7.2 /10 1 Votes
Language English Publication date January 2005 | 3.6/5 Goodreads Publication type Periodical Originally published January 2005 Country United States of America | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Published in Asimov's Science Fiction Media type Print (Magazine), Online Genres Fiction, Novella, Speculative fiction Publishers Dell Magazines, Subterranean Press Awards Hugo Award for Best Novella Similar Connie Willis books, Hugo Award for Best Novella winners, Fiction books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inside Job is a novella by Connie Willis, originally published in the January 2005 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction and later as a hardback by Subterranean Press. In the story, a debunker of pseudoscience encounters a fake medium who seems to be genuinely channelling the disruptive spirit of H. L. Mencken. It was the winner of the 2006 Hugo Award for Best Novella.
Reception
Publishers Weekly in their review said that "while not as tightly woven as one of Willis's typical short stories nor as layered as her novels (Passage, etc.), this novella is still highly enjoyable, somewhat educational and will leave readers happy at the end." Ray Olson in his review for Booklist said that "Willis, one of sf's most spirited writers, rounds on the New Age; pays tribute to a great, skeptical journalist; and affectionately parodies pulp fiction at its best (Fredric Brown, that would be) in this irresistible entertainment." Jackie Cassady in her review for Library Journal said that "Willis grows even better in her short fiction, bringing to this novella both richness and integrity."