MENUMENU
Read the excerpt! | Book club discussion questions
To save his daughter, he'll go anywhere—and any-when…
Kin Stewart is an everyday family man: working in I.T., trying to keep the spark in his marriage, struggling to connect with his teenage daughter, Miranda. But his current life is a far cry from his previous career…as a time-traveling secret agent from 2142.
Stranded in suburban San Francisco since the 1990s after a botched mission, Kin has kept his past hidden from everyone around him, despite the increasing blackouts and memory loss affecting his time-traveler's brain. Until one afternoon, his “rescue” team arrives—eighteen years too late.
Their mission: return Kin to 2142 where he's only been gone weeks, not years, and where another family is waiting for him. A family he can’t remember.
Torn between two lives, Kin is desperate for a way to stay connected to both. But when his best efforts threaten to destroy the agency and even history itself, his daughter’s very existence is at risk. It'll take one final trip across time to save Miranda—even if it means breaking all the rules of time travel in the process.
A uniquely emotional genre-bending debut, Here and Now and Then captures the perfect balance of heart, playfulness, and imagination, offering an intimate glimpse into the crevices of a father’s heart, and its capacity to stretch across both space and time to protect the people that mean the most.
2019 Accolades
2019 Goodreads Choice Semifinalist: Best Science Fiction
Entropy Magazine's Best Fiction of 2019
Bookbub's Best Science Fiction of 2019
The Nerd Daily's Best Debuts of 2019
Reviews
"At its core, Chen's book is really about the prides and perils of parenthood, and I'm certain that's what I'll always remember about it." - NPR
"A subtly woven meditation about the fragility of time raises the bar in this smart, fun, and affectionate story." -Kirkus Reviews
"Mike Chen’s science fiction adventure is convincing and truly wonderful." - The Christian Science Monitor
"In this heartfelt and thrilling debut, Chen revitalizes the trope of the absent and unavailable father... Chen's concept is unique, and [his characters'] agony is deeply moving. Quick pacing, complex characters, and a fascinating premise make this an unforgettable debut." –Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Chen’s debut novel is a welcome addition to this well-traveled genre, with the theories and mechanics of time travel not getting in the way of the character- and plot-driven story. Highly recommended for readers both new and familiar with the genre, and for fans of Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife or books by Connie Willis." -Library Journal, starred review
"A stirring novel that dedicates detail and precision to the vagaries and paradoxes of time travel, without sacrificing its vital emotional core...heart, humor, and precise world building to bring alive an emotional and genre-bending story that will please fans of Doctor Who." -Booklist
"An instant sci-fi classic...If you’re looking for a story that plays on some of the hallmarks of titles like Doctor Who and Outlander, while still being incredibly unique, you definitely don’t want to miss out on Chen’s debut novel. It will, undoubtedly, become a fast favorite for any sci-fi fan." -Hypable
"What makes this novel a delight is the very relatable tale of a father struggling to know and love his daughter, to protect her from harm while allowing her to make her own choices and fulfill her potential." -New York Journal of Books
"This gripping, fast-paced time-travel thriller is also a warm, moving story of a man pulled between two lives and families." - Shelf Awareness, starred review.
"Although Chen’s novel is set in a futuristic world, it is ultimately about the bond between a father and his daughter. While Kin’s dilemma is one that readers will never face, they will be drawn in by the human questions at its heart." - Bookpage
Advanced Praise
"Mike Chen's Here and Now and Then is a work of literary genius-both a tale of a family pulled apart and a brilliant take on time travel. Full of clever worldbuilding, a determined main character, and a heart of gold, Here and Now and Then will not only make you wish Mike Chen had a million books out that you can immediately dive into, but will also probably make you sob." -Rachel Strolle, Glenside Public Library District
"Mike Chen's debut novel is a generous, warm-hearted adventure. It's the story of a father, a daughter, and a love stronger than time itself. I absolutely loved it." –Kat Howard, Alex Award-winning author of An Unkindness of Magicians
"Mike Chen's Here and Now and Then takes time travel past the 'what if?' and into the 'what after?' all while dealing elegantly 'with what could possibly go wrong!?' A strong and very real father-daughter relationship is tested across the centuries, as Chen's characters navigate adventure and consequences together. A tight net of excitement and wonder." –Fran Wilde, award-winning author of Updraft, and Hugo and Nebula finalist
"A rare, fresh gem of a story that blends high tech time travel thrills with the all-in stakes of a parent's love for their child. The world needs more butt-kicking middle-aged chef heroes." – Delilah Dawson, New York Times Bestselling Author of Star Wars: Phasma
"Gripping and gorgeously crafted. Chen takes the fabric of space-time and gives it real humanity in this compelling tale of love, family, and the choices made to protect them." –Cass Morris, author of From Unseen Fire
"Chen does what the very best sci-fi writers do--he takes a fascinating concept and elevates it with brilliant execution and deeply heartfelt plot twists that make this story less about the (fun) conventions of the genre and more about the profound experience of being human. Here and Now and Then is a page-turner, an examination of love and loss, and, most of all, a dazzling debut from a wonderfully unique new voice." –Michael Moreci (Black Star Renegades, Star Wars)
