering technology, art and science. This is the “Foundation”.

Isaac Asimov's tremendous and influential Foundation series stood out for its mix of bold action, imaginative ideals, and extensive worldbuilding. If you want to read the series in chronological order, you need to know that the author wrote the first parts (Prelude to Foundation 1988) of the story years after the original Foundation trilogy (Foundation. 1951).

AMAZON B&N ABEBOOKS

Ender’s Game (Ender's Game Series), by Orson Scott Card (1985)

The army are recruiting young soldiers to prepare for the next attack of a hostile alien race. Ender, a brilliant young boy quickly becomes familiar with military tactics and mastered his leadership skills in order to lead the army against the aliens. But not every detail fits into the great picture.

Clearly, Ender’s Game is the mark of an excellent sci-fi book, so a lot of people probably share my assessment of author's work. This sci-fi book has aliens, ridiculously smart children, a fast-paced and interesting plot line and action and battle and war! It's beautiful written and should certainly be read.

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Pandora's Star (Commonwealth Saga), by Peter F. Hamilton (2004)

In 2380 humankind lives in different planets connected by a wormhole. Sentient alien races, independent AI and advanced biotechnology are all part of this future.
An astronomer Dudley Bose observes a strange thing on the sky: the Dyson Pair, two stars seemingly disappeared, which couldn't be a natural phenomenon. The Commonwealth creates “Second Chance” (an interstellar spaceship) to investigate the phenomena. After the ship comes closer to the foreign star system they discover an aggressive species called the Primes.

Overall, a splendid piece of science fiction escapism. Hamilton deftly creates an absolutely believable future set hundreds of years in the future, which in itself is rather impressive.

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Old Man's War (Old Man's War Series), by John Scalzi (2007)

A lot of people love Scalzi's writing raw style filled with natural humour. In this military science fiction Scalzi plays with the idea of immortality which is only available for the armed forces. Soon the protagonist John Perry found himself in the middle of a galactical war between Humankind and Consus. John Perry celebrated his 75th birthday celebration by going to the grave of his wife and in the army.

John Scalzi's Old Man's War is a series, that is ground breaking in modern sci-fi books. It uses humor and well developed characters to introduce some interesting hence not totally new technology and it's implications. Overall this novel by the author isn't accidentally on the 4th spot.

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Dune, by Frank Herbert (1965)

We found ourself 20,000 years in the future where people are living across the galaxy. One of their favorite resource is called “melange” a spice which is extremely rare. Two big house is facing against each other the House of Atreides and the Harkonnens. In Frank Herbert's book, we find some classic motives combined with a great story played in rather than strange universe.

A sympathetic, dramatic hero's journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his comprehension, who must travel to the most terrible place in the cosmos in order to ensure the safety of his loved ones and his people.

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Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos), by Dan Simmons (2011)

Seven people, seven stories, one thing in common. They have been chosen to visit the Shrike (an incredible strong creature of the universe) in the Time Tombs on Hyperion. There are people who worship this creature and there are the ones against it. Nearing Armageddon, the seven prophets set out to uncover the secrets of the mystery.

Dan Simmons has certainly added important values to today's modern sci-fi storytelling. The book is ultra intelligent and the parallels are phenomenal. If you into intelligent multiple storyline books this one is definitely a timeless sci-fi book.

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2312, by Kim Stanley Robinson (2012)

Scientific advances have opened new avenues for exploration, but numerous developments have occurred throughout space and time. in 2312 Earth is no longer our only home. The number of our habitats have expanded beyond our solar system. The next year, a sequence of events will challenge humanity to confront our past, present, and future.

The book includes a substantial amount of hypothetical information on how people can quickly and easily travel in and across the solar system. Some of these ideas are quite advanced, and in a sense sounds like a real world possibility. Anyway Kim Stanley Robinson's book is a real deal among hard science fiction novels.

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1984, by George Orwell (1949)

A timeless classic dystopia by George Orwell. In this book we meet The Party, which controls everything in this world. The eyes of the Big Brother is everywhere, and every intention which isn't matching the aspiration of the Party is considered against the Party.

The story starts when the Party is forcing the implementation of a new language called “Newspeak” in order to eliminate all rebellious thoughts and words from the language. Our protagonist Winston quickly finds himself in the middle of situation he never ever wanted to be in. In this unpleasant world, spies are in every corner and the abuse of power is a commonplace.

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Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline (2011)

2045, Earth. We jump into the world of Virtual Reality where a so-called OASIS is in the middle of everyday life. Everybody related somehow to this virtual world, but mainly the lower class, who finds a new opportunity, a new place where they could be famous and even rich.

The creator of OASIS hided several easter eggs in this virtual universe, anyone who founds these keys become instantly famous. Ready Player One is a fast-paced near-future sci-fi with a lot of relations to today's gaming world.

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Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir (2021)

Only Ryland Grace survived the last-chance mission, and in the event that he fails, the whole world itself will be destroyed. All he knows is that he's been asleep for quite a long time. And he's just been awoken to discover himself millions of miles away from his home with only two corpses as company. And the clock is ticking…

This book is even better then Andy Weir's Martian, more mystery, more uncertainty and a real adventure. Ryland Grace should face with unusual discoveries and a lot of danger.

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Recursion, by Blake Crouch (2019)

If you had the ability to go back to the exact same time and place from which a catastrophe occurred. Could you save the world from the disaster? What if this hope would be only a zero-sum game, and there is no real hope of changing things, or?

With the release of his novel, Dark Matter, Blake Crouch revealed himself to many readers as a master of psychological suspense. Three years later, it seems Crouch has established a strong genre of it's own to show to the global audience that sci-fi is more than just space travel.

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams (2007)

If you are looking for sci-fi humor this book is definitely the no.1. Strange characters in a comedy collection featuring Marvin the paranoid robot, Arthur Dent the hapless protagonist and many others.

Douglas Adams’s popular novel refreshes our minds by posing cosmology-shattering puzzles, trampling years of relativistic physics, toying with bouncing balls and digital clocks, and providing us with excellent commentary on such matters as dot matrix printing, potted plants, and ballpoint pens.

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The Ghost in the Shell, by Masamune Shirow (1989)

The Ghost in the Shell begins in 2029, featuring Section 9 led by Chief Daisuke Aramaki and Major Motoko Kusanagi. As they investigate the Puppeteer, a cyber-criminal wanted for committing a large number of crimes by proxy through “ghost hacking” using the “cyberbrains” of the victims.

This story questions the entire existence of soul and the nature of mind. What motivation lies behind the intelligent existence. The storyline is somehow melancholic, but the questions and conversations reveal much more from the human psyche than any other books from this list.

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The Three-Body Problem, Liu Cixin (2008)

At the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in China, a woman named Ye Wenjie witnessed the brutal murder of her father by a mob, giving rise to the Three-Body Problem. While at a labor camp, she is now at an isolated scientific facility where she can utilize some of her astrophysics training. While there yet, she conducts some research, and ends up developing a way for a radio wave signal to be amplified to beam into space.

Fed up with humans and with the treatment that she has been through, she anwers to Trisolarans allowing them to come to Earth. Trisolaris are coming from another world. Their home orbits around three stars in an unpredictable way, repeatedly destroying their civilization over and over again.

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The Fifth Season (The Borken Earth Series), by N. K. Jemisin (2015)

A gifted woman (Essun) must hide her secret ability and find her abducted daughter in a strange world of mystery. On this planet, there exist orogenes , which are beings which possess superhuman strength. Characteristic abilities of orogenes include facilitating moderation of seismic activity, as well as causing natural disasters, such as earthquakes, which can also cause fatalities.

If two normal parents note their child has a orogenic power, they will either kill the child for being a monster as grownup, or allowing Fulcrum to take the child.

The story of three orogene women. A child, a young woman, and a middle-aged woman, all follow the adversities they endure and the racism they face as a result of their abilities.

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Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson (1992)

Snow Crash, a frenetic and somewhat eerie film, grabs you from the beginning in its opening sequence a thrilling race through an anarchic Los Angeles that has been cut up into corporate-owned ‘burbclaves.’

