Book Review: The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis

The Road to Roswell
by Connie Willis (Willis)

Francie travels to Roswell, New Mexico to act as Maid of Honor for Serena, her former college roommate. Problem is, Russell (the groom), is a dyed-in-the-wool UFO zealot. Even the wedding has a UFO theme. Another problem? Serena has a tendency to pick the wrong kind of guy and Francie is actually planning to do everything she can to convince Serena to cancel the wedding.

 

The Best Man, Larry, author of “The Survivor’s Guide to Alien Abduction” – because, yes, he claims to have been abducted twice – was supposed to have picked her up from the airport but leaves her stranded there because there was a UFO sighting so he and Russell are going to check it out.

 

This is also the anniversary of the Roswell crash, which is why the groom chose this date for the wedding. As a result, Roswell is overflowing with Ufologists and other UFO fan(atic)s so finding a rental car and getting to the wedding site were major logistical issues but she finally makes it.

 

Francie can’t wait to disrupt the wedding plans and get back home to rational people. Until she’s abducted by a space alien.

 

This is an intelligent, witty, hysterical story that plays out to a logical ending that includes many of the UFO, Men in Black, and alien abduction stories. This is best if you are a fan of vintage Westerns and have at least a superficial knowledge of UFO’s and kidnapping stories. Even if you don’t, this is still an intricate, well-told story.

 

( official Connie Willis web site/blog )

 

Read past Library Director Pat Leach’s review of Connie Willis’ novel Bellwether in her fiction review blog in January 2010!

 

Recommended by Charlotte M.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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