Bellwether

By: Connie Willis

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2010

Pop culture, chaos theory, and matters of the heart collide in this unique novella from the Hugo and Nebula Award - winning author of Doomsday Book.

Sandra Foster studies fads and their meanings for the HiTek corporation. Bennett O'Reilly works with monkey group behavior and chaos theory for the same company. When the two are thrust together due to a misdelivered package and a run of seemingly bad luck, they find a joint project in a flock of sheep. But a series of setbacks and disappointments arise before they are able to find answers to their questions - with the unintended help of the errant, forgetful, and careless office assistant Flip.

©1996 Connie Willis (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Connie Willis deploys the apparatus of science fiction to illuminate character and relationships, and her writing is fresh, subtle and deeply moving." ( New York Times Book Review)
"Willis's story builds slowly but is realistic and engrossing." ( Midwest Book Review)

Cool short story.

Didn’t know where this was going at first but really enjoyed it. Narrator is excellent.

Delightfully smart and original

I almost never bother to write reviews, although I listen to 150+ books a year. But this one grabbed and delighted me in the most original way. It’s a meditation on science and serendipity, a charming, low-key romance, and a snarky sendup on pop culture and corporate speak, all in one. As a former research scientist now working for a large pharmaceutical company, I found it particularly delightful, but anyone with an interest in science would enjoy it. The narration is perfect.

Everyone is awful, but the sheep are fun

The POV character is a bit smug and mean-spirited and felt very much like a third-hand guess at what research scientists are like as people, (and she is only outdone by those around her) but the story did make me laugh. The dead-on accurate description and insight into sheep behavior probably carried a whole star on its own.

Loved it!

Awesome book! Humorous and knowledgeable and I enjoyed it very much. Nicely written and well read.

delightful

one of my all time favorites - great story, perfect narrator. Connie Willis is a master story rafter

Enjoyable story, fun science

Not very sophisticated, but a fun read, especially for those of us who have worked in academic or lab settings and done research.

Laugh out loud funny and brilliant

Would you consider the audio edition of Bellwether to be better than the print version?

I only listened to it, but Kate Reading brings so much to it. The story itself is great, but the audio adds tons.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sandra, the narrator, by nose, with Flip, the irritant, a close second. And then about five other characters in a cluster right behind. Sandra is smart, witty, frustrated, and still hopeful. Flip is the airhead hipster we love to hate.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, and I like all the ones I have heard. And still, I think this is my favorite so far. I cannot imagine anyone else reading this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh. Out loud. Medicine for our PoMo world.

Any additional comments?

I was already a Kate Reading fan. Now I am a Connie Willis fan. Would love to hear them together again.

Delightful, fun and informative all in one

I read this based on a recommendation after struggling with another Willis title. This one moves adroitly along apparently going nowhere until suddenly everything comes together--and Willis tips you off from the beginning. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Superbly snarky

This book made me chuckle all the way through. The writing is superb. Nothing has made me laugh this much since Jenny Lawson or Christopher Moore

Entertaining

Characters were both funny and expertly drawn with the absurd business situations. Just finished but I am going to listen to it again to appreciate the beautiful words. There’s a certain peace when one allows others to just be wrong