"Blackout" First Impressions *no spoilers*

[Brad]

This is the place for first impressions, but I'm also looking for a leader for this month's discussion. I know there are some huge Connie Willis fans out there. Would anyone like to take the lead?

[Jon]

I hesitate to volunteer, as I'm already leading two other discussions in two other groups. If no one else volunteers, I can throw up some threads, but I can't take the time to re-read it this month.

I do highly recommend this novel to anyone and everyone. (view spoiler)[My review from November 2010 found here. (hide spoiler)]

Thanks, Jon

[Sandra]

I do have it on my Nook. Guess I should read it. :-)

[Sarah]

Loved this book. I'm going to repeat the warning to those who are just getting to it that you should have All Clear on deck. They are actually two halves of one book. The publisher split it, but they are meant to be read together.

[Brad]

That's a good warning, Sarah Pi; I should have thought to echo that again the beginning.

If no one else steps up, Jon, I would love it if you could just throw up a couple of pertinent topics. That would be a huge help.

[Jon]

Sarah Pi wrote: "Loved this book. I'm going to repeat the warning to those who are just getting to it that you should have All Clear on deck. They are actually two halves of one book. The publisher split it, but th..."

I concur. I waited to read Blackout until All Clear was published so I could smoothly flow into the second half without taking a break. Two very large 'books' back-to-back like that ... whew!

[Brad]

So, Sarah Pi. I was wondering, since you loved the book and all ...

[Kevin]

I don't have All Clear, so hopefully that won't matter too much. My first impression is that the pacing is great. There's a lot of action to keep me interested. I have some questions about the apparent rules of the world, but I won't say exactly what to avoid any spoilers and because my questions may be resolved later in the story.

[Banner]

I'm about a third into the audio version. I'm loving the accents. The character development is strong.

Kevin, like you I'm trying to figure out the "rules" of time travel.

[Genia]

I'd volunteer to lead the discussions (being a huge Willis fan, and having read the books) but this month especially promises zero time for me, so I am hesitant to step up to a responsibility I may not be able to handle.

[Brad]

Oh bummer about your time pressures, Genia, that would have been great. Will you do it some time in the future when you've got more time?

[Genia]

When I've more time, gladly. This month I've simply got school, including research papers, plus Passover (oh god!) plus pressure from work, plus on top of everything my house was being renovated and I must now somehow clean it all up.

Life is not inclined to be cooperative.

[Brad]

Awesome.

[Sarah]

Brad wrote: "So, Sarah Pi. I was wondering, since you loved the book and all ..."

While I did love it, I'm a little hesitant to lead since I don't own a copy and I haven't read it since it came out. I'll definitely participate and may be throw out a topic or two if that will be helpful.

[Brad]

Fair enough, I totally understand. You know, if you add a couple to Jon's topics we could probably go "leader" free this month. I bet just those prompts would keep things cooking along.

[Genia]

*considers* You know what? I'll do it. Just because I am insane.

[Brad]

Yay! Jon's given you a nice head start, Genia, so just keep the discussions rolling and this will be a grand success.

[Jon]

Genia wrote: "*considers* You know what? I'll do it. Just because I am insane."

I second your insanity ... and love you for it! :)

[Sarah]

Thanks, Genia!

[David]

Sarah Pi wrote: "Loved this book. I'm going to repeat the warning to those who are just getting to it that you should have All Clear on deck. They are actually two halves of one book. The publisher split it, but th..."

Yeah, I read it before they published the second half, and was getting to the end, wondering how they were going to wrap it up in the few remaining pages. It might even be a good idea to read To Say Nothing of the Dog first (and maybe the Doomsday Book).

[Sarah]

It's not necessary to read any of the other Oxford Time Travel books before this, but if you were to read just one, I think Fire Watch would actually be the most useful, since its events occur in the same time period as this book and are referenced in it. It's available for free here: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories...

[Brad]

Willis is quite popular around here. We've read To Say Nothing of the Dog and Doomsday Book already as a group. I wonder why Fire Watch has never popped up in a nomination thread?

[Genia]

I suspect because it's a short novella, rather than a full-length novel.

[Brad]

Aha. I did not know that. Thank you, Genia.

[Katy]

Just finished Blackout and All Clear at the end of March. I read Doomsday Book last year and I have loved all of them. I picked up To Say Nothing of the Dog to read for this month too. I really have enjoyed Willis' writing.

[Banner]

Kathy are all of those books in the same universe?

[Katy]

Haven't started To Say Nothing of the Dog, but the other two are about the same set of time travelers from Oxford.

[David]

"To Say Nothing..." is more interesting if you read Jerome's book first. Did she do some "Oxford" short stories?

[Katy]

David wrote: ""To Say Nothing..." is more interesting if you read Jerome's book first. Did she do some "Oxford" short stories?"

