Eifelheim

In the contemporary world, historian Tom and his theoretical physicist girlfriend Sharon are drawn to the enigmatic German village of Eifelheim, a settlement that mysteriously vanished from historical records after the 14th century, leaving no trace of resettlement. Their investigation uncovers a profound and tragic secret. The narrative then plunges into the year 1348, where Father Dietrich, a learned village priest in Eifelheim, becomes an unwitting first contact ambassador when an alien spacecraft crashes in the nearby forest. As the Black Death looms and threatens to engulf Europe, Dietrich grapples with theological dilemmas and xenophobia, forging an unlikely bond with the stranded alien survivors. Michael Flynn masterfully intertwines these two timelines, exploring themes of faith, reason, compassion, and cultural clash against the backdrop of medieval plague and interstellar encounter, culminating in a poignant explanation for Eifelheim's disappearance.