PassagePassage
Score Modern
What it's about
Joanna Lander, a psychologist at a huge, maze-like Denver hospital, studies near-death experiences. She teams up with a neurologist who can induce them with a drug, and volunteers to go under herself. What she sees is unexpected and specific: she seems to be on the Titanic. She becomes determined to understand why.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula. Connie Willis writes a gripping, funny and deeply moving novel about death.
You'll love it if you liked
Doomsday Book
Bellwether
Lincoln in the BardoGood to know
It's long and includes a shocking twist halfway through. It deals with death and grief.
By the numbers
- Readers2 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller4 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
- #295 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #434 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #1504 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2728 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous, Epic
More by Connie Willis
To Say Nothing of the DogDoomsday BookBellwetherIf you like this, read next
Gideon the Ninth
All Systems Red
Promises in Death
Innocent in Death
The Blind Assassin
Jade CityExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Passage worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula. It ranks #2,728 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 54.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Passage about?
Joanna Lander, a psychologist at a huge, maze-like Denver hospital, studies near-death experiences. She teams up with a neurologist who can induce them with a drug, and volunteers to go under herself. What she sees is unexpected and specific: she seems to be on the Titanic. She becomes determined to understand why.
How long does it take to read Passage?
About 20 hours (802 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Passage?
If you liked it, try Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, Bellwether by Connie Willis or Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders.