The Ministry of Time Audiobook By Kaliane Bradley cover art

The Ministry of Time

A Novel

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The Ministry of Time

By: Kaliane Bradley
Narrated by: George Weightman, Katie Leung
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ONE OF BARACK OBAMA’S FAVORITE BOOKS OF SUMMER 2024 • A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • HUGO AWARD FINALIST FOR BEST NOVEL • WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR SCIENCE FICTION • A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, VANITY FAIR, ESQUIRE, VOX, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, THE INDEPENDENT, PARADE, KIRKUS REVIEWS, AND MORE…

“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. City Life Genre Fiction Goodreads Choice Award Literary Fiction Science Fiction Time Travel Urban Espionage

Critic reviews

"Audiobook reader Katie Leung’s excellent narration covers events in the present, demonstrating a deft ability to recreate the cadences of different time periods for different expats. George Weightman narrates moments from the characters’ pasts, giving these reflections a solemn, nostalgic tone. Together, their complementary narrative styles reflect the time-twisting, culture-crossing nature of this book. Weightman and Leung bring the many histories and personalities of this time-travel adventure to life, making The Ministry of Time a uniquely immersive listening experience." (—Tami Orendain)
"Katie Leung narrates this time-travel novel from the point of view of the unnamed protagonist, who works as a “bridge” at the British government’s Ministry of Time. They have technology that allows them to pluck people out of time and are studying whether these “expats” can survive with no ill effects. The bridge is helping her expat, 1800s polar explorer Graham Gore, adapt to the future; they live together and inevitably grow closer. Leung’s Graham is especially appealing, as is her performance of Margaret, an expat from the seventeenth century whose accent is described as unplaceable and who takes to modern times surprisingly well. George Weightman sounds like he was plucked right out of the era himself as he narrates interspersed sections that detail Graham’s doomed polar expedition."
Unique Premise • Thought-provoking Concept • Excellent Narration • Genre-blending Storytelling • Unexpected Twists

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I listened while doing sudoku or the easier NYTimes puzzles. Neither alone engages my full attention, but they were a great combination. The characters are interesting and well-drawn enough to be engaging, and the plot is pretty well done. I was sorry to be finished. Thought-provoking in the end. Very satisfying read, if you're someone who doesn't have the energy or patience for actual great literature.

Lots of fun, B-plus light entertainment

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The characters are richly rounded and their actions and reactions-although not generally predictable-make good sense. Interesting plot/story line.

Unusual plot

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Who could ask first more than that. Ive been buried under a rock didnt know about this book . Saw a review on best sci fi humor for 2024…its dry wit which i love but the book is more well known for its inquiry of history and european imperialistic tendencies.. hope and forgiveness

Humor history and philosophical inquiy

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There is absolutely nothing to dislike about this story. It was gripping, suspenseful, interesting, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining. This author is now on my list to follow. She’s going to have a great career. I can’t wait until her next book

Outstanding

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This was an unexpectedly fantastic listen for me. I immediately got sucked into this one of a kind story filled with humor, sweetness, risks, and love. I am already hoping for a sequel because I’m not done hearing about these characters.

For the Ages

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