Doomsday BookDoomsday Book
Score Modern
What it's about
In 2054 historians at Oxford University study the past by traveling to it. Kivrin, a young student, insists on going to the 1300s, a period considered too dangerous. Something goes wrong, and she arrives in a different year than planned, in a village about to be struck by the Black Death. Back in Oxford, her tutor tries desperately to get her home while a deadly flu spreads through his own city.
Why it's worth reading
It won both the Hugo and the Nebula awards. It's a time-travel story that is really about compassion, and its medieval village is one of the most moving settings in science fiction.
You'll love it if you liked
Outlander
The Name of the Rose
Station ElevenGood to know
The 2054 storyline has a lot of comic frustration with phones and bureaucracy. The second half, during the plague, is devastating, with many deaths, including children.
By the numbers
- Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics80 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #64 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #96 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #359 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #713 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Connie Willis
To Say Nothing of the Dog
Bellwether
PassageIf you like this, read next
A Deepness in the Sky
Parable of the Sower
Good Omens
Blindness
Making Money
The Calculating StarsExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Doomsday Book worth reading?
Yes. It won both the Hugo and the Nebula awards. It ranks #713 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Doomsday Book about?
In 2054 historians at Oxford University study the past by traveling to it. Kivrin, a young student, insists on going to the 1300s, a period considered too dangerous. Something goes wrong, and she arrives in a different year than planned, in a village about to be struck by the Black Death. Back in Oxford, her tutor tries desperately to get her home while a deadly flu spreads through his own city.
How long does it take to read Doomsday Book?
About 15 hours (593 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Doomsday Book won?
Hugo Award winner (1993); Nebula Award winner (1992).
What should I read after Doomsday Book?
If you liked it, try Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco or Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.