The Greatest "Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Time travel" Books Since 2000

Click to learn how this list is calculated.

This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 300 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

Filter by: Genres Dates Countries
Follow on:

Genres

Fiction

Speculative Fiction

Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre encompassing narrative fiction with supernatural or futuristic elements. This includes genres such as science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history. The unifying factor of speculative fiction is its departure from the narrative constraints of reality, exploring imaginative and often profound questions that challenge our understanding of the world and our place within it. These stories often delve into themes like the human condition, social commentary, and the exploration of philosophical and ethical dilemmas through the lens of the fantastical or the yet-to-be-possible. By pushing the boundaries of the known, speculative fiction invites readers to consider the myriad possibilities of existence and the potential consequences of our actions in worlds that are, at once, vastly different from and eerily similar to our own.

Time travel

The category of "Time travel" books typically involves stories where characters travel through time, either intentionally or accidentally, to different eras or periods in history. These books often explore the consequences of altering the past or future, and the challenges and dangers that come with navigating different time periods. Time travel books can span a variety of genres, including science fiction, historical fiction, romance, and adventure, and offer readers a unique perspective on the possibilities and complexities of time travel.

Add additional genre filters

Countries

Date Range

Filter

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download
  1. 1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

    The novel tells the story of a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably, and his wife, an artist who has to cope with his frequent absences and dangerous experiences. Their love story endures many separations and dangerous experiences due to his condition. The story's central theme is the effects of time travel on their marriage and their passionate love for each other.

  2. 2. 11 22 63 by Stephen King

    "11/22/63" is a science fiction novel by Stephen King that follows the story of Jake Epping, a high school English teacher who discovers a portal that leads to 1958. After being convinced by his friend Al to use the portal to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Jake embarks on a journey through time to change the course of history. Along the way, he falls in love with a woman named Sadie and faces various obstacles that threaten to alter the timeline he is trying to change. The book explores themes of love, loss, and the consequences of trying to change the past.

  3. 3. Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

    "Night Watch" is a satirical fantasy novel that follows the story of Sam Vimes, a city watch commander who is transported back in time. He must navigate the complexities of the past, assume the identity of his old mentor, and prevent a violent revolution, all while trying to find a way back to his own time. The book is filled with humor, social commentary, and a detailed fantasy world.

  4. 4. How To Live Safely In A Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu

    In this metafictional novel, a time machine repairman, trapped in a time loop, searches for his father and the meaning of his existence within a universe that operates on science fiction tropes. As he navigates a landscape filled with paradoxes, dog-eared pages of his life, and a self-aware narrative, he confronts his past and the nature of reality itself. The book blends emotional depth with quantum mechanics, exploring themes of family, memory, and the passage of time, all while breaking the fourth wall and challenging the conventions of storytelling.

  5. 5. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell

    This novel weaves together the lives of diverse characters through a narrative that spans decades, centering on a teenage runaway with psychic abilities. As she becomes embroiled in a covert war between immortal factions, the story explores themes of mortality, power, and the interconnectedness of human lives. The intricate plot moves through different times and places, revealing a hidden world of mysticism and a looming apocalyptic crisis, all while examining the impact of our actions on the future of the planet.

  6. 6. Thief Of Time by Terry Pratchett

    In this satirical fantasy novel, the concept of time is personified and at risk as a young clockmaker is tricked into creating a time-stopping clock, which could bring about the end of the world. Meanwhile, the history monks, guardians of time, along with the anthropomorphic personification of Death and his granddaughter, work to prevent this temporal catastrophe. The narrative weaves through multiple storylines filled with quirky characters, including a martial arts monk with a talent for baking, as they confront the nature of time, the importance of living in the moment, and the challenge of managing an increasingly unstable reality. The book combines humor, philosophy, and a richly detailed world to explore the complexities of time and human existence.

  7. 7. Oh Pure And Radiant Heart by Lydia Millet

    In "Oh Pure and Radiant Heart," three scientists responsible for the development of the atomic bomb—Oppenheimer, Fermi, and Szilard—mysteriously appear in the 21st century. Unaware of how they got there, they confront a world shaped by the very technology they helped create. As they grapple with their feelings of guilt and responsibility, they become involved with a librarian and her husband, embarking on a journey that takes them across the United States. The narrative weaves together the past and the present, exploring the impact of nuclear weapons on humanity and the scientists' quest for redemption in a world on the brink of forgetting the horrors of the past.

