Passage Read online

  Lavish Praise for the Books of

  CONNIE WILLIS

  PASSAGE

  “The wit, plotting, and characterization that are Willis’ trademarks . . . are fully present in Passage.

  —The San Diego Union-Tribune

  “Connie Willis’ most striking skill as a writer is her way of finding emotional resonance in unlikely and offbeat subjects . . . . In Passage, she explores a more overtly emotional topic—life after death—with luminous clarity, walking the fine line between science and spiritualism with the confidence that comes from having a solid story and a powerful agenda . . . . A complex, finely crafted, haunting story that makes the light at the end of the tunnel impossible to take lightly.”

  —The Onion A.V. Club

  “Be warned that this book may make you keep the light on too long at night, perhaps even as you try to sleep. It may make you skip lunch or call in sick to work. You might miss many things if you read Passage, but don’t miss out on the chance to read an author at the very top of her game.”

  —BookPage

  “A serious novel . . . [with] elements of a thriller . . . The book’s multiplying internal and external mazes provide an emblem of human complexity, foolishness, and deeper terrors, some reaching beyond death.”

  —Locus

  “Connie Willis’ Passage is a suspense novel in the same way that Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is a slasher movie; it defies the genre while still delivering its thrills. I’m tempted to dub Passage a neurological detective story with metaphysical leanings, but even that description goes too far in nailing down this mercurial work. I’m sure, though, that it’s one of the smartest books I’ve read in years; its construction is a marvel of ingenuity and—what’s even more remarkable, given the wizardry of Willis’ storytelling—its intellectual honesty is impeccable.”

  —Salon.com

  “Willis . . . pries open the door at the end of the tunnel of Near Death Experience while holding firmly to her endearing brand of exasperated humor.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “A gripping story . . . made more compelling by brilliant characterization and solid-sounding science.”

  —The Tampa Tribune and Times

  “Willis’ comedic timing and sure-handed plotting make for a fulfilling reading experience . . . . Wonderful.”

  —St. Louis PostDispatch

  “Thrilling . . . Mundane details . . . set the book so firmly in this world that the intrusion of an unexplainable world creates a powerful sense of mystery and wonder.”

  —U.S. News & World Report

  “An addictive story peopled by textured characters . . . thrilling. Connie Willis is not only a master entertainer, but also a writer of depth, intricacy, compassion and thoughtfulness.”

  —Daily Camera, Boulder

  “An engrossing, lively and thought-provoking novel by one of this generation’s finest authors.”

  —Rocky Mountain News

  “Willis creates characters out of whole cloth that will stick in readers’ minds long after the book is finished.”

  —The Denver Post

  “A page-turner whose explosive climax will rock readers back on their heels.”

  —Booklist

  MIRACLE AND OTHER CHRISTMAS STORIES

  “A muscular imagination, with drolleries and epiphanies galore. Put this at the top of your Must Buy holiday shopping list.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Will entertain readers both in and out of season; and as a stocking stuffer for SF fans, it’s a merry delight.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Willis does indeed walk what she describes as ‘a narrow tightrope between sentiment and skepticism’ in these tales . . . a nice antidote to the saccharine side of the season.”

  —Locus

  “Willis . . . brings humor and a warm sensibility to these cleverly plotted Christmas stories . . . . This collection—by turns touching and amusing—makes an ideal refuge from the frenzy of the season.”

  —The Tampa Tribune and Times

  “A refreshing change from the maudlin, over-hyped holiday books that are usually pushed on readers . . . the perfect gift for the cynical and the sappy.”

  —San Antonio Express-News

  “Highly entertaining reading that never sinks to maudlin depths. Willis is a world-class writer, and she brings all her gifts as such to bear in this witty and warmhearted collection.”

  —St. Petersburg Times

  “All of the stories combine the magic and fantasy that make Christmas the author’s favorite day.”

  —Rocky Mountain News

  “A welcome breath of fresh yuletide air. Packed with tales poking fun at tradition, this collection remains respectful of the season.”

  —The Dallas Morning News

  “Enchanting . . . Told with plenty of humor, the tales in the book reconnect the readers with the true meaning of Christmas . . . . Willis’ trademark wit and keen observations shine through. Each story is a reminder of what makes Christmas so special.”

  —Abilene Reporter-News

  “All the zany action and witty dialogue are delivered in Willis’ favorite style, a mix of screwball and romantic comedies that’s sheer unadulterated fun . . . . Mix in a bit of Willis’ ready wit and enthusiasm for the season and the result is just about everything you’d want for the holidays: a must-have collection for your collection.”

  —The Davis Enterprise/Winters Express

  “Terrific . . . Ideal for private reading or sharing with an audience. These are stories that will add laughter and warmth to a season whose energy is often drained by bouts of rushed shopping and rushed obligations . . . . The stories’ charm is the trademark Willis refusal to fall into sugar-sweet sentiment . . . . Well worth reading.”

