Blackout

Book 1 of 2

BLACKOUT is the opening movement of a vast, absorbing two-volume novel that may well prove to be Connie Willis' masterpiece. Like her multi-award-winning THE DOOMSDAY BOOK, this stunning new work marries the intricate mechanics of time travel to the gritty—and dangerous—realities of human history.

A Journey Through Time and History

The narrative begins in Oxford, England in 2060, where a trio of time-traveling scholars prepares to depart for various corners of the Second World War. Their mission:

• To observe, from a safe vantage point, the day-to-day nature of life during this critical historical moment.

As the story unfolds, the action spans:

• The evacuation of Dunkirk,
• The manor houses of rural England,
• The quotidian horrors of London during the Blitz.

However, the objective nature of their roles gradually shifts. Cut off from the safety net of the future and caught up in the chaotic events that make up history, they are forced to participate, in unexpected ways, in the defining events of the era.

An Ingeniously Constructed Novel

BLACKOUT is more than a time travel novel; it is a grand entertainment. It offers:

• A moving, exquisitely detailed portrait of a world under siege.
• A depiction of chaos, uncertainty, and the threat of imminent extinction.

This rare book transcends the limits of genre, delivering pleasure, insight, and illumination on virtually every page.