Blackout

About “Blackout”

In her first novel since 2002, Connie Willis returns with a time-travel story set in 2060, where historians travel to historical events. Oxford is a chaotic place with time-traveling historians sent to events like the American Civil War and the attack on the World Trade Center. Characters include Michael Davies, preparing to go to Pearl Harbor; Merope Ward, dealing with 1940 evacuees; and Polly Churchill, assigned to London's Blitz. Colin Templer wants to go to the Crusades to catch up to Polly. The time-travel lab suddenly cancels assignments and changes schedules. When Michael, Merope, and Polly arrive in World War II, they face air raids, blackouts, and difficult children. They begin to question if time travel is reliable and if historians can change the past. The novel shows a lesser-known side of World War II, focusing on everyday people helping their country survive.