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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.
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.
15 pages, Audiobook
Expected publication June 9, 2026
12 people are currently reading
5535 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Eckert
5 books27 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 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 12, 2026
An interesting concept about slipping through time in increasing (doubling) increments.
I like the first half better, where the jumps were less significant timeframes, and Scott was dealing with the real effects of these jumps affecting his life.
The later jumps, of thousands of years, were a bit hard to relate to on a personal level with the character, but the “new” settings were interesting. I did find the conclusion satisfying, however, so the book ended well.
I had a couple of frustrations with the main character, but I suppose they weren’t too serious. I would have like to see him have a little more backbone, though.
Overall, recommended, especially for sci fi fans.
-Desiree Reads
April 12, 2026
I like the first half better, where the jumps were less significant timeframes, and Scott was dealing with the real effects of these jumps affecting his life.
The later jumps, of thousands of years, were a bit hard to relate to on a personal level with the character, but the “new” settings were interesting. I did find the conclusion satisfying, however, so the book ended well.
I had a couple of frustrations with the main character, but I suppose they weren’t too serious. I would have like to see him have a little more backbone, though.
Overall, recommended, especially for sci fi fans.
-Desiree Reads
April 12, 2026
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2026
This was a fun time travel story with questions around identity, the self, and the unconditional love between a son and father. Somewhat heartbreaking, and an ending that felt interesting but not unexpected. Solid speculative fiction of the future and a thought experiment.
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!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
On 13th April at 752am something very unusual happens to Scott Treder. While driving to work the world slips around him. His car suddenly disappears and he finds himself rolling across the hard surface of the road. Scott is confused about what just happened to him - even more so when he realises twenty-four hours have passed in an instant. Scott cannot account for any of them, and has no way to explain where he has been to his concerned family. The next morning, at exactly7.52am, Scott jumps forward again. This time for two whole days.
Much to Scott's dismay, the pattern continues at 7.52am every day, with the time he is away doubling each episode. Weeks, months and years pass in a matter of days for Scott, while the world changes around him, and a gulf opens up between him and his loved ones. There seems no way to stop this process, but as his clever son Lyle's life passes in Scott's absence Lyle comes up with a plan...
This ambitious debut has an absolutely fascinating premise, following Scott Treder as he leaps forward in ever increasing spans of time. It is difficult to talk about the story in too much detail without giving away spoilers, but as Eckert weaves an epic voyage for his character the novel takes on different forms, evolving from contemporary time-travel thriller, into near future dystopia, and then way beyond into speculative sci-fi mind-blower.
Eckert explores a lot of intriguing themes as the story progresses, mostly around the propensity for humanity to destroy itself over and over again, which means there is a good deal of rising and falling of civilisations as Scott travels in time. However, this is not a novel that is devoid of finer feelings, particularly when it comes to fathers and sons, as the relationship between Scott and Lyle provides an emotional back-bone to the story that is intensely moving.
I very much enjoyed the way Eckert touches on oodles of lovely classic sci-fi standards, and conjures an irony-rich dual role for Treder as both potential messiah and anti-Christ as mysticism runs riot during his lengthy absences. He asks a wealth of philosophical questions about Scott's purpose too, which tie-up in a surprising conclusion.
This is one of those books that you simply cannot put down. Although The Traveler's destination point proved to be a little meta-physical for my time-travel tastes, the journey there kept me trans-fixed. Eckert's writing style is both engaging and entertaining, and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.
Much to Scott's dismay, the pattern continues at 7.52am every day, with the time he is away doubling each episode. Weeks, months and years pass in a matter of days for Scott, while the world changes around him, and a gulf opens up between him and his loved ones. There seems no way to stop this process, but as his clever son Lyle's life passes in Scott's absence Lyle comes up with a plan...
This ambitious debut has an absolutely fascinating premise, following Scott Treder as he leaps forward in ever increasing spans of time. It is difficult to talk about the story in too much detail without giving away spoilers, but as Eckert weaves an epic voyage for his character the novel takes on different forms, evolving from contemporary time-travel thriller, into near future dystopia, and then way beyond into speculative sci-fi mind-blower.
Eckert explores a lot of intriguing themes as the story progresses, mostly around the propensity for humanity to destroy itself over and over again, which means there is a good deal of rising and falling of civilisations as Scott travels in time. However, this is not a novel that is devoid of finer feelings, particularly when it comes to fathers and sons, as the relationship between Scott and Lyle provides an emotional back-bone to the story that is intensely moving.