  —Off the Shelf

  “Not your average Christmas storybook . . . A combination of Twilight Zone and A Christmas Carol with Miracle on 34th Street thrown in for good measure . . . SF fans will be delighted to find this book in their stockings.”

  —News & Record

  “Connie Willis hits gold with this collection of Christmas tales. She immediately grabs the reader’s attention and never lets go, even at the end. Each story has its own significance and moral lesson that touches the reader. A must-have this holiday season. These tales enchant and enlighten as they add spice to the wonder of Christmas. They remind us what Christmas is all about.”

  —The Roanoke Times

  “If you need a little help getting into the Christmas spirit, this small book may be the answer. Willis . . . tells some stories with messages that are familiar, yet treatment that is fresh and new.”

  —The Brazosport Facts

  “Willis does a really nice job melding holiday traditions with little supernatural twists.”

  —The Knoxville News-Sentinel

  “Connie Willis, curmudgeon, book addict, and philosopher, writes with a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other.”

  —Salon.com

  TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG

  “Willis effortlessly juggles comedy of manners, chaos theory and a wide range of literary allusions [with a] near flawlessness of plot, character and prose.”

  —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  “I have long thought that Jerome K. Jerome’s three men in a boat is one of the highest points of inimitable British humor. I chuckle; I gurgle; I know those three men—to say nothing of the dog. And now I am convinced there was a woman concealed in that boat, too: Connie Willis.”

  —Laurie R. King

  “Swiftly paced and full of laughter, Willis’ comedy of manners (and errors) is the most hilarious book of its kind since John Irving’s The Water-Method Man and A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole . . . . Willis’ sure-
handed plotting, unforgettable characters, and top-notch writing should garner quite a few award nominations.”

  —Des Moines Sunday Register

  “An utter delight. Ms. Willis’s unique, engaging voice will carry you off to a place where chaos theory makes perfect sense, time travel is a reasonable mode of transport, and safeguarding the fate of humanity is a respectable day job.”

  —Amanda Quick

  “Few writers can match Willis’ blend of comedy and science fiction. To Say Nothing of the Dog finds her in top form.”

  —San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle

  “Almost certain to appear on top 10 lists throughout the galaxy.”

  —The Toronto Star

  “What a stitch! Willis’ delectable romp . . . will have readers happily glued to the pages.”

  —Booklist (starred review)

  “Connie Willis is the most relentlessly delightful science fiction writer alive . . . . [To Say Nothing of the Dog] establishes Willis not only as SF’s premiere living humorist, but possibly as the genre’s premiere humorist ever.”

  —Locus

  “What great fun! This cleverly written, marvelously peopled, intricately plotted gem of a book is simultaneously a timetravel, futuristic, historic, mystery-comedy love story that is superbly executed with style and flair. Ms. Willis’ imaginatively complex concept is a charming, nonstop delight from start to finish. To Say Nothing of the Dog is a rare treat. Indulge yourself!”

  —Rendezvous

  “[Connie Willis] has outdone herself in To Say Nothing of the Dog. . . . This is a book the reader won’t want to put down, but also won’t want to finish . . . . Enchanting.”

  —The Sunday Advocate, Baton Rouge

  “Gleeful fun with a serious edge.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  DOOMSDAY BOOK

  WINNER OF THE HUGO AND NEBULA AWARDS

  “A tour de force.”

  —The New York Times Book Review

  “Splendid work—brutal, gripping, and genuinely harrowing, the product of diligent research, fine writing, and well-honed instincts, that should appeal far beyond the usual science-fiction constituency.”

  —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  “The world of 1348 burns in the mind’s eye . . . . It becomes possible to feel . . . that Connie Willis did, over the five years Doomsday Book took her to write, open a window to another world, and that she saw something there.”

  —The Washington Post Book World

  LINCOLN’S DREAMS

  “A love story on more than one level, and Ms. Willis does justice to them all. It was only toward the end of the book that I realized how much tension had been generated, how engrossed I was in the characters, how much I cared about their fates.”

  —The New York Times Book Review

  “A tantalizing mix of history and scientific speculation . . . Willis tells this tale with clarity and assurance . . . . Impeccable.”

  —San Francisco Chronicle

  “Fulfills all the expections of those who have admired her award-winning short fiction.”

  —Los Angeles Times

  “Lincoln’s Dreams is a novel of classical proportions and virtues . . . humane and moving.”

  —The Washington Post Book World

  “Lincoln’s Dreams is not so much written as sculpted . . . . [A] tale of love and war as moving as a distant roll of drums . . . No one has reproduced the past that haunts the present any better than Connie Willis.”

  —The Christian Science Monitor

  BELLWETHER

  “A sheer pleasure to read . . . Sprightly, intelligent FUN.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Connie Willis’ fiction is one of the most intelligent delights of our genre.”

  —Locus

  REMAKE

  “Another brilliant work by an author deserving of all the praise and awards heaped on her.”

  —Des Moines Sunday Register

  FIRE WATCH

  “[Willis’s] writing is fresh, subtle, and deeply moving.”

