Way Station

the first third of this book completely engrossed me. such wonderful language and description of setting. great themes and contemplations of man, his relationship to fellow man and the earth and then the earth to the universe. a thinking man's sci-fi. this novel is not about phasers and lazer cannons. alas past the 33% point (kindle), the protagonist ruminates and ruminates and ruminates over the same material. it became quite tedious, boring and ever so slow. once i got to the halfway point, i began to skim. i would skip several pages to find the protagonist still stuck on the same point - as if the pages i skipped never existed. it became so frustrating. i guessed what was gonna happen. i skimmed even more with a meh conclusion. i did finish it but i felt like i missed nothing. even if i had stopped reading, i felt author had beat the theme into the ground and i just didn;t care anymore.

I used to love Clifford Simak when I was a kid. I guess I was closer to the time when it was written, or I was young and had not yet read much science fiction. Now the voice and the repetitive writing gets a little on my nerves. Also, the people behave very unrealistically and the resolution is a contrivance.

Alas. Should I reread City? I loved it as a child. Will it ruin my memory if I read it again?

I read this a long long time ago. One of the all time great science fiction novels, IMHO. For setting a tone no one could beat Clifford Simak. The year is 1865. The Civil War is over and our hero comes back to his small farm where he meets several aliens who want to make his farm a way station for Galactic Travel. In exchange he is gifted with long life for running it. Flash forward to the 20th century where word gets out about the strange farmer, and the FBI gets interested. Nuff said. IMHO this is one of the top five science fiction stories of the 20th century. Read it. You will enjoy it.

One man alone, understands and guards the future of planet Earth, an unassuming scholar and hero. Through his friendship with his own and with other species, and knowledge of their technologies, he learns how to save Earth from losing their chance to become a serious player in the great galactic federation

One man alone, understands and guards the future of planet Earth, an unassuming scholar and hero. Through his friendship with his own and with other species, and knowledge of their technologies, he learns how to save Earth from losing their chance to become a serious player in the great galactic federation

The clarity of English is the only thing that marks out this story as being from another time, all the rest of it cuts through the clutter of modernity to the heart of humanist thinking. A timeless piece of science fiction.

The clarity of English is the only thing that marks out this story as being from another time, all the rest of it cuts through the clutter of modernity to the heart of humanist thinking. A timeless piece of science fiction.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. It is different than many recent SF books and I wish it had been longer. Books written in the 50 and 60 usually were single books and the stories concluded within one cover just as this one was. I wished the author had developed a few more of the characters/plots more and extended the book. However, the author tied up all of the characters and plots at the end of the book so you are not hanging. If this story was written today and Enoch Wallace life extend from the civil war until now would have made an even more assume book. However the book was written in 1963.

Highly recommend this book.

I really wanted to like this book. The premise seemed promising. But felt that the execution fell short on this one. There are times when dealing with the main character the story feels very disjointed. I never really felt compelling reasons to care about the characters. It never really felt like much happened in the book. Kept waiting for something extraordinary to happen and I never really felt like it made it there. And what was the climax felt underwhelming. An interesting idea to be sure. I won't say it was a waste of time. But I have no need to ever read it again or feel any desire to try any of his other books.

Considering when it was written, this book has held up okay. The setting works and the main character seems believable. The premise of this book, as a "Way Station" works okay and some of the conflicts, both physical and mental, are believable. There is a bit of suspense and lots of introspective thought and it moves along. Overall, an okay read.

Good job of writing/editing and started off interestingly but to me it was just too slow and far-fetched to hold me. There seemed to be just too much "filler" in places and some of the action points were far too contrived. That, being said, the author definitely has a flair for writing and I will look for more material from him.

Good job of writing/editing and started off interestingly but to me it was just too slow and far-fetched to hold me. There seemed to be just too much "filler" in places and some of the action points were far too contrived. That, being said, the author definitely has a flair for writing and I will look for more material from him.

parts of this book are excellent and part awful. The total lack of understanding of digital technology in a book that talks of lasers together with the use of early 20th century tech in what is supposed to be a galactic civilization is awful in an sf book. Sections of it appear to be mere padding to extend the page count. On the other hand the major characters and spiritual nature in this book shows a depth of understanding well beyond almost all sf.

