Connie Willis
Paperback | Pages: 248 pages Rating: 3.92 | 10591 Users | 1307 Reviews
List Containing Books Bellwether
| Title | : | Bellwether |
| Author | : | Connie Willis |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 248 pages |
| Published | : | June 2nd 1997 by Spectra (first published March 1st 1996) |
| Categories | : | Science Fiction. Fiction. Humor. Romance |
Relation During Books Bellwether
Pop culture, chaos theory and matters of the heart collide in this unique novella from the Hugo and Nebula winning author of Doomsday Book.Sandra Foster studies fads and their meanings for the HiTek corporation. Bennet O'Reilly works with monkey group behavior and chaos theory for the same company. When the two are thrust together due to a misdelivered package and a run of seemingly bad luck, they find a joint project in a flock of sheep. But series of setbacks and disappointments arise before they are able to find answers to their questions.
Particularize Books As Bellwether
| Original Title: | Bellwether |
| ISBN: | 0553562967 (ISBN13: 9780553562965) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Literary Awards: | Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (1997), Locus Award for Novella (1997) |
Rating Containing Books Bellwether
Ratings: 3.92 From 10591 Users | 1307 ReviewsCrit Containing Books Bellwether
Reread for an upcoming Good Story is Hard to Find podcast episode. It was fun all over again! Original review below.=======Sandra Foster studies fads and their meanings for the HiTek corporation. Bennet O'Reilly works with monkey group behavior and chaos theory for the same company. When the two are thrust together due to a misdelivered package and a run of bad luck, they find a joint project in a flock of sheep. But series of setbacks and disappointments arise before they are able to findThis was fun!Management cares about only one thing. Paperwork. They will forgive almost anything else - cost overruns, gross incompetence, criminal indictments - as long as the paperwork's filled out properly. And in on time.
My main problem with Connie Willis books is that they usually have great characters and an interesting plot, but are thick with too much narrative padding, typically in the form of "funny bits" about bureaucratic incompetence and miscommunication due to mishaps with modern technology, and exhaustively-researched recitation of facts tangentially related to the story (famous last words and the Titanic disaster in Passage; facts of life during the Blitz in Blackout/All Clear; etc.). I go back and
Baaaaaaaa!I'm caught in a horrible quandary. On the one hand, this is a purely wonderful and madcap whirlwind of farcical trendsetting, and I mean that most literally, in that it's ABOUT the madcap whirlwind of farcical trendsetting, and yet for all its humor, its chaos, its insight into human and animal behavior, and even how fads rule the sciences, I have to admit that this isn't *actually* science fiction.It is a fantastic novella, though. :) It's funny on so many different levels, and
As you may know, I have an up-and-down relationship with Connie Willis books. I think some of them are astoundingly good. I think some of them are very weak. So I always start a new one wondering which it's going to be. And then there's Bellwether, which is barely even science fiction, and it's fun, but a bit forgettable. This one didn't disappoint me, but it wasn't anything more than fine.Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement.
I owe bellwether a review. Bellwether is a book that I inevitably turn to when I want something that is light, clever, literate and sweet. Sandra Foster has been studying fads, specifically trying to identify what started the bobbed hair craze at some time in the 1920s. The company administrative assistant, Flip, is pretty much the worst ever, and one day when she mis-delivers a 'perishable' (not 'fragile,' as Pip says) to Sandra, Sandra finds herself taking the package down to the Biology
Three stars is an odd conclusion to arrive at when I hated virtually everyone except the two main characters. But I really enjoyed their interactions and their growing relationship. Even the science fun facts were enjoyable, since I've read entire books that essentially functioned as such.But damn Willis seems to have her hackles up about young people. Everyone in this story under the age of 30 is rude, shallow, and a constant slave to trends. I get that it's probably supposed to be comedic, but
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