SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Blackout >> First impressions | Final thoughts

Buddy read for All Clear, part 2 of Blackout. Start whenever you finish with Blackout!

Please use spoiler tags and tell us which chapter your'e talking about!

I'll be reading this, probably starting in a few days after I do a catch-up/re-read of the last parts of Blackout which I read last year.

I’m still only 20% into Blackout, but I’m going to do my best to get both listened to in a timely fashion!

Just started Blackout today, so I should be getting to All Clear in 3 or fewer days. I tend to burn through Willis’ books, even if they’re long, and I have the luxury of lots of time to read right now .

I envy you that time to read! That said, I’m spending a fair amount of time either in the car, walking to and fro or doing mundane tasks, so I’m making good progress on Blackout.

Just started on Blackout as well, but anticipate it to be quick and plan to move on to this as it were indeed of the same book.

Starting now!

I'm just about to start.

I just finished it, and I am happy to say that she did it again. She really is masterful at plot and character, and I am pleased to say that everything — and I do mean everything — matters in the end. There’s no one else quite like her in SF, who’s able to infuse her work with not only the wonderful plotting and moments of lightness — but also the sort of bittersweet beauty — of Shakespeare’s best comedies. I believe her characters and I feel for them and I love the manner in which she trusts herself to take us on the journey in the manner in which she chooses, which has such a very fulfilling payoff.

Yeah! I'm happy you liked it! It moved me to pieces and I had to use up several tissue papers, cause Connie Willis' characters are always so likeable and dear to me. And she brought a time in history to life from the point of view of the unsung heroes.

Willis’ story at the beginning of the audio book was quite nice to hear. Her husband ran into a bunch of female survivors of the blitz when they were both at the Imperial War Museum in London, bought them all tea and cake and fetched Connie, who sat down with them and listened to them tell stories.

I’m only 4% in at this point and I’m wondering if I shouldn’t actually preempt this for Green Mars, because everyone’s already having a lovely discussion about that book and I’m missing it because I’m so behind!!

I couldn’t imagine not listening to AC right after Blackout! I also liked that story, and how they are characters in these books!

@Diane: there is still the option of not sleeping ... ;p

I finished the book yesterday. It was one again a mix of great historical story with a great care about details and that 'close call' soup opera-ness that irks me: why, oh why another traveler was just behind the wall/next door/was coughing and unable to talk?! And while it all fit well at the end, a lot was predicted by me... I have to say that as a teen I got hold of quite a bundle of Agatha Christie mysteries and quite soon I was able to predict, who the killer will be even before the murder - her clues stuck out like sore thumbs for me (except for special cases like Murder on the Orient Express) and here the homage is felt (and the clues seen) as well.

What I disliked is that constant assumption that the war can be either won or lost instead of continuum of possible victories with different schedules and death tolls. After all, if one looks at the economics of the Third Reich it was doomed against the US - the great book on Nazi economics is The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy. Even if we assume that Hitler won over the Britain and USSR (both questionable even with losing Dunkirk) and got A-bomb by 1945 (The Making of the Atomic Bomb says that in 1945 Germans were at least 3 year behind and with no funds to keep the project) he still had no chances I think

@Gabi LOL @Jemppu - yeah, I am not so sure it’s a great idea. I might mix and match, one day, Green Mars the next All Clear.

I finished and loved it! The ending was so beautiful - how everything turned out to be connected - I really liked that!

I was still a bit annoyed at a few inexplicable behaviours, but the detailed historical picture made it all worthwhile.

The only thing to do now, is to finally visit London and to explore the many historic sites (St. Pauls, Trafalgar Square,...) that I'll appreciate so much more after this!

Finally finished and feeling very satisfied, as well as emotionally wrecked by the ending. Willis amazes me with her level of detail, plotting and planning, and as noted above the humanity of her characters.

I’m glad you feel that way, Meredith. And I happen to strongly agree.

OK, 8 months later I've finally finished! And yes, I wish I had listened to it immediately. And then shortly before the end (2 hours of listening left), I had virtually zero time to listen. Arrgh.

Here's my review.

I agree with most everyone's assessment that Willis' characters, and the plot, are so well done. I'm going to miss the characters, I really am.

I learned so much about what happened in England during the Blitz. It's much more interesting experiencing it through the eyes of the unsung and undercover heroes, than from a history book (in which, as textbooks in US classrooms, it was only ever mentioned as having happened, not more).

I thought the time travel was well done and believable and I loved that the time traveling characters got in a muddle themselves. (view spoiler)[Alf and Vinnie seemed to be the only ones NOT confused! (hide spoiler)]

I'm really glad Mr. Dunworthy was not as much of a bumbling fool in this book as in Doomsday Book, because that was the only annoying part of it. The part he played was actually quite poignant.

And boy, does Willis play with your heartstrings! After such a long story, it's not surprising how invested one becomes in the characters.

Such a satisfying ending.