Connie Willis is an American science fiction author celebrated for her distinctive blend of humor and profound insight. Her narratives frequently delve into the intricacies of time travel, exploring the clash between rational pursuits and the often absurd nature of human behavior. Willis excels in crafting accessible prose and endearing characters, setting her stories within meticulously realized worlds where logic confronts unexpected challenges. Her masterful application of the comedy of manners within speculative fiction solidifies her status as a significant voice in contemporary literature.
Brings together short stories from Joe Haldeman, Connie Willis, Lois McMaster Bujold, Suzy McKee Charnas and other winners of the Hugo Awards, one of the top prizes for science fiction. Original.
The narrative offers a unique perspective on the War of the Worlds through the eyes of various celebrity eyewitnesses worldwide. These accounts provide a blend of personal experiences and dramatic interpretations of the Martian invasion, capturing the chaos and fear that ensued. The book combines elements of science fiction with real-world celebrity culture, creating an engaging retelling of H.G. Wells' classic tale while exploring themes of fame, perception, and the human response to extraterrestrial threats.
Winner of the Nebula Award Traveling back in time, from Oxford circa 2060 into the thick of World War II, was a routine excursion for three British historians eager to study firsthand the heroism and horrors of the Dunkirk evacuation and the London Blitz. But getting marooned in war-torn 1940 England has turned Michael Davies, Merope Ward, and Polly Churchill from temporal tourists into besieged citizens struggling to survive Hitler’s devastating onslaught. And now there’s more to worry about than just getting back home: The impossibility of altering past events has always been a core belief of time-travel theory—but it may be tragically wrong. When discrepancies in the historical record begin cropping up, it suggests that one or all of the future visitors have somehow changed the past—and, ultimately, the outcome of the war. Meanwhile, in 2060 Oxford, the stranded historians’ supervisor, Mr. Dunworthy, frantically confronts the seemingly impossible task of rescuing his students—three missing needles in the haystack of history. The thrilling time-tripping adventure that began with Blackout now hurtles to its stunning resolution in All Clear.
Connie Willis' Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Doomsday Book uses time travel for a serious look at how people connect with each other. In this Hugo-winning companion to that novel, she offers a completely different kind of time travel adventure: a delightful romantic comedy that pays hilarious homage to Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat.When too many jumps back to 1940 leave 21st century Oxford history student Ned Henry exhausted, a relaxing trip to Victorian England seems the perfect solution. But complexities like recalcitrant rowboats, missing cats, and love at first sight make Ned's holiday anything but restful - to say nothing of the way hideous pieces of Victorian art can jeopardize the entire course of history.
Winner of six Nebula and two Hugo awards for her fiction, Connie Willis is acclaimed for her gifted imagination and bold invention. Here are eleven of her finest stories, surprising tales in which the impossible becomes real, the real becomes impossible, and strangeness lurks at every turn. The end of the world comes not with a bang but a series of whimpers over many years in "The Last of the Winnebagos." The terror of pain and dying gives birth to a startling truth about the nature of the stars, a principle known as the "Schwarzschild Radius." In "Spice Pogrom," an outrageous colony in outer space becomes the setting for a screwball comedy of bizarre complications, mistaken identities, far-too-friendly aliens--and even true love. The last of the Winnebagos -- Even the queen -- Schwarzschild radius -- Ado -- Spice pogrom -- Winter's tale -- Chance -- In the late Cretaceous -- Time out -- Jack -- At the Rialto
Journeying back in time to the year 1320, twenty-first century Oxford woman Kivrin arrives in the past during the outbreak of a deadly epidemic
A tunnel, a light, a door. And beyond it ... the unimaginable.Dr. Joanna Lander is a psychologist specializing in near-death experiences. She is about to get help from a new doctor with the power to give her the chance to get as close to death as anyone can.A brilliant young neurologist, Dr. Richard Wright, has come up with a way to manufacture the near-death experience using a psychoactive drug. Joanna’s first NDE is as fascinating as she imagined — so astounding that she knows she must go back, if only to find out why that place is so hauntingly familiar.But each time Joanna goes under, her sense of dread begins to grow, because part of her already knows why the experience is so familiar, and why she has every reason to be afraid.Yet just when Joanna thinks she understands, she’s in for the biggest surprise of all — a shattering scenario that will keep you feverishly reading until the final climactic page.
Featuring a blend of new and previously published tales, this collection showcases Connie Willis's award-winning storytelling through eight imaginative Christmas stories. Each narrative reinterprets classic themes of generosity and goodwill, emphasizing the enduring strength of love and compassion during the holiday season. With two original stories, readers can expect a delightful exploration of the magic and spirit of Christmas.
This collection of stories from Connie Willis contains: 'A Letter from the Clearys', 'At the Rialto', 'Death on the Nile', 'The Soul Selects', 'Her own Society', 'Fire Watch' and more.
Connie Willis has won more Hugo and Nebula awards than any other science fiction author. Now, with her trademark wit and inventiveness, she explores the intimate relationship between science, pop culture, and the arcane secrets of the heart.Sandra Foster studies fads - from Barbie dolls to the grunge look - how they start and what they mean. Bennett O'Reilly is a chaos theorist studying monkey group behavior. They both work for the HiTek corporation, strangers until a misdelivered package brings them together. It's a moment of synchronicity - if not serendipity - which leads them into a chaotic system of their own, complete with a million-dollar research grant, caffé latte, tattoos, and a series of unlucky coincidences that leaves Bennett monkeyless, fundless, and nearly jobless. Sandra intercedes with a flock of sheep and an idea for a joint project. (After all, what better animal to study both chaos theory and the herd mentality that so often characterizes human behavior?)But scientific discovery is rarely straightforward and never simple, and Sandra and Bennett have to endure a series of setbacks, heartbreaks, dead ends, and disasters before they find their ultimate answer...