I swallowed this book nearly whole. It was a quick and easy read, even though the subject matter was not shallow. I am not usually a fan of mixing theology and science fiction, but since Simak did not shove it down my throat I was able to enjoy the fantasy aspect of it. The story is poignant for today as much as it was for 1963. I'm glad I was able to find a copy to purchase and read.

This one was intriguing and entertaining enough to get me to look into Simak and buy more of his work. It has a more "traditional" sci-fi style (I don't know how else to phrase it: it isn't as splashy as contemporary stuff, but it is excellent writing.) I enjoyed the story and the style.

The mood of this book is very introvert, mainly focusing of the internal reflections of a Civil war survivor who for some unexplained reason becomes a kind of gatekeeper for aliens on the move through the galaxy. This strange plot is used as a background for reflecting on human nature and society. Some thoughts are quite interesting, but the story never gripped me, and the pace is very slow. The story is definitely "different" from most other sci-fi, but in my personal opinion no way near a classic as suggested by some other reviews.

While I was somewhat intrigued by the idea of a portal for other worlds on earth in the beginning, I was mystified by the end as to why I continued reading. The end was quite anticlimactic and left me wondering what the point was. There was no UMPH!!

I swallowed this book nearly whole. It was a quick and easy read, even though the subject matter was not shallow. I am not usually a fan of mixing theology and science fiction, but since Simak did not shove it down my throat I was able to enjoy the fantasy aspect of it. The story is poignant for today as much as it was for 1963. I'm glad I was able to find a copy to purchase and read.

This one was intriguing and entertaining enough to get me to look into Simak and buy more of his work. It has a more "traditional" sci-fi style (I don't know how else to phrase it: it isn't as splashy as contemporary stuff, but it is excellent writing.) I enjoyed the story and the style.

The mood of this book is very introvert, mainly focusing of the internal reflections of a Civil war survivor who for some unexplained reason becomes a kind of gatekeeper for aliens on the move through the galaxy. This strange plot is used as a background for reflecting on human nature and society. Some thoughts are quite interesting, but the story never gripped me, and the pace is very slow. The story is definitely "different" from most other sci-fi, but in my personal opinion no way near a classic as suggested by some other reviews.

While I was somewhat intrigued by the idea of a portal for other worlds on earth in the beginning, I was mystified by the end as to why I continued reading. The end was quite anticlimactic and left me wondering what the point was. There was no UMPH!!

I just re-read Way Station, for the fourth time since I was a teenager. It just gets better all the time. I normally prefer fantasy over typical science fiction, but Clifford Simak is one of my favorites. This novel slowly draws you in until the Civil War veteran's secret comes as a shock. If you like Sci-Fi, read this one.

Have read and re-read Way Station for many years. It is a beautifully written story by an author that has an incredible command of the adverbial usage of the English language. Has many logical errors in the way of the of how real people really are and how a story goes. Has many errors in the way of real environmental activity and the way to write a story. I'm not sure if these errors were made on purpose, but I love this story. I love his eloquence, even though in his descriptions of existing fact he was wrong. But as you read the story you accept the errors as fact. Love it, as always since high school, 1960 through 1964.

This was an ok book. I dindn't realize when I was shopping that this is a reprint from the sixty's. You could tell from the writing this was an old book
from the grammar. That being said it was pretty good and the author had a great imagination from the time period.

Interesting book. It moves along but there isn't really a point to it all. I didn't hate it, but I didn't get to the end and feel like it had told a compelling story about anything. You can do worse.

Interesting enough in a mildly preachy way. The characters behave and react in unrealistic ways, and the plot developments were fairly predictable. I'm surprised that this author comes so highly recommended, as the book is fairly simplistic and plagued with a couple sections where the fairly lethargic pace grinds to a painful slowness.
I finished it though, it was enough to keep my interest.

