Doomsday Book cover art

Doomsday Book

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection of 900K+ titles.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto-renews for $8.99/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Doomsday Book

Written by: Connie Willis
Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
Try Standard free

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $35.63

Buy Now for $35.63

About this listen

 One of the most respected and awarded of all contemporary science-fiction writers, Connie Willis repeatedly amazes her many admiring fans with her ability to create vivid characters in unusual situations. With Doomsday Book, she takes listeners on a thrilling trip through time to discover the things that make us most human.

For Oxford student Kivrin, traveling back to the 14th century is more than the culmination of her studies - it's the chance for a wonderful adventure. For Dunworthy, her mentor, it is cause for intense worry about the thousands of things that could go wrong. When an accident leaves Kivrin trapped in one of the deadliest eras in human history, the two find themselves in equally gripping - and oddly connected - struggles to survive.

Deftly juggling stories from the 14th and 21st centuries, Willis provides thrilling action - as well as an insightful examination of the things that connect human beings to each other.

©1992 Connie Willis (P)2000 Recorded Books Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Time Travel 21st Century Middle Ages

What the critics say

  • Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1993
  • Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1992

"Ms. Willis displays impressive control of her material; virtually every detail introduced in the early chapters is made to pay off as the separate threads of the story are brought together." (The New York Times Book Review)
"A stunning novel that encompasses both suffering and hope....The best work yet from one of science fiction's best writers." (The Denver Post)

Continue the series
To Say Nothing of the Dog cover art
To Say Nothing of the Dog Written by: Connie Willis
Blackout cover art
Blackout Written by: Connie Willis
All Clear cover art
All Clear Written by: Connie Willis

Featured Article: Books like Outlander for Diana Galbadon Fans

The book series Outlander, its audiobook and TV show adaptations have become extremely popular stories for book lovers and historical romance fans alike. Full of danger, passion, obligations and a rich sense of Scottish history, the story follows events from the Second World War back to the time of the Jacobites, picking up a strong devoted following along the way. Fans looking for the next audiobook or series to fill the Outlander-shaped void, though, need not fret. There is a wide range of time travel romances, Scottish historical fiction, and mixtures of the two to fill the space left by the beloved Outlander series. We've compiled a list of Audible book recommendations any fan of the Outlander series will love.

Featured Article: Books like Outlander for Diana Galbadon Fans
All stars
Most Relevant
I have read this book at least 5 times and I still love it. Was even better being able to listen to it.

Love this book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A young historian travels back in time to study life in England 28 years before the Back Death hits. Things go very wrong. It’s a slow paced book that hopefully will draw you in. Sad and heartbreaking, great for Pandemic listening 😁 (2020)
Superbly read by the narrator.

Time Travel Goes Wrong

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I read this book purely because it was recommended by Dorsey Armstrong (during one of her “Great Courses” on the Medieval World) … I am so glad that I did! This was a wonderful mix of science fiction, historical fiction and factual medieval history - I truly felt for the characters and was torn between wanting the end so that everything would be all right and never wanting it to end because it was so well written and narrated. It is a little funny that when this was written in 1992 the future of 2055 was imagined with no cell phones, net, etc but that didn’t spoil anything for me.
I am now going to go and look for her other books on Audible as well as explore what other novels Jenny Sterling has narrated.

A truly engrossing story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
At the beginning it has the chaotic frenzy of future Oxford, with the Christmas shoppers, the pealing bells and then the frenetic energy of a city about to undergo a pandemic. This is in direct contrast to Kivran's slow quiet experience in a rural, rustic world as she struggles through illness and recovery.

The twin experiences of a pandemic; with the mental distress of those that recover as they struggle to save others is enthralling as both Kivran and her mentor Mr. Dunsworthy are beset with uncertaintly and hopelessness.

This was written nearly two decades before COVID yet future Oxford had the recognisable situations of deniers, conspiracy theorists, and PPE shortages.

Amongst the angst and sadness there are flashes of (heavy handed humour) with Mrs. Gaddson and the engaging charm of Colin (a constant and a very necessary figure towards the end).

The narration is SUPERB.

Stunning Historical Time Travel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I struggled to finish this book and routinely wanted to throw my phone across the room.The writing is extremely repetative, the characters are bland, and I don't buy any of their relationships for a minute!

Why so much repetitive and unnecessary dialogue?!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews