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The Traveler
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26Meet an extraordinary father and son in this captivating, heart-wrenching speculative debut.
It’s a day like any other when Scott Treder first jumps forward through time. One moment, he’s on his way to work, fingers drumming the steering wheel. The next, he’s tumbling head-long down the road, his car gone, a dozen panicked voicemails from his wife waiting on his cell.
7:51am. Monday, April 13th.
A blink of an eye.
7:52am. Tuesday, April 14th.
An entire 24 hours, gone.
This one moment—this first spontaneous slip—marks a change in the course not only of Scott’s future, but that of the world. From this point on, at precisely 7:52am every morning, Scott inexplicably travels forward in time in ever-doubling intervals. First one day lost in a blink, then two, then four, until weeks, even years, are passing him by in an instant.
Meanwhile, his wife is left to pick up the pieces of the life they once shared together alone, and, before long, Lyle, Scott’s genius seven-year-old son, will surpass him in age.
Because while his dad is rocketing forward in time, Lyle is growing up – graduating early, studying at Berkeley, becoming the foremost scholar of quantum physics, all in an attempt to bring his father back.
The Traveler is the story of a reluctant time-traveler and his son, and the bond between them that even millennia cannot break. An adventure full of heartbreak, hope, and futures beyond imagination.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
It’s a day like any other when Scott Treder first jumps forward through time. One moment, he’s on his way to work, fingers drumming the steering wheel. The next, he’s tumbling head-long down the road, his car gone, a dozen panicked voicemails from his wife waiting on his cell.
7:51am. Monday, April 13th.
A blink of an eye.
7:52am. Tuesday, April 14th.
An entire 24 hours, gone.
This one moment—this first spontaneous slip—marks a change in the course not only of Scott’s future, but that of the world. From this point on, at precisely 7:52am every morning, Scott inexplicably travels forward in time in ever-doubling intervals. First one day lost in a blink, then two, then four, until weeks, even years, are passing him by in an instant.
Meanwhile, his wife is left to pick up the pieces of the life they once shared together alone, and, before long, Lyle, Scott’s genius seven-year-old son, will surpass him in age.
Because while his dad is rocketing forward in time, Lyle is growing up – graduating early, studying at Berkeley, becoming the foremost scholar of quantum physics, all in an attempt to bring his father back.
The Traveler is the story of a reluctant time-traveler and his son, and the bond between them that even millennia cannot break. An adventure full of heartbreak, hope, and futures beyond imagination.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 9, 2026
1 person is currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Eckert
4 books7 followersI am an avid reader and writer, author of several as-of-yet unpublished works and one self-published work (Mamertine). I am also an amateur photographer with an ever increasing repository of photographs from around the country and, increasingly, around the world.
I love stories in every medium, from novels to comics to movies to video games. I find it incredibly interesting to see how each medium has individual strengths and weaknesses for telling a compelling story. The novel may be the reference for narratives now, but often as not the most unique story telling can be found on TV periodicals or in the no-holds-barred imagination spaces of graphic novels.
I love stories in every medium, from novels to comics to movies to video games. I find it incredibly interesting to see how each medium has individual strengths and weaknesses for telling a compelling story. The novel may be the reference for narratives now, but often as not the most unique story telling can be found on TV periodicals or in the no-holds-barred imagination spaces of graphic novels.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2025
The premise of this novel immediately drew me in. Scott Treder—an ordinary man, on an ordinary day—suddenly feels the world slip while driving his car and lands on the road, without a car (it kept going without him and hit another parked car), bruised, and with missed phone calls from annoyed boss and alarmed wife. What was a blink of an eye for Scott, was 24 hours for the world. The next day, at the exact same time, Scott disappears again: for 48 hours. Each day, the time doubles: meaning gaps will soon be years. Scott, a narrator who truly embodies an "everyman" archetype, is scared and confused by this. What others (i.e. scientists he asks for help) see as an exciting possibility of time travel, is for him a personal tragedy.
The novel never loses its quick pace and tragic undertone. The reader is equally disoriented as Scott by the rapidly changing timeline, which is a good thing since the pacing works very well and it's hard to stop reading the novel—I finished it in just a few days! Scott's story, however, continues to be tragic and possibilities of redemption or hope are implied but unconvincing. At some point, I felt so bad for the guy that the reading stopped being "fun" anymore. Ultimately, the ending left me feeling a little empty and the best part of the novel was its beginning when Scott was navigating the changing relationship with his family—his personal stakes (family) simply felt more engaging and important than the broader stakes for the world.
The best part of the novel: the caleidoscope of vividly visual landscapes and author's imagination when describing the future (but I can't spoil too much here!)
The most promising part of the novel: Scott's relationship with his son Lyle; but I feel this could have been deepened. There were some profound narrative moments and Scott's thoughts about this, but there were also times when I did not feel that he had many feelings about it (or maybe that was intentional and he was so tired that he dissociated from the unreality of their situation?)
The worst part of the novel: secondary characters who were not Lyle :( Unfortunately, the novel felt very lonely and particularly female characters felt very flat. I understand that Scott's wife is angry and scared and it is well-explained why (both through the events of the novel and her own backstory) but it never feels like she has any personality or history beyond reacting to Scott's tragedy; despite being the love of his life and the most important person in his life. If you've seen movies where the wife is just a memory of a woman on a beach (rather than a person), you know what I mean :) Also, Scott keeps having memories about his friends but we never learn much about them beyond them being important for him: I kept hoping for a narrative resolution or their importance, especially that one of these friends was literally just a name and we found nothing about her.
After reading, I realized the author also wrote a screenplay based on this and it makes a lot of sense: the novel is very visual and presumaly these characters would shine on a movie screen. Unfortunately, they do not shine on the page.
Still, it was a very good read, especially for the fans of science fiction; Some ethical dilemmas that Scott faces are also interesting, as are the questions about the fate of the universe!
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing me with an eARC of The Traveler in exchange for my honest review!
The novel never loses its quick pace and tragic undertone. The reader is equally disoriented as Scott by the rapidly changing timeline, which is a good thing since the pacing works very well and it's hard to stop reading the novel—I finished it in just a few days! Scott's story, however, continues to be tragic and possibilities of redemption or hope are implied but unconvincing. At some point, I felt so bad for the guy that the reading stopped being "fun" anymore. Ultimately, the ending left me feeling a little empty and the best part of the novel was its beginning when Scott was navigating the changing relationship with his family—his personal stakes (family) simply felt more engaging and important than the broader stakes for the world.
The best part of the novel: the caleidoscope of vividly visual landscapes and author's imagination when describing the future (but I can't spoil too much here!)
The most promising part of the novel: Scott's relationship with his son Lyle; but I feel this could have been deepened. There were some profound narrative moments and Scott's thoughts about this, but there were also times when I did not feel that he had many feelings about it (or maybe that was intentional and he was so tired that he dissociated from the unreality of their situation?)
The worst part of the novel: secondary characters who were not Lyle :( Unfortunately, the novel felt very lonely and particularly female characters felt very flat. I understand that Scott's wife is angry and scared and it is well-explained why (both through the events of the novel and her own backstory) but it never feels like she has any personality or history beyond reacting to Scott's tragedy; despite being the love of his life and the most important person in his life. If you've seen movies where the wife is just a memory of a woman on a beach (rather than a person), you know what I mean :) Also, Scott keeps having memories about his friends but we never learn much about them beyond them being important for him: I kept hoping for a narrative resolution or their importance, especially that one of these friends was literally just a name and we found nothing about her.
After reading, I realized the author also wrote a screenplay based on this and it makes a lot of sense: the novel is very visual and presumaly these characters would shine on a movie screen. Unfortunately, they do not shine on the page.
Still, it was a very good read, especially for the fans of science fiction; Some ethical dilemmas that Scott faces are also interesting, as are the questions about the fate of the universe!
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing me with an eARC of The Traveler in exchange for my honest review!
November 24, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing me with an eARC of The Traveler in exchange for my honest review!
This does quite an excellent job at invigorating the part of my heart that adores time-travel. Damn, even when I'm only at the 19% mark in the plot, it's already reaching a heart-wrenching and daunting point that makes me go, "Holy shit, if we're progressing this far within the first act, then what will unfold along the rest of the path?" The novel responds by committing itself to the weighty depths of its premise and stretching things out all the way to an incredibly existential ending. Sure, the thematic material that this covers through its lens of speculative fiction isn't anything too revolutionary, but it remains a thought-provoking aspect that anchors the story in a foundation of grounded humanity. The meaning of life, what this represents in a constantly evolving world, and how we use religion to make sense of things we can't fully comprehend lands in a touching fashion with the help of Scott and Lyle's heartfelt dynamic. This element fuels the tale forward through the increasing amount of isolation that Scott has to wrestle with over the course of his journey. There's such a psychological and emotional burden that comes with unwillingly navigating a journey like his, and it's all conveyed to me in a manner that expands to the unimaginably distant corners of the universe.
Admittedly, I do wonder if the very ending could have been wrapped up a bit more satisfyingly, because it's the sort of thing that leaves me going, "Oh... so this is why Scott has been putting up with all of these time-travel shenanigans?" Not that it's an outright bad ending and it ruins the book, to be clear, but I'm not sure it hits me with the fulfilling punch that I'm looking for. I don't know, maybe I'll click better with it after some more thinking. Overall, I'm officially rating The Traveler 4.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 4 stars. Considering how much this has riveted me, I'm most certainly anticipating more of Joseph Eckert's writing.
This does quite an excellent job at invigorating the part of my heart that adores time-travel. Damn, even when I'm only at the 19% mark in the plot, it's already reaching a heart-wrenching and daunting point that makes me go, "Holy shit, if we're progressing this far within the first act, then what will unfold along the rest of the path?" The novel responds by committing itself to the weighty depths of its premise and stretching things out all the way to an incredibly existential ending. Sure, the thematic material that this covers through its lens of speculative fiction isn't anything too revolutionary, but it remains a thought-provoking aspect that anchors the story in a foundation of grounded humanity. The meaning of life, what this represents in a constantly evolving world, and how we use religion to make sense of things we can't fully comprehend lands in a touching fashion with the help of Scott and Lyle's heartfelt dynamic. This element fuels the tale forward through the increasing amount of isolation that Scott has to wrestle with over the course of his journey. There's such a psychological and emotional burden that comes with unwillingly navigating a journey like his, and it's all conveyed to me in a manner that expands to the unimaginably distant corners of the universe.
