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The Ministry of Time: A Novel Hardcover – May 7, 2024

by Kaliane Bradley (Author)
Editors' pick Best Books of the Year So Far 2024
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK

“This summer’s hottest debut.” —Cosmopolitan • “Witty, sexy escapist fiction [that] packs a substantial punch...Fresh and thrilling.” —Los Angeles Times • “Electric...I loved every second.” —Emily Henry

“Utterly winning...Imagine if The Time Traveler’s Wife had an affair with A Gentleman in Moscow...Readers, I envy you: There’s a smart, witty novel in your future.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley.

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.

She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machines,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” But with an appetite for discovery, a seven-a-day cigarette habit, and the support of a charming and chaotic cast of fellow expats, he soon adjusts.

Over the next year, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a horrifically uncomfortable roommate dynamic, evolves into something much deeper. By the time the true shape of the Ministry’s project comes to light, the bridge has fallen haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences she never could have imagined. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how—and whether she believes—what she does next can change the future.

An exquisitely original and feverishly fun fusion of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time asks: What does it mean to defy history, when history is living in your house? Kaliane Bradley’s answer is a blazing, unforgettable testament to what we owe each other in a changing world.
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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
  4. Publication date
    May 7, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1668045141
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1668045145
  8. See all details
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  1. Forgiveness, which takes you back to the person you were and lets you reset them. Hope, which exists in a future in which you are new. Forgiveness and hope are miracles. They let you change your life. They are time-travel.
    Highlighted by 816 Kindle readers
  2. If you ever fall in love, you’ll be a person who was in love for the rest of your life.
    Highlighted by 622 Kindle readers
  3. This was one of my first lessons in how you make the future: moment by moment, you seal the doors of possibility behind you.
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From the Publisher

The Ministry of Time

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Bradley's] utterly winning book is a result of violating not so much the laws of physics as the boundaries of genre. Imagine if The Time Traveler’s Wife had an affair with A Gentleman in Moscow. . . You’d need a nuclear-powered flux capacitor to generate more charisma than Gore. . . His banter with the narrator crackles off the page . . . Readers, I envy you: There’s a smart, witty novel in your future."—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

"The Ministry of Time reads like a novel that was written for pleasure . . . this is the kind of summer romp that also sparks real thought. . . . [G]ive in to the tide of this book, and let it pull you along. It’s very smart; it’s very silly; and the obvious fun never obscures completely the sheer, gorgeous, wild stretch of her ideas."—Ella Risbridger, The Guardian

“Bradley pulls off a rare feat. The Ministry of Time doesn’t stoop to easy answers and doesn’t devolve into polemic. It’s a smart, gripping work that’s also a feast for the senses. An assassination, moles, questions of identity and violence wreak havoc on our happy lovers and the bubble they create in London. Yet our affection for them is as fresh and thrilling as theirs is for one another . . . An edgy, playful and provocative book that’s likely to be the most thought-provoking romance novel of the summer. "—Lauren LeBlanc, Los Angeles Times

"A hilarious yet poignant take on dislocation, loss, and oddball community . . . A twisty plotline that incorporates plenty of John le Carré and Mick Herron spy-craft references . . . with the silly, incisive, and spot-on comedy of Douglas Adams."—Daneet Steffens, The Boston Globe

“Bradley ‘s writing is clear and stylish, her dialogue dry and sprightly; the serious matters of love and mortality are cloaked in humour, but never too heavily . . . If you loved Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, or the big hit of 2022, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, [The Ministry of Time] will be right up your street . . . A rattling good adventure story too, the twists at the end [are] perfectly earned . . . Don’t wait for this tale to come to the small screen. Crack this book open and you’ll see how time can disappear.”—Erica Wagner, Financial Times

“[The Ministry of Time] basically has everything you would want in a book in one incredible and exhilarating read that you'll definitely tell all your friends about.” —Cosmopolitan

"A revelatory page-turner."—People

“If you're a fan of Outlander, spy novels, time travel books, or just really innovative and fun storytelling, The Ministry of Time is definitely for you.” —Town & Country, "45 Must-Read Books of Spring 2024"

"This will be the book everyone is talking about this summer. Booksellers, social media, your parents, your teens. Everyone will simply love this time-traveling spy romance. It literally checks off all of the boxes for what a damn good book should be. Just go get it right now. Seriously."—Debutiful

"This is a lightning strike of a story that will appeal to fans of time travel, spy novels, romance, and bittersweet, satirical office drama alike. The result is part 'Kate and Leopold' and part Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.” —Polygon