  —The New York Times Book Review

  ALSO BY CONNIE WILLIS

  Fire Watch

  Lincoln’s Dreams

  Doomsday Book

  Impossible Things

  Uncharted Territory

  Remake

  Bellwether

  To Say Nothing of the Dog

  Miracle and Other Christmas Stories

  In loving memory of

  Erik Felice, the Tinman

  Acknowledgments

  Grateful thanks to my editor Anne Groell, to my agent Ralph Vicinanza, to Doris Myers, and to Phyllis Giroux and Elizabeth A. Bancroft, M.D., who helped me with the medical details.

  Writing this book turned out to be a near-death experience in itself, and I wouldn’t have survived without the support of my daughter Cordelia, my long-suffering friends, the staff of Margie’s Java Joint, and the above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty help of my husband Courtney and my Indispensable Girl Friday Laura Norton.

  I will remember it forever, the darkness and the cold.

  “What is it like down there, Charides?”

  “Very dark.”

  “And what of return?”

  “All lies.”

  —CALLIMACHUS

  “Shut up, shut up, I am working Cape Race.”

  —WIRELESS MESSAGE FROM THE TITANIC, CUTTING OFF AN ICE WARNING

  THE CALIFORNIAN WAS TRYING TO SEND

  “More light!”

  —GOETHE’S LAST WORDS

  I HEARD A NOISE,” Mrs. Davenport said, “and then I was moving through this tunnel.”

  “Can you describe it?” Joanna asked, pushing the minitape recorder a little closer to her.

  “The tunnel?” Mrs. Davenport said, looking around her hospital room, as if for inspiration. “Well, it was dark . . . ”

  Joanna waited. Any question, even “How dark was it?” could be a leading one when it came to interviewing people about their near-death experiences, and most people, when confronted with a silence, would talk to fill it, and all the interviewer had to do was wait. Not, however, Mrs. Davenport. She stared at her IV stand for a while, and then looked inquiringly at Joanna.

  “Is there anything else you can remember about the tunnel?” Joanna asked.

  “No . . . ” Mrs. Davenport said after a minute. “It was dark.”

  “Dark,” Joanna wrote down. She always took notes in case the tape ran out or something went wrong with the recorder, and so she could note the subject’s manner and intonation. “Closemouthed,” she wrote. “Reluctant.” But sometimes the reluctant ones turned out to be the best subjects if you just had patience. “You said you heard a noise,” Joanna said. “Can you describe it?”

  “A noise?” Mrs. Davenport said vaguely.

  If you just had the patience of Job, Joanna corrected. “You said,” she repeated, consulting her notes, “ ‘I heard a noise, and then I was moving through this tunnel.’ Did you hear the noise before you entered the tunnel?”

  “No . . . ” Mrs. Davenport said, frowning, “ . . . yes. I’m not sure. It was a sort of ringing . . . ” She looked questioningly at Joanna. “Or maybe a buzzing?” Joanna kept her face carefully impassive. An encouraging smile or a frown could be leading, too. “A buzzing, I think,” Mrs. Davenport said after a minute.

  “Can you describe it?”

  I should have had something to eat before I started this, Joanna thought. It was after twelve, and she hadn’t had anything for breakfast except coffee and a Pop-Tart. But she had wanted to get to Mrs. Davenport before Maurice Mandrake did, and the longer the interval between the NDE and the interview, the more confabulation there was.

  “Describe it?” Mrs. Davenport said irritably. “A buzzing.”

  It was no use. She was going to have to ask more specific questions, leading or not, or she would never get anything out of her. “Was the buzzing steady or intermittent?”

  “Intermittent?”
Mrs. Davenport said, confused.

  “Did it stop and start? Like someone buzzing to get into an apartment? Or was it a steady sound like the buzzing of a bee?”

  Mrs. Davenport stared at her IV stand some more. “A bee,” she said finally.

  “Was the buzzing loud or soft?”

  “Loud,” she said, but uncertainly. “It stopped.”

  I’m not going to be able to use any of this, Joanna thought. “What happened after it stopped?”

  “It was dark,” Mrs. Davenport said, “and then I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and—”

  Joanna’s pager began to beep. Wonderful, she thought, fumbling to switch it off. This is all I need. She should have turned it off before she started, in spite of Mercy General’s rule about keeping it on at all times. The only people who ever paged her were Vielle and Mr. Mandrake, and it had ruined more than one NDE interview.

  “Do you have to go?” Mrs. Davenport asked.

  “No. You saw a light—”

  “If you have to go . . . ”

  “I don’t,” Joanna said firmly, sticking the pager back in her pocket without looking at it. “It’s nothing. You saw a light. Can you describe it?”

  “It was golden,” Mrs. Davenport said promptly. Too promptly. And she looked smugly pleased, like a child who knows the answer.

  “Golden,” Joanna said.

  “Yes, and brighter than any light I’d ever seen, but it didn’t hurt my eyes. It was warm and comforting, and as I looked into it I could see it was a being, an Angel of Light.”