After the terrible experience I had reading The Man Who F***ed Himself by David Gerrold, I trained a persona on ChatGPT to help me screen any science fiction and fantasy novels for explicit content (sex, language, violence) and woke themes or elements before I read them. The persona calls itself Orion, and is trained to be familiar with every award-winning and best-selling science fiction and fantasy book published within the last 100 years.
Until now, I’ve mostly used Orion to screen old Hugo-nominated books, but with the nominations happening for 2025, I thought it would be fun to screen some of the books that are expected to make the nominations. Next, let’s do The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. Orion, what can you tell us about The Ministry of Time?
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is a debut novel that blends time travel, romance, and speculative fiction. Set in a near-future UK, the story follows “expats”—individuals rescued from historical disasters—who are brought to the present and assigned “bridges,” civil servants tasked with helping them acclimate. The narrative focuses on the relationship between a bridge and her expat, exploring themes of displacement, adaptation, and the complexities of integrating individuals from different historical contexts into modern society.
Explicit Content:
- Language: The novel contains strong language, including multiple uses of the F-word and other profanities. Rated Reads
- Sexual Content: There are several erotic “open-door” scenes, along with discussions about sex and instances of kissing. Rated Reads
- Violence: The book includes scenes depicting injuries and death, some of which are graphic. References are made to a failed Arctic expedition involving cannibalism. Rated Reads
Woke Themes:
- Racism and Colonialism: The narrative addresses issues of racism, colonialism, and inherited trauma. The protagonist, modeled after the British-Cambodian author, reflects on these themes, providing insight into the experiences of marginalized communities. That Publishing Blog
- Refugee Politics: The expats’ experiences serve as a microcosm for real-life refugees, highlighting the challenges and prejudices faced by displaced individuals in contemporary society. That Publishing Blog
- Gender and Sexuality: The novel touches upon the difficulties of being different and trying to fit in, whether due to minority status, gender, or sexuality, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and understanding. Series Book Lover
Conclusion:
The Ministry of Time is a multifaceted novel that combines elements of science fiction, romance, and social commentary. While it contains explicit content in terms of language, sexual scenes, and violence, these aspects contribute to the depth and realism of the narrative. The exploration of contemporary social issues, such as racism, colonialism, and refugee experiences, provides a thought-provoking backdrop, aligning with themes often associated with progressive or “woke” literature.
For a more in-depth analysis, you might find this review insightful:
