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D.A.
Theodora Baumgarten has just been selected as an IASA space cadet, and therein lies the problem. She didn't apply for the ultra-coveted posting, and doesn't relish spending years aboard the ship to which she's been assigned.
But the plucky young heroine, in true Heinlein fashion, has no plans to go along with the program. Aided by her hacker best friend Kimkim, in a screwball comedy that has become Connie Wills' hallmark, Theodora will stop at nothing to uncover the conspiracy that has her shanghaied.
But the plucky young heroine, in true Heinlein fashion, has no plans to go along with the program. Aided by her hacker best friend Kimkim, in a screwball comedy that has become Connie Wills' hallmark, Theodora will stop at nothing to uncover the conspiracy that has her shanghaied.
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2007
About the author
Connie Willis
261 books4,469 followersConstance Elaine Trimmer Willis is an American science fiction writer. She is one of the most honored science fiction writers of the 1980s and 1990s.
She has won, among other awards, ten Hugo Awards and six Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for All Seated on the Ground (August 2008). She was the 2011 recipient of the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA).
She lives in Greeley, Colorado with her husband Courtney Willis, a professor of physics at the University of Northern Colorado. She also has one daughter, Cordelia.
Willis is known for her accessible prose and likable characters. She has written several pieces involving time travel by history students and faculty of the future University of Oxford. These pieces include her Hugo Award-winning novels Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog and the short story "Fire Watch," found in the short story collection of the same name.
Willis tends to the comedy of manners style of writing. Her protagonists are typically beset by single-minded people pursuing illogical agendas, such as attempting to organize a bell-ringing session in the middle of a deadly epidemic (Doomsday Book), or frustrating efforts to analyze near-death experiences by putting words in the mouths of interviewees (Passage).
She has won, among other awards, ten Hugo Awards and six Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for All Seated on the Ground (August 2008). She was the 2011 recipient of the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA).
She lives in Greeley, Colorado with her husband Courtney Willis, a professor of physics at the University of Northern Colorado. She also has one daughter, Cordelia.
Willis is known for her accessible prose and likable characters. She has written several pieces involving time travel by history students and faculty of the future University of Oxford. These pieces include her Hugo Award-winning novels Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog and the short story "Fire Watch," found in the short story collection of the same name.
Willis tends to the comedy of manners style of writing. Her protagonists are typically beset by single-minded people pursuing illogical agendas, such as attempting to organize a bell-ringing session in the middle of a deadly epidemic (Doomsday Book), or frustrating efforts to analyze near-death experiences by putting words in the mouths of interviewees (Passage).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
December 27, 2011
There comes a point in every successful author's career when people just stop saying no to them. "What's that? You've sold 500,000 books? You've won every major award in your genre? People give your books five stars on Amazon before they are published? Nah, we won't need to be editing you. We can just go ahead and publish your first draft."
This apparently happened to Connie Willis shortly after the publication of To Say Nothing of the Dog, if the page counts of Passage and Blackout/Clearly Not Edited at All are any indication.
But the sickness doesn't stop at overwriting. The "We'll Publish Anything!" disease is also to blame for very short works, often published in fancy limited editions by small presses, that no one would ever look at twice if they didn't have name recognition. I mean, I can think of no other conceivable reason why I read Blockade Billy, or Cemetery Dance published it, than Stephen King's name was on the cover page; I don't give two shits about baseball and even though the story took me one (1) bathtime to read, I still felt like I wasted my time.
So, yeah, this is one of those books -- published as a novella, but barely more than a short story, it probably took Willis about half an hour to write, which is about as long as it took me to read. Girl is unexpectedly recruited into fancy space organization, whines about it, tries to get out of it. There is supposedly a "mystery" as to why she was selected, but it's either too obvious or disappointingly flat (take your pick). Oh also, even though there is a spaceship on the cover, more than half of this very short book takes place at an exciting... school assembly? Which the narrator whines about too.
Hey, don't you want to spend $40 on a limited edition of this? Well, you can't -- it's out of print and probably selling for way more than that.
This apparently happened to Connie Willis shortly after the publication of To Say Nothing of the Dog, if the page counts of Passage and Blackout/Clearly Not Edited at All are any indication.