A great idea ripped to shreds by an introverted character that has to let you know every nuance of every pro and con of every consideration he has and then explain for several page's why he had to tell you all of that and then, after many more meandering thoughts, end up with an oh well...

"Way Station" is my first Simak, so I bring no bias to it, but 'm so surprised by the praise this novel has received. It reads, to these eyes anyway, like a first novel badly in need of an editor. There is a lot of descriptive narrative, and it's not all that compelling - I found myself skipping a lot of it in the last third of the book. Anyone with any experience in this genre can see the final deus ex machina coming from 100 pages away. The entire thing may have made an interesting novella, but that would have required a caring, skilled editor and a modest author. Sadly, "Way Station" seems to have benefited from neither. I'd skip it.

This book started out so interesting, I was captivated. The story line then went in directions that were so boring and juvenile my interest waned. By the last 20 pages I was speed reading desperately praying for it to end. If you're looking for an adult read-keep looking.

Maybe this was considered good writing at the time it was written but I don't see why most modern readers would even finish the book. I read half of it thinking it would pick up, but there's a lot more out there to read than to waste more time with this meandering work. I gave it two stars for creativity, but don't recommend readers waste time with this one.

It may be a classic but boy oh boy is it a slow read. I exaggerate a bit here but it felt like in 75 pages we were introduced to basically one character who (wait for it!) -- took a walk. Yawn. Oh, but everything he saw, smelled, felt, and thought while walking was described in excruciating detail... in case you like that kind of thing.

Got more than halfway so I feel like I gave it a fair shake, but I did not finish it. And I'm a reader. Love to read. Will read the labels of lotion jars, shampoo bottles, and toothpaste tubes when I'm sitting in a host's book/magazine-free bathroom. Haha! I get desperate!

Very predictable, trite little book. Took half a day to read. No plot twists. Very familiar story. OF COURSE he throws his rifle away. Blah, been there, done that but by better authors. Take a pass on this book, scifi fans. It's weak.

It didn't age well. As an example of how SF was written back when this was originally published, it's interesting...but as an example of the history of the development of the genre. And if one is looking for examples of the old school Grand Masters and their ilk, well, I'ld recommend the actual Grand Masters (Clark, Niven, and especially Asimov, and such).

It just didn't age well--ok, most SF has a problem aging well. But this one really doesn't age well.

This book was boring & not very well-written. It might have been entertaining for a teen. Some concepts were underdeveloped, or simply didn't make sense. It was slow & I could not connect with any of the characters, even the main one. I quit trying at 25%.

It may be a classic but boy oh boy is it a slow read. I exaggerate a bit here but it felt like in 75 pages we were introduced to basically one character who (wait for it!) -- took a walk. Yawn. Oh, but everything he saw, smelled, felt, and thought while walking was described in excruciating detail... in case you like that kind of thing.

Got more than halfway so I feel like I gave it a fair shake, but I did not finish it. And I'm a reader. Love to read. Will read the labels of lotion jars, shampoo bottles, and toothpaste tubes when I'm sitting in a host's book/magazine-free bathroom. Haha! I get desperate!

Very predictable, trite little book. Took half a day to read. No plot twists. Very familiar story. OF COURSE he throws his rifle away. Blah, been there, done that but by better authors. Take a pass on this book, scifi fans. It's weak.

It didn't age well. As an example of how SF was written back when this was originally published, it's interesting...but as an example of the history of the development of the genre. And if one is looking for examples of the old school Grand Masters and their ilk, well, I'ld recommend the actual Grand Masters (Clark, Niven, and especially Asimov, and such).

It just didn't age well--ok, most SF has a problem aging well. But this one really doesn't age well.

This book was boring & not very well-written. It might have been entertaining for a teen. Some concepts were underdeveloped, or simply didn't make sense. It was slow & I could not connect with any of the characters, even the main one. I quit trying at 25%.

Enoch Wallace returned to his family's farm after the Civil War, and farmed it with his father until a freak accident left him alone on it. Then, after some grieving and meditation on what the future might hold, he receives a most unusual visitor--a traveler from further away than he could have imagined.

