Althea M. (althea) reviewed on 9/15/2008 + 774 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

This was only by second book that I've read by Connie Willis. I was delighted to find that it was set in the same milieu as the other one I've read, "To Say Nothing of the Dog," although it is (much) more serious in tone. In near-future England, academic historians study the past by sending people back through time to that past. Kivrin is an enthusiastic young post-doc (?) who has pushed hard to be the first to visit 1320 - but her mentor, Mr. Dunworthy, is obsessed by a feeling that something will go - or has gone - wrong. Unfortunately, once Kivrin is in the past, the tech who completed her time-travel falls ill - and soon the University is under quarantine, and the whole place is in chaos. Meanwhile, for Kivrin, things are worse than Dunworthy has even imagined - she's in 1348, the year the Black Death ravaged Europe.
The harrowing experiences on both sides of the time machine are leavened by Willis' wit - she truly excels at poking fun of human nature, and people's ability to be silly and petty no matter what we are facing. The juxtaposition of humor and tragedy is sometimes jarring, but, I believe, intentionally so.
This book won both the Hugo and Nebula awards.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details