Bellwether: A NovelConnie Willis has won more Hugo and Nebula awards than any other science fiction author. Now, with her trademark wit and inventiveness, she explores the intimate relationship between science, pop culture, and the arcane secrets of the heart. Sandra Foster studies fads—from Barbie dolls to the grunge look—how they start and what they mean. Bennett O'Reilly is a chaos theorist studying monkey group behavior. They both work for the HiTek corporation, strangers until a misdelivered package brings them together. It's a moment of synchronicity—if not serendipity—which leads them into a chaotic system of their own, complete with a million-dollar research grant, caffé latte, tattoos, and a series of unlucky coincidences that leaves Bennett monkeyless, fundless, and nearly jobless. Sandra intercedes with a flock of sheep and an idea for a joint project. (After all, what better animal to study both chaos theory and the herd mentality that so often characterizes human behavior?) But scientific discovery is rarely straightforward and never simple, and Sandra and Bennett have to endure a series of setbacks, heartbreaks, dead ends, and disasters before they find their ultimate answer. . . . Praise for Bellwether “One of science fiction's best writers.”—The Denver Post “Connie Willis deploys the apparatus of science fiction to illuminate character and relationships, and her writing is fresh, subtle, and deeply moving.”—The New York Times Book Review “Keen social satire touched with genuine humanity . . . Connie Willis's fiction is one of the most intelligent delights of our genre.”—Locus “A sheer pleasure to read . . . Sprightly, intelligent fun.”—Publishers Weekly |
Contents
Section 1 | 3 |
Section 2 | 33 |
Section 3 | 53 |
Section 4 | 67 |
Section 5 | 73 |
Section 6 | 87 |
Section 7 | 95 |
Section 8 | 105 |
Section 14 | 159 |
Section 15 | 169 |
Section 16 | 187 |
Section 17 | 193 |
Section 18 | 201 |
Section 19 | 207 |
Section 20 | 215 |
Section 21 | 223 |
Section 9 | 113 |
Section 10 | 125 |
Section 11 | 139 |
Section 12 | 147 |
Section 13 | 153 |
Section 22 | 227 |
Section 23 | 233 |
Section 24 | 239 |
Section 25 | 245 |
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Common terms and phrases
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