Passage

Dr. Joanna Lander studies near-death experiences (NDEs) at Denver's Mercy General Hospital, conducting research interviews with patients who have come close to death. She collaborates with Dr. Richard Wright, a neurologist who has developed a method to biochemically induce NDE-like states in volunteers to study the phenomenon scientifically. The research project faces obstacles - hospital politics, competing researchers with questionable methods, and mounting pressure to produce results. As Joanna becomes more invested in understanding NDEs, she must confront questions about consciousness, mortality, and what happens in the liminal space between life and death. Dr. Lander's scientific quest intertwines with her personal journey, pulling her deeper into both the research and the lives of her patients and colleagues. Her experiences challenge the boundaries between objective study and subjective understanding. This multilayered novel explores the intersection of science and human experience, considering how we make meaning from mortality. Through its focus on near-death experiences, it examines the ways humans seek to understand what lies beyond the knowable.

Readers find Passage thought-provoking but note its slow pacing, particularly in the middle sections. Many reviews mention strong character development and deep research into near-death experiences and hospital settings. LIKED: - Complex exploration of death, grief and consciousness - Scientific accuracy and detail - Realistic hospital environment portrayal - Character interaction and dialogue authenticity - Satisfying resolution DISLIKED: - 200+ pages of repetitive middle section - Too many subplots and side characters - Takes long time to reach main story - Confusing time jumps - Overlong at 600+ pages RATINGS: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (8,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (280+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Worth pushing through the slow middle for the powerful ending." One frequent reviewer note: "Could have been a tighter 400-page book, but the research and character work make up for the length."

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🌟 "Passage" explores near-death experiences through the lens of science, drawing parallels between modern NDEs and those reported during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. 🔬 Author Connie Willis spent three years researching near-death experiences and interviewing medical professionals before writing the novel. 💫 The book won both the Locus Award and Arthur C. Clarke Award in 2002, cementing its place as a masterwork of science fiction. 🏥 The hospital setting in "Passage" was inspired by Willis's own experiences during her father's hospitalization, lending authenticity to the medical scenes. 🌉 The novel's structure intentionally mirrors the disorienting nature of near-death experiences, with its maze-like narrative and recurring themes of confusion and discovery.