Two Classic Fictional Heroes: Kivrin and Joanna
By Gordon Kearns
I've included in these pages reviews of two of Connie Willis' novels: Doomsday Book and Passage. Most of Ms Willis' work has been in the science-fiction genre, a great field for authors with the gifts of perception and imagination ... and a feel for humor, irony, and satire. Connie Willis has it all. But of more importance, she has an understanding of people, and people's hearts. Her heroes are not bigger than life, nor super-anything; and they don't brandish flags, religious symbols, swords or automatic weapons. Her heroes rise modestly from the ranks of everyperson, and have no idea that their deeds are noble, courageous, or saintly. If self-sacrifice is necessary, it's done with no fanfare, bravado, or flashes of vanity - it's done because it's the thing that has to be done. Mostly they're too busy to notice they're even involved in self-sacrifice. Two of my favorite characters in all literature are Willis creations: history student Kivrin from Doomsday Book, and psychologist Dr. Joanna Lander from Passage. Without making any conscious declarations, they devoted themselves, their total welfare, to their friends. To me they are saints. I've included the reviews of Doomsday Book and Passage in hopes of encouraging others to pick up and read these arresting stories so that they, too, can benefit from knowing Connie Willis' wonderful, really human heroes.
or go to
An Explanation; Being Things; Childhood; Heroes; The Inner Spirit;
Elves I Have Known;
Other Essays at Large: Movie Classics; Class of the Millennium;
After the Wilderness; Four Saints; Aileen and Jon
Book Reviews: Doomsday Book; Passage
From Dorothy's Corner: For Dorothy
Comments: GKEARNS@prodigy.net