The Road to Roswell

A Novel

By: Connie Willis

Narrated by: Jesse Vilinsky

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 • LOCUS AWARD FINALIST

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?

©2023 Connie Willis (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A novelist who can plot like Agatha Christie and whose books possess a bounce and stylishness that Preston Sturges might envy.” (The Washington Post)

“One of America’s finest writers . . . Willis can tell a story so packed with thrills, comedy, drama and a bit of red herring that the result is apt to satisfy the most discriminating, and hungry, reader.” (The Denver Post)

“A wit with a common touch who’s read more great books, and makes better use of them in her work, than two or three lit professors put together.” (Newsday)

No no no

First and foremost, I love Connie Willis’ stories. I’m not a big fan of UFOs or conspiracy theories but I took a chance on this one. I loved it right up until the very end. The narration was excellent and the characters were charming. I knew I could count on Connie to wrap everything up in a way that made sense and felt good. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The last sentence left me wondering “Is that really the end? Surely it can’t be!” But it was. Such a let down.

Marvelous adventure

I’m not usually interested in aliens and conspiracy theories, but Connie Willis makes it fun, exciting, and hilarious. A wonderful take on alien encounters with many nods to other alien movies, books, etc. Beautifully written as always and an absolute joy. I felt like I was part of the adventure right through to the end!

Fun departure from her usual fare

I loved the Doomsday book, Lights Out/ All Clear, but this was fun like To Say Nothing of the Dog. Difference being the setting in our current world and that her usual trope of little things going wrong works, especially in trying to communicate with aliens. Ending a bit abrupt though.

Where Aliens Grow Like Weeds

Levelheaded Francie comes to Roswell, New Mexico, home of the annual UFO festival, as a bridesmaid in a UFO themed wedding with the hopes of stopping her best friend from marrying her UFO obsessed fiancé. But things change when she is abducted by a real life alien shaped like a tumbleweed who wants her to help him find his partner.

A lighthearted romp, Connie Willis masterfully incorporates pop culture references into her banter, with a UFO aficionado spewing conspiracy theories straight out of sci-fi movies and TV shows and an RV driver who talks and acts and dresses like he's from a western movie and knows every western ever made.

In what is currently the most recent book by Willis, fun is the order of the day, a meet-cute romance with a nonstop stream of references to 50s sci-fi and 30s westerns. The only problem is a lot of repetitive circular dialogue that acts as filler.

Can’t go wrong with a Connie Willis story.

…and audio performance does light hearted story justice. In the lighterhearted part of Willis’s work, which is always well crafted joy.

Enjoyable story

Wonderfully humorous with intertwining of alien visitation theories, Western imagery and likable off planet visitors

Lighter Connie Willis

Well written and well read. Wit reminds me of “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wild

Outstanding Performance and story

Fun story with some great references to different genres of movies, outstanding characters, and their development, and very light and easy, breezy humorous adventure.

A fun poke at alien abduction

Bad bridesmaid dress, strange aliens, western movies and conspiracy theories. What could possibly go wrong? Oh I almost forgot about Elvis.

Not her best…

Connie Willis has written some masterful novels. This is intended to be light fare, obviously, but I fiund it dragging in places, and the characters felt like B Movie denizens.