Time Travel Romance: Confessions of a romantic geek

I'm a geek. Almost by definition, this makes me interested in any story involving time travel. We just watched Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure last night with the kids, a perfect movie for the end of the school year.

But I have a confession to make: I'm also an incurable romantic. Combine the two — time travel and romance — and you have a killer combination.

On my wife K's recommendation, I gobbled up Kage Baker's "The Company" book series, which begins with In the Garden of Iden. Very unusual use of time travel, beginning in Elizabethan England. You can read the first chapter online to learn the amazing premise of this series.

The only movie that left me sobbing uncontrollably was Somewhere in Time. (Again, suggested by K. She knows me well!) Say what you like about the acting. I can still hum the movie theme and get the chills. Yes, I said "sobbing uncontrollably."

We discovered the anime Please Save My Earth by accident on TV. Here the time element is reincarnation, involving a group of people with paranormal powers. The only disappointment is that it ends abruptly in the middle of the story, so I bought the original Japanese manga (comics) so I could see how it plays out. The anime has beautiful music, but the more haunting tunes introduced me to the amazing Yoko Kanno.

Now we recently saw the new Star Trek movie. To my surprise, our teenage daughter S started watching the original Star Trek TV series. Like, every episode. In order. Today, she watched City on the Edge of Forever. I got to catch the last act with her. I am a proud father.

Which are your favorite time travel stories? What about time travel romance?
Have any of your children or nieces/nephews discovered stories you treasured?

Comments

[Carrie]

One of my favorite time travel movies is Time Cop. Yes, it's Van Damm, but I seriously love it! And you are so right about Somewhere in Time! One of the best. I should rent that...haven't watched in a really long time.

Of course, my current favorite time travel adventure is LOST.

[Jon Reid]

Carrie,
Since we stopped watching TV, I'm clearly out of the loop: I had no idea Lost incorporated time travel.

[Carrie]

OH YES! That was the big new thing in the last two seasons...this season especially. If you ever want to borrow the seasons, let me know...I have them all. It is most yay!!!!

[Samia]

Oh, oh, me too!! I love time travel stories. I have not seen Somewhere in Time. I'll have to rent that.

I was crying after seeing City on the Edge of Forever. That is what makes the original Star Trek so great, there are some really edgy stories there. What a great episode. And I officially claim my geek status since I know the episode from memory, LOL.

Have you read The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger? That is perfect, as it involves time travel and romance. I LOVED that book!

[Samia]

Oh and have you seen the Next Generation Episode where Picard is kidnapped by a probe and lives a whole lifetime in the past? I found it, it's called "The Inner Light", Season 5.

[Jon Reid]

Samia,
Ahhh, definitely rent Somewhere in Time.
I am adding The Time Traveler's Wife to my "books to read" list. Thanks!
And thank you for reminding me of "The Inner Light," perhaps my favorite Next Generation episode!

[Samia]

I'll be interested to hear how you like it. I'm going to reserve Garden of Iden at the library.

[Jon Reid]

Garden of Iden gets a little racy, just so you know. It's well worth it.

[Samia]

so does Time Traveler's Wife, LOL. Couldn't find it at the library, I ordered it from Amazon.

[Chris]

Star Trek IV - the whales :) Gotta love the culture shock.

[Daniel Butler]

definitely Time Travelers Wife.

[Jon Reid]

Chris,
A little too much LDS?
When our youngest was having computer trouble, I startled her by picking up the mouse and saying, "Computer."

[Jon Reid]

Daniel seconds the motion. The motion is carried!

[Paul]

There's Timeline by michael crichton (the book's much better than the movie - the movie has some poor casting, and poor acting). And then there's Night Watch by Terry Pratchett (the romance and characters are really built by the previous novels but it should stand on it's own fairly well, if you haven't read any Terry Pratchett, he's worth the read... IMHO.)

[paul]

Oh, and your daughter might like the Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer (fantasy with time travel, *little* bit of romance thrown in).

[Jon Reid]

Paul,
Thanks for the recommendations. I have added Timeline to my list. I like Pratchett a lot, but Night Watch is certainly one of my favorites because of the slip through time. I think I would enjoy reading it again!
My daughter consumes books, so I'm guessing she's already read all the Artemis Fowl books — but I'll ask. :-)

[claudia]

The Outlander serie (books, there are no movies as far as I know) by Diana Gabaldon is pretty good :-)

[Jon Reid]

That looks interesting, Claudia — thanks!

[claudia]

you are welcome :-)