  8. 8. This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El Mohtar, Max Gladstone

    In this epistolary science fiction novel, two rival agents, Red and Blue, find themselves on opposite sides of a sprawling temporal conflict known as the Time War. As they carry out missions to manipulate the strands of history for their respective factions, their paths cross in unexpected ways. Through a series of secret letters left across time and space, what begins as taunting correspondence evolves into a deep, forbidden connection. The narrative weaves a complex tapestry of time-travel and intrigue, exploring themes of love, identity, and the consequences of actions within the ever-shifting sands of time. As their bond deepens, Red and Blue must ultimately decide where their loyalties lie and what sacrifices they are willing to make for a chance at a future together.

  9. 9. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

    In a parallel 1985 where literature is taken to extremes, a literary detective named Thursday Next navigates a world where the boundaries between reality and fiction are blurred. When a criminal mastermind begins kidnapping characters from classic novels, Thursday must enter the pages of Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" to pursue the villain and restore the beloved story to its rightful course. Her journey is fraught with danger, wit, and a touch of romance, as she contends with a time-traveling father, a pet dodo, and the complexities of her own life entwined with the fictional landscapes she protects.

  10. 10. The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

    In this historical fiction novel, we follow the continuing adventures of a time-traveling nurse from the 20th century and her 18th-century Scottish Highlander husband as they navigate the perils of life in colonial America. Set against the backdrop of the looming American Revolution, the couple struggles to maintain their family and homestead while dealing with the political and social unrest of the era. The story intertwines romance, historical events, and fantasy elements as the couple faces challenges that test their bond and their ability to shape their destiny amidst the fiery cross of change and rebellion.

  11. 11. A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon

    In this installment of the historical fiction series, the story continues to follow the lives of a time-traveling 20th-century doctor and her 18th-century Scottish Highlander husband as they navigate the perils of life in colonial America. As the American Revolution looms, the couple faces personal tragedies, political upheaval, and the constant threat of violence. They struggle to protect their family and their community in the backwoods of North Carolina, all while dealing with the complexities of their unique situation and the implications of knowing the future. The novel blends romance, adventure, and historical detail, creating a vivid and tumultuous world for its characters.

  12. 12. Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis

    This two-volume science fiction narrative follows a group of historians from 2060 who travel back to World War II-era England for research purposes. However, their mission goes awry when they become trapped in the past due to irregularities in the time travel system. As they navigate the dangers of the Blitz and other historical events, they must also confront the possibility that their actions could alter history. The characters grapple with the chaos of war, the intricacies of time travel, and the moral dilemmas of potentially impacting the future, all while trying to find a way back to their own time.

  13. 13. Song Of Time by Ian R. MacLeod

    This novel is a poignant exploration of memory, music, and mortality, set in a near-future world facing the impacts of climate change and societal shifts. The story unfolds through the eyes of a celebrated classical violinist who, in her old age, discovers a mysterious young man washed ashore near her home. As she nurses him back to health, she reflects on her life, her loves, and the music that has been her constant companion, weaving a rich tapestry of personal and global history. The narrative delves into themes of loss, the enduring power of art, and the complex nature of human relationships, all set against a backdrop of a world on the brink of transformation.

  14. 14. The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman

    "The Freedom Maze" by Delia Sherman is a time-travel adventure story about a thirteen-year-old girl named Sophie who is sent back in time to the year 1860. Sophie, who is half African-American and half white, finds herself living on a Louisiana plantation where she is mistaken for a slave. As she struggles to survive in her new environment, she learns about the harsh realities of slavery and the importance of fighting for freedom. With the help of some unexpected allies, Sophie embarks on a dangerous journey to find her way back to her own time while also confronting the injustices of the past.

  15. 15. The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

    This novel is a gripping thriller that intertwines the lives of a time-traveling serial killer and one of his survivors, who is determined to bring him to justice. Set against the backdrop of Depression-era Chicago, the narrative follows the killer as he uses a mysterious house to travel through time and target young women with bright futures—his "shining girls." After one victim survives a brutal attack, she embarks on a relentless quest to find her assailant, uncovering a trail of similar murders stretching across decades. The story masterfully blends elements of crime, horror, and science fiction, creating a chilling and suspenseful tale of resilience and retribution.

  16. 16. Necessity by Jo Walton

    "Necessity" is the third book in a philosophical science fiction series that follows the residents of a distant planet created by the goddess Athena to experiment with Plato's ideal society. The story takes place generations after the founding of the city, where gods, humans, and sentient robots coexist. The narrative explores complex themes such as the nature of choice, the existence of gods, and the development of societies. When the planet faces a potential existential threat, its inhabitants must grapple with their destiny and the implications of their existence within a universe where the lines between myth and reality are blurred.

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download