From the moment I first stumbled upon Michael Moorcock’s The Warlord of the Air in the 1970s, I was hooked on Time Travel Books. It was a revelation, my first foray into alternate history and time travel narratives, and it resonated deeply. Revisiting it decades later only solidified its place as a timeless favorite. Few books manage to maintain that magic across years, but this one truly did.
Later, Peter Delacorte’s Time on My Hands captivated me with its intriguing premise. Imagine a time traveler journeying back to the 1930s, tasked with altering a past political misstep, only to fall in love with someone whose fate is already sealed. The ensuing struggle to bend time to his will makes for a compelling read. For anyone who enjoys a blend of romance and time paradoxes, this is a strong recommendation.
Martin Gidron’s Sidewise Award-winning novel, The Severed Wing, also deserves high praise. Its richly imagined world, depicting a Yiddish New York in the year 2000, was utterly captivating and left me yearning for more stories within that universe. For enthusiasts of alternate history, exploring Sidewise Award winners at http://www.uchronia.com/ is highly recommended; it’s a fantastic resource for discovering new publications in the genre and staying updated on alternate history literature.
However, for me, H. Beam Piper’s Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen remains the ultimate time travel and alternate history book. My father introduced me to this gem as a bedtime story back in 1966, and I was instantly transported. The story completely enthralled me. While perhaps it doesn’t hold up quite as perfectly as The Warlord of the Air upon rereading in adulthood, it is still an exceptionally worthwhile book. Finding it within the Paratime omnibus offers valuable context and enhances the reading experience. If you’re looking for classic time travel books, Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen is an excellent starting point.
