The Broken Binding Sci-Fi Sub #3: April 2025
When The Broken Binding announced their next Sci-Fi Sub in February, there was quite a stir. Instead of a set of three books, it would now be a single book. Not a problem in itself, if it weren’t for the fact that the “skip policy” remained the same: anyone who skipped this book was not allowed to miss any more boxes for the rest of the year – not even if a trilogy would appear later that you would rather skip.
Well… a bit strict, I thought. But okay.
The book in question? Doomsday Book by Connie Willis – a title I’d honestly never heard of before. But when I read the blurb, my interest was immediately piqued.
But a crisis strangely linking past and future strands Kivrin in a bygone age as her fellows try desperately to rescue her. In a time of superstition and fear, Kivrin–barely of age herself–finds she has become an unlikely angel of hope during one of history’s darkest hours.
Connie Willis draws upon her understanding of the universalities of human nature to explore the ageless issues of evil, suffering, and the indomitable will of the human spirit.
A story about a history student who returns to the era she’s studying? Definitely my kind of premise! Combine that with time travel that obviously doesn’t go as planned, and the potential ramifications that extend into the future… you’ve got me.
Plus, the book has an impressive score on Goodreads, which always inspires confidence. And let’s be honest: I didn’t dare risk skipping this and then being stuck with three books I’m less enthusiastic about.
As always, the book came as a gift – literally and figuratively.
The new cover illustration is by @mgonzalezart. When I first saw the design online, it didn’t immediately appeal to me. I hadn’t really read what the book was about, and it just felt a bit bleak visually. But after reading the synopsis, everything suddenly fell into place. The cover seems to fit the mood and theme of the story perfectly.
The entire illustration is incredibly detailed. The light coming through the stained glass windows, combined with the subtle presence of two rats… it is almost painterly beautiful.
On the back we get a night version of the illustration – and secretly I find it even stronger. The purple tones, the melancholic atmosphere, the feeling of loss and loneliness… very striking.
The hardcover itself is finished with gold foil illustrations by @claymorecovers. The design nicely balances the theme of “time” with the gothic feel of medieval architecture. The rats are also a subtle, playful touch that softens the whole thing a bit.
The sprayed edges complete the whole thing: once again that Gothic window concept that brings everything together beautifully.
Inside we find beautifully illustrated endpapers by @raphael.pinna.art. Ultra detailed and full of atmosphere.
All in all, this is certainly a handsome edition, with a lot of attention to detail and symbolism. And yet… I am not completely blown away. Maybe because I am already somewhat spoiled in terms of special editions, or maybe because this edition feels darker in terms of colour use and atmosphere than I expected. It clearly radiates that this is not going to be a light-hearted time travel story.
But: I suspect that many of the artistic choices will only really come into their own once I have read the book. It seems to me that this is one of those stories where the illustrations and symbolism only really get meaning in context – and I look forward to discovering that for myself.
Cheers,
Charlotte
