The Ministry of Time (novel)

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The Ministry of Time
Author Kaliane Bradley
LanguageEnglish
Genre Science fiction, Romance
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Publication date
2024
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Pages352
ISBN 9781668045145

The Ministry of Time is a 2024 debut novel by British-Cambodian writer Kaliane Bradley. [1] It was originally published by Hodder & Stoughton. The novel is a sci-fi romance about a government employee in the newly founded Ministry of Time, taking care of one of the first time-travellers, known as "expats".

Contents

Plot

The Ministry of Time's protagonist is an unnamed civil servant (whose British-Cambodian background resembles the author's), who is hired to work at the newly formed intergovernmental Ministry of Time in London. She serves as a "bridge" to one of the first time-travellers, known as "expats." She lives with, monitors and helps adjust Graham Gore, a ship commander who would've perished in Franklin's lost expedition in the Arctic, to modernity.

Creation

Bradley conceived of the novel during the 2020 COVID pandemic, while watching the AMC series The Terror , in which Gore is a minor character. To entertain friends, she wrote vignettes for several weeks imagining Gore brushing up against modern England. [2]

Reception

It won the Readers' Favorite Science Fiction novels of 2024, as voted by Goodreads members. [3] It was chosen as a Good Morning America Book Club selection.

It was shortlisted for Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2024, [4] and longlisted for the Climate Fiction Prize 2025. [5]

Writing for Literary Review, Ed Cumming dubbed it, "the loudest debut of the year." and "a gleeful romp across genres." [6] Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Lauren LeBlanc called it a, "witty, thought-provoking romance novel." [7]

Adaptation

In February 2024, the BBC announced it had commissioned a new drama based on the novel, from Alice Birch. The six-part series will be produced by A24 for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. [8]

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References

  1. "THE MINISTRY OF TIME". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  2. PUCKETT-POPE, LAUREN. "Kaliane Bradley Fell in Love With a Dead Man. The Result Is The Ministry of Time". Elle. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  3. "The Ministry of Time". Goodreads. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  4. Pheby, Alex. "An instant New York Times and Sunday Times Bestseller Shortlisted for the Waterstone's Debut Fiction Prize 2024". Newcastle University. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  5. "Explore the longlist". The Climate Fiction Prize. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  6. Cumming, Ed. "Blast from the Past". Literary Review. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  7. LeBlanc, Lauren. "Time travel and surveillance state paranoia collide in a witty, thought-provoking romance novel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  8. "BBC enters The Ministry of Time, adapted by Alice Birch from Kaliane Bradley's debut novel". BBC. Retrieved January 10, 2025.