The Road to Roswell

A Novel

Connie Willis

- 4.3 • 43 Ratings

- $12.99

- $12.99

A delightful novel about alien invasions, conspiracies, and the incredibly silly things people are willing to believe—some of which may actually be true—from the Nebula and Hugo award-winning author of Blackout and All Clear

“An absolute blast with abundant humor, copious references to old westerns, and . . . a delightful, intergalactic twist on the romantic comedy.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

When level-headed Francie arrives in Roswell, New Mexico, for her college roommate’s UFO-themed wedding—complete with a true-believer bridegroom—she can’t help but roll her eyes at all the wide-eyed talk of aliens, which obviously don’t exist. Imagine her surprise, then, when she is abducted by one.

Odder still, her abductor is far from what the popular media have led her to expect, with a body like a tumbleweed and a mass of lightning-fast tentacles. Nor is Francie the only victim of the alien’s abduction spree. Before long, he has acquired a charming con man named Wade, a sweet little old lady with a casino addiction, a retiree with a huge RV and a love for old Westerns, and a UFO-chasing nutjob who is thoroughly convinced the alien intends to probe them and/or take over the planet.

But the more Francie gets to know the alien, the more convinced she becomes that he’s not an invader. That he’s in trouble and she has to help him. Only she doesn’t know how—or even what the trouble is.

Part alien-abduction adventure, part road trip saga, part romantic comedy, The Road to Roswell is packed full of Men in Black, Elvis impersonators, tourist traps, rattlesnakes, chemtrails, and Close Encounters of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth kind. Can Francie, stuck in a neon green bridesmaid’s dress, save the world—and still make it back for the wedding?

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY MAR 27, 2023

Multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winner Willis (Blackout/All Clear) returns with a delightful, intergalactic twist on the romantic comedy. Francie only agrees to show up for her college roommate's doomed wedding in Roswell, N.Mex., because she hopes her presence will make the bride-to-be realize she's making a mistake. That, and she's the maid of honor. The wedding and the town's annual UFO Festival are not falling on the same weekend by coincidence; the groom is a true believer. Meanwhile, skeptical Francie can barely stand every moment she has to spend hearing about sightings, theories, and abductions. Then she herself is abducted by an alien who needs her help navigating the New Mexican desert. Her abductor, nicknamed Indy, is described as looking like a "animate tumbleweed," with dozens of quick, strong tentacles that it has no issue using to keep Francie acting as its chauffeur. A chance encounter with a friendly and handsome hitchhiker, Wade, a con man, adds one more to the madcap road trip, and each subsequent stop continues to grow the wacky crew. For Francie, terror turns to acceptance that turns to curiosity that turns to care as she comes to believe that Indy is just trying to get home. Willis makes Francie's journey to, from, and around Roswell an absolute blast with abundant humor, copious references to old westerns, and sweet budding love between Francie and Wade. Readers will not be disappointed.

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