"An outrageously brilliant debut with a premise that just gets more and more original. The Ministry of Time pulls off the neatest trick of speculative fiction, first estranging us from our own era, and then facilitating our immigration back into the present; but it is also a love story, exploratory, sensitive, charged with possibility, and powered by desire, reminding us that history is synonymous with human beings, and that we all have the ability to change it. This is already the best new book I will have read next year." —Eleanor Catton, author of Birnam Wood

“The Ministry of Time is as electric, charming, whimsical, and strange as its ripped-from-history cast. (Extremely.) I loved every second I spent wrapped up in Kaliane Bradley's stunning prose, the moments that made me laugh and those that made my heart ache. This is a book that surprises as much as it delights, and I'm already impatiently waiting for whatever Bradley concocts next." —Emily Henry, author of Funny Story

“Smart and affecting, full of ideas plus aslow-burning love story. It’s a wonderful debut.” —David Nicholls, New York Times bestselling author of One Day

"Fantastically fun and unmistakably urgent, The Ministry of Time is an ecstatic celebration of fiction in all its vehement, ungovernable, mutinous glory." —Megha Majumdar, author of A Burning

"Hugely enjoyable: ingeniously constructed, beautifully written, and unexpectedly sexy. It is the rarest of creations: a boldly entertaining page-tuner that is also deeply, thoughtfully engaged with our past, present and future." —Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre

About the Author

Kaliane Bradley is a British-Cambodian writer and editor based in London. Her short fiction has appeared in Somesuch Stories, The Willowherb Review, Electric Literature, Catapult, and Extra Teeth, among others. She was the winner of the 2022 Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Prize and the 2022 V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster (May 7, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668045141
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668045145
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Kaliane Bradley

Kaliane Bradley

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I am a writer and editor based in London. I've written short stories and essays, which have appeared in places like Catapult, Electric Literature, The Tangerine and Extra Teeth, among others. I was the winner of the 2022 Harper's Bazaar Short Story Prize and the 2022 V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize. The Ministry of Time is my debut novel.

I started writing The Ministry of Time after getting very invested in historical polar exploration, especially the 1845 Franklin Expedition and one of the officers on it, Graham Gore. The book grew out of a sort of literary parlour game I was writing for my friends: what would it be like if your favourite polar explorer lived in your house? It turns out that living with a Victorian man would probably force you to confront the legacy of British imperialism, the state of 21st century Britain - from climate crisis to Deliveroo - and the effect of the sexual revolution on flirting with a disorientated naval officer. It also forced me to confront, as a writer, the governmental apparatus that got this poor man into the 21st century in the first place... the course of sinister government project never did run smooth...

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
3,336 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the plot imaginative, compelling, and real. They describe the reading experience as wonderful and say the writing style is great with quick wit and humor. Readers also appreciate the deeply drawn and wonderfully realized characters. However, some find the book tedious, hard to follow, and boring.

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PlotWriting styleReading experienceCharactersEnjoymentComprehensibility
62 customers mention "Plot"49 positive13 negative

Customers find the plot imaginative, compelling, and beautifully written. They also say the book creatively blends sci-fi themes with modern commentary, making it an engaging read. Customers also say it has pleasant surprises and complex ideas of time. They describe the book as ambitious, vivid, and well done.

"...Relaxing, funny, engaging. Plenty of tension, drama, unpleasant events, and even a few big surprises -- but only as background for a story that’s..." Read more

"...The Ministry of Time is an engaging read that creatively blends sci-fi themes with modern commentary, making it worth your TIME!" Read more

"...Their interactions feel real. The plot has enough energy and interest to keep us guessing...." Read more

"...Writing is lyrical, clever and vivid, though sometimes overdone and verging on purple occasionally...." Read more

29 customers mention "Writing style"22 positive7 negative

Customers find the writing style great, clever, and vivid. They also say the author is a poet and has quick wit.

"...Interesting but straightforward premise. Skillful storytelling and sparkling prose. Relaxing, funny, engaging...." Read more

"...Yeah, yeah. The truth is that this is a beautifully written book focused on two characters working to understand each other and foster a romantic..." Read more

"...Writing is lyrical, clever and vivid, though sometimes overdone and verging on purple occasionally...." Read more

"...To me, the novel is trying too many notes, and the narrative can be a bit opaque, especially during key events...." Read more

23 customers mention "Reading experience"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a wonderful, fun read that keeps their interest. They also appreciate the concept and writing.

"...Despite these shortcomings, The Ministry of Time is an engaging read that creatively blends sci-fi themes with modern commentary, making it worth..." Read more

"I enjoyed the concept and thought "The Ministry" was well thought out. It had an air of mystery while still feeling like a real agency...." Read more

"...Ministry of Time, and many of the "sub-concepts" in the book, are really wonderful; what a great imagination Ms. Bradley has!..." Read more

"...It’s still a very good one, but not the true classic it could have been." Read more

16 customers mention "Characters"13 positive3 negative

Customers find the characters in the book wonderfully realized and engaging.

