To Say Nothing of the Dog is a wonderfully
irreverent time travel science fiction novel replete with absurdist humor and
appealing characters. A stand-alone entry in Wills’ Oxford Time Travel series,
this story takes the reader to Victorian England by way of World War II,
looking for the bishop’s bird stump to complete the restoration of Coventry
Cathedral. This is more difficult than one might think, given the iron whims of
Lady Schrapnell, who co-opts the entire time travel department to complete her
pet project. Unfortunately, time itself is threatened when something unauthorized
is brought forward in time, and it’s up to our heroes , Ned Henry and Verity Kindle, to overcome
advanced time-lag and put everything right.
The author, Connie Willis, has been named a Grand Master by
the Science Fiction Writers of America and this novel lives up to her
reputation. She was inspired by Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome,
a Victorian comic novel detailing the small adventures of three gentlemen
boating to while away the summer. She translated the river into a Victorian
country summer idyll filled with all the small pleasures of lawn parties,
croquet, and church fetes, while reveling in the folly and fecklessness of the
upper class. She then adds depth and plot by peopling it with professional
time-travelers from the future who are forced to reconcile living a life of
leisure with preventing a potentially serious catastrophe, while facing
personal difficulties of their own. Throughout Willis maintains a light touch,
riddled with humor and charm.
I really enjoyed this read. I appreciate Willis deft
touch with combining the serious and the absurd, and the story is
laugh-out-loud funny. Her plotting is clever and her timing is right on. Her
characters, including their faults, are relatable and lovable, and just a bit
hapless, subject to the whims of the story. This is not a serious, in-depth
time travel novel; if you’re looking for that try Willis’ Domesday Book.
This is a book that uses time travel as almost a McGuffin frame for a
confection of a farce.
No comments:
Post a Comment