The Ministry of Time’s protagonist is an unnamed civil servant (whose British-Cambodian background resembles the author’s), who is hired to work at the newly formed intergovernmental Ministry of Time in London.

She serves as a “bridge” to one of the first time-travellers, known as “expats.” She lives with, monitors and helps adjust Graham Gore, a ship commander who would’ve perished in Franklin’s lost expedition in the Arctic, to modernity.