Paradox Inc.

by Forrest Brazeal

When Davis Kennedy interviews at a mysterious new startup called Paradox Inc., he’s startled to find the venue is in the past. Silicon Valley’s emerging “temporal engineering” sector has just cracked time travel, and companies are racing to exploit it for productivity hacks that would make Steve Jobs’s head spin.

Despite initial hesitations, Davis takes the job—only to find himself at the center of a frenzied tech arms race to bring consumer time travel to market. As corporate recklessness fractures reality itself, Davis struggles to clean up his colleagues’ messes. Even worse, his billionaire founder isn’t just in it for the science—he has far more sinister plans. If he gains control of the future, it might already be too late to stop him.

Told in a mockumentary style with rotating POVs, PARADOX INC. follows Davis; Gloria, an executive at a rival tech firm battling time travel-induced chaos; and Lena, a journalist profiling Paradox Inc.'s founder, only to uncover a much larger conspiracy.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Adult

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 19, 2027

Reviews

[GCR | Book Realm]

I received this ebook from Random House Publishing Group/NetGalley

Paradox Inc. ended up being such a ride. I wasn’t fully sure how I felt during the first third, but once the story found its rhythm, the twists really started twisting, and by the end I was completely in.

The whole concept of time travel as a startup is wild, mostly because it also feels way too believable. Of course humans would figure out time travel and immediately try to monetize it, manipulate it, litigate it, and use it for personal gain. That realness is what made the story so uncanny. The tech/startup culture, ambition, ego, and corporate chaos all felt exaggerated just enough to be funny, but close enough to reality to be uncomfortable.

I loved how the story kept building. The first third took me a little bit to settle into, but the payoff was absolutely worth it. Once the pieces started clicking into place, the story became messy, clever, and really entertaining, and it made me want to keep reading.

For a debut novel, this was seriously impressive. The concept is sharp, the world is fun, the twists land, and the ending made me hope there is another book coming in this world.

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy speculative fiction, time travel, corporate chaos, twisty stories, and books that make you think, “this is absurd,” followed immediately by, “actually, humans would so absolutely do this.”

[Daniel]

"What if Tech Bros discovered time travel?" remains one of the best hooks I've ever heard.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this look into our society's response to new technology and unregulated power and I think many others will as well. Particularly in our current landscape, many of the trajectories of the book seemed more than plausible, and as a reader it gave me much to think about as we tackle similar new capabilities such as the increase in AI, the steady creep towards recreational space travel and similar progress.

The use of letters, email excerpts and varied interviews worked really well for this book and I the various voices and perspectives felt unique and distinct. I particularly enjoyed the chapters with Gloria and Lena. Perhaps these worked so well for me because I am also a working woman and a mom, but I also feel that those viewpoints in particular really rounded out the narrative. Their voices in particular illustrated the dangers of unchecked technology and the social responsibility creators have to make sure their products are truly serving the greater good.

I was shocked to learn that this was debut for Forrest Brazeal. The writing was tight and despite some slight confusion at the end (can you really talk about time travel without this?), it held together very well. The story was paced well and kept me engaged, wanting to know what the big 'moment' was and how they world moved forward.

Overall, I gave this book five stars. I think it will be very successful upon publication and I can't wait to talk to people about it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC access for my unbiased opinion.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got an ARC of this from NetGalley and loved it. Brazeal sets his story around the Bleb 1, the world’s first consumer time machine, and the venture-backed chaos that erupts once Silicon Valley gets its hands on it. Chapter 11 had me laughing out loud, genuinely cackling alone in my living room. The time travel logic is handled with real care too, and has a surprisingly heartwarming ending considering all the chaos that came before it. This is a smart, funny satire of venture capital and startup culture wrapped around a genuinely well-built time travel plot. Will be picking up whatever Brazeal writes next.

[Kristine M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and the author for a digital ARC!

