A 14-year old reasercher from 22nd century England visits the middle ages. She goes around and tries to find out as much as she can for the college archieves, but something goes wrong. She's not when she wanted to be! She's in the BUBONIC PLAGUE era of the Middle Ages!

posted Jun 27, 2007 at 4:18PM

Kivrin is a student of history and time travel at Oxford in 2048. With the help of her doubting professor, she is about to go back in time to the Middle Ages of the fourteenth century for the ultimate historical research. Kivrin has been prepped in every aspect of time travel—but nothing can prepare her for a virus that hits home in the twenty-first century, trapping her in the past and causing an error in where--and when--she ends up. She finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a Black Plague outbreak, and with everyone at home too sick to find her, Kivrin can’t help but become deeply involved in the lives of the people in this small disease-ridden village. The Doomsday Book alters between two storylines, one in the past and one in the future, both taken equally unaware—despite the supposed advancement of the future—by this new and deadly threat. And both communities respond with suspicion and fear, then ultimately with compassion as neighbor cares for neighbor regardless of the century of their birth. Award-winning author Connie Willis writes strong characters, her vision of the future is detailed and realistic, and her historical research is impeccable. The tension between the past and future is palpable, the story is harrowing and fraught with suspense, and the reader will be irresistibly drawn into this remarkable tale than spans the centuries.

posted Jul 26, 2009 at 7:29PM

Won the 1992 Nebula Award.

posted Jul 25, 2011 at 12:19PM

Won the 1993 Hugo Award. Tied with Vernor Vinge's A Fire Upon the Deep.

posted Jul 25, 2011 at 3:19PM

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