I very much enjoyed the way Eckert touches on oodles of lovely classic sci-fi standards, and conjures an irony-rich dual role for Treder as both potential messiah and anti-Christ as mysticism runs riot during his lengthy absences. He asks a wealth of philosophical questions about Scott's purpose too, which tie-up in a surprising conclusion.
This is one of those books that you simply cannot put down. Although The Traveler's destination point proved to be a little meta-physical for my time-travel tastes, the journey there kept me trans-fixed. Eckert's writing style is both engaging and entertaining, and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.
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 Publisher
The Traveler is easily my favourite book I’ve read this year so far. From the first few chapters, it pulled me in emotionally in a way that very few science-fiction stories do. The novel follows Scott Treder, a man who suddenly begins jumping forward in time every morning, doubling the time passed with each jump. What starts as losing a single day quickly turns into losing years, and eventually decades. Scott is forced to watch his life unfold in fragments, unable to control how quickly time is pulling him away from everything he loves.
At its heart, this isn’t just a story about time travel. It’s a story about a father and his son and those fleeting moments that pass. As Scott keeps leaping further into the future, his son Lyle grows up normally, and their relationship becomes something incredibly powerful. It is a bond stretched across years, built through moments that are rare but deeply meaningful. Watching a father and son try to stay connected while time itself is tearing them apart is what makes this book so emotional.
The story reminded me a lot of Interstellar. Like that film, it mixes huge, almost cosmic ideas about time and the future of humanity with a deeply personal family story. It makes you think about the bigger picture. It makes you think about time, legacy, and what really matters in life but it never loses the human emotion at the centre of it.
This book is full of emotion, huge stakes, and that sense of the bigger picture that great science fiction can create. By the end, it left me thinking about time, family, and the moments we often take for granted. The Traveler isn’t just a clever sci-fi idea, it’s a genuinely moving story about love, sacrifice, and the connection between a father and his son. Something that I can only hope to achieve.
For me, it’s the most powerful and memorable book I’ve read this year, and one I won’t forget anytime soon
At its heart, this isn’t just a story about time travel. It’s a story about a father and his son and those fleeting moments that pass. As Scott keeps leaping further into the future, his son Lyle grows up normally, and their relationship becomes something incredibly powerful. It is a bond stretched across years, built through moments that are rare but deeply meaningful. Watching a father and son try to stay connected while time itself is tearing them apart is what makes this book so emotional.
The story reminded me a lot of Interstellar. Like that film, it mixes huge, almost cosmic ideas about time and the future of humanity with a deeply personal family story. It makes you think about the bigger picture. It makes you think about time, legacy, and what really matters in life but it never loses the human emotion at the centre of it.
This book is full of emotion, huge stakes, and that sense of the bigger picture that great science fiction can create. By the end, it left me thinking about time, family, and the moments we often take for granted. The Traveler isn’t just a clever sci-fi idea, it’s a genuinely moving story about love, sacrifice, and the connection between a father and his son. Something that I can only hope to achieve.
For me, it’s the most powerful and memorable book I’ve read this year, and one I won’t forget anytime soon
May 6, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the eARC for review.
The only thing I knew about this book going in was that it was about time travel, one of my favorite tropes. Scott Treder is driving to work one day when his car disappears out from under him and he rolls to the curb. When he goes home he discovers that one whole day has passed from the time he was ejected from the car. Scott doesn't know what happened and neither does anyone else - everyone thinks he just chose to play hooky for a day. But then the next day at the same time he disappears again. And reappears. This time two days have passed. Scott soon figures out that every time he jumps time it doubles. The slow realization that he will lose weeks, then months, then years of his life and his seven-year-old son Lyle's life, makes him panic. He desperately wants to find a way to stop it and goes to great lengths to try to find a solution.
The Traveler is framed as a father/son journey through time, and the description is not wrong. But what actually happens is much different than what I thought would happen. Lyle grows up and spends his life finding a solution to stop the time jumps, much to Scott's dismay, who wants Lyle to simply live his life and forget about him. But Lyle can't.
This book jumps hundreds and thousands of years into the future and Scott is witness to all of humanity's wars and innovations - the destruction of and reinvention of society. I thought it was interesting to see what Eckert's vision of the future of Earth is, and I liked following Scott's character as everything changes around him yet he stays the same.
