Blackout

By: Connie Willis

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren, Connie Willis

Length: 18 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

In her first novel since 2002, Nebula and Hugo award-winning author Connie Willis returns with a stunning, enormously entertaining novel of time travel, war, and the deeds - great and small - of ordinary people who shape history.

Oxford in 2060 is a chaotic place. Scores of time-traveling historians are being sent into the past, to destinations including the American Civil War and the attack on the World Trade Center. Michael Davies is prepping to go to Pearl Harbor. Merope Ward is coping with a bunch of bratty 1940 evacuees and trying to talk her thesis adviser, Mr. Dunworthy, into letting her go to VE Day. Polly Churchill's next assignment will be as a shopgirl in the middle of London's Blitz. And 17-year-old Colin Templer, who has a major crush on Polly, is determined to go to the Crusades so that he can catch up to her in age. But now the time-travel lab is suddenly canceling assignments for no apparent reason and switching around everyones schedules. And when Michael, Merope, and Polly finally get to World War II, things just get worse. For there they face air raids, blackouts, unexploded bombs, dive-bombing Stukas, rationing, shrapnel, V-1s, and two of the most incorrigible children in all of history to say nothing of a growing feeling that not only their assignments but the war and history itself are spiraling out of control. Because suddenly the once-reliable mechanisms of time travel are showing significant glitches, and our heroes are beginning to question their most firmly held belief: that no historian can possibly change the past.

BONUS AUDIO: In an exclusive introduction, author Connie Willis discusses her fascination with WWII and the historic context of Blackout.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Blackout is the first volume of a two-part novel. To find out what happens to the time-traveling historians from Oxford, we invite you to download the concluding volume, All Clear.

Listen to Connie Willis and Carrie Vaughn: A Conversation. And listen to All Clear.

©2010 Connie Willis (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Nebula Award, Best Novel, 2010
• Hugo Award, Best Novel, 2011
• Best SF and Fantasy Books of 2010: Readers' Choice (SF Site)

“If you're a science-fiction fan, you'll want to read this book by one of the most honored writers in the field; if you're interested in World War II, you should pick up Blackout for its you-are-there authenticity; and if you just like to read, you'll find here a novelist who can plot like Agatha Christie and whose books possess a bounce and stylishness that Preston Sturges might envy.” ( The Washington Post)

Bright and Blackout

What a great book! I enjoyed the author's contribution, Kelligren's narrating and the way the story played out. I found it intriguing, entertaining, honest and enjoyable.

Worth Waiting For

Connie Willis returns in excellent style in Blackout. In this book she brings back Mr. Dunworthy and a story line about time travel. Similar in logic as Doomsday, and equally authentic, she weaves an intricate plot that gives the reader a true idea of the Blitz. I've read history about the Blitz, but would not have been able to appreciate the daily-ness of living that Londoners attempted during four years of raids. Connie Willis gives an excellent portrayal of what that must have been like for the contemporaries of that time. While some reviews will indicate it is wordy, repetitive, and even incomplete, there can be little doubt that a reader interested in historical fiction will enjoy this book. And yes, it is one of two books. And yes, if you read this when it first came out, you will have experienced a bit of a wait for All Clear, the second in the series. But many authors leave the reader hanging for years (e.g. George RR Martin, Susan Collins, etc.). The book describes human relationships within a very difficult historical period by engaging the reader in the lives of the time travelers as they interact with the people actually living during the Blitz. The reader gets a good feel for the daily interruptions the raid brings, the shortages of dried goods, the rationing and yet the hopeful spirits that continued to buoy to the surface. The parallel story line of the historians lost in time and unable to get back is actually secondary, but is necessary in order to move the plot along. It is this device that allows the reader to meet people in various walks of life in various British geographic areas where the war was taking place. The sci fi part of this book is minimal. Connie Willis pretty much keeps the reader in the Blitz years. The narration is excellent and it is easy to understand her and to tell the difference among the characters. The book is excellent and one of her best. I highly recommend it - but buy both this and All Clear together.

long, and this is only 1/2 of the story...

it's long, very well researched, and has twists up till the very end of book 2. if you like historical novels, this one is for you. the time travel bits are not over the top in the suspension of disbelief.

Time Travel in the "Blitz"

What would happen if three time travelers went back to 1940 London from 2060? This is the story, in excruciating detail, of their lives. Granted, it's tinctured with time travel concerns, but it's really about the everyday lives of Englishers during that time. It's very, very long...a 24 hour listen. To boot, it ends abruptly--referring the reader to the next book. I feel swindled.

Love it!

One of the best stories I've read in a long time. Unique and suspenseful. The performance was amazingly done! I especially loved the characters, the young Alf and Vinne, so funny.

Absolutely a Triumph

This is not your run-of-the-mill time travel story. With the historical detail, the author captures the time period in question, including well-drawn characters and their realistic reactions to a world at war. You can believe the characters are in the time period and not just "visiting". The travelers strive to fit in and understand the world around them. You fall in love with the characters and want to know all about them and what happens to them, contemporary characters and time travelers alike.

I've listened to both Blackout and All Clear twice now and will undoubtedly listen for a third time.

I highly, highly recommend it.

Potential Not Realized

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The bones of a good story are present, but the result turns out to be somewhat tedious, in my opinion. It seems that the author was setting the stage, a necessary step. But I found myself waiting and waiting for the story to get underway. I finally gave up on it after 6 or 7 chapters.

book 1 of 2 books.

really good story and performance but Blackout ends with a cliff-hanger. All Clear, the next book picks up where Blackout left off. I would have been mightily annoyed by this if I didn't happen to have an extra credit handy and could download the next book right away. I think it is worth getting both books - but I don't think you should have to find out about the second one when the first one just stops rather than ending....

Great book but very long!

I really enjoyed this book overall. It is really interesting and roused an interest in WW2 that I didn't know I had. The characters are all interesting and appealing. It is well written and well read. It is about twice as long as it needs to be however, or at least I felt that way. The story just feels like it goes on and on. Great narration.

Without All Clear, this book sucks.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

removing a lot of pages. there was a lot that could have been deleted without losing any of the story or the development of characters

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

there is no ending. you have to read the second book to get an ending

Have you listened to any of Katherine Kellgren and Connie Willis ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. I like Katherine though. She did an admirable job.

Do you think Blackout needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It has one. And without it, you are lost.

Any additional comments?

Connie Willis is probably my favorite modern author. But, I think this was her worst book. (along with blackout) This two book set was far too long. I don't see how the editors let so much filler go. Clearly, its a good book as it won both Hugo and Nebula awards. And there were times when I was on the edge of my seat per se, but all and all, it's not her best effort. And I've read nearly everything she's written