which TT? Question of the Week Jan 14-20, 2023

[Cheryl]

What's your favorite (and/or second favorite, and/or least favorite) kind of Time Travel story?

Labels are only of limited accuracy, of course, nonetheless let's use them for convenient approximations.

Straight SF stories, like Replay or Recursion?

Genre SF, like so many novels from the Star Trek franchise?

Romance, like A Knight in Shining Armor or This is How You Lose the Time War?

Classics, like A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court or The Time Machine?

Historical fiction, like Time and Again or The Mirror?

Literary fiction, like Do You Realize? or Before the Coffee Gets Cold?

Something else?

[Cheryl]

I have only realized how much TT is not SF since joining this group. And that is, I admit, still my favorite kind of story... when it's done well. It seems difficult to do well these days.

I have had better luck, I think, with those books that I'm more likely to call Literary fiction. Those written nowadays that have something more to them than just the adventure of bouncing around in time.

I am also a sucker for ST:TNG and ST:TOS time travel stories.

[Pat of Rocks]

I keep to these three subgenres in even doses.
1) Straight SF with a propensity towards hard science.
2) Historical Fiction
3) Literary Fiction

[Samantha]

All of the above

[Nancy]

Straight Sci fi stories

[Addie]

I like romance TT or something about redemptions/using time to make better choices, I prefer happy endings more than bittersweet. What comes to mind rn is The Redemption of Michael Hollister by Shawn Inmon, I thought that was such a good redemption arc since he was absolutely horrible in book 1! So happy to have found other good TT book recommendations through this group :)

[Cheryl]

The Redemption of Michael Hollister for the link.

[Shawn]

Nancy wrote: "Straight Sci fi stories"

Thanks, Addie. Michael Hollister's story was the most difficult one I've ever tackled. I put off writing it for almost a year because I couldn't think of a genuine way to help him find redemption.

He kept whispering in my ear, though, which was a little unnerving since he was a serial killer. =)

In the end, his book unfolded so naturally that it was a pleasure to write. So glad you enjoyed it.

[Dennis]

Straight contemporary fiction and straight SF. Neither too far into the future nor the past. Or, if further into the past, then really far, i.e. prehistoric times. I love Ken Grimwood's Replay, Shawn Inmon's Middle Falls TT series, Stephen King's 11/22/63, and many more.

[Shawn]

Dennis wrote: "Straight contemporary fiction and straight SF. Neither too far into the future nor the past. Or, if further into the past, then really far, i.e. prehistoric times. I love Ken Grimwood's Replay, Sha..."

Thanks, Dennis. Appreciate the shout-out. 11/22/63 was a big inspiration for Middle Falls. I started the book thinking I wanted to read about the assassination, but then fell in love with everything about small town life. That was when I decided to write a book (which became a series) that focused just on the small town and time travel.

Cheers!

[Lizz]

My favorites are Classics, Straight SF stories, and Historical Fiction. I like them all equally and it depends on the story. I do like when they contain some humor but not too much silliness.

Literary Fiction and Genre Fiction are okay. Nothing I would run out and say I have to read so this group helps push me to read them when they are chosen.

My least favorite is Romance although I have found a few I enjoyed.




Historical fiction, like Time and Again or The Mirror?

Literary fiction, like Do You Realize? or Before the Coffee Gets Cold?