What surprised me about the book was that Eckert gets deep near the end, philosophizing about what or who is responsible for pulling Scott through time. I won't give anything away but it was not what I thought, which I truly enjoyed.
Great characters, interesting plot that made you think at the end.
4 stars
The only thing I knew about this book going in was that it was about time travel, one of my favorite tropes. Scott Treder is driving to work one day when his car disappears out from under him and he rolls to the curb. When he goes home he discovers that one whole day has passed from the time he was ejected from the car. Scott doesn't know what happened and neither does anyone else - everyone thinks he just chose to play hooky for a day. But then the next day at the same time he disappears again. And reappears. This time two days have passed. Scott soon figures out that every time he jumps time it doubles. The slow realization that he will lose weeks, then months, then years of his life and his seven-year-old son Lyle's life, makes him panic. He desperately wants to find a way to stop it and goes to great lengths to try to find a solution.
The Traveler is framed as a father/son journey through time, and the description is not wrong. But what actually happens is much different than what I thought would happen. Lyle grows up and spends his life finding a solution to stop the time jumps, much to Scott's dismay, who wants Lyle to simply live his life and forget about him. But Lyle can't.
This book jumps hundreds and thousands of years into the future and Scott is witness to all of humanity's wars and innovations - the destruction of and reinvention of society. I thought it was interesting to see what Eckert's vision of the future of Earth is, and I liked following Scott's character as everything changes around him yet he stays the same.
What surprised me about the book was that Eckert gets deep near the end, philosophizing about what or who is responsible for pulling Scott through time. I won't give anything away but it was not what I thought, which I truly enjoyed.
Great characters, interesting plot that made you think at the end.
4 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Please note: reading this review may spoil the book for you.
The first third or so of The Traveler was good. A man suddenly starts jumping to the future every day at the same time. First, he jumps one day. Then two. Then four. Then eight. He ages one day at a time, while his wife and child grow old, then older, then die. His wife can’t take the strain and leaves him. His child devotes his life to saving his father. Scott is helpless – although scientists study him, no one can figure out why the jumps are happening or stop them.
Then, we are treated to the author’s very dim view of the future on Earth. Most of the jumps – increasingly longer in time – are to horrible futures. A month has passed for Scott and he is millions of years into the future. (Annoyed note: An artificial intelligence with him can’t calculate the exact year – why not, exactly?) Scott had two good childhood friends he continually thinks about but who ultimately play the role of a Chekhov’s gun that is never taken down from the wall. Scott himself isn’t interesting, his son isn’t interesting, the increasing fascination with AI isn’t interesting.
The last 60 pages especially are an exercise in boredom. Nothing remarkable happens, and the jumps come quickly. The Traveler didn’t make me think about the existence of time, or what will happen on Earth millions of years in the future, or the nature of love, or whether or not there is a God. The beginning was intriguing, but The Traveler ultimately thudded to its conclusion.
Your reading experience may differ.
I read an advance reader copy of The Traveler from Netgalley.
The first third or so of The Traveler was good. A man suddenly starts jumping to the future every day at the same time. First, he jumps one day. Then two. Then four. Then eight. He ages one day at a time, while his wife and child grow old, then older, then die. His wife can’t take the strain and leaves him. His child devotes his life to saving his father. Scott is helpless – although scientists study him, no one can figure out why the jumps are happening or stop them.
Then, we are treated to the author’s very dim view of the future on Earth. Most of the jumps – increasingly longer in time – are to horrible futures. A month has passed for Scott and he is millions of years into the future. (Annoyed note: An artificial intelligence with him can’t calculate the exact year – why not, exactly?) Scott had two good childhood friends he continually thinks about but who ultimately play the role of a Chekhov’s gun that is never taken down from the wall. Scott himself isn’t interesting, his son isn’t interesting, the increasing fascination with AI isn’t interesting.
The last 60 pages especially are an exercise in boredom. Nothing remarkable happens, and the jumps come quickly. The Traveler didn’t make me think about the existence of time, or what will happen on Earth millions of years in the future, or the nature of love, or whether or not there is a God. The beginning was intriguing, but The Traveler ultimately thudded to its conclusion.
Your reading experience may differ.
I read an advance reader copy of The Traveler from Netgalley.
April 26, 2026
Review of ‘The Traveler’ by Joseph Eckert, due to be published on 11 June 2026 by Pan Macmillan, Tor Books.