The tech bros have entered the time travel chat. Startups and established tech companies alike are racing to release a consumer-ready time machine, and the path forward - or backward? - isn’t quite linear.

This book was an absolute trip, start to finish. Satirical, witty, a warning, and just a fun story. Whatever you’re looking for in this book, you’ll find it. The interview style, with multiple points of view, kept me so engrossed in the story and every character’s personality and viewpoint was so unique. I expect this book will be a big deal, and I’m very much looking forward to that.

[Madisonn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. I LOVED the way this book was formatted. It read like a nonfiction book, but it was all about time travel. Big thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC!!!

~Tropes~
🕰️ Time travel
🦩 Multiple POVs
🐪 Interview style
🏳️‍🌈 Gay rep

•Thoughts - This was such a cool book. When I started it, I genuinely thought I had missed an entire time travel era because of the the style of the book, and then I realized it reads like a nonfiction fiction book, the type one of our characters, Lena Engal, would write.

I absolutely loved the style, and I think more books should be formatted like this. There are three main characters, but various other people are “interviewed” and their POVs are included in the book as well.

So, this book is about a time travel bubble that popped after its giant boom. The three main POVs give us different sides of the same story portraying the company making the time machines, its rival company, and the POV of a reporter getting the scoop on key players and the time travel era as a whole.

•Characters - (you can skip this to read my thoughts on the plot)

Davis Kennedy, a gay engineer working at the main time travel company, Bleb, is the MMC. He gives us the inside story on what the people at that company are like (not that great), what it’s like working there (nonstop grind), and what his life has been like up to that point. I LOVED what happened to him at the end of the book, and I think it’s the perfect bittersweet ending to what has happened to him. It really ties together all of the issues and risks with time travel as well. I enjoyed his POV as a whole, but I also think all of his backstory and current life struggling with homophobia is a fantastic addition. It especially goes into what it’s like to be gay in a very Christian community, and I think that’s an important plot point that could potentially help people open their eyes to what it’s like for others (if they’re willing) or prove to others that they’re not alone.

Gloria Monday is a woman working in the tech world, something that’s EXTREMELY difficult to do, and she works for Blebs rival company, Vitruvian. Gloria isn’t a big fan of a lot of the people she works with, and she’s beginning to think her marriage might not be so swell either, but she knows how to get a job done. She’s given a special task (twice) and comes up with a solution. She’s an incredible woman, and I hope her situation at the end of the book was resolved.

Lena Engal is a reporter in the tech industry, but she also has a difficult home life. She has a manipulative husband and a daughter she wants the best for, but it’s not easy to escape when her husband holds all the cards. Or so he thinks. Lena sets out to tell the truth, or her version of the truth, by writing a book. She interviews various people, including the CEO of Bleb who’s not a great guy, to get the full story. Time travel is especially prominent in her story, and it’s very interesting to read about the effect it had on her personally.

•Plot - I think the plot is fantastic. I’ve never read a time travel book as technical as this one, and it was fascinating, especially considering the author is someone who has experience in Silicon Valley. The flow is great, and there are small tidbits that keep you interested. The POVs from multiple sides of the story really added to the narrative because you can’t get the full picture without different opinions on the same thing.

This book is also a great commentary on what our society has come to tech-wise, and that when something revolutionary is unveiled, all people think about is “What’s next?” The main corporation was fairly corrupt and run by a guy with questionable morality, so it was definitely true to life. This is DEFINITELY the best science fiction time travel book I’ve read, and definitely recommend 🩵

[Sam Veltre · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever sat through a corporate presentation filled with agonizing buzzwords like "disruption," "synergy," and "scalability," you have likely felt a mild existential dread. Forrest Brazeal takes that exact tech-industry absurdity and pairs it with the grand, dangerous mechanics of science fiction in his brilliant debut novel, Paradox Inc.

The premise is delightfully terrifying: What happens when the egomaniacal, profit-driven tech bros of Silicon Valley successfully invent, commodify, and monetize time travel? The answer is a chaotic, wildly inventive ride that is equal parts pitch-black corporate satire and a deeply compelling sci-fi mystery.