But the sickness doesn't stop at overwriting. The "We'll Publish Anything!" disease is also to blame for very short works, often published in fancy limited editions by small presses, that no one would ever look at twice if they didn't have name recognition. I mean, I can think of no other conceivable reason why I read Blockade Billy, or Cemetery Dance published it, than Stephen King's name was on the cover page; I don't give two shits about baseball and even though the story took me one (1) bathtime to read, I still felt like I wasted my time.
So, yeah, this is one of those books -- published as a novella, but barely more than a short story, it probably took Willis about half an hour to write, which is about as long as it took me to read. Girl is unexpectedly recruited into fancy space organization, whines about it, tries to get out of it. There is supposedly a "mystery" as to why she was selected, but it's either too obvious or disappointingly flat (take your pick). Oh also, even though there is a spaceship on the cover, more than half of this very short book takes place at an exciting... school assembly? Which the narrator whines about too.
Hey, don't you want to spend $40 on a limited edition of this? Well, you can't -- it's out of print and probably selling for way more than that.
July 30, 2011
I won't tell you what D.A. stands for, as it would ruin the story. I will tell you that this story has gotten me all excited to read more of Connie Willis' books. In my mind, I always thought that she wrote inaccessible sci-fi (fine, go ahead and laugh at me), and maybe she does—I’ll find out soon enough. But this story was an absolute funfest to read. And it only takes about 20-30 minutes if you’re interested in that type of incentive…which I sometime am. (Anything to up my count. Damn you, Goodreads Challenge!)
Theodora attends a traditional high school at a time in the future when most kids are taught in online classes from home but her parents sent her to regular school to increase her chances of getting into The Academy. Students spend years trying to get perfect grades, taking classes on obscure space-related topics and learning random skills, all in the hope that they will get selected to go into space. Despite nearly every student dying for the opportunity, Theodora has never had the desire to go so imagine her surprise when a school assembly is called and a representative is there to congratulate her on her acceptance. She never applied, so what the heck is going on?
It’s a bit cliché and reads like a less genius-ridden, war-minded Battle School and Theodora spends most of her time being a downer, complaining, and sneaking around, but I enjoyed where it ended up going at the conclusion. I only wish the story continued so I could see her develop even further.
This short story came to me as a recommendation from my query for 'YA in space' on Goodreads. Since you can't close a query, I will probably continue to get recs on it until I am 50 but you know what? That sounds great to me! I'll never tire of space stories. Kaethe recced this one to me, and a huge thanks go out to her for it. Even if it is does end up being whatever the female equivalent of blue balls is…in that it ends when I wanted it to go on for much, much longer.
Theodora attends a traditional high school at a time in the future when most kids are taught in online classes from home but her parents sent her to regular school to increase her chances of getting into The Academy. Students spend years trying to get perfect grades, taking classes on obscure space-related topics and learning random skills, all in the hope that they will get selected to go into space. Despite nearly every student dying for the opportunity, Theodora has never had the desire to go so imagine her surprise when a school assembly is called and a representative is there to congratulate her on her acceptance. She never applied, so what the heck is going on?
It’s a bit cliché and reads like a less genius-ridden, war-minded Battle School and Theodora spends most of her time being a downer, complaining, and sneaking around, but I enjoyed where it ended up going at the conclusion. I only wish the story continued so I could see her develop even further.
This short story came to me as a recommendation from my query for 'YA in space' on Goodreads. Since you can't close a query, I will probably continue to get recs on it until I am 50 but you know what? That sounds great to me! I'll never tire of space stories. Kaethe recced this one to me, and a huge thanks go out to her for it. Even if it is does end up being whatever the female equivalent of blue balls is…in that it ends when I wanted it to go on for much, much longer.
July 28, 2011
Okay, it's that time of the month again. No, not that. That would be weird with me being a dude and all. No, I meant "short story" time. And they (who are they, anyway? Does this makes me a potential conspiracy nuts?) weren't kidding about it being short. Too short, really. Though reading it still took me like half an hour, despite assurances that it would only take me 20 minutes tops.
But what about the story? Is there a point to this review apart from stating pretty useless trivia about my reading speed? Yes, yes there is, but it's quite short so I needed to pad it a little.
So, this is a fun story that mixes the beginnings of Ender's Game and the first MIB movie. In other words (word, really), WIN. Too bad that because of its length, it wraps up a little too neatly.
Since I liked Willis's writing, I'm off to check her other works to see if I find something interesting.
But what about the story? Is there a point to this review apart from stating pretty useless trivia about my reading speed? Yes, yes there is, but it's quite short so I needed to pad it a little.
So, this is a fun story that mixes the beginnings of Ender's Game and the first MIB movie. In other words (word, really), WIN. Too bad that because of its length, it wraps up a little too neatly.
Since I liked Willis's writing, I'm off to check her other works to see if I find something interesting.
July 7, 2015
Excellent. This is the length (83 pages) Connie Willis stories should be. Much more and you want to kill most of the cast. Or Connie.
Love the ending.
Love the ending.
January 6, 2019
Perfect novella by a master of the art. It's one of those things that was wonderful and self-contained but would have worked equally well as a beginning to something majestically long and awesome.
September 20, 2020
I'm a total sucker for Connie Willis, and this is a very short work. Do recommend!
December 25, 2022
Cute YA sci-fi book from Connie Willis. Especially good for unenthusiastic students and people who get sick on all the rides. Merry Christmas!
May 22, 2008
Cute. Very Cute. very readable with delicious little Willis touches, but like the main character not asking questions on the final showdown about the plot because she had guessed all the answers, so had we readers long before.
A novella with the spirit of Heinlein´s juvenile books, written by Connie Willis, it had to be enjoyable and fun. Cute is just what you need sometimes.
Just a short note, this was a beautifully made book, nice paper and binding. Effort and care was spent in illustrations, maybe it´s a quirk, but I wish they hadn´t. In this particular case they really did not match my mental vision of the characters, so I hated having those illustrations popping as surprises now and again. Cover illustrations are much easier to ignore when you want to ignore them!
A novella with the spirit of Heinlein´s juvenile books, written by Connie Willis, it had to be enjoyable and fun. Cute is just what you need sometimes.
Just a short note, this was a beautifully made book, nice paper and binding. Effort and care was spent in illustrations, maybe it´s a quirk, but I wish they hadn´t. In this particular case they really did not match my mental vision of the characters, so I hated having those illustrations popping as surprises now and again. Cover illustrations are much easier to ignore when you want to ignore them!
August 7, 2009
Really good blend of modern science fiction (Japanese-inspired elements, messaging, hacking) with classic (space cadet academy.. in space!). The female main characters are just a bonus.
The largest (and perhaps only) problem with this book is that it's not a novel. It's not a novella either, and I wonder if it's even a novelette. It's darned short. And while it does have a conclusion, it's much more of a 'first section of a larger novel' sort of conclusion.
It's somewhat like someone told Connie Willis to write a tween book and she didn't know how to handle the length of it.
I wish there was more. Is there more? I want to read it if there's more.
The largest (and perhaps only) problem with this book is that it's not a novel. It's not a novella either, and I wonder if it's even a novelette. It's darned short. And while it does have a conclusion, it's much more of a 'first section of a larger novel' sort of conclusion.
It's somewhat like someone told Connie Willis to write a tween book and she didn't know how to handle the length of it.
I wish there was more. Is there more? I want to read it if there's more.
May 9, 2018
This is a good young adult story. Seems odd to have it be an actual book all by itself. Yes, it's in the style of Heinlein, but I think Heinlein would have had either more time spent in space or a sequel.
March 8, 2016
I have to say that this book was quite a disappointment to me. It's a fairly enjoyable read but it lacks the usual Connie Willis cleverness and wit. I was really excited when I bought this since I'd been waiting for a new Connie Willis book for a *long* time and what disappointed me most here is that this is not a novel but a short story (and a very short one too, it took me about an hour to read it!). I later found out that this book was actually targeted at 12-15 year olds?! I really don't know what to think about this... Is the publisher desperate? Can't Connie Willis write a full book anymore? Her next book, The Winds of Marble Arch, is coming out in September but it's (again) a collection of short stories, some of which have already been published in other collections... I'm not a huge fan of short stories but I'm a Connie Willis one so I'll probably give this next book a try, despite my low expectations...
Read
May 29, 2023There’s a new collection of Connie Willis novellas for sale. I highly recommend it in general. All three are older, and none of them are really in print any more. So for the price of one book you get two books and a longish short story (called here a novella, but it’s just not one).
Anyway, this is just a review of that last story.