"...Bradley has created deeply drawn and wonderfully realized characters, particularly Graham Gore from a doomed 1840's Arctic expedition...." Read more

"...The characters are well drawn with just enough back-story for each. Their interactions feel real...." Read more

"...But narrator’s inferiority is generally engaging. Time travel is hard to make fresh but this author did a credible job...." Read more

"...And so well done. Key characters are filled with life while minor characters with their time travel issues support the humanity of the story...." Read more

7 customers mention "Enjoyment"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and thought-provoking.

"...Skillful storytelling and sparkling prose. Relaxing, funny, engaging...." Read more

"...blends sci-fi elements with contemporary issues, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking...." Read more

"...Way above my ken. But it was amusing and interesting most of the time, coming a bit unraveled towards the end...." Read more

"This is a well-written, interesting, exciting, fun, creepy, yet romantic book that uses the concept of time travel to write a love story that..." Read more

10 customers mention "Comprehensibility"0 positive10 negative

Customers find the book tedious, hard to follow, and boring. They also mention that the time door and travel are hard to understand, with little revealed until the end.

"...But narrator’s inferiority is generally engaging. Time travel is hard to make fresh but this author did a credible job...." Read more

"...time travel stories, but The Ministry of Time was a bit difficult for me to get into...." Read more

"Great story line. The time door & travel hard to follow as little revealed until the end...." Read more

"...Perfect read except for a little hard to follow in the middle, at least for me. Highly recommended." Read more

Time travel mystery
4 out of 5 stars
Time travel mystery
3.5 stars for The Ministry of Time by Kaliane BradleyI enjoy time travel stories, but The Ministry of Time was a bit difficult for me to get into. The plot moved a little slowly, and there were a lot of words used that I was unfamiliar with - some related to Cambodia, yes, but many others that just are not commonly part of every day 2024 vocabulary in any language.However, there were also many phrases in the novel that I found quite funny or immensely beautiful, so I’m very appreciative that a fellow book club member brought this novel to my attention. I won’t list them here and create spoilers, but I will be jotting a few down elsewhere so I may enjoy them again in the future.I also really enjoyed a couple of the expat characters developed by Bradley. Similar to my favorite phrases, one of the expats was quite funny, and the other I loved was just a beautiful soul.All in all, I am glad to have read The Ministry of Time, but I don’t know that I’d recommend it. If you have a large vocabulary or simply love learning new words, though, this book is for you.
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Top reviews from the United States

DJ
5.0 out of 5 stars I didn’t see it coming
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
‘“I’m smiling too.” “Oh? My ears aren’t quite as good as yours, I can’t hear it.” “I will endeavor to smile louder.”’ (p175)

Wow.

I thought I had this book figured out early – a time travel novel that isn’t hard to follow. Interesting but straightforward premise. Skillful storytelling and sparkling prose. Relaxing, funny, engaging. Plenty of tension, drama, unpleasant events, and even a few big surprises -- but only as background for a story that’s basically about relationships. Not particularly deep, but includes a sprinkling of thoughtful commentary. Easily four stars.

But late in the book comes a spectacular development that turns the story on its head. Everything changes instantly. I realized I’d missed all the hints and teasers; I’d even highlighted a few. I should have seen it coming. I didn’t.

Here’s a small warning. Every time something unexpected happens in the book you’re going to ask yourself whether this is the “spectacular development”. No. If you have to ask, it’s not. Believe me, you’ll know when you get there.
One person found this helpful
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James
4.0 out of 5 stars Witty and Thought-Provoking!
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
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The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is a compelling and fascinating read that had me hooked from the start! This stellar debut novel blends sci-fi elements with contemporary issues, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. The premise of a new government agency that pulls people from the past into the present day is intriguing, and the book deftly explores the resulting complexities. The inclusion of time travel, fated Arctic expeditions, and an 18th-century naval commander who plays disco music on his flute adds a unique and engaging twist!

The strength of this novel lies in its superb character development. Bradley has created deeply drawn and wonderfully realized characters, particularly Graham Gore from a doomed 1840's Arctic expedition. Gore's intelligence, wisdom, innocence, and vulnerability are vividly portrayed, making his character profoundly compelling. Other characters are equally unique and three-dimensional, each bringing their own distinctive flavor to the story. This rich cast ensures that readers genuinely care about the fates of these individuals.

The novel also includes refreshing LGBT representation, with characters expressing their identities authentically. The story alternates between the modern-day plot and Gore's final days on the HMS Erebus in the Arctic, building suspense towards the novel's climax. The romance that develops between the protagonist and Gore is carefully developed, though it is unevenly paced. The protagonist's experiences as a Cambodian immigrant in the UK provide additional depth, drawing parallels with how the Ministry treats the time expats. The protagonist's desire for power in the arena of cultural identity adds another layer of complexity.

