I think for at least the first half of this book it should be referred to as “The Doomsday Phonebook” as a fair chunk of it has its characters constantly ringing each other up.
I found the idea of a university history dept having the ability to time travel and study their subject firsthand absolutely superb. However, Connie Willis, for about 85% of the novel, fails in taking full advantage of such a fantastic idea.
To say the book is a slow-burner would be putting it mildly. Apart from a couple of characters who stand out (Colin, Kivrin, and Angus), the rest seem to amble along a plot line where nothing much happens.
It is only as the book reaches its close that it begins to tug at the reader’s emotions and interest (IMHO), but by this point it is too late. I gave up reading the novel after about 50 pages and completed the rest on audiobook.
Apparently, there is more in this series, but this novel is enough for me.
Graeme J Greenan 