Here and Now and Then: A Novel - Hardcover

Chen, Mike

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0778369048 ISBN 13: 9780778369042

Publisher: MIRA, 2019

Synopsis

To save his daughter, he’ll go anywhere—and any-when...

Kin Stewart is an everyday family man: working in IT, 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.

About this title

About the Author

Mike Chen is a lifelong writer, from crafting fan fiction as a child to somehow getting paid for words as an adult. He has contributed to major geek websites (The Mary Sue, The Portalist, Tor) and covered the NHL for mainstream media outlets. A member of SFWA and Codex Writers, Mike lives in the Bay Area, where he can be found playing video games and watching Doctor Who with his wife, daughter, and rescue animals. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @mikechenwriter

Review

Praise for HERE AND NOW AND THEN

"A subtly woven meditation about the fragility of time raises the bar in this smart, fun, and affectionate story." -Kirkus Reviews

"Clever, thrilling and full of heart, it is an instant sci-fi classic." –Hypable.com

"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

"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.... The plot twists and turns...in speedy, page-flipping style, defying me each time I thought I knew what was coming. But even more than these delightfully surprising turns, the novel's strength lies in Kin's actions as he tries to save [his daughter,] Miranda." –NPR

"Chen carefully balances heart, humor, and precise world building to bring alive an emotional and genre-bending story." -Booklist

"[An] enjoyable venture into time travel. ... 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

"Intelligent, caring characters in an amusingly crafted debut novel that packs an emotional wallop... Convincing and truly wonderful." –Christian Science Monitor

"A charming and satisfying tale of a father's devotion and the hard choices required by love....The people in the story are all well-drawn and believable, with no real villains....The ending is clever and surprising, a twist that neatly ties up all loose ends and provides a happy ending for all involved." –New York Journal of Books

"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 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

"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

"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)

About this edition

• Publisher: MIRA
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 0778369048
• ISBN 13: 9780778369042
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 336