While the novel offers extensive commentary on themes of immigration and cultural assimilation, it can sometimes feel dense and pedantic. To me, the novel is trying too many notes, and the narrative can be a bit opaque, especially during key events. Despite these shortcomings, The Ministry of Time is an engaging read that creatively blends sci-fi themes with modern commentary, making it worth your TIME!
2 people found this helpful
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Monkey
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but unsatisfactory
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2024
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I enjoyed the concept and thought "The Ministry" was well thought out. It had an air of mystery while still feeling like a real agency. There was also the assassins, the secrets her handler was discovering, and of course the MC having to get her "expact" up to date on current machines and events.
There was also a bit of romance and some lovely friendship dynamics and a couple twists when it comes to the characters futures!
It felt a little slow in parts, but it picked up and just when it was getting good, it was a huge let down. Did not enjoy that ending AT ALL! Felt rushed and unfinished and now it feels like I know nothing about what will happen to the characters 😔
Was still a pretty good read though and very original 👍👍
35 people found this helpful
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M.A.Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully drawn characters in an interesting plot
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2024
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Book critics had this book on their 'recommended' lists last month, but focused on its (subtle) themes of colonialism, the patriarchy, and so on. Yeah, yeah. The truth is that this is a beautifully written book focused on two characters working to understand each other and foster a romantic relationship. The characters are well drawn with just enough back-story for each. Their interactions feel real. The plot has enough energy and interest to keep us guessing. A beautiful book, that will leave you looking forward to the author's next.
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L. Trow
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining read, captivating premise
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
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I bought the Audible version, and the narrator was excellent with character voices and accents. I totally enjoyed this book from opening paragraphs to conclusion. Writing is lyrical, clever and vivid, though sometimes overdone and verging on purple occasionally. For example, if you took a drink every time this writer uses a simile (like or as) you’d be completely pissed by the midpoint. But narrator’s inferiority is generally engaging. Time travel is hard to make fresh but this author did a credible job. This is a romance embedded in a thriller and the author avoided an easy, sentimental conclusion. She didn’t stick the landing of the thriller plot, however.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Tatsiana
5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful writing that inspires reflection!
Reviewed in Canada on May 12, 2024
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There were so many moments when I had to put the book down and think or savour a description. What would I change today to change the future?
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Manda Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best novels I have ever read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 11, 2024
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I thought Natasha Pulley’s ‘The Kingdoms’ was the best time travel book imaginable. I never thought another could come parallel, never mind step beyond. This is undoubtedly parallel. If I read (*when* I read it) another 6 or so times, I’ll know if it’s sunk under my skin and sentences slide into my mind when I’m not expecting them. In the meantime, this is beyond beautifully written, the emotional intelligence flows off the page in subtle, magical waves, and the premise is perfect. Read it. You’ll be glad you did…
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Jane Fleming
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book
Reviewed in Germany on July 2, 2024
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I had to finish this today and it stayed with me and will stay with me for some time. There is time travel, history, and a love story, and I think the author uses time travel to reflect thoughts on migration - how can you ever feel at home in a strange place or time? Will it be enough to have friends or even family anchor you? Or will you stay an expat forever?

I'd also like to recommend Jo Walton's My other children, this is not about time travel but about alternate histories - and about dementia -, and just as stunning as The Ministry of Time.
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Tini
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Sterne - aber so was von!!!
Reviewed in Germany on June 30, 2024
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Was für ein großartiges Buch - es gibt noch immer so einzigartige Bücher, die mich fesseln, überraschen, sprachlos machen!

Bin noch immer geflasht und kann Kalianne Bradley's Obsession nachvollziehen - einfach wunderbar!
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Kim
4.0 out of 5 stars Something here for every reader.
Reviewed in Australia on June 29, 2024
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This debut novel is honestly like nothing I’ve ever read before. In a not too far in the future London, a time bridge has been discovered, and through it have come a variety of people from a range of times throughout history. Principally, we’re dealing with ‘47 aka an expat from 1847 - Graham Gore, an actual historical person who disappeared, along with many of his shipmates, in the ill-fated Arctic exploration expeditions. Or did he? Perhaps he was slipped through time, and is living in a safe house with a Woman(and unmarried one at that), in the modern ages.
With strong parallels between time travellers and their culture shock, and people who move to another country and the clash of ideals, and throwing in a love story, a bit of mind-jumping science, and a civil service spy story, this is a rollercoaster read, and has certainly marked this author for me as one to look out for.
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