Ulysses--the name Enoch gives him, suitable to the human tongue--is an emissary from Galactic Central, here to recruit Enoch to operate a way station for galactic travelers. A century later, he's still running it, and hasn't aged a day.

People are starting to notice.

And stresses are appearing in galactic civilization, even as Earth appears to be sliding toward a third and more terrible world war.

That description may make it seem strange that this is a very gentle book, quietly moving rather than brimming with action and excitement. Enoch, Ulysses, and Enoch's few human friends, the mailman Winslowe, the deaf-mute neighbor girl Lucy Fisher, and a new arrival in his life, CIA agent Claude Lewis, have some very knotty problems to work through in very little time.

This is a story about good people taking on literally world-changing problems, in a quiet, pastoral setting.

And it works.

Get to know these people. You won't regret it.

Highly recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

If someone had spent some time to edit this book, it may have been a mediocre story. Every sentence has at least one comma followed by Mr. obvious adjectives of what proceeded the comma. Many sentences had over 50 words and paragraphs that were two pages long. The only award this book should have won is: "The most use of extra, unneeded, not necessary to the story, in a way that does not add to the overall vibe or prose, purely there to fill space while pretending to be deep and meaningful to the overall pace and feel of the story, words" award.

I've been reading science fiction a very long time - something like 48 years if my math is right - and one of my favorite authors back in the day was Clifford D. Simak. His novel PROJECT POPE was up for the Hugo in 1982 at Chicon IV, which not only was my first Worldcon, but my first con, period. I'd never read WAY STATION, though. It sounded intriguing, and I've had it on my Kindle for a few years now. But it sat there, untouched. However, I had access to the audio book of WAY STATION, so I decided now was the time, and at just over 7 hours in length, if I didn't like it, I wouldn't be wasting a significant amount of time on it.

Enoch Wallace is a Civil War veteran living in Wisconsin. He is the caretaker of an intergalactic way station, a stop-over point for aliens traveling through our spiral arm of the galaxy. He's been at his job for over a century; nobody seems to question him all that much as he keeps to himself and only has contact with the mailman and a local deaf mute girl. Eventually, though, the U.S. government takes notice of the long lived individual and begins to investigate him. Wallace calls them the watchers; he knows they're there, but as long as they don't bother him he's not going to be worried about it.

Things change when an alien dies while at the way station. The U.S. government steals the body and inadvertently escalates a growing movement in galactic civilization to shut down the way station network in our end of the galaxy. And while Wallace is able to use an alien math chart to determine that Earth is on the verge of a nuclear holocaust, galactic civilization itself is collapsing due to the loss of a mysterious talisman that allows contact with a spiritual force that holds society together. Wallace finds himself on the verge of having to make a decision that will affect all of mankind, a decision that he does not want to make.

WAY STATION is not really about the way station that Enoch Wallace is caretaker for; it is merely the item that anchors the story, that allows Simak the story he wants to tell about civilizations getting along with each other, the sharing of knowledge, the maturity of one man as well as the human race. While Wallace has grown to be open minded, he fears that the planetary governments may not take the same view if he needs to tell everyone about galactic civilization and the Earth's part in it. It's the tale of a man who has had to overcome much when coping with the idea that we are not alone and that his life will probably never change, and yet everything will change if he has to inform the world's governments of the existence of aliens.

WAY STATION is a perfect example of the difference between novels of 50 years ago and those of today. These days, we have sprawling doorstops in which every little detail must be explained and examined; no stone must be left unturned in describing to the reader the context of the story in which he or she is being immersed. Today, there is much emphasis placed on scientific accuracy and plausibility and describing in excruciating detail the science of what is going on in the story (as examples I present to you Neal Stephenson's SEVENEVES and Kim Stanley Robinson's AURORA).

I think that if Simak had tried to go that route with WAY STATION the story would have been ruined. The details of how the aliens travel between the way stations is almost irrelevant, although Simak does give a brief explanation. The details of how Wallace's house was modified by Galactic Central to turn it into a way station, or what its protective materials are is almost irrelevant. It is enough to know that it works, that it fits the need of the story. This gives Simak the room to give depth to the character of Enoch Wallace, to spend time on describing the Wisconsin countryside, to philosophize upon man's place in the galaxy. Modern writers could learn a bit from writers of an earlier age, I think.

