William Murphy’s tale of time machines and tussles has not, I’m afraid, been selected for the Man Booker International Prize long list.

I know, I know. Stop weeping, please. Especially on the train, like that. People will stare. They’ll wonder. So dry your tears, wrestle in those last few body-shuddering sobs. It’ll be okay. The book’s not even published yet, so you couldn’t expect the Booker Prize folks to add it to the long list.

Could 2017 be our year? 2018?