Well, it was actually published last year according to the copywrite, but I just read it myself. The novel I speak of is Passage.
To not give away spoilers, I will just say it is a book about near death experiences. It revolves around two scientists trying to find out what in the brain causes them, so it is pretty scientific, yet it still flirts around with the supernatural enough to keep you guessing.
I am awed, and very in love with Connie Willis’ works. I have only read 3 of her books so far. ( Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing Of The Dog, Passage ) All three books I love, and I looking foward to reading more of her stuff. She is a top notch writer in my opinion. (I really love all the literary references she seems to always have in her books)
I guess I am dark. Dismal, stark reality hits the spot for me. Sure, a peaceful and happy death would be great in some stories, I think how it was made out created a pretty good atmosphere.
Possible spoilers
It kept me turning the pages, through out the book. Trying to piece together what was happening. The book seemed to be preaching that superstition is bad, and science is right, only to lay doubt in my mind as to where she (Willis) is going with the story, and then back again.
I had to force myself to put down the book to eat, go to work, and I have only gotten 4 hours of sleep in the two days it took me to read it. I am not sure I have ever read a book that kept me on the edge of my seat so much. Maybe I just fell in love with the characters. I nearly cried several times.
No, I think it was the intention of Willis to make the reader shudder at the thought of a death like that. It was horrible, and the utter terror that it brings thinking about it late at night makes better horror than some pycho killer stalking somebody through the woods. IMO at least.
This was definately a Dark Fantasy/Horror novel. But I am a fan of those types, so very few that they are.