Our protagonist, Hiro Protagonist, a hacker and swordsman, must combat a virus that is endangering a religion. The station's central core appears to be occupied by apparitions related to fantasies.

The books makes connection between old sic-fi concepts and todays always connected world in poplar terms the ‘metaverse‘.

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Consider Phlebas (Culture Series), by Iain M. Banks (1987)

The Idirans strived for their independence, while the Culture was determined to defend their moral integrity. Principles had been at stake. No concession is possible.

The novel revolves around a war between the Idiran and Culture. This story is set in numerous microcosms. Its protagonist, Bora Horza Gobuchul, is an opponent of the Culture.

This is the first published novel of the Culture series. It presented the series from the viewpoint of an opposite party, namely, the enemy.

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Neuromancer (Sprawl Series), by William Gibson (1984)

A futuristic cyberpunk sci-fi book surrounds a group of mercenary criminals working to collect the data of an AI that's trying to break free. Neuromancer follows its protagonist Case, an unemployed computer hacker who is hired by a mysterious new organization named Armitage.

He’s teamed up with Molly (a cyborg) and Peter Riviera an illusionist to bring about a series of criminal activities meant to be the beginnings of a final mission. Which takes place on the orbiting space station called Freeside, home to the fortune-seeking Tessier-Ashpool family.

The family has made two AIs (Wintermute and Neuromancer) who are so powerful that they should be never linked together. Case and his partners discovered that they were hired by Wintermute to work towards accomplishing a connection between the two AIs.

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The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig (2020)

This is an uplifting sci-fi book also suitable for romance lovers.

Matt Haig's work The Midnight Library delves into the infinite realms of human existence. It is about a young woman named Nora Seed, who lives a dull, uninteresting life. One night, her despair reaches a peak and she commits suicide.

The story doesn't end there. Nora gets a chance to experience various ways her life could be had she done slightly different things. She finds herself in a place known as the Midnight Library, which occupies one of two areas between life and death, and is overflowing with infinite parallel lives she might have led.

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Altered Carbon (Takashi Kovacs Series), by Richard K. Morgan (2002)

By the beginning of the 25th century, humanity had spread across the entire galaxy. The world watched over by the U.N., which maintains the peace. Even in the era of modern science, there's still a lot of diversity and conflict left.

Takashi Kovacs has multiple lives, but now ha receives a new body once again. Kovacs dropped into a conspiracy of dark forces. Slowly he understand the motives and the huge gap between the wealthy and poor lives.

A well built story, and a very good world built in the future. This series reminds me of the cyberpunk novels of William Gibson.

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Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury (1953)

Fahrenheit 451 chronicles Guy Montag's progress from a fireman who hated books to a rebel reader. Montag lives in an oppressive civilization that strives to eliminate all problems, discrepancies, and inconsistencies to ensure simple pleasure for all its citizens.

Montag's perception of life begins to alter when his new friend Clarisse introduces him to a world, drawing him back to a time when society lived according to the ideas of books instead of the noise of television.

If you are into classics, than finding the starting line “It was a pleasure to burn.” will definitely warm up your heart at the very beginning of the book.

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Winter World (The Long Winter Trilogy), by A.G. Riddle (2019)

Mankind has had to grapple with imminent extinction, thanks to the onset of a new ice age. The latest refuge for survivors of the glaciers has been crowded out, forced to flee the only available, last habitable lands. From these lands, only they can escape their inherent desire to wage a war yet entirely inevitable.

At the very edge of the solar spectrum, a group of scientists notice a brief glimmer of something that shouldn't be there. Humankind must come to the conclusion that maybe they aren't entirely alone. And maybe this intelligence is only here to vanish our existence on this planet.

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Rama II, Arthur C. Clarke (1989)

In Rama II, many years have passed since a wildly unexpected rover was boarded by humans for a period of time as they passed through Earth's solar system. Humanity is now getting ready for the arrival of a second extraterrestrial spacecraft, determined to investigate its secrets.

A team of a dozen astronauts, with diverse personalities and abilities, will board the craft, ahead of them realizing that someone among them is a betrayer and a looming calamity accidentally strands three of them alone on board as the spacecraft leaves the solar system. Characters' lack of knowledge regarding places and their length of stay on board provide insight into various aspects of space survival.

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To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, by Christopher Paolini (2020)

Kira finds that an alien relic during her survey mission on a planet uncolonized. She is delighted upon discovering it, but the flash of ecstasy is extinguished when the alien dust around her begins to vibrate.

Kira is introduced through the course of a war into a voyage of self-discovery. Her first contact with beings far from Earth is quite different from her expectation, and it brings her to a place where she is not before.

While Kira and Earth fight for survival, the fate of humanity rest in their hands. Now, Kira might be humanity's only hope.

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Exhalation, by Ted Chiang (2019)

Exhalation is an awesome re-framing of the scientific laws inherent in entropy. What is Expected of Us illuminates the social consequences of experiential evidence that the notion of pure choice is an illusion.

People who study the book Exhalation felt like they were re-visiting a place of childhood. They felt like hearing a song they had only heard before. Perhaps I never found any similar collection of science-fiction short stories that resembled similar style and ideas.

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Solaris, by Stanislaw Lem (1961)

The book follows a team of researchers and scientist as they attempt to comprehend an extraterrestrial intelligence, which takes the form of a vast ocean on the titular alien world.

Scientists have observed intricate patterns of behavior, including a course that seems to almost rectify itself. But since only the water of the ocean looks like human biochemistry, its existence is hard to confirm.

Kris Kelvin, an overly objective psychologist is sent to a space station orbiting Earth. When he arrives, he finds out that a scientist has committed suicide dooming the others into nervous collapse.

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Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr (2021)

The book tells the tale of Aethon, a man who sets out to search for the “utopian city in the sky” called Cloud Cuckoo Land. Along the way, he has many adventures (transformed into a donkey, captured, escapes, transformed into a fish, eaten by a sea creature, transformed into a crow, etc.) before he at last finds Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Doerr's novel includes an orphaned girl and a farmer boy in the 1400's, an environmentalist setting off a bomb in a library in 2020, and a girl on a mission to a distant planet in the not-so-distant future.

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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick (1968)

We follow the story of detective Rick Deckard in San Francisco as he tracks down runaway androids. These androids are made of organic matter so similar to a human's that only posthumous “bone marrow analysis” can differentiate them, making them nearly impossible to distinguish from real people.

Dextra tries this undertaking so he can acquire enough bounty money to obtain a live animal to replace his homed-in computer sheep to address his upset wife's depression. The protagonist lands one of the Rosen Association's headquarters in Seattle to verify what the newest empathy analysis implies for calculating android identities.

The author creates fascinating storyline so that it is difficult to tell what is really happening. But during reading the lines you simply fall under the magic of the author.

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88 Names, by Matt Ruff (2020)

Matt Ruff likes interesting speculative fictions, and he composes them usually in literary style.

John Chu is a “sherpa” who plays Call to Wizardry which is an online RPG. For money he supplies new players with a high experienced character equipped with the best weapons and armor. He can take you dragon-slaying in Asgarth's realms, hunt a rogue starship in the Alpha Sector or battle hordes of undead in the zombie apocalypse.

Chu has recently taken on new client Mr. Jones, who claims to be a rich and famous person with powerful enemies, and he's offering a staggering amount of money for an all-encompassing tour of the world of Call to Wizardy. For Chu, this mission is like a dream assignment, but as the tour gets underway. He begins to suspect that Mr. Jones is in fact the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, and plays under fake identity.

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Terms of Enlistment (Frontlines Series), by Marko Kloos (2013)

2108 and the North American Commonwealth are overrun by its rapid growth. For Andrew Grayson, there are only two options for struggling welfare rats like himself: He could send his younger sister into a lottery and hope to win a ticket on a colony ship off-world, or he could stay at the run-down tenement and hope that the authorities neglect to notice that it's not their own fault.

In order to get off the sheltered planet back home, Andrew decides to enlist in the Army. In response, Andrew finds himself worrying he will have nothing to show for it except a retirement bonus and a ticket off Earth. As he discovers, all of the good food and fair health care he bargained for don't come cheap.

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Invisible Planets, translated by Ken Liu (2016)

A contemporary Chinese sci-fi anthology.

I think the variety of characters and the writing were superior to a lot of the published stories in the United States and beyond. Furthermore, the stories in this book were pretty new for the eyes of the sci-fi fans in the western countries. They were unusual and intriguing than many mainstream writers' stories. This story collection had a lot of exceptional, original and diverse stories. I will be looking forward to the next sci-fi book from Ken Liu after his latest work Broken Stars.

My favorite stories from this collection were Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang and Tongtong's Summer by Xia Jia.

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Red Rising (Red Rising Series), by Pierce Brown (2014)

Darrow is a ‘Red' native to the color coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he will make the surface of Mars livable for future generations. He put his faith that his hard work and blood will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been deceived. Soon he discovers that humanity exited the surface centuries ago. Vast cities and lush fertile plains cover the planet. Darrow and other Reds are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Darrow is driven by the desire to see justice, he goes to the Legendary Institute. A proving ground for the elite Gold caste, hoping to gain access to its powerful ruling class.

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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games Series), by Suzanne Collins (2020)

It's the morning of the tenth annual Hunger Games that kickoffs the annual Hunger Games. In The Capitol, Coriolanus Snow is preparing for one game victory as a coach in the Games. Snow's once-prosperous mansion is currently struggling to hang on. Considering that Coriolanus is relying on some kind of self-sacrifice for winning the school contest, to which he is desperate to outdo all of his fellow classmates.

He has received the ill-favored assignment of instructing the District 12 female tribute. Coriolanus's future can no longer be untangled from any of his actions – each choice he makes will dictate whether he gets ahead or gets wiped out. Inside of the arena, it will be a war to the death. Outside of it, Coriolanus senses the depth of his powerlessness.

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Conjunction (The Wise Society Series), by A.D. Zoltan and Steven N. Nagy (2022)

When we first read Conjunction it didn't feel like a debut novel. The story blends a spiritual journey with a space opera which creates a unique and new sci-fi story concept.

Keat a young truth seeker born with the initial need to find answers to the big questions of life, finally gets into the mission of his life, to enter the first intergalactic spaceship that will visit alien planets with intelligent life and hopefully an advanced civilization.

But after Keat and his team arrives to Füzen the story shifts into a new dimension, almost literally.

The story has a coming of age nature, and utilizes the popular concept of reincarnation. Honestly the book has a potential to open new perspectives to people who want to believe something that is beyond the materialistic world.

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Final Thoughts on Science fiction books

In conclusion, I hope you will find this ranked list helpful in your search for the next sci-fi read! Hence our ranks are relative and highly reflects our taste for sci-fi novels, we wanted to keep our list modern and also ideal for Gen X and Z readers.

If you're still not sure, we recommend you check out some more specific book lists like military sci-fi books or the sci-fi books with mind blowing adventures.

Last updated 08.09.2022

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Ring Fold by Scott Swisher https://joelbooks.com/ring-fold-by-scott-swisher/ Fri, 21 Jan 2022 10:43:16 +0000 https://joelbooks.com/?p=19033

Jordan Zesker is one of only five descendants linked to...

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Jordan Zesker is one of only five descendants linked to “The Ring.” She thinks the 1920s are tough, but family debt and speakeasy blues will soon seem insignificant. Her blood type, a bona fide blessing and a curse, has placed her in the sights of TEMPUS. Shadowy forces have long worked to weaponize the chosen few endowed with the gift to transcend time and space… and absolutely nowhere is safe.

When Jacob appears out of the blue, bearing news too strange to believe, a staggering decision must be made: will Jordan cling to her desolate life or trust this stranger and help assemble an intergenerational team to somehow save humanity?

Accessing the Fold, an extradimensional passageway through time, Jordan must race to find her fated kin across the ages. Rocco in 1956. Paul in 1973. Steffi in 1984. Carissa in 2015. Each will prove essential in the battle for humankind's future—and past.

Should diabolic entities succeed in overtaking the Fold, it won't just mean the end of Jordan's kind but all things good.

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