'Passage' by Connie Willis is a science fiction novel that delves into the exploration of Near Death Experiences (NDEs) through the eyes of researchers at a hospital. The story follows the investigations of two scientists, a psychologist, and a neurologist, who are studying NDEs both naturally and artificially induced. The book portrays a deep dive into the human psyche, mortality, and the mysteries surrounding life after death. Willis weaves a complex narrative filled with suspense, scientific exploration, and a touch of the supernatural, all set in a modern hospital setting.
Willis' writing style in 'Passage' is characterized by intricate plotting, detailed scientific explanations, and well-developed characters. The author creates a sense of urgency and intensity throughout the book, keeping readers engaged with a fast-paced narrative that explores profound themes of death, spirituality, and the human spirit. The story unfolds through a series of twists and turns, leading to a climactic revelation that challenges the characters' beliefs and perceptions about the afterlife.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes themes of death, grief, and the emotional distress of characters coping with loss.
From The Publisher:
One of those rare, unforgettable novels that are as chilling as they are insightful, as thought-provoking as they are terrifying, award-winning author Connie Willis's Passage is an astonishing blend of relentless suspense and cutting-edge science unlike anything you've ever read before.
It is the electrifying story of a psychologist who has devoted her life to tracking death. But when she volunteers for a research project that simulates the near-death experience, she will either solve life's greatest mystery - or fall victim to its greatest terror.
At Mercy General Hospital, Dr. Joanna Lander will soon be paged - not to save a life, but to interview a patient just back from the dead. A psychologist specializing in near-death experiences, Joanna has spent two years recording the experiences of those who have been declared clinically dead and lived to tell about it.
It's research on the fringes of ordinary science, but Joanna is about to get a boost from an unexpected quarter. A new doctor has arrived at Mercy General, one with the power to give Joanna the chance to get as close to death as anyone can.
A brilliant young neurologist, Dr. Richard Wright has come up with a way to manufacture the near-death experience using a psychoactive drug. Dr. Wright is convinced that the NDE is a survival mechanism and that if only doctors understood how it worked, they could someday delay the dying process, or maybe even reverse it. He can use the expertise of a psychologist of Joanna Lander's standing to lend credibility to his study.
But he soon needs Joanna for more than just her reputation. When his key volunteer suddenly drops out of the study, Joanna finds herself offering to become Richard's next subject. After all, who better than she, a trained psychologist, to document the experience?
Her first NDE is as fascinating as she imagined it would be - so astounding that she knows she must go back, if only to find out why this place is so hauntingly familiar. But each time Joanna goes under, her sense of dread begins to grow, because part of her already knows why the experience is so familiar, and why she has every reason to be afraid….
And just when you think you know where she is going, Willis throws in the biggest surprise of all - a shattering scenario that will keep you feverishly reading until the final climactic page is turned.
Ratings (7)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (4) | |
Liked It (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (25):
Read It (10) | |
Want To Read (10) | |
Not Interested (5) |
1 comment(s)
One of my favorite parts of Willis' writing is her sense of physical space - her characters are always running around, just missing each other, almost like physical comedy. There's a bit too much of that in the middle third of the book, but just when I was getting tired of it, Willis raises the stakes exponentially and after that just forget about going to bed.
With her trademark blend of history, literature, and loved characters (her characters just....feel loved, by her),
Passage is at once a typically great Willis book and a total surprise.
What can you read after
Passage?
About the Author:
Connie Willis is a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and a Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. She has received seven Nebula awards and eleven Hugo awards for her fiction; Blackout and…
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
