Hi! I’m looking for books where a character from the past suddenly ends up in the modern world and has to adapt.
I’m especially interested in the culture shock aspect – learning how things work, reacting to technology, social norms, relationships, etc.
This theme has fascinated me since I was a kid, when I watched The Visitors, and later when I saw the show Beforeigners. There’s just something really interesting about people from completely different times trying to function in today’s world.
I’m not really looking for futuristic or heavy sci-fi stuff – more grounded, character-driven stories.
Genre doesn’t matter at all – I’m open to anything as long as it explores this idea.
Would love any recommendations!
by Lost-Improvement-390
6 Comments
Look Who’s Back, by Timur Vermes
Something similar, Stardust by Kurt Meyers. Modern day man finds a beam that transports him back in time in the same house. Kind of the opposite of what you asked for, but similar theme. My dad worked with the author’s sister and got the book from her. He loved it so much, he got me a copy. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
I found it a depressing read overall, but there’s one really delightful part in Jane in Love by Rachel Givney where Jane Austen, brought to the modern day by some sort of magic, goes to London and totally freaks out because sugar is cheap and everywhere now, as opposed to only being affordable in large quantities to the wealthy in Regency England.
The Sterkarm Handshake has a character from 16th Century Scotland finding himself in the 20th Century.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
I remember a book from childhood that fits this description. Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix, though ‘modern’ refers to 1996 as the book was published in ’95. I can’t say how it holds up in adulthood but I recall loving it as a kid!