REVIEW: The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis
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?
Dear Ms. Willis,
YES YES YES I adore this book. Aliens, found family, an RV – ooops SORRY SORRY SORRY, western trail wagon – UFO nuts, and best friend’s sacred duty adds up to a wonderful time. Who knew old Western movies could help with intergalactic communication? I’m “mighty grateful, ma’am” that they did. And I love Indy!
Francie and her college roommate Serena are best friends which explains why Francie is willing to be there for Serena’s wedding in Roswell during a UFO festival. Serena’s fiancé is a true believer. Things get snarled as Francie arrives, drives down to Roswell, then gets kidnapped. By an alien. YES YES YES. Francie gets dissed by the Roswell PD when she tries to call for help but she manages to leave a message for an FBI agent friend of the fiancé – not that anyone comes to Francie’s aid. When a hitchhiker almost jumps in the path of her car, Francie has no choice but to stop and just like that, Wade gets added to the abduction. Soon Lyle (also a true UFO believer), Eula Mae (who knows a lot about gambling), and Joseph (Western movie fan and owner of the RV – NO NO NO, it’s a western trail wagon) – are along for the ride. But what is the alien doing, where is he taking them, and why?
There is not a character in this book I didn’t enjoy. OK, Lyle is a bit fixated on being probed by aliens and can get hysterical at times but even he’s basically harmless.
Because that’s what they do!” Lyle said, his voice rising in spite of Wade’s warning. “They abduct people and take them up to the mother ship to perform horrible experiments on them. That’s where he’s taking us now, and when we get there, they’re going to put us on an operating table and probe us—”
“Nobody’s going to probe you,” Francie said.
“You know, I’ve never understood the whole probing thing,” Wade said. “I mean, why would an advanced civilization, capable of faster-than-light travel, come all the way across the galaxy just to sexually molest the natives?”
For most of the story, and much like the abductees, I had no idea what was happening. Why does Indy (Francie has a reason for calling the alien this) sit outside for hours at a time and then direct whoever is driving whatever vehicle all over the place? Does Indy really understand what the humans are saying? Is his taste in clothing so awful that he actually likes the neon green (it has pockets, too!) bridesmaid dress Francie is wearing? Why does he freak out when he sees images of Monument Valley? And why is Wade so sure that sweet Eula Mae will be able, at a casino, to turn their small cash stake into enough money to buy food for the group?
I was delighted that maps – real, honest to God paper maps – were vital to the story as well. Yeah, if you don’t have a phone then all the GPS in the world won’t do squat for you. Sure I wanted Francie and the gang to have an immediate breakthrough in communications with Indy but the way it actually happens was inventive and since I love a lot of the movies quoted and mentioned in the story, I was fine with it. Then watching how this method of communication was taken intergalactic had me in stitches. The core values of so many westerns, the Code of the West, was the basis of the book: trust your Pardner, extend hospitality to strangers, honor your word, be there for a friend who needs you.
This is, honestly, a bit of a silly, frothy book. Much of the time, the characters are aimlessly driving around trying to get Indy somewhere to do something which language communication issues keep the humans from understanding. I desperately wanted Indy to get what he needed, the twist on the aliens is heartfelt, and instalove is all over romance so why not toss it in here? Another review I read mentions that the end has a sort of deus ex machina tone to it and I can’t disagree with this. The romance, while I’m all for it, is sudden although the Vegas wedding is a scream. But … but I still had so much fun reading it. If Earth ever does get invaded by aliens, I hope they’re like Indy and his people. B+
~Jayne
“YES YES YES I GAMBLE AND CHEAT AT CARDS BUT THERES ONE THING I DO NOT DO I AINT NEVER GULLED A PARDNER THE ONE SACRED THING EVEN TO A LOW SCUFF LIKE ME IS A MANS PARDNER.”
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Jayne
Lovely review! I have actually been to Roswell*, so this automatically went to the top of my library request list. I’m also a Connie Wiilis fan, so I was already predisposed to want it. So nice to know that once I get my hands on it I’m going to have a great time.
*yes, deliberately. We did the whole tourist thing–museum tour, t-shirts, even bought a glowing green Frisbee. We had a great time.
@Barb in Maryland: I hope you get your hands on it soon.
What fun! Does the museum really have a diorama of the alien autopsy? Do they let weddings take place there?
I’d always heard wonderful things about Connie Willis’ To Say Nothing of the Dog and tried it unsuccessfully several times. My only success with her work to date has been one of her shorter works, All Seated on the Ground. This new book sounds like a lot of fun, Jayne, and I’ve requested it from the library. Wish me luck!
@Kareni: I’ve read several GR reviews that say (meaning it as a negative) this book is nothing like “To Say Nothing of the Dog” so hopefully it will work for you. I’ve yet to dive into that book.
“Take a Look at the Five and Ten” (also a Christmasy story) is also delightful.
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-a-reviews/a-reviews/review-take-a-look-at-the-five-and-ten-by-connie-willis/
Thank you, Jayne!
@Jayne: You adored this book, I need read no further until after I get a copy in my hands. TSNotD is great in its own way and I’m a fan of BLACKOUT/ALL CLEAR and THE DOOMSDAY BOOK, too. But this: aliens, Roswell, Connie Willis = muppet flail. Thank you for the relief and the glee of your review.
@Darlynne: Connie Willis + aliens is usually a good time. ☺
@Jayne:
Jayne, our visit was in 2006, so my memories are vague at this point. I couldn’t find any info on wedding availability. The UFO museum is in an old movie theater,
The McDonald’s in town is shaped like a UFO, btw. We ate there, of course.
Is it a sign of intelligent life in the universe that I read this post just after seeing the new Wes Anderson movie, “Asteroid City”? Or at the very least, that the universe has a sense of humor. The book does sound good (as was the movie, in a very Wes Anderson way) so it goes on my list of books on hold at the library.
@Barb in Maryland: Just looked at a picture. Squeeee – I love the McDonalds!
@Susan/DC: I sure hope the universe has a sense of humor. ☺
jayne, I just finished it. YES YES YES it was wonderful. Willis + aliens always = a good time.
@Barb in Maryland: Yay – happy Kermit flail. I’m glad you enjoyed it. ☺