Kaliane Bradley’s protagonist is given some unexpected news in The Ministry of Time
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The protagonist, whose name is revealed to be Adela, finds herself in a mysterious job interview for a position that requires high security clearance. She has been through multiple rounds of interviews without knowing the nature of the job, only that it involves working closely with refugees of high interest status. Adela’s own background as the child of a Cambodian refugee adds a layer of complexity to the situation.
During the interview, Adela meets the Vice-Secretary, a woman named Adela with an eye-patch and blonde hair. It is revealed that Adela is the Vice-Secretary of Expatriation at the Ministry of Time, an organization that deals with time travel. Adela is informed that the people she will be working with are not referred to as refugees, but as expats from history.
The conversation takes a surreal turn as Adela learns about the existence of time-travel technology and is welcomed to the Ministry of Time. The job she is interviewing for involves working with individuals who have traveled from different points in history, adding a new dimension to her understanding of the world.
This extract is produced with permission from Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time, published by Sceptre. This is the latest pick for the New Scientist Book Club. Sign up and read along with us here.
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