In the story, there’s a highly competitive high school where the different students are looking to get into the college of their choices, but also into the space academy. There’s a very limited number of spots and everyone knows that one person from their school is to be chosen.
One does. Only thing is, Theodora didn’t actually apply. So the rest of the story is her trying to figure out how this happens.
It’s a charming little story, that could be a much better short novel or series of novellas.
Anyway, this is just a review of that last story.
In the story, there’s a highly competitive high school where the different students are looking to get into the college of their choices, but also into the space academy. There’s a very limited number of spots and everyone knows that one person from their school is to be chosen.
One does. Only thing is, Theodora didn’t actually apply. So the rest of the story is her trying to figure out how this happens.
It’s a charming little story, that could be a much better short novel or series of novellas.
June 20, 2008
Basic plot: teenager is admitted to space academy without having applied. She tries to tell people there has been a mistake, but they don't listen and ship her off into space.
Cute, but less original than what I'd previously read of Willis. Get it from the library, it is way too short to pay book price for.
Cute, but less original than what I'd previously read of Willis. Get it from the library, it is way too short to pay book price for.
August 1, 2020
Once again I got duped by Amazon's failure at simple product identification - something I would argue is in need of decisive correction. This is a short story. Not a novel. Novel is what I expected, so...
After a slow start, I'm pulled into a great "unwilling heroine" scenario. The concept is cool, the details are intriguing -if too abbreviated - and to make a cheesy analogy, I'm a sprinter who's just heard the starter gun and seen the gate open and... there's the finish line, right smack on the other side of it.
Look, I have no problem with short stories - Willis, like a few other great authors, does them well. But I like to know, before I purchase a title, that it is, in fact, a short story and not a novel.
Word to the wise: There's really no way of knowing for certain whether a given title by Willis - or maybe any author sold on Amazon - is a short story or a full novel, except blind inference via the relative price and the page-count. And that glaring - some would say deceptive, on Amazon's part - omission is an annoyance. Despite, or rather because of, the quality of the story itself.
So in "D.A.," - like Willis' "Unfinished Business" and "I Met a Traveller in an Antique Land" - I read the excellent kernel of what I'd hoped would be an engrossing, thought-provoking and entertaining novel. And it could be. But it's an abbreviated intro that stops dead in its tracks, just as you're getting settled into your easy-chair and looking forward to a good, solid read. Veddy, veddy annoying, Keptin.
Make this a Dear Santa to Ms. Willis: Please turn some of these great intros into full-blown novels. You're killin' us out here. 8^]
After a slow start, I'm pulled into a great "unwilling heroine" scenario. The concept is cool, the details are intriguing -if too abbreviated - and to make a cheesy analogy, I'm a sprinter who's just heard the starter gun and seen the gate open and... there's the finish line, right smack on the other side of it.
Look, I have no problem with short stories - Willis, like a few other great authors, does them well. But I like to know, before I purchase a title, that it is, in fact, a short story and not a novel.
Word to the wise: There's really no way of knowing for certain whether a given title by Willis - or maybe any author sold on Amazon - is a short story or a full novel, except blind inference via the relative price and the page-count. And that glaring - some would say deceptive, on Amazon's part - omission is an annoyance. Despite, or rather because of, the quality of the story itself.
So in "D.A.," - like Willis' "Unfinished Business" and "I Met a Traveller in an Antique Land" - I read the excellent kernel of what I'd hoped would be an engrossing, thought-provoking and entertaining novel. And it could be. But it's an abbreviated intro that stops dead in its tracks, just as you're getting settled into your easy-chair and looking forward to a good, solid read. Veddy, veddy annoying, Keptin.
Make this a Dear Santa to Ms. Willis: Please turn some of these great intros into full-blown novels. You're killin' us out here. 8^]
March 20, 2017
I'm being generous with the three, but since I read the whole thing in one not-very-long bath, I can't complain.
At first, the grating annoyance of Willis' only comic shtick was front and centre. As always, everyone around the protagonist is both incredibly annoying and totally unable to process input data. I guess a lot of readers like it, because Willis keeps doing it in her books. [To be fair, this appears to be a YA book, and to that audience perhaps most older people are exactly as described above]
I don't know why the announcement process had to draw on forever, since most of us already knew how it would end. I suppose otherwise it would just have been a short story.