A Masterclass in Narrative Direction
What sets Paradox Inc. apart is its incredibly unique structural execution. Instead of a traditional, linear science fiction narrative, Brazeal presents the story as an artifact of oral history. Constructed through a dynamic mix of:

Post-disaster interview transcripts

Corporate emails and Slack messages

Legal and court case documentation

Personal letters and travel logs

The book functions like a high-stakes, documentary-style retrospective on a failed tech empire. Right from the beginning, the audience is hooked by the haunting loom of a central mystery—a "terrifically huge incident" that caused the time-travel bubble to burst. Brazeal expertly drops breadcrumbs across various timelines and corporate entities (like the main time-travel startup, Bleb, and its cult-like competitor, Vitruvian), masterfully building the tension until the narrative culminates in a truly original, wild, and mind-bending finale that reshapes everything you just read.

Unforgettably Distinct Characters
While the premise offers plenty of opportunity for easy laughs at the expense of startup culture, the novel is grounded by its rich, multifaceted character work. Brazeal weaves together three primary viewpoints that balance the overarching corporate madness with genuine, vulnerable human stakes:

Davis Kennedy: A brilliant engineer at Bleb navigating a high-pressure, nonstop grind. His perspective gives us an unfiltered look into the toxic underbelly of innovation-at-all-costs culture. His deeply personal backstory—dealing with a rigid, unaccepting background—adds layers of profound emotional weight, leading to a bittersweet ending that ties the existential risks of time travel perfectly to his own life.

Gloria Monday: A formidable, highly competent working mother surviving the cutthroat tech landscape. Employed by Bleb’s rival, Vitruvian, she is a sharp, pragmatic problem-solver who anchors the corporate satire while giving readers a fierce, capable protagonist to root for.

Lena Engal: A sharp tech journalist determined to uncover the truth about Bleb's corrupt CEO. Her domestic struggles with a manipulative husband contrast beautifully with her public pursuit of accountability, making her the perfect vessel to challenge the ethical vacuum of the time-travel boom.

The Verdict: Funny, Dark, and Too Close for Comfort
Brazeal’s background in tech shines through in every hilariously cringeworthy corporate interaction—from a surreal job interview requiring candidates to solve temporal paradoxes, to a lavish, multi-million-dollar tech party featuring looted, discontinued snacks from the 1990s. It’s an incredibly sharp critique of a society that asks "What's next?" without ever pausing to ask "Should we?"

Underneath the witty banter and the ridiculousness of "Time Travel as a Service," Paradox Inc. carries a chilling, Black Mirror-esque resonance. It serves as a brilliant allegory for our modern anxieties surrounding unchecked AI and corporate greed. For anyone who loves sharp satire, complex character arcs, and speculative fiction that isn't afraid to get a little weird, this book is an absolute triumph.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to Ballantine for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

As someone with little-to-no insider knowledge of how the tech industry works, I was eagerly anticipating reading this novel but also felt nervous at the possibility that parts of it may elude my understanding. This is a worry I usually have when going into anything science-fiction, but in this case the worry was unfounded. The storytelling in this novel is phenomenal. We have three protagonists we follow: Davis Kennedy, an employee working on the Bleb 1 project; Gloria Monday, an employee at Vitruvian (who is trying to create a competitor product against the Bleb 1); and Lena Engel, a journalist who follows and reports on the time travel scene. Each interview/point-of-view is in first-person perspective and adopts a fairly casual, conversational tone that kept me engaged the entire time. They all have unique backstories and quirks that make them easy to distinguish from each other and each of their perspectives are fascinating and revealing in their own ways. The pacing was also expertly crafted. The through-line of this novel is the race to invent time travel and put it in the public's hands, but there are other major plot points and side stories specific to each individual protagonist that are revealed to the reader in chronological order and ultimately intertwine in a satisfying rising action and climax: "The Mishap" that is referred to throughout the course of the story.

