Doomsday Book

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, 445 pages

Kivrin is traveling back to the year 1320, although her mentor, Mr. Dunworthy, is against it. The 1300s are considered too dangerous to visit but Kivrin is determined and Mr. Gilchrist, who is Acting Head, has decided she should go. Kivrin goes through the net and everything appears to be fine. From there the story splits between Kivrin and Mr. Dunworthy and from both story perspectives, it is clear that something may have gone very wrong with the trip, but no one is quite sure what. Kivrin is ill when she arrives, although she has been inoculated against every possible illness and several people begin falling ill in present day also, starting with Badri, the technician who sent her back. Because Badri is ill, Mr. Dunworthy can’t get any information about Kivrin and because Mr. Gilchrist believes the illness may have come through the net, he won’t let anyone else in the laboratory to get any information, which may result in being unable to retrieve Kivrin from the past. This was a great story, plenty of action and suspense about what will happen. Science fiction and fantasy fans would probably like it. Although it is based in science, the science isn’t very heavy so it’s not too cumbersome for those who prefer fantasy. It may not be enough science for hard core science fiction fans.