Scott Treder is travelling to work on 13 April, just a normal day, until the clock hits 7:52am. He finds himself rolling on the road, his car gone and inexplicably it’s now 14 April and he has no recollection of what has happened or where the last 24 hours have gone.
The next day, at exactly 7:52am Scott slips again, this time for 48 hours. With no idea what’s happening to him, Scott, his wife Amy and son Lyle, realises that his slips are doubling each time, with the reality soon becoming clear that in a matter of days, Scott will be absent from them for years at a time. Lyle is just 7 years old when the slips start, with a curious and intelligent mind he promises his dad that he will work out what’s happening to him. Scott sees him age to be an old man, in a matter of days.
This was a story quite unlike anything I have ever read before. The time slips take you to new realities as the world changes through decades, centuries and millennia. Eckert takes us through war ravaged lands, machine wars, desolation, the death of civilisation and destruction of the Earth. He also tells us of beauty, creating a universe far beyond anything we could imagine. Underwritten is Scott’s struggle to understand why him, what’s the purpose of his time slips, can it be stopped and can he go back.
It was heartbreaking, crazy, poignant and imaginative. For me, it was also a love story between a father and son. It lingers long after the last page, ending a story that is wild, unpredictable and mind blowing.
Scott Treder is travelling to work on 13 April, just a normal day, until the clock hits 7:52am. He finds himself rolling on the road, his car gone and inexplicably it’s now 14 April and he has no recollection of what has happened or where the last 24 hours have gone.
The next day, at exactly 7:52am Scott slips again, this time for 48 hours. With no idea what’s happening to him, Scott, his wife Amy and son Lyle, realises that his slips are doubling each time, with the reality soon becoming clear that in a matter of days, Scott will be absent from them for years at a time. Lyle is just 7 years old when the slips start, with a curious and intelligent mind he promises his dad that he will work out what’s happening to him. Scott sees him age to be an old man, in a matter of days.
This was a story quite unlike anything I have ever read before. The time slips take you to new realities as the world changes through decades, centuries and millennia. Eckert takes us through war ravaged lands, machine wars, desolation, the death of civilisation and destruction of the Earth. He also tells us of beauty, creating a universe far beyond anything we could imagine. Underwritten is Scott’s struggle to understand why him, what’s the purpose of his time slips, can it be stopped and can he go back.
It was heartbreaking, crazy, poignant and imaginative. For me, it was also a love story between a father and son. It lingers long after the last page, ending a story that is wild, unpredictable and mind blowing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Traveler is an absolutely outstanding piece of science fiction that left me in tatters and had me gripped from the very first page.
The premise of time travel is by no means new, but I've yet to experience anything that comes close to having such an emotional impact.
Scott Treder finds himself jumping forward in time at an exponential rate, reappearing in exactly the same spot he left from but further and further into the future. The terrifying consequences of this soon become real as Scott's remaining days with his wife and son begin to rapidly diminish.
The story unfolds at an engaging pace, and we get to experience a variety of times and places as Scott jumps each day. This could very easily have fallen into a repetitive pattern, but Eckert avoids that trap by focusing on key moments and the places Scott finds himself falling into.
The time travel aspect raises existential questions around the meaning of life, and I found the handling of Scott's role as both a father and a son to be utterly heart-breaking but also life-affirming. As a father myself, and having lost my own father, this book has affected me deeply, and that is what a truly great book should do. That being said, there is an incredible amount of hope and humanity at its core, and the ending felt very fitting.
This one will live with me for a long time, and it evokes that age-old questions of why we are here and what is our purpose.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan & Tor for the ARC.
The premise of time travel is by no means new, but I've yet to experience anything that comes close to having such an emotional impact.
Scott Treder finds himself jumping forward in time at an exponential rate, reappearing in exactly the same spot he left from but further and further into the future. The terrifying consequences of this soon become real as Scott's remaining days with his wife and son begin to rapidly diminish.
The story unfolds at an engaging pace, and we get to experience a variety of times and places as Scott jumps each day. This could very easily have fallen into a repetitive pattern, but Eckert avoids that trap by focusing on key moments and the places Scott finds himself falling into.
The time travel aspect raises existential questions around the meaning of life, and I found the handling of Scott's role as both a father and a son to be utterly heart-breaking but also life-affirming. As a father myself, and having lost my own father, this book has affected me deeply, and that is what a truly great book should do. That being said, there is an incredible amount of hope and humanity at its core, and the ending felt very fitting.