Humorous writing, and specifically satire, is hard to pull off successfully; if the writing is too on-the-nose, it risks becoming farcical and uninteresting, but if it is too subtle, it risks being mistaken for that which it is criticizing. I think Brazeal pulls off the satire in this novel extremely well. It isn't hard to draw a lot of parallels to the real-life state of the tech industry, even if you are someone who knows nothing about the inner-workings of computers but has any social media account. Characters that seem like they might be caricatures are exaggerated only slightly enough to point out the problems within an industry that values "the next big thing" over any moral or ethical concerns. There are situations unique to each protagonist that feel almost absurd but are increasingly plausible in this day and age, and general world-happenings that showcase real concerns with the way technology can be utilized once it is available for public use. This book is funny for sure, but also incredibly insightful, with a few darker themes and moments that balance the tone well.

As mentioned earlier, the formatting of this book is through interviews, and while I understand that may be off-putting for some people, to me it didn't feel any different to reading any first-person novel with perspective changes. I think the interview format heightens the storytelling and lends to the stellar pacing and allows for each character to shine in their own way on their own terms. With that said I think this book is perfect for anyone who is a fan of "mockumentary" style storytelling, but it is also a fantastic science fiction novel and satire that I think most any reader can find something of value in.

[vianny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

This book was way too relatable. I work in tech and reading this was painful in the best way.

The setup: it's about the race to make time travel accessible and monetizable in Silicon Valley.
Multiple POVs, multiple companies racing toward the same dystopia. The scope of time travel is limited to returning to the past, which lets the book do something really specific with what "the past" actually means for different people. The digs at the past not being great for everyone? Subtle but they landed.

The tech satire is SO well done. The interview loops. The "quirky" founders. The VC pitch built entirely on vibes. The escalation paths. The email threads (HILARIOUS). The sentiment dashboard. The exec asking why can't we launch ours. If you've worked in tech, you've lived all of this.

I also loved how self-aware (or honestly, lack of self-aware) the characters were, and how the book
explored the obvious next step: how the tech gets exploited, hacked, and used in ways it was never meant to be. Living through the current AI craze, this hit different.

The ending was crazy, especially with Davis. And honestly? The cure for burnout the book explores through Davis? Appealing in a dark way.

The fact that this is the author's debut is so surprising. The writing is sharp, the multiple POVs are handled cleanly (never confusing), and the satire is just dead on.

5 stars. If you've ever worked in tech, this book was written for you.

[Marissa F · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

Overall, an entertaining experience. Reminded me somewhat of another time travel book I just finished, "Retro" by Jessica Goldstein but that was more about the experience and less about the in-world technology.

I will admit, at 5% in I was already confused. Davis has an interview, he's moved on to the next level, but wait no, he's rejected and the next interview is canceled but he goes anyway and gets the job. What? I was worried that this would be a pattern but the rest of the book flowed more easily.

Observations:

1 The multiple narrators did provide layers to the story because everyone had information that no one else was privy to, but framing their chapters as interviews or testimony didn't really work. They read like traditionally written chapters rather than the way people sound when they're telling a story and having it transcribed.

2 All the character voices sounded the same, so I would frequently forget whose narration I was hearing. (The exception was Trammel's travel log, which lapsed into poetry toward the end.)

3 Vitruvian is a cult: "The only thing worth doing is becoming a better citizen of Vitruvian." Also see: “If success is whatever happens, then the contrapositive must also be true. If it wasn’t a success, it never happened.” Apparently, when they say failure is not an option they mean it literally.

I finished the final chapter and felt inexplicably sad. I finally realized that the ending gave me the same feeling as reading Flowers for Algernon.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in May, 2026.

Really enjoyed this. Working in tech, I had several "this isn't even satire, it's just my life" moments. The premise is interesting and there's a good amount of scientific detail without reading like a textbook.

