Reading Connie Willis

[ubiquirk]

I'm going to start writing about books I love and why I love them without spoiling any major plot points so that if I entice you to try them, you'll still enjoy discovering all that for yourself.  This first one is going to be somewhat vague on details because I'm covering Willis's oeuvre instead of a single text.

Over the holidays, I must admit

Comments

[wonderfulwrites]

I have To Say Nothing of the Dog and Doomsday Book. I may have even picked them up on your suggestion, and if not, then on the suggestion of someone else on the flist. I started To Say Nothing..., but at the time I was attempting to read it, my focus was elsewhere. What I read of it was very amusing, especially the bit where the time travel staff are trying to hide Ned from the society lady, and I definitely plan to go back and try again.

The Nebula and Hugo awards are very impressive. I'm surprised I hadn't heard of her before.

[ubiquirk]

I picked up 'Doomsday Book' years ago because the cover said 'Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards,' so I must admit I found her based on that. I didn't realize she'd won so many for quite some time. A few of them are for short stories.

I hope you give it another go and enjoy it. 'To Say Nothing' is one of the funniest books I've read and it's got a nice UK feel to it (which makes since as it was inspired by 'Three Men in a Boat').

[antennapedia]

"Superbly crafted" is a great description of Bellwether, which is just such a fabulous and funny book. Very tight. I can see it as a Tracy and Hepburn movie, so easily.

"Firewatch" came a decade before The Doomsday Book, I think, and makes the same point in far fewer words. I love those characters, however, and definitely recommend the novel. And everything she's written. She's one I buy sight unseen.

[ubiquirk]

Bellwether is a gem of wit and craft. In fact, it's so much fun to read, it's easy to miss out on the cleverness with which it's been constructed.

Yep, she wrote 'Firewatch' first, but it's set after Doomsday and refers back to it with those ironic side comments about 'how hard could Kivrin's practical have been?' That grace note of humor in the midst of seriousness.

I'm hoping this hiatus she's been having means another major novel is coming out.

[ubiquirk]

Hi there! Both of those are fantastic.

I think the one you're referring to is Remake, but I haven't read it or Light Raid in years (I think these are her first 2 books). I can also recommend Lincoln Dreams as a shorter and earlier look at some of the concepts in Passage, but I prefer the longer novel.

I love sharing the love of books!

[shiv5468]

I've added them to my amazon wishlist and get round to reading them. They sound interesting, especially as Three men in a boat is one of my favourites.

[ubiquirk]

I can see To Say Nothing of the Dog being right up your alley. The others as well depending on whether you're willing to go serious with a UK setting (Doomsday) or funny with an American setting (Bellwether).

[mundungus42]

In a year that I've decided to read only good books that I haven't read before, your timing for this series of posts couldn't be more fortuitous :D I'm very ill-read in sci-fi, and between you and thimidinekinase, who introduced me to Isaac Asimov, I'm getting an proper education. Thank you!!

[ubiquirk]

Yep, it's good to get a background in some of the Golden Age stuff - Asimov and Clarke and esp. Herbert. My favorite stuff tends to be the more quasi-pomo 60s works followed by soft sf. I list some author's in my profile, and if you ever want to chat, drop me a line.