Admittedly, I do wonder if the very ending could have been wrapped up a bit more satisfyingly, because it's the sort of thing that leaves me going, "Oh... so this is why Scott has been putting up with all of these time-travel shenanigans?" Not that it's an outright bad ending and it ruins the book, to be clear, but I'm not sure it hits me with the fulfilling punch that I'm looking for. I don't know, maybe I'll click better with it after some more thinking. Overall, I'm officially rating The Traveler 4.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 4 stars. Considering how much this has riveted me, I'm most certainly anticipating more of Joseph Eckert's writing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Traveler follows Scott Treder, a man who begins involuntarily jumping forward through time at the same moment every day, with each jump doubling in length. As Scott is pulled farther into the future, his young son Lyle grows up without him and dedicates his life to understanding what happened and how to stop it. The novel blends intimate family loss with large-scale speculative ideas about time, humanity, and the fate of the world.
The first half of this book completely destroyed me. The portrayal of grief, absence, and a parent missing their child’s life was devastating, and I had to pace myself because I was crying so much. I was fully absorbed and couldn’t put it down.
As the jumps become more extreme, the structure could have felt repetitive, but the author’s vivid imagination kept me engaged. Each future world felt distinct, and I appreciated the underlying hope that Earth can survive humanity, as well as the exploration of sentient AI and its capacity for beauty and destruction.
Where the book lost me was the ending. I had fully bought into the emotional stakes and was expecting a more morally challenging conclusion that matched the weight of the story. The final chapter felt surprisingly safe after such a bold and emotionally honest journey. This was a five-star read for me right up until the end.
Despite that, it’s a powerful and memorable novel, and I don’t regret reading it. I just wish the ending had matched the ambition of everything that came before it.
The first half of this book completely destroyed me. The portrayal of grief, absence, and a parent missing their child’s life was devastating, and I had to pace myself because I was crying so much. I was fully absorbed and couldn’t put it down.
As the jumps become more extreme, the structure could have felt repetitive, but the author’s vivid imagination kept me engaged. Each future world felt distinct, and I appreciated the underlying hope that Earth can survive humanity, as well as the exploration of sentient AI and its capacity for beauty and destruction.
Where the book lost me was the ending. I had fully bought into the emotional stakes and was expecting a more morally challenging conclusion that matched the weight of the story. The final chapter felt surprisingly safe after such a bold and emotionally honest journey. This was a five-star read for me right up until the end.
Despite that, it’s a powerful and memorable novel, and I don’t regret reading it. I just wish the ending had matched the ambition of everything that came before it.
January 11, 2026
The Traveler is a remarkable piece of storytelling—epic in scope and easily one of my favorite books in recent years. I can’t wait for readers to discover it (I’ll be handselling it the moment it’s out). At its heart, it’s about the bond between a father and his son, but it’s also a love story, a tragic romance, and ultimately the journey of a man trying to find his way home… only to go wildly and painfully off course.
Joseph Eckert has written a time-traveling epic that astonished me with its creativity in depicting “our world.” Every place Scott lands in feels like it could be the setting of a novel all its own. I found myself wanting more after each “slip,” because the author does such a phenomenal job making these places vivid, wild, and outlandish....yet entirely believable. Each "slip" raises thought-provoking questions about fate, choice, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for the people we love.
The Traveler made me laugh. It broke my heart. It lifted me up and tore me down again and again. It made me hope for the best and fear the worst. This isn’t just a story—it’s a quiet force that stays with you, echoing long after the last page.
Joseph Eckert has written a time-traveling epic that astonished me with its creativity in depicting “our world.” Every place Scott lands in feels like it could be the setting of a novel all its own. I found myself wanting more after each “slip,” because the author does such a phenomenal job making these places vivid, wild, and outlandish....yet entirely believable. Each "slip" raises thought-provoking questions about fate, choice, and what we’re willing to sacrifice for the people we love.
The Traveler made me laugh. It broke my heart. It lifted me up and tore me down again and again. It made me hope for the best and fear the worst. This isn’t just a story—it’s a quiet force that stays with you, echoing long after the last page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC!
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read even if it bordered on the incomprehensible at times. It had a strong emotional center and Scott’s ever-accelerating journey into various futures made for a compelling and often awe-inspiring adventure. If you enjoy character-centered science fiction that doesn’t skimp on deep themes this is definitely for you.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read even if it bordered on the incomprehensible at times. It had a strong emotional center and Scott’s ever-accelerating journey into various futures made for a compelling and often awe-inspiring adventure. If you enjoy character-centered science fiction that doesn’t skimp on deep themes this is definitely for you.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews