Here and Now and Then

From the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Brotherhood

A Goodreads Choice Awards 2019 Semifinalist

One of BookBub’s Best Science Fiction Books of 2019

One of Book Riot’s Best Books of 2019 So Far

One of The Nerd Daily’s Best Debut Novels of 2019

Featured in The Millions “A Year in Reading”

One of Entropy’s Best Fiction Books of 2019

He’ll go anywhere and any when to save his daughter

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.

But his current life is a far cry from his previous career…as a time-traveling secret agent from over a century in the future.

Stranded in suburban San Francisco since the 1990s after a botched mission, Kin has kept his past hidden from everyone around him, until one afternoon, his “rescue” team arrives—eighteen years too late.

Their mission: return Kin to 2142, where he’s been gone only weeks, not years, and where another family is waiting for him. A family he can’t remember.

Torn between two lives, Kin’s desperate efforts to stay connected to both will threaten to destroy the agency and even history itself. With his daughter’s very existence at risk, he will have to take one final trip to save her—even if it means breaking all the rules of time travel in the process.

“Heartfelt and thrilling… Chen’s concept is unique, and [his characters’] agony is deeply moving. Quick pacing, complex characters, and a fascinating premise.”—Publishers Weekly, starred 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)