Eric Michael Summerer is a competent narrator who never took me out of the story. His style is more of a reader than a narrator, although he did try to vary his voices depending on the character. As I've said before, as long as a narrator doesn't take me out of the story, then he or she has done their job well enough.

WAY STATION is a worthy Hugo winner, and one that I know wish I'd read sooner.

...for a book I'd first read perhaps five or so years after it was first published:

First, I read just about anything by Simak and no matter where the story is set I am instantly transported to rural Wisconsin. The man was both a journalist and pastoralist. You don't often come across writers like that in the genre.

Second, on first read I just as quickly visualized a made-for-TV movie adaptation starring none other than William Shatner. That is, the William Shatner we knew then...

Finally, I only recently learned that the novel was first serialized under the title "Here Gather the Stars" in the June and August 1963 issues of Galaxy Magazine, then edited by Frederik Pohl, with illustrations by Wally Wood. That serialization is on-line, and I recommend it.

I've been waiting so long to read this book. Thanks to Open Road Integrated Media who have converted this, City, and a couple of others over to ebook format. I bought this the day it was (finally) available.

Enoch Wallace is over a century old but doesn't look a day over 40. As keeper of an intergalactic way station, he doesn't age while on duty, which happens to be most of the time. Even though he has been trying to keep under the radar of everyone since taking on this role, the drastic difference in age versus appearance has been noticed by a Government employee who has decided that this situation requires further investigation. This complicates matters slightly as he cannot allow anyone on the planet to know what he's doing. Add a further complication of a violent neighbor with a daughter who turns to Enoch for help, and what was a formerly quiet life quickly gets turned upside down. Now there is a possibility Enoch's way station will be shut down.

I had lots of fun with Simak's ideas on what various travelling aliens would look like, not to mention the various "toys" they left for Enoch, however it was during the crisis of possibly being found out that led Enoch to the really important matters and to the heart of the story. Could humans be granted permission to be part of the galactic community? Would we ever be worthy? Can we overcome our need for violence and war? Enoch self-poses these and many other questions delving into all of humanity's pros and cons. In the end, it doesn't really matter because fate has decided what is to become of Earth.

First contact contemporary Earth sci-fi. A simple farmer's son and civil war veteran is vetted and befriended by a scouting intelligent alien searching for a remote location to install a new interstellar way station. Alien travelers from many different worlds use the network to cross the galaxy without resorting to LTLS space travel. He operates the transfer units in his house for over a hundred years (Earth time is irrelevant within the way station) attracting attention from the US Government and from superstitious neighbors. He faces the prospect of exposure as well as the worsening world in which nuclear armageddon seems imminent, plus an incident involving a deaf-mute young woman who roams the forest nearby may lead to galactic consequences. The ending has a touch of sappy "happily ever after" but the prose and dialogue throughout are excellent. Simak has a true gift of descriptive prose that is simply beautiful to read. His ability to take a Mid-Western farmer and reconcile him with space traveling aliens seems improbable but he makes it work. An excellent book of contemplative speculative science fiction. Highly recommended.

It's 1964, and Civil War veteran Enoch Wallace is a youthful 124 years old. His presence in the scarcely populated backwoods of Wisconsin perplexes his neighbors if they think about it much, but Wallace's Dorian Gray syndrome has become a fixture of their limited social landscape.

Instead of hiding a painting in the attic or making a pact with the devil, however, Wallace had been chosen, a century earlier, as the keeper of an intergalactic way station. His nineteenth-century home is now an impenetrable rest stop for extraterrestrial travelers of an untold number of alien species; inside, time's arrow slows to a halt. Although Earth is optimally located for this pit-stop, its human inhabitants are not ready--psychologically or sociologically--for membership in the Galactic confederation. And so the station, and Wallace's role in it, are kept secret--until a CIA agent turns up and starts nosing around.

