Paul B Rainey's 'There's No Time Like the Present' introduces readers to a trio of misfits from Milton Keynes, wrestling with their stagnant lives while engaging with a futuristic concept reminiscent of the internet. The narrative centers on Barry, a lazy bootlegger; Cliff, a pining tenant; and Kelly, a disheartened office worker. These characters grapple with escapism via future TV shows, contrasting their bleak present. Rainey meticulously crafts a story where time travel becomes a means to reflect on personal disconnection rather than epic adventures, blending sci-fi elements with everyday struggles.
"Mordant and misanthropic in almost equal measure, Rainey's book has three central characters, each one somewhat stuck, unable fully to escape their childhood."
"All of the pleasure of this book lies in Rainey's close attention to the quotidian."
"If a strange figure from the future does at one point visit present-day Milton Keynes, we're very far indeed from Star Wars here."
"When Rainey plays with time himself, it's often in the same way as any traditional novelist would. Time passes. The narrative leaps on."
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