One of the most respected and awarded of all contemporary sciencefiction writers, connie willis repeatedly amazes her many admiring fans with her ability to create vivid characters in unusual situations. Willis, a multiple nebula and hugo award winning author and a sfwa grand master. She is like a queen of time travel with 4 hugo winning novels based on time travel. The second part, the conclusion all clear, was released as a separate book on october 19, 2010. Doomsday book 1992 is connie williss second novel and the book where she got everything right. Reading this book while commuting on the septa subway during flu season may not be the brightest idea ive ever had. Jun 14, 2012 doomsday book 1992 is connie williss second novel and the book where she got everything right. In the oxford of christmas, 2054, time travel is a well established tool of historical research.
There are a lot of pages here, and lot of very heavy content on those pages. Author connie willis imagined the use of video phones for communications, but missed with portable phones. May 07, 20 the more contemporary sections of the doomsday book are a little more problematic, but only because the book, written 20 years ago, seems kind of dated, which is a weird, weird thing to say about a book set in the future. The study of antiquity and the middle ages recommended for you. Second solo novel following lincolns dreams, 1987 from an author best known for her strong stories the collection fire watch, etc. Buy a cheap copy of doomsday book by connie willis. Doomsday book by connie willis 1993, paperback for sale. Willis, a multiple nebula and hugo award winning author and a.
Connie willis has won six nebula and nine hugo awardsmore than any other science fiction writerand the john w. I like to feel like my participation is necessary for a book to work. Constance elaine trimmer willis is an american science fiction writer. Constance elaine trimmer willis born december 31, 1945, commonly known as connie willis, is an american science fiction and fantasy writer. Connie willis has won six nebula awards more than any other science fiction writer, six hugo awards, and for her first novel, lincolns dreams, john w. Doomsday book mass market paperback august 1, 1993. Yet its a thriller, a medical thriller, with englands oxford university sliding into quarantine as its students, faculty, and staff, its visitors, and its neighboring communities are threatened by an unidentified flulike virus. Written in 1992, connie willis s doomsday book follows kivrin engle, a young historian.
But in our current age of instant communication, it seems odd that these people are struggling with landlines, even if they. Doomsday book 1992 is connie williss second novel and the book. Buy doomsday book by connie willis online at alibris. Like you, i spend pretty much all day every day thinking about the covid19 virus and the pandemic were currently living throughmy husband and i are sheltering in place, wearing masks when we have to go out to walk the dog on campus or get groceries, washing our hands about a trillion times a day, and obsessively tracking the numbers 1,300,000 cases in the us as of today and nearly 80,00. Doomsday book is a 1992 science fiction novel by american author connie willis. Dive deep into connie willis doomsday book with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. I am planning to read the other books in connie willis time travel series of novels. Listen to doomsday book audiobook by connie willis and.
Doomsday book, by connie willis this week, the cdc predicted there could be tens of thousands of ebola cases if the disease is not controlled soon. In doomsday book, connie willis writes about kivrin, an historian who travels to 48 from the year 2054 in order to observe the culture of fourteenth century rural england. The diptych won the 2010 nebula award for best novel, the 2011 locus award. The diptych won the 2010 nebula award for best novel, the 2011 locus award for best science fiction novel, and the 2011 hugo. For anyone who doesnt know, doomsday book is about an oxford undergraduate kivrin who, in the year 2054, time. Knowing that i had two more willis books to read filled me with dread. Her other works include to say nothing of the dog, bellwether. Feb 07, 2015 doomsday book by connie willis my rating. Doomsday book won both the hugo award and the nebula award when it was published in 1992. Kivrin engle, a brilliant and determined young woman, is the first historian to journey back to the middle ages. Reluctantly, i finally got this book from the library. Five years in the writing by one of science fictions most honored authors, doomsday book is a storytelling triumph. Read doomsday book a novel by connie willis available from rakuten kobo. Kivrin engles has labored diligently to acquire the language and practical skills necessary to survive in the 14th centuryfor her destination is christmas.
Doomsday book by connie willis audiobook 3 youtube. Connie willis, doomsday book doomsday book, republished as part of the sf masterworks series by the american author connie willis is an amazing, unique, captivating 600page novel taking place in two times. But what really makes the book great isnt the characters or the story, but the writing. Kivrin engle, the main character, says that her recording is a record of life in the middle ages, which is what william the conquerors survey turned out to be. I read it when it was first published, and i bought a u. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Due to an accident with the time travel device, kivrin arrives in time to witness firsthand the plague near oxford, recording her observations as she tries to survive. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on doomsday book by connie willis. Mar 30, 2018 connie willis is one of the grand masters of science fiction and i always wanted to read her books. But, in my opinion, to say nothing of the dog is much better than doomsday book. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The oxford time travel series written by author connie willis consists of 4 novels and one novella altogether, which were published between the years 1982 and 2010.
