A review by soundracer
All Clear by Connie Willis

4.0

Connie Willis was recommended to me by like-minded friends who are science fiction fans -- and "Blackout" and then "All Clear" were the first books of hers that I read. I was intrigued with the premise of "Blackout" but was ultimately very disappointed in the cliff-hanger ending. I wondered if "All Clear" would redeem Willis for me.

Well, yes and no. There are some very fine things about this story (the Hodbins are back!) but unfortunately Willis once again really drags things out, with meandering plots and seemingly endless ruminations by the main characters. The first third of "All Clear" is a real test for the reader. I mused that an appropriate subtitle was "All About Traveling in Time -- for Readers With Plenty Of It."

But, finally -- things start to pick up. The description and plotting around the night that St. Paul's is bombed are enthralling. And once Willis begins to weave the plot lines together the book really does become a page-turner. And, credit where credit is due, the ending reveals one of the more inventive twists on time travel that I've come across.

So, partial redemption. Enough that at some point I will read some of Willis' earlier -- and shorter -- works.