Connie Willis

Connie Willis is an acclaimed American science fiction writer known for her comedic touch, intricate plotting, and engaging storytelling. She has won numerous awards, including multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards, for her novels and short stories. Her notable works include 'Doomsday Book,' 'To Say Nothing of the Dog,' and 'Blackout/All Clear' series. Willis's writing often explores themes of time travel, history, and the human condition.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Doomsday Book

    Cover of 'Doomsday Book' by Connie Willis

    In this science fiction novel, a young historian undertakes a time-travel journey to the 14th century for academic research, only to find herself stranded amidst the onset of the Black Death. As she navigates the challenges of medieval England, her colleagues in the 21st century grapple with a deadly influenza pandemic, complicating efforts to retrieve her. The narrative weaves between the past and the present, exploring themes of human resilience, the universality of suffering across time, and the ethical implications of time travel, all while the historian and her contemporaries confront mortality, history, and their own personal crises.

    The 2383rd Greatest Book of All Time

  2. 2. To Say Nothing of the Dog

    Cover of 'To Say Nothing of the Dog' by Connie Willis

    In this comedic science fiction novel, a time-traveling historian is sent back to Victorian England to recover a missing artifact and correct a temporal anomaly that threatens to alter history. Amidst the chaos of trying to adhere to the peculiarities of the era, he must also deal with an eccentric cast of characters, including a lovable but troublesome bulldog. As he navigates the complexities of time travel and the nuances of historical events, the protagonist finds himself entangled in a series of humorous misadventures that challenge the very rules of time and space, all while trying to ensure the past remains intact.

    The 8421st Greatest Book of All Time

  3. 3. Blackout/All Clear

    Cover of 'Blackout/All Clear' by Connie Willis

    This two-volume science fiction narrative follows a group of historians from 2060 who travel back to World War II-era England for research purposes. However, their mission goes awry when they become trapped in the past due to irregularities in the time travel system. As they navigate the dangers of the Blitz and other historical events, they must also confront the possibility that their actions could alter history. The characters grapple with the chaos of war, the intricacies of time travel, and the moral dilemmas of potentially impacting the future, all while trying to find a way back to their own time.

    The 10163rd Greatest Book of All Time

  4. 4. Passage

    Cover of 'Passage' by Connie Willis

    In this speculative fiction novel, a psychologist teams up with a neurologist to explore the phenomenon of near-death experiences (NDEs) by using advanced technology that induces and controls these experiences. As they delve deeper into the mysteries of the afterlife, the protagonist becomes increasingly obsessed with understanding what lies beyond life, leading to a series of intense and personal experiments. The narrative weaves together themes of life, death, and the possibility of an afterlife, while also exploring the ethical implications of such research and the profound impact it has on the individuals involved.

    The 10584th Greatest Book of All Time