This one will live with me for a long time, and it evokes that age-old questions of why we are here and what is our purpose.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan & Tor for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow, what a great book! The Traveler by Joseph Eckert is a time traveling, sci fi book that is different than any time traveling book I’ve ever read! From the first chapter, I was hooked. I stayed up way too late reading that first night because I had to see what happened next!
Scott Treder is on his way to work one morning, when he suddenly jumps forward in time 24 hours, leaving his car to crash without a driver, and himself to almost get hit by a car when he suddenly appears in the same spot, sans car, the very next morning. From then on, he disappears the next day, at the same time, but for double the length of time, so 48 hours, then 96 hours, etc, until he’s disappearing for decades, centuries, then millennia. Throughout this, his 7 year old son vows to figure out what’s going on with him, and spends his life trying to figure out a solution to his dad’s problem. But as time passes, Scott sees his wife and son get old and die, humans migrate to Mars, interplanetary wars, ice ages, comet destruction, and he keeps jumping forward in time, with no end in sight.
This book was so dang interesting and encompassing. And seeing what the author envisions happening to humanity and the earth in the future was so fascinating. Each time Scott jumped, something new was happening and it was scary and exhilarating at the same time to imagine it. On top of that, it makes you wonder, what exactly is our purpose here on earth? What a great sci-fi book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.
Scott Treder is on his way to work one morning, when he suddenly jumps forward in time 24 hours, leaving his car to crash without a driver, and himself to almost get hit by a car when he suddenly appears in the same spot, sans car, the very next morning. From then on, he disappears the next day, at the same time, but for double the length of time, so 48 hours, then 96 hours, etc, until he’s disappearing for decades, centuries, then millennia. Throughout this, his 7 year old son vows to figure out what’s going on with him, and spends his life trying to figure out a solution to his dad’s problem. But as time passes, Scott sees his wife and son get old and die, humans migrate to Mars, interplanetary wars, ice ages, comet destruction, and he keeps jumping forward in time, with no end in sight.
This book was so dang interesting and encompassing. And seeing what the author envisions happening to humanity and the earth in the future was so fascinating. Each time Scott jumped, something new was happening and it was scary and exhilarating at the same time to imagine it. On top of that, it makes you wonder, what exactly is our purpose here on earth? What a great sci-fi book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.
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.
April 22, 2026
Release date: June 9, 2026
Scott Trader’s whole life changes when he jumps forward through time 24 hours. He doesn’t know how, or why, or how to stop it. But at 7:52 am, he jumps forward in time, doubling the time he’s missing with each jump. Scott is missing time with his wife and is missing his son, Lyle (once seven years old), growing up. Scott does everything he can to try to stop time jumping, and eventually his son makes this his own lifelong work.
The first half of this book, I was very invested in what would happen to Scott, and what the next time he jumped into would look like. I couldn’t put it down. The Traveler reminded me a lot of Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and I am a big fan of time-travel stories.
But by the middle of it I was confused.
What else could possibly happen?! And the pacing slowed down significantly as Scott navigated times so futuristic they were somewhat difficult to grasp.
The end of this story was not what I expected, but I loved the way this story focused on Scott and Lyle’s father-son relationship. Scott grieved his wife and his son’s childhood so greatly, I wanted Scott to find his way back as well.
Thank you Tor and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book!
Scott Trader’s whole life changes when he jumps forward through time 24 hours. He doesn’t know how, or why, or how to stop it. But at 7:52 am, he jumps forward in time, doubling the time he’s missing with each jump. Scott is missing time with his wife and is missing his son, Lyle (once seven years old), growing up. Scott does everything he can to try to stop time jumping, and eventually his son makes this his own lifelong work.
The first half of this book, I was very invested in what would happen to Scott, and what the next time he jumped into would look like. I couldn’t put it down. The Traveler reminded me a lot of Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and I am a big fan of time-travel stories.
But by the middle of it I was confused.
What else could possibly happen?! And the pacing slowed down significantly as Scott navigated times so futuristic they were somewhat difficult to grasp.
The end of this story was not what I expected, but I loved the way this story focused on Scott and Lyle’s father-son relationship. Scott grieved his wife and his son’s childhood so greatly, I wanted Scott to find his way back as well.
Thank you Tor and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book!
