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timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
It's good to find another Willis that I liked, since her recent time travel books went beyond being not-good and all the way into annoying. OK< this is from 2005, but it was new to me.
Like the time travel books, this one shows off Willis's research. I wonder if she gets an idea, researches the heck out of it, and then finds a story in it somewhere -- or does it in another sequence.
The story's JUST the right length for the tale it has to tell. I took it along when I went out for a solo dinner, and read the last two pages outside the restaurant. And service was average speed. It's a quick read.
How do all the authors who write a male-female investigator team always seem to be writing the same characters with the same interaction, namely light and witty? Are they copying Nick & Nora Charles, or someone earlier?
Anyway, the puzzle/paradox unfolds nicely, at a steady pace; we learn a bit about the wonderful author character, whose name you can get from others' reviews.
And we are given enough foreshadowing - or maybe I'm just used to Willis - that we don't really expect it to be all tied up in a bow at the end, with someone explaining what just happened. You can decide for yourself.
Like the time travel books, this one shows off Willis's research. I wonder if she gets an idea, researches the heck out of it, and then finds a story in it somewhere -- or does it in another sequence.
The story's JUST the right length for the tale it has to tell. I took it along when I went out for a solo dinner, and read the last two pages outside the restaurant. And service was average speed. It's a quick read.
How do all the authors who write a male-female investigator team always seem to be writing the same characters with the same interaction, namely light and witty? Are they copying Nick & Nora Charles, or someone earlier?
Anyway, the puzzle/paradox unfolds nicely, at a steady pace; we learn a bit about the wonderful author character, whose name you can get from others' reviews.
And we are given enough foreshadowing - or maybe I'm just used to Willis - that we don't really expect it to be all tied up in a bow at the end, with someone explaining what just happened. You can decide for yourself.
tasuskind's review against another edition
4.0
Novella from one of my favorite sci-fi authors, about a sceptic confronted with the possibility that a fake channeler may inadvertantly be channeling another sceptic from an earlier time. Fun, quick, easy read. Trying to get my Connie Willis fix in before All Clear comes out at the end of the summer.
mmarques's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fun short read. I love the irony of a spirit channeller being possessed by a famed sceptic
misterjay's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this short novella by Connie Willis. It's a light, fun read: a pair of skeptic journalists find a new scam to report on, only things may not be exactly what they seem. Good stuff. Recommended.
vmorenojackson's review against another edition
4.0
I was so excited to read another Connie Willis story. This is definitely more of the fun ones, along the lines of Bellwether. Although Willis is definitely capable of depth in her shorter works, this novella is definitely more fluff than depth. One thing that just tickles me to no end is the role that H. L. Mencken plays in the story. My father, who gave me two tomes of Mencken that he loved, hated [b:To Say Nothing of the Dog|77773|To Say Nothing of the Dog|Connie Willis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170900428s/77773.jpg|696]. I'm going to have to try him on this and see what he thinks. Since his objection was mainly stylistic, he may not like this either. Hmmm.
tasharobinson's review against another edition
3.0
Sadly, just a novella in hardback form, and reads more like one of Willis' extended short stories. Still delightful. And oddly informative — I wound up looking up a number of pieces of history based on things that happen to the characters here.
saoki's review against another edition
4.0
Reading Connie Willis is always a pleasure. Her prose is tight and masterfully crafted, while still being fun and carrying a spontaneous and light feeling, which is not an easy thing to do. It's actually very, very hard. She's incredible.
This novella, in particular, is a fun, lighthearted story about keeping your trust (and your faith) in the right places. I loved it.
This novella, in particular, is a fun, lighthearted story about keeping your trust (and your faith) in the right places. I loved it.
avery_rivers's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished this audiobook and loved it - such a fun, light story and performance!
blevins's review against another edition
3.0
INSIDE JOB won the Hugo for best novella in 2006--didn't even know that was an award. I knew they awarded for short-stories, but not for novella. I wonder how many high quality science-fiction novellas are published every year? Anyway, I enjoyed this breezy, over in a heartbeat book from Connie Willis. I have liked Willis in the past [DOOMSDAY BOOK, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG] and recently hated her BLACKOUT. I was really let down by BLACKOUT as time-travel and WW2 and Willis seemed a perfect fit. What a shame--I just didn't like that book at all. I haven't even bothered with part two despite the time travel/WW2 angle [two things I love]. I just don't want to feel let down...again.
INSIDE JOB, being a novella, is way less ambitious than some of her more epic, time travel and historical novels. This reads more like a light comedy that involves spiritualists, skeptics, romance and trying to prove channeling is a fraud. Fun, light reading--I actually read this over a couple of lunch breaks at work.
INSIDE JOB, being a novella, is way less ambitious than some of her more epic, time travel and historical novels. This reads more like a light comedy that involves spiritualists, skeptics, romance and trying to prove channeling is a fraud. Fun, light reading--I actually read this over a couple of lunch breaks at work.