With doomsday book, she takes listeners on a thrilling trip through time to discover the things that make us most human. The authors main purpose in writing this book, so far as i could tell. For anyone who doesnt know, doomsday book is about an. Analysis and discussion of characters in connie willis doomsday book. Connie willis draws upon her understanding of the universalities of human nature to explore the ageless issues of evil, suffering and the indomitable will of the human spirit. Book one what a ringer needs most is not strength but the ability to keep time you must bring these two things together in your mind and let them rest there foreverbells and time, bells and time. The title of the book refers to the domesday book of 1086. The first novel of this series is titled as doomsday book. This is a time travel science fiction book where the main character, a young female historian, goes back to medieval times. For oxford student kivrin, traveling back to the 14th century is more. One of the most respected and awarded of all contemporary science fiction writers, connie willis repeatedly amazes her many admiring fans with her ability to create vivid characters in unusual situations.
Doomsday book by willis, connie and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. With doomsday book, she takes listeners on a thrilling trip through time to discover the. These books would have been so much better if connie willis had trusted her readers to get the point without beating it into the ground. The first connie willis book i read was to say nothing of the dog. Science fiction icon connie willis brilliantly mixes a speculative plot, the wit of nora ephron, and the comedic flair of p. Read doomsday book by connie willis available from rakuten kobo. For kivrin engle, preparing an onsite study of one of the deadliest eras in humanitys history was as simple as receivi. I had just completed neuromancer and didnt like it. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Blackout was published february 2, 2010 by spectra. The first book in her oxford time travel series is doomsday book. This was a very good book although found it a bit slow moving at first, this may be because it was an audio book and therefore read in smaller chunks. She makes the trip despite the misgivings of her teacher and mentor, mr.
Wodehouse in crosstalk, a genrebending novel that pushes social media, smartphone technology, and twentyfourhour availability to hilarious and chilling extremes as one young woman abruptly finds herself with way more connectivity than she ever desired. Blackout and all clear are the two volumes that constitute a 2010 science fiction novel by american author connie willis. I know they would have been better because when connie willis does let implication do some of the work for her, the books are really fun. Nov 16, 2016 medieval kingship and the domesday book lecture 1 duration. Jun 05, 1992 connie willis, doomsday book doomsday book, republished as part of the sf masterworks series by the american author connie willis is an amazing, unique, captivating 600page novel taking place in two times. Masterworks by connie willis, christopher gibbs from amazons fiction books store. The novel won both the hugo and nebula awards, and was shortlisted for other awards. Doomsday book, by connie willis this week, the cdc predicted there could be tens of thousands of ebola cases if the disease. It is definitely in her character depictions that willis excels, indeed she often. The characters in both the 14th century and near future are a rather mixed literary bunch. I couldnt put this book down, and i was extremely satisfied with the ending. Doomsday book is my first connie willis novel and it certainly is an ambitious work. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of doomsday book by connie willis.
James dunworthy, a faculty member of the oxford history department, enters a viewing chamber where his friend, mary ahrens, is watching the preparations for sending a. I love time travel stories so i had to check out her books. She has won eleven hugo awards and seven nebula awards for particular worksmore major sf awards than any other writer most recently the best novel hugo and nebula awards for blackoutall clear 2010. It gives a very good picture of life in the14th century and the devastating disease and effect of the black death. They do make dumb mistakes and have personality flaws, just like the rest of us. The characters all work, what happens to them hurts, and the whole. Discovering an authors body of work can be intimidating, especially for some one as prolific as connie willis.
Her novel doomsday book won both the nebula and hugo awards, and her first shortstory collection, fire watch, was a new york times notable book. Medieval kingship and the domesday book lecture 1 duration. Campbell memorial award for her first novel, lincolns dreams. I am now also interested in learning more about other epidemic outbreaks in history and also about the history of medicine, antibiotics etc. The diptych won the 2010 nebula award for best novel, the 2011 locus award for best science fiction novel, and the 2011. Kivrin engles has labored diligently to acquire the language and practical skills necessary to survive in the 14th centuryfor her destination is christmas, 20. Even though the book was published in 1992, it has stood the test of time well. I was amused by some of her characters continually running between buildings and locations to immediately reach each other. All the mysteries are solved and the facts are presented but a twist at the end leaves a new mystery unsolved. It was released by the bantam spectra publishers in the year 1992. I hope for more timetravel novels from connie willis. Doomsday book doomsday book audiobook, by connie willis.