My main critique (and the reason for the 4/5 stars): You know when a comic does a bit just a little too long? That's how this book felt. The pacing is weird but not in a way that I can say it's specifically the beginning or end. Every chapter starts out super witty and then goes on for about 500 words too long. I think one pass to just streamline some of the prose would have helped a lot. I had more than a few "get to the point already" moments when reading. But I know some readers will love this book for the prose.

It's still absolutely worth the read, and I hope this book gets the buzz it deserves. I think it will be a popular book club book because there's so much to feed conversation. I read this as an e-book, but will definitely check out to see how the audiobook is when that gets released.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

Loved it! Silicon Valley invents time travel. So, of course, it is released with every last safety concern addressed and with a great plan to ensure there's no social disruption. Just like with the current AI boom, right?

We learn early on that there was a "mishap." The story, told through interviews, subpoenaed documents, etc. (like World War Z) slowly, slowly fills in the blanks. We see many companies cashing in on the invention by creating services - some quite ingenious, others that are completely unnecessary - but everyone needs to be using it somehow, right? (Again, just like the 2026 AI bandwagon).

The idea that time travel is a solution in need of a problem, just needing the right killer app to make it really useful, is a great satire of the tech industry in general and the AI boom in particular. Well written, engaging, and a different story than anything I've seen before.

[Danny Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special things to net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
3.5 of 5 stars.
The vibe of this book was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the varying point of view of the character and the reflection of current trends in tech filtered through a sci-fi lens.
I really loved Davis so much. I felt a great kinship with his vaguely socially awkward and thirsty chapters lol. There’s also an aspect of homophobia explored through his story that I really appreciated.
There are some grim realities explored through Lena and Drew that really added to the story. Grooming, abuse, sexism, and the megalomania of some tech bros.
Overall, this is a fun read, an interesting take on SciFi, but also explores the darker sides of unmitigated, power dynamics, in toxic workplaces.
My one and only complaint is that some of the formatting was a bit strange on my e-book, but I’m sure this will be sorted out before publication day!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am completely obsessed with Paradox Inc. The interview format was done SO well and made the entire story feel incredibly real and immersive. Getting the story through interviews and different perspectives could have been confusing, but instead it made everything even more gripping.

The way all of the characters’ stories intertwined was honestly amazing. You had a few main POVs along with side characters, and every single one added something important to the bigger picture. Watching everything connect over time was so satisfying and brilliantly written.

And the time travel/science?? Fantastic. So many time travel stories end up full of plot holes or unanswered questions, but this one actually made sense the entire way through. Nothing felt forgotten or inconsistent. Everything connected perfectly.

Such a smart, well-crafted, addictive read.

[Dori Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already can’t wait to reread this. Paradox Inc is science fiction that feels way too close to reality. It is also completely brilliant and I am blown away by it. I can’t believe one person’s mind created this whole story.

Told in the form of interviews, court case transcripts, event transcriptions and more, we get an oral history of the rise and fall of the time-travel bubble.

Key players include an employee of a time travel company run by tech bros, a founder whose company was purchased by that time travel company’s competitor (and an incredible parody/observation of corporate America), and a journalist in a nasty custody battle. This entire thing is perfection. You are in a for an EXTREMELY WILD ride. I’m jealous you all get to read this for the first time.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

[lexactuallyreads [surviving off vibes ftm] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this eARC in exchange for my review. Thank you so much!


I have not been this enmeshed in a story in a very long time. From the beginning, Forrest Brazeal's intelligence, humor and story writing prowess. His ability to take real-life parallels (hello, AI) and mirror the story so elegantly had me hooked from the start. What WOULD actually happen if time travel become commercialized and available to anyone in general public, you may ask? Well, my friend, whatever happens certainly will not be good! You may feel like the world is ending, but you will be occupied in your travels by humor, and many, many questions.

The satire does help. I promise.

