Lincoln's Dreams

Just a week ago I had the privilege of listening to Connie Willis speak about the books she loves.  Although I had read her last two, Blackout and All Clear, I felt moved to sample some more of her work.  Lincoln's Dream's by Connie Willis is an amazing book!  Although we have all come to know Willis as a Science Fiction writer this book doesn't fit that mold and yet I can't suggest a better genre label as it doesn't fit my concept of fantasy either. 

Jeff, a young man doing research on the Civil War for his employer.  Specifically he is trying to find where Willie Lincoln's body was buried prior to being interred with his father.  Through an unusual set of circumstances he meets Annie, the patient of his former college roommate.  Annie is being treated for nightmares that appear to be the dreams of Robert E. Lee. 

The basic premise is easy to state.  The multitude of themes are more complex, simply stated they are love and death.  Love appears in many guises: love's power for destruction, the loneliness and melancholy left behind when love ends, and the dedication of love.  Death is not drawn with simple lines, the ability to reach beyond the grave through time and space borders on the metaphysical or parapsychology.  Foreseeing one's own death is also explored.

The development of characters is excellent.  It was as easy to get to know Lincoln and Lee as it was to know Jeff and Annie.  I was able to relate to all the characters and suffer along with them. 

The serious tone and rich context built the suspense and a haunting sense of foreboding.  I would recommend this title to people who enjoy history, suspense, mystery or love stories.  This book haunts me and left me wanting more.

Lincoln's Dreams won the 1988 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for the Best Fantasy Novel of the year.  It is available in hardback, paperback, Nook, Kindle and at eBooks.