I have read Jerome's book, so I am looking forward to "To Say Nothing of the Dog."

I don't know about the short stories though. I'll do some research.

[Julia]

David asked: Did she do some "Oxford" short stories?

Yes. You will find them and other stories of the Blitz in
.

[David]

Thanks, I'll look for it.

[Casey]

Wow - I read Doomsday Book shortly after it was published. Didn't realize that 20-ish years later, she's still writing in the same world!

My first impression is that I may have to take notes on the characters to keep them straight - especially if they're going to be assuming alternate names when they travel!

[Kim]

First impression is it is so crowded and confusing. It's all a big jumble.

[Zulfiya]

I have read just first four chapters. As far as my personal involvement, I find it easier to relate to the historic setting of the novel, 1940. The Future lab is somewhat out of shape. But these are just first feelings:-)

[Genia]

As far as I can tell, Willis sets the future up to mostly be a comedy (a comedy of errors, oftentimes) whereas the historic setting is a tragedy. That is a distinction that will come up later.

[Sandra]

I'm about a quarter of the way through and it's feeling a lot like To Say Nothing of the Dog so far. Lots of time spent rushing around the time travel center, trying to get things together for a 'drop' and then getting somewhere but being unable to figure out where or what time it is. Not getting much of a feel for the Blitz so far.

[Banner]

Anyone else listening to the audio? I'm really enjoying the narrator. She does a great job of with the English accents.

[Ami]

I'm just starting. It will be interesting to see if the feel of the book is more "To Say Nothing of the Dog"-like or "Doomsday Book" like: For being in the same Oxford time travel setting they had very different tones. I am looking forward to some humor.

[Mindy]

Sarah wrote: "It's not necessary to read any of the other Oxford Time Travel books before this, but if you were to read just one, I think Fire Watch would actually be the most useful, since its events occur in t..."

Yes, Sarah, I agree!

[DivaDiane]

I started listening to Blackout today! I’m glad I read Doomsday Book relatively recently (less than 3 years ago) or I’d be totally lost. As it was I was a little confused who one of the characters was, but then it was explained. I love the narrator and everything so far.

I might take a moment to read the novella Fire Watch, which apparently is recommended. You can find it for free here:

http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories...

[Michael]

I'm pretty far along in this one, I'm wondering if it will be hard to discuss without reading the sequel/second half. I'm not as enamored of this one as I was of Doomsday Book, I think because there is less tension. I do like her story-telling - character interactions and historical details - I just could use more suspense/conflict.

[Anthony]

I’m at chapter 12, and I will say that I’m happy to be in the cozy company of a Connie Willis time travel novel once again. Doomsday Book remains one of my all-time favorite reading experiences; I found it desperately moving and incredibly powerful. I enjoyed To Say Nothing of the Dog, but not nearly as much. I’m curious to see whether this will gain in power as it goes along, which I suspect it will...

[Oleksandr]

I started it yesterday and while there are several soap opera like close calls (which irked me in otherwise great Doomsday Book) it is a pleasant cozy read

[Anthony]

Yes, she does enjoy building plots around close calls/missed messages, etc, but whenever she’s built those plots, it all comes through for me in the end. I’m hopeful it’ll be the same here. She’s sort of a master at long-game plotting.

[Gabi]

With any other author I would say that's too long and too random how she writes her chaotic time travelers. But not with Willis. she is so sure in her writing, has such a perfect grasp of her language and love for her characters that I would even read a telephone book wrote by her. I only discovered her last year through this group and she jumped right up into my personal Olymp of SF authors.

[DivaDiane]

She’s also delightful in person. I had the absolute pleasure of sitting next to her at the Retro Hugo awards in London in 2015 (?) and she kept up an intermittent commentary on various aspects of the ceremony. It was completely random and I hadn’t yet read any of her books, but I’m so glad I had that experience.

[Jemppu]

Diane wrote: "She’s also delightful in person. I had the absolute pleasure of sitting next to her at the Retro Hugo awards in London in 2015 (?)..."

Ooh! This sounds like an experience.

[Gabi]

Oh Diane! So terrific, I'm envious! She is a person I dearly would love to get to know.

[John]

Diane wrote: "I started listening to Blackout today! I’m glad I read Doomsday Book relatively recently (less than 3 years ago) or I’d be totally lost. As it was I was a little confused who one of the characters ..."

Picked up Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog on an Audible sale a few days ago so looks like I will need to get this one too.

thanks for the pointer to Fire Watch; like the freebies. Don't like to read online but a minute or two with Calibre gets me a mobi for my Kindle.

[Jemppu]

I'm wanting to finish (or more like start over again) with Doomsday Book as well at some point. It felt I never really got into the story before getting interrupted last year. I only remember the premise and setting of it being very similar to this.