A River Called Time (Hardback)
Courttia Newland (author)Published: 07/01/2021

Set in an alternate world where slavery and colonialism never happened, A River Called Time is at once a timely exploration of social inequality and a story about love and the search for the truth.
The Ark was built to save the lives of the many, but rapidly became a refuge for the elite, the entrance closed without warning.
Years after the Ark was cut off from the world, a chance of survival within its confines is granted to a select few who can prove their worth. Among their number is Markriss Denny, whose path to future excellence is marred only by a closely guarded secret: without warning, his spirit leaves his body, allowing him to see and experience a world far beyond his physical limitations.
Once inside the Ark, Denny learns of another with the same power, whose existence could spell catastrophe for humanity. He is forced into a desperate race to understand his abilities, and in doing so uncovers the truth about the Ark, himself and the people he thought he once knew.
Set in an alternate world where slavery and colonialism never happened, Newland's staggering novel is both a timely exploration of social inequality and a story about love, loyalty and the search for the truth.
Publisher: Canongate Books
ISBN: 9781786897060
Number of pages: 464
Weight: 704 g
Dimensions: 240 x 162 x 41 mm
Edition: Main
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A River Called Time is a real gem of a book . . . There are so many brilliant parallels drawn between the world we live in as well as gentle prods towards the reality we could create. Written in Courttia's evocative style, I was constantly thrown by the clever twists and turns. I had my hands on my face throughout the end of the book as shock after shock was delivered . . . an excellent, beautiful read that will make you think while taking your breath away' - Dorothy Koomson
'A masterful reimagining of the African diaspora's influence on England and on the world. It's a grand tale and still an intimate portrait of loss and love. What glory and influence would Africa enjoy if colonialism had never occurred? Courttia Newland reshapes our vision of the past, present and future by taking this one question seriously. The result is something truly special. No other way to put it, this book is true Black magic' - Victor LaValle
'Courttia's writing is rich with passion and humanity. He manages to convey great depth without ever losing his lightness of touch. A rare feat only reserved for the few' - Steve McQueen
'Gloriously enthralling. An immersive, ambitious reimagining of the city from a formidable British voice. Newland's magnum opus' - Irenosen Okojie
'A master storyteller returns with this piece of astonishing speculative fiction, interrogating social inequality, the complexities of truth and the very essence of what it is to be human, all in Newland's precise and powerful prose' - Nikesh Shukla
'Courttia Newland's alternative, decolonised vision of London is a staggering feat of imagination. There's so much to love here: an everyman hero who discovers he has abilities that are anything but ordinary, parallel cities across a multiverse, African cosmology belief systems, a keep-them-guessing ending . . . An amazing achievement' - Noel Clarke
'A River Called Time is an incredible read. Perfectly plotted and layered with complex ideas, a heartbreaking love triangle and an astonishing ending. It's not just a book of speculative fiction, but a starting point to learning about a kemetic spiritual system masterfully woven into the narrative. If you're a fan of Philip K. Dick and Ballard, you'll love stepping into the world Courttia has created' - Irfan Master
'Magic, prophetic, vivid, unflinching and powerful' - Salena Godden
'If only all alternative presents were this keenly imagined, plausibly constructed and well written' - Ben Aaronovitch
Praise for Courttia Newland:
'A writer with a gift for expressing the ordinary in an original way. Excellent' - The Times
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“An interesting piece of speculative fiction”
The novel takes place in an alternate world, where Africans were never colonised and certain religions are no longer the dominant ones that people practice. Markriss Denny is a young boy living in the outer city of... More
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I got A River Called Time by Courttia Newland from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.
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