Fire Watch (story)
Encyclopedia
"Fire Watch" is a science-fiction story written in 1982 by Connie Willis
. The story involves a time-travelling historian who goes back to the Blitz
in London, to participate in the fire watch at St. Paul's Cathedral.
The story won both a Hugo Award for Best Novelette
and a Nebula Award for Best Novelette
. It was included in her 1984 short-story collection also titled Fire Watch
.
The idea of a time-travelling history department at Oxford University, introduced in this story, was also used in her later novels Doomsday Book
, To Say Nothing of the Dog
, and Blackout/All Clear
.
Willis's writing of "Fire Watch" predates the production of Doomsday Book by about a decade. However, Kivrin Engle, the main character of Doomsday Book, also appears as a minor character in "Fire Watch". The story references her experience with the Black Plague while time-traveling in the 14th Century.
The character of Professor James Dunworthy figures in "Fire Watch", Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, Blackout, and All Clear.
Connie Willis
Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis is an American science fiction writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for Blackout/All Clear...
. The story involves a time-travelling historian who goes back to the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
in London, to participate in the fire watch at St. Paul's Cathedral.
The story won both a Hugo Award for Best Novelette
Hugo Award for Best Novelette
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
and a Nebula Award for Best Novelette
Nebula Award for Best Novelette
Winners of the Nebula Award for best Novelette. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-External links:* * *...
. It was included in her 1984 short-story collection also titled Fire Watch
Fire Watch (book)
Fire Watch is a 1984 book of short stories by Connie Willis that touches on time travel, nuclear war, the end of the world, and cornball humour....
.
The idea of a time-travelling history department at Oxford University, introduced in this story, was also used in her later novels Doomsday Book
Doomsday Book (novel)
Doomsday Book is a 1992 science fiction novel by American author Connie Willis. The novel won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, and was shortlisted for other awards...
, To Say Nothing of the Dog
To Say Nothing of the Dog
To Say Nothing of the Dog: How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last is a 1997 comic science fiction novel by Connie Willis. It takes place in the same universe of time-traveling historians she explored in her story Fire Watch and novel Doomsday Book.To Say Nothing of the Dog won both the Hugo...
, and Blackout/All Clear
Blackout/All Clear
Blackout and All Clear are the two volumes that comprise a 2010 science fiction novel by American author Connie Willis. Blackout was published February 2, 2010 by Spectra. The second part, the conclusion All Clear, was released as a separate book on October 19, 2010...
.
Willis's writing of "Fire Watch" predates the production of Doomsday Book by about a decade. However, Kivrin Engle, the main character of Doomsday Book, also appears as a minor character in "Fire Watch". The story references her experience with the Black Plague while time-traveling in the 14th Century.
The character of Professor James Dunworthy figures in "Fire Watch", Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, Blackout, and All Clear.
External links
- Fire Watch, online at infinity plus.