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 Publisher
3/31/26
RTC
(Gotta process some big feelings first) 🥲
4/1/26
*Spoiler alert on just in case*
You know you've got something special when a book makes you FEEL. Yes, time travel has been done before in varying degrees of success in literature. What stands apart is the utter lack of control Scott (MMC) has over his leaps forward in time. Every 24 hours he jumps forward in time, and ever jump doubles the distance forward. He goes from missing a day to missing years of his life in relatively short order.
The undertones of grief, loss, and helplessness I experienced while reading this book brought me to tears at points. The tragedy of being absent in the lives of the people he loves; robbed of time while being propelled further and into an unrecognizable future is heartbreaking.
As a reader, I kept hoping for things would work out for Scott, that he would get a resolution that was fair after all that he went through. Other reviewers have expressed disappointment at the ending, and I think it's a valid critique. It feels a bit rushed and lackluster given all that we got to see leading up to Omega. I'm hoping it grows on me.
I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.
RTC
(Gotta process some big feelings first) 🥲
4/1/26
*Spoiler alert on just in case*
You know you've got something special when a book makes you FEEL. Yes, time travel has been done before in varying degrees of success in literature. What stands apart is the utter lack of control Scott (MMC) has over his leaps forward in time. Every 24 hours he jumps forward in time, and ever jump doubles the distance forward. He goes from missing a day to missing years of his life in relatively short order.
The undertones of grief, loss, and helplessness I experienced while reading this book brought me to tears at points. The tragedy of being absent in the lives of the people he loves; robbed of time while being propelled further and into an unrecognizable future is heartbreaking.
As a reader, I kept hoping for things would work out for Scott, that he would get a resolution that was fair after all that he went through. Other reviewers have expressed disappointment at the ending, and I think it's a valid critique. It feels a bit rushed and lackluster given all that we got to see leading up to Omega. I'm hoping it grows on me.
I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The blurb reads like it's a thriller but it's actually sci-fi, not my usual type of book at all but I still read it to the end.
Some of the more technical science jargon went straight over my head but it was a beautiful story about family, primarily a Father & Son, Scott & Lyle.
One morning at 7:51, Scott jumps forward in time by a whole day in a instant. This continues to happen each day doubling the time slips each time. He has no choice but to leave his family behind as he is propelled into the future.
I thought it started very strong and the first few time slips were set in modern times, so very easy to follow.
The more futuristic time slips, I struggled with a bit but the author has an incredible imagination of the future, based on logical assumptions. I found his story telling to be very eventful and engaging.
I enjoyed some time periods more than others but the diversity was fantastic.
Overall I thought it was an epic tale of family and it even made me cry a little in places.
Thank you to Pan MacMillan Book Break for kindly gifting me a proof copy.
Some of the more technical science jargon went straight over my head but it was a beautiful story about family, primarily a Father & Son, Scott & Lyle.
One morning at 7:51, Scott jumps forward in time by a whole day in a instant. This continues to happen each day doubling the time slips each time. He has no choice but to leave his family behind as he is propelled into the future.
I thought it started very strong and the first few time slips were set in modern times, so very easy to follow.
The more futuristic time slips, I struggled with a bit but the author has an incredible imagination of the future, based on logical assumptions. I found his story telling to be very eventful and engaging.
I enjoyed some time periods more than others but the diversity was fantastic.
Overall I thought it was an epic tale of family and it even made me cry a little in places.
Thank you to Pan MacMillan Book Break for kindly gifting me a proof copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Traveler by Joseph Eckert
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Let me take a moment—and a few deep breaths—because this book absolutely blew my mind. The Traveler made me feel sad, anxious, hopeful, and completely overwhelmed, sometimes all at once. It follows a man who is suddenly forced forward through time every twenty-four hours. He’s an unwilling traveler, with no control and no choice in his fate.
What really stood out to me is how deeply the reader is pulled into his experience. You don’t just watch this happen to him—you feel it with him. The story is vast, layered, and heavy in the best way, asking big questions and delivering moments of real existential dread. Be prepared to sit with those feelings.
This book kept me engaged and mystified. I had no idea how it would end and I enjoyed that.
Though the philosophy, science and concepts were heavy and real, this became an easy five-star read for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Let me take a moment—and a few deep breaths—because this book absolutely blew my mind. The Traveler made me feel sad, anxious, hopeful, and completely overwhelmed, sometimes all at once. It follows a man who is suddenly forced forward through time every twenty-four hours. He’s an unwilling traveler, with no control and no choice in his fate.
What really stood out to me is how deeply the reader is pulled into his experience. You don’t just watch this happen to him—you feel it with him. The story is vast, layered, and heavy in the best way, asking big questions and delivering moments of real existential dread. Be prepared to sit with those feelings.
This book kept me engaged and mystified. I had no idea how it would end and I enjoyed that.
Though the philosophy, science and concepts were heavy and real, this became an easy five-star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I loved this book from the moment I started it. I actually sat on it for a while because I did not want to stop reading it. Scott Treder begins jumping forward in time, first one day and then doubling every day. He begins disappearing for days, months, and then years on end. Scott has to say goodbye to his son, Lyle, and his wife, Amy, over and over while only one day passes for him. He watches as Lyle grows up, then spends his whole life trying to save his father--he loses Amy within days, as she then enjoys a quiet life with a new husband. As his leaps continue to double, ages pass, and the future transforms before his eyes. Scott is a great character, and as we travel with him, we feel his pain as well as the awe that he experiences.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was hooked by this story from the very first page! The premise of the story is pretty simple - Scott Treder finds himself thrown into the future every 24 hours, and the time he loses in between grows exponentially.
However, as you get further into the story, it hits you just how quickly the time gaps build up; while mere days pass for Scott, thousands of years have passed on Earth.
The author creates an incredible vision of the future throughout the millennia, and each time jump is exhilarating.
This was truly a book I couldn't stop reading, I had to know what would happen next! The author takes you on an unforgettable journey that will remain with you for a long time. Highly recommended!
However, as you get further into the story, it hits you just how quickly the time gaps build up; while mere days pass for Scott, thousands of years have passed on Earth.
The author creates an incredible vision of the future throughout the millennia, and each time jump is exhilarating.
This was truly a book I couldn't stop reading, I had to know what would happen next! The author takes you on an unforgettable journey that will remain with you for a long time. Highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Tor for the ARC of this book.
3.75 stars rounded up.
If you want an easy to read sci fi this is for you.
We follow our MMC who jumps forward in time at the same time each day, the catch? Each time he jumps the jump doubles.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, I liked the different subplots that occurred and the different eras we get to see. The ending sadly fell a little flat (the last 30 pages) so I docked half a star from my rating.
3.75 stars rounded up.
If you want an easy to read sci fi this is for you.
We follow our MMC who jumps forward in time at the same time each day, the catch? Each time he jumps the jump doubles.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, I liked the different subplots that occurred and the different eras we get to see. The ending sadly fell a little flat (the last 30 pages) so I docked half a star from my rating.
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.
April 24, 2026
This is my favorite read of the year thus far. By 10% of the way in, the main character’s life has already fallen apart, and I kept wondering the entire rest of the time what else can possibly happen.
We’re taken from modern day when one day then 2 days are missing from his life, and before we know it he’s traveled millennia and been to space. I couldn’t put this book down.
We’re taken from modern day when one day then 2 days are missing from his life, and before we know it he’s traveled millennia and been to space. I couldn’t put this book down.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book starts with a fairly simple idea. However, the journey it takes you on is far from simple. The relationships that exist between characters are powerful, and can be felt even when they aren’t present. In the end, this book shows the reader how much their daily lives matter, and how important it is to put love into the world and our lives.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was incredibly well written. I would definitely read another book by this author. It was just a little too science fiction minded for me - this isnt a criticism, it kind of had to be, given the premise, I'm just not intellectual enough to be honest!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
At my very advanced age, there are not many books that surprise me. This book truly did. I enjoyed it immensely, could barely put it down, and read it in just a few days, cover to cover. It built suspense, and I found myself both anxious to get to the end and reluctant to finish. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Incredibly frustrating read, from his wife to the scientists to his son’ life to the future with a philosophical ending that wasn’t worth it. Reminded me of movies like Steven Spielberg’s A.I. or Mr. Nobody meets David Nicholl’s One-Day.
Read
January 30, 2026LJ
Want to Read
February 15, 2026i love when family drama meets time travel.
March 11, 2026
I loved the premise of this book, but it subsequently failed to hit the mark for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This novel was a wonderful surprise! Debut author Eckert has written a fantastic novel of one man's journey through time, a son that doesn't give up on his father, and the time that binds them all together. I frantically kept turning the page to see how Eckert ramps up this book and it did not disappoint me. If you enjoy time travel books or even books like Project Hail Mary, you will enjoy this!
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