[Cindy (leavemetomybooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

* Thanks to Ballantine for the NetGalley review copy (pub date: January 19, 2027)

What would happen if tech bros invented and monetized time travel? spoiler: NOTHING GOOD

This was a fun one! I loved how the story was told in a variety of ways (interviews, letters, emails, etc) and provided multiple perspectives from a pretty wild assortment of characters. I do think the middle got a little slow, but then things went absolutely bananas at the end and made up for it.

This is a perfect pick for fans of John Scalzi and Andy Weir (and I really wish it was coming out pre-christmas because it would be an excellent gift option that I could suggest at the bookstore)!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradox Inc. is a really great satirical look at Silicon Valley/tech culture after time travel is developed and a couple of big companies try to dominate the market with their own product. It's told from a few different characters' points of view, which is a style that worked really well here. The book is very funny and well-written. It was really difficult to put down, and it's one of my favorite ARCs that I've read so far this year.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

[Veronica B · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book six stars I would. For someone with limited understanding of current technology, I feel like I could explain time travel paradoxes without a hitch after reading this. The author builds an engaging world with complex characters and uses an appropriate amount of humor in their writing of a possible end-of-the-world situation. I found myself more than once, giggling a few paragraphs before my heart was pounding with anxiety. This was a captivating story that is an absolutely exceptional debut for this author.

[Regina Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradox Inc. was an absolute blast to read with twists and turns that I couldn't have predicted even if I had the ability to time travel. Forrest really hit the nail on the head with the protcol and banter of the tech industry regarding a new product. I felt like I was getting a behind the scenes look at the way these companies work. The characters felt well fleshed out and the layout of this book was such a fun way to communicate the story. As I was reading, I was shocked to learn this is a debut novel! I can't wait to see what this author comes out with next.

[Josh Darretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a first novel, this was quite the read. The uniqueness of the interview style and various points of view, emails, and everything else was great. I blew through this ARC in 2 days and excited to see how it does upon release.
The characters and the way time travel was handled felt too realistic in a VC backed startup world that we live in today. Overall a fun and well written story that had a good number of LOL moments. Check this one out when you have a chance!

[Josh Escandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Ballantine and Netgalley for an eARC of Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal. I absolutely loved reading Paradox Inc. as a brilliant satirical take on time travel via Silicon Valley. I thought the format of the book was ingenious, and the various viewpoints from people who were there were fantastic. I was fully engaged and propelled to keep reading to find out about the incident that befell the world and what led up to it.

[Abee Bittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quirky read for anyone who’s worked in tech. (I have not, but through hearing friend’s experiences, I imagine they will enjoy the hilarious relatability and heavy cringe moments - in the best way).

A very appropriate time to explore a book about the moral ambiguity of technology’s possibilities.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC of this book.
Paradox Inc will be released 1/19/2027.

[love. · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun and always forward-moving with a plot propelled by a mystery that makes you flip page after page. also funny, and I'm not even a tech person; if you are, you'll probably find it even funnier. nothing new here, uses all the usual archetypes to tell its story (the evil billionaire bro, the recluse genius, a divorcee) but whatever. it was fun.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun exercise in time travel and timelines.
I enjoyed not really knowing what was going on at first, it was a puzzle I was eager to solve.
The interview style writing and mutiple characters' points of view helped put the story into perspective.
The ending left me wanting more of the story, and more of an explanation.

[Steve J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun ride! The book started slowly, but gradually built up steam and finished with a pretty wild, crazy ending! A while ago, I was the CEO of a small company with Silicon Valley VC funding, so I enjoyed the satirical takes on the absurdities of that world. A start-up time travel company? Whacky idea? But maybe?

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

[Olya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a fun and chaotic ride. I loved how it mixed time travel with Silicon Valley satire in a way that felt both hilarious and way too realistic. It’s absurd, clever, and surprisingly emotional by the end.

I received this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Mae B · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. Was supposed to be reading other books but I couldn’t put it down.