I thought perhaps I would list a few of my favorite time travel novels with a quick review of each.
The Time Traders by Andre Norton – Of course, my first item is the novel that inspired my writing of science fiction, which was the first novel I read as a child. This story is about a street-wise bad boy who was selected for training in a government project that used time travel in an attempt to discover how the Reds (Russia) have acquired unearthly tools to advance their goals. This is a time just after Sputnik and before space travel. A second version of the novel has been slightly updated. One criticism by some is that all the players readily accept time travel but nobody knows anything about space travel. I have read both versions and, considering the usual “suspension of disbelief,” both versions are enjoyable and entertaining.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895) – Although old, this novel is surprisingly not dated. The book is about a genius scientist who related an interesting tale of time travel to some friends. The tale depicts the scientist building a time machine and traveling 800,000 years into the future to discover a dying Earth with two societies, one literally “feeding” on the other as if they were cattle. The theme of the book seems to be Wells’ comment about his current society. Nowhere does it explain how time travel works or even offer proof that the scientist did travel through time other than that he eventually disappeared and never returned. H.G. Wells, the “father” of science fiction, wrote over 100 science fiction novels.
In Times Like These by Nathan Van Coops (2013+) – This is a series of time travel novels about a group of young people accidentally caught up in time travel. Rare “gravitites” are key to the science described in the series. These particles are infused into people and things so that time travel can occur. The series deals with the mechanics of time travel, its limitations, its amazing possibilities, and its inherent dangers. Van Coops is a master craftsman of science fiction, and his series is a superb read. His use of journal quotes at the beginning of every chapter inspired me to use proverbs and sayings at the beginning of all the chapters in my novel “The Time Trinket.”
36 and The Void by Dirk Patton – In this series, the protagonist is spirited away from his death row execution to participate in a government program using time travel to redact bad actors threatening the United States. The project goal is to reverse terrorist events that have already occurred. The science portrayed limits redaction efforts to only 36 hours after an event. However, things don’t go as planned. Twists and betrayals abound and multiple timelines interact unexpectedly. The series continues with “The Void” where the protagonist finds himself transported to the distant past with no way home. This is a unique thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
This is just hitting the high points. I will review other novels in the future.