Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions.


Mind on Fire random header image
← →

Book a Day, Giveaway 007: Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (signed)

Posted by John on January 6th, 2011 at 9:43 pm · 11 Comments

The title for January 7th is Connie Willis’ Doomsday Book. Willis is known for her research, and this is as much romance and time traveling story as it is a gory, detailed historical novel about 14th century England. (I remember the locals thinking the time traveller was royalty because of how healthy her teeth and nails were).

Connie Willis is one of the most decorated authors in SF-dom and is one of my heroes, though more for her short stories. One of my all-time favorites is her “Death on the Nile.” As much as I idolize Ted Chiang, I’d rather write short fiction like hers.

We had multiple opportunities to hang out with her at Clarion West, and she was gracious, humorous, vulnerable and down to earth.

This particular copy is signed by Connie to “Jenny, Gode helthe & long lyfe!” Jenny was my high school girlfriend and old friend who introduced me to Connie Willis, but who I never managed to track down after getting this signed for her over 13 years ago. So, preference for this copy goes to any Jenns, Jennys, or Jennifers who comment below (or if you can convince me you know a Jenny who would love this). Otherwise, copy a snippet of Old or Middle English into the comments to get a chance at this book.

Tags: Book Giveaway

11 responses so far ↓

  • 1 chosha // Jan 6, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    I’m not putting my hand up for the book (not being named Jenny), but just wanted to say I’m enjoying this journey through your bookshelf. :)

  • 2 Carol Penn-Romine // Jan 7, 2011 at 8:18 am

    The post office lost one of Andy’s books when they redid his packing job at the end of Clarion. Don’t remember which one it was, but it could have been that one.

  • 3 Andy R // Jan 7, 2011 at 9:13 am

    It was “To Say Nothing of the Dog” alas.

  • 4 John // Jan 7, 2011 at 9:25 am

    Hmmmm…may have to check shelf when I get home…

  • 5 JohnW // Jan 7, 2011 at 4:43 pm

    This is one of my favorite books to hate Connie Willis over.

  • 6 Book a Day, Giveaway 008: Tolkien’s World: Paintings of Middle Earth. | Mind on Fire // Jan 8, 2011 at 7:51 am

    [...] Book a Day, Giveaway 007: Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (signed) [...]

  • 7 Merinmel // Jan 8, 2011 at 9:18 am

    I’ve been looking to expand my fiction horizons. Might I claim this lovely?

  • 8 John // Jan 9, 2011 at 8:11 am

    Merinmel, this lovely is all yours! I’ll contact you via email soon. :)

  • 9 Johan Vanhecke // Jan 9, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    I am probably too late, because I only discovered this, when a Tolkien book was given. I read Doomsday book in the dutch translation, (in English that would be Black Winter) and I really love that book. It’s tragic and funny at the same time, and it’s a nice time travel book. The relation between past and present, I mean future, is very well done. I recommend this book very often to other people.

  • 10 Jenny // Jan 9, 2012 at 4:48 am

    WOW! I can’t believe I found this! Original Jenny here and I would have loved getting a signed copy of Doomsday. I still treasure my signed copy of David Brin’s Postman you got me oh so many years ago.

  • 11 John // Jan 9, 2012 at 9:43 am

    Jenny, holy crap, it is you! I can’t believe you found this either!

    I’m going to try to take this to email–I’d love to hear how you are doing!

Leave a Comment