So Willis did some research about life in the space station. Based on the number of mentions, she seems inordinately proud of having discovered the "Coriolus" effect. Too bad it's "Coriolis".
But in the end, as All Is Revealed, it's deftly handled and makes it all worthwhile. As others said, though, I'm glad it wasn't longer.
At first, the grating annoyance of Willis' only comic shtick was front and centre. As always, everyone around the protagonist is both incredibly annoying and totally unable to process input data. I guess a lot of readers like it, because Willis keeps doing it in her books. [To be fair, this appears to be a YA book, and to that audience perhaps most older people are exactly as described above]
I don't know why the announcement process had to draw on forever, since most of us already knew how it would end. I suppose otherwise it would just have been a short story.
So Willis did some research about life in the space station. Based on the number of mentions, she seems inordinately proud of having discovered the "Coriolus" effect. Too bad it's "Coriolis".
But in the end, as All Is Revealed, it's deftly handled and makes it all worthwhile. As others said, though, I'm glad it wasn't longer.
November 8, 2017
I didn't look very closely at this novella at the library. All I saw was that it was recommended by library staff and written by a Colorado author. Cool! I like to support new local artists and writers. Surprise - Connie Willis, whom I've read widely, is from Colorado. And this novella feels written by an amateur, not a seasoned author like Willis. It was okay. But it took less than an hour to read, and at the end, my response was, "meh."
September 29, 2020
This definitely takes the “short” of short story to heart. The overall concept of the book is something I found interesting enough to forgive how predictable the plot points are.
The most interesting thing to me is how Willis’ predictions of the future have held up over time. Her prediction of online virtual learning taking over is spot on. However, the iPod and dvd references have become out of date. Overall, it was an enjoyable enough read for the little time investment required.
The most interesting thing to me is how Willis’ predictions of the future have held up over time. Her prediction of online virtual learning taking over is spot on. However, the iPod and dvd references have become out of date. Overall, it was an enjoyable enough read for the little time investment required.
October 4, 2018
A nice novella regarding the people that do not follow the trends. In this case, the application and entrance into the exclusive Academy for future astronauts.
I found certain similarities to Gattaca, although the main character just want the opposite and somehow reminds me of the teaching of Assimov's "Profession".
Also, I appreciate the honor to Heinlein.
I found certain similarities to Gattaca, although the main character just want the opposite and somehow reminds me of the teaching of Assimov's "Profession".
Also, I appreciate the honor to Heinlein.
July 8, 2020
Novellas/short novels are my favorite form (I usually lose patience after approx. 250 pages). Willis is one of my favorite writers. These 2 things are probably related. This isn't Willis at her absolute best. It IS too short, and I expected a little more. If throwing up is a trigger, be advised. Otherwise, I enjoyed this novelette a lot!
July 4, 2018
To be honest, I was not totally charmed by this novella, but I loves the concept revealed at the end. I wish this had been fleshed out more because I'd love a series based on this concept. Also, love the shout-out to Robert A. Heinlein.
October 6, 2020
Short novella with a nod to Heinlein juvenile's. Even says so in the preface and the main character is sent to an academy in space called the RAH. Read The Best of Connie Willis a bit ago so around my 8 or 9th short fiction from her and have enjoyed them all.
May 28, 2018
Super quick, fun read.
June 22, 2018
Great story
I love her science fiction. Her other fiction, not so much. Recommended even at the price per word. A quick read.
I love her science fiction. Her other fiction, not so much. Recommended even at the price per word. A quick read.
July 25, 2018
A cute short story packaged as a book. I was a bit surprised by the length, but as a short story it works fine. I would've enjoyed a full novel about Theodora and Kimkim's adventures, though!
August 8, 2018
Bleh. Picked this one up at my library because it was short. The characters were spectacularly underdeveloped, and it seems to have been written for 6 year olds.
November 11, 2018
It had the flavor of Heinlein's juvenile titles. The story's a little short with an abrupt ending.
January 14, 2019
As Nero Wolfe would say, "Very satisfactory!" A quick read and very engaging. Really ripped right along. Loved the solution.
March 22, 2019
This is an entertaining, but not particularly substantial, short story.
September 29, 2019
Fun little story, very short...would have liked it to go on.
March 7, 2020
Too short and no indication it's the start of a new series. What's there is engaging but it needs more heft to be a stand-alone novel. I love big books and I cannot tell a lie.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews