The Ministry of Time: A Novel by Kaliane Bradley

"The Ministry of Time: A Novel" is Kaliane Bradley's debut novel. The first thing that caught my attention is the similarity to a Spanish HBO series which aired from 2015-2020 with the same name and a very similar plot. Having said that, I watch very little television and prefer the written word to most media productions (Lord of the Rings excluded). So, I'm not here to accuse anyone of plagarizing from an existing an idea, just pointing out the similarity in name so there is no confusion between the HBO series and "The Novel."

Bradley's novel has received positive reviews from multiple sites already, and been praised for its innovative blend of genres and compelling storytelling. I agree with most of these opinions. Bradley mixes time travel, romance, and political intrigue seamlessly. The story follows civil servants who works for the British government that end up "recruiting" historical figures who won't be missed in their own timelines. One such figure is Graham Gore, a real-life Victorian naval officer who is brought into the near future, creating a fascinating dynamic with the protagonist. The author paints such a vivid and convincing picture of Graham that I found myself looking him up to see what I could find. Did he really exist and what details are there about the ill fated Franklin Polar expedition of the 1800's? Multiple times I found myself putting the novel aside for several days while I read up about the individuals on the voyage and their eventual fate. Any historical fiction novel that can do that is worth it to me.

Bradley has a unique voice and a fresh take on the time travel genre. The interplay between past and present, along with the development of complex characters, kept me engaged and invested. What I found lacking and wanted to see more of? Some of the more minor characters needed a bit more development and I found I had to keep flipping back to figure out their importance to the storyline. The details of the time travel device had gaps in the science and left me with questions: how did it work?, how did they reach through the portal and grab it?, why did bullets damage it but not destroy it?, how portable is it?, and why wasn't anyone guarding it? Additionally, there are a number of subplots that never fully get developed and they pop up at the very end of the novel or disappear entirely.

Bottom line: I read the story for its humor, unique storyline, references to history, relationships, and emotional depth. As a fan of speculative fiction, thrillers, and romantic comedies I found a smattering of all the above scattered throughout this original work. I enjoyed the blending of all of these in Bradley's unique voice.