Best Science Fiction Books About Time Travel (2026)

The best science fiction books about time travel are the ones that make the paradox personal: a car thief who breaks time itself, a man fixing his regrets, an anthology of seventy journeys through the centuries. This list compares five time travel books by series length, book number and publication date. Every pick says who it fits and who should skip it.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Anachronist by Hastie	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The Time Traveler's Almanac	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Time Chain by Decker	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Time and Time Again	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Future Proof by Atkinson	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Anachronist by Hastie

Andrew Hastie·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A time travel adventure, book 1 of 7 in the Infinity Engines, for readers 14 to 18 years, published March 25, 2017.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 7, a series starter
• Reading age 14 to 18 years stated
• 2nd edition stated

Cons

• No page count is stated
• Youngest target reader here
• Sequel needed to continue the story

2

The Time Traveler's Almanac

Ann VanderMeer·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A time travel anthology of nearly seventy stories, 960 pages, published March 18, 2014.

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Pros

• Nearly seventy stories, the most here
• 960 pages stated
• Stories from Adams, Asimov, Bradbury, Le Guin and Wells

Cons

• No reading age is stated
• 2014 is the oldest here
• No edition is stated

3

Time Chain by Decker

Steven Decker·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A time travel novel, book 1 of 4, published July 16, 2022.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 4, a series starter
• Published July 16, 2022
• Reader quotes in the listing praise the storyline

Cons

• No reading age is stated
• No page count is stated
• No edition is stated

4

Time and Time Again

Robert Silverberg·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A collection of sixteen time travel stories by Robert Silverberg, published November 6, 2018.

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Pros

• Sixteen stories by one Grand Master
• 2018 Foreword INDIES Gold Medal stated
• New author introductions, per the listing

Cons

• No reading age is stated
• No page count is stated
• No edition is stated

5

Future Proof by Atkinson

David Atkinson·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A time travel romantic comedy and drama with an accompanying music album, published January 16, 2023.

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Pros

• 2023, the newest here
• Romantic comedy and drama, a change of pace
• Accompanying music album stated

Cons

• No reading age is stated
• No page count is stated
• No edition is stated

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More picks to compare

• Time Conduit by NeivandtTime travel adventure, 289 pages, February 2026Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age where one is given. Only one of the five picks states a reading age. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best science fiction books about time travel

Novel or anthology

Two of these are anthologies or collections: the Time Traveler’s Almanac with nearly seventy stories from Adams, Asimov, Bradbury, Le Guin and Wells, and Time and Time Again with sixteen Silverberg stories. The other three are novels. An anthology is the low-commitment way to sample the genre; a novel is the deep dive. For a reader new to time travel, the Almanac’s range from dinosaurs to the end of time is the broadest introduction here.

Start with the series length

Two of these are series starters: Anachronist is book 1 of 7 in the Infinity Engines, and Time Chain is book 1 of 4. The other three are standalone volumes. A 7-book series is a long commitment for a young reader; a standalone anthology ends when the reader closes it. Check the book number before buying book 2 of anything.

Check the publication date and the reading age

Dates here run from March 18, 2014 to January 16, 2023. The newest is Future Proof at 2023, a romantic comedy and drama with an accompanying soundtrack album; the oldest is the 2014 anthology. Only one listing states a reading age: Anachronist at 14 to 18 years, which also makes it the clearest YA pick here. For more recent science fiction, see our new science fiction books list.

Before you buy

• Check the book number: two of these are book 1 of a series, so confirm the reader wants to continue.
• Confirm the format: novels here are single stories; the anthologies are story collections.
• Only one listing states a reading age: Anachronist at 14 to 18 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these is best for a young reader?

Anachronist: it is the only one with a stated reading age, 14 to 18 years, and the listing pitches it to fans of fast-paced adventure. It is book 1 of 7, so there is more to read after.

Which has the most stories?

The Time Traveler’s Almanac, with nearly seventy time travel stories from more than a century of the genre, at 960 pages. Time and Time Again has sixteen stories by one author.

Which is the newest book here?

Future Proof, published January 16, 2023, a romantic comedy and drama about fixing past regrets, with an accompanying music album. The oldest is the 2014 anthology.

Still deciding? Our top pickAnachronist by Hastie

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