As he does in his masterpiece, "City," Simak adopts a campfire storytelling style that is suited to the rural setting. Although there's still plenty of action (and violence, for that matter), his pastoral musings are a refreshing change from many of the rockets-and-robots stories of the period. Similarly, his sympathetic portrayal of Lucy Fisher, a neighbor girl who endures physical abuse from her father, is affecting and unexpected. (There's also a fascinating description of a virtual reality shooting gallery that is forty years ahead of its time.)

There are a few bizarrely off-key moments, though, such as when various earthlings encounter, with extraordinary equanimity, an alien being for the first time. And Simak does have a tendency to go a little overboard on his Cold War homilies (not to mention their grammatical gymnastics): "Somewhere, he thought, on the long backtrack of history, the human race has accepted an insanity for a principle and had persisted in it until today that insanity-turned-principle stood ready to wipe out, if not the race itself, at least all of those things, both material and immaterial, that had been fashioned as symbols of humanity through many hard-won centuries."

But "Way Station" compensates for these false notes and Sunday-school sermons with a riveting story, intriguing characters, and a somewhat sentimental ending that leaves nothing that might be mistaken for a loose end. At the close of this extraordinary adventure, Wallace realizes that the world as he knew it "would never be the same again" but that "he had work to do. Now he was ready for it."

I almost gave this 4 stars, but the only reason I could think to do so was that I was disappointed it was over. This is a tale of belonging, of loneliness, of what it means to be human, and an examination of many of the challenges and pitfalls we face. The greatest among them may very well come from ourselves.

Picking the "best" novel of most writers is a problematic enterprise. In the case of Clifford Simak, it's more problematic than usual.

Simak wrote science fiction of a curious personal sort. His books and stories are built on a "what if?" initial speculative premise. The story then develops and evolves through analysis of the effects of that premise on a few characters. Rarely does he drag in more science fictional apparatus than necessary. Many books (e.g., _Way Station_)contain notable elements of the pastoral, with a feeling for small town milieux that is at times reminiscent of some of the work of Ray Bradbury.

The initial premise of _Way Station_ is that a soldier who comes home from the Civil War is recruited by aliens to be the caretaker of an interstellar "way station" to be located on Earth. The consequences of his acceptance include a life that extends far beyond that of his friends and contemporaries, and the isolation that arises from his solitude. The final turn of the screw arises from the next step: What happens when his long time role on Earth becomes known to others?

The resulting confection sometimes seems far away from the "mag wheels and laser beams" style of SF. Cyberpunk this is not. It might even be science fiction of a different century, almost. I wouldn't want to read it all the time, but it's pleasant, literate, well-observed, with characters we care about and a sense of ease -- I almost want to say "serenity," but that's not quite right.

Preamble aside, if one isn't immune to Simak's appeal, _Way Station_ is one of his more satisfying productions. Picking several other books by him that seem of similar quality is a pretty straightforward task, subject to the whims of personal taste. Two off the top of my head are _The Goblin Reservation_ and _The Werewolf Principle_. There are others.

An excellent book. I've lent it to readers otherwise unfamiliar with SF, and most have liked it.

Like most science fiction, it's marked by the period when it was written. It seemed almost an anachronism when it appeared, though, so that's not a serious objection.

The only reason I picked up this book was because it was a Hugo winner. When I saw the cover I felt awful--it was an ugly, blotchy painting of somebody's face on a disgusting yellow background. Even when I started reading it I felt that this would be one of the "undeserving" sci-fi books. But then something happened in the plot and I was hooked. I read the entire book in one sitting, which is no great feat considering its relatively short length. Still, the book is one of the best sci-fi books I have ever read, although it is different from epics like Dune or the Foundation trilogy. Instead, it deals with a very small group of people in a very small region of the world. Although bigger things are hinted at, most of the action (if it can even be called that) takes place around one house. Even so, the book is enthralling, and its ideas I found to be fascinating.
The reason I gave it 4 stars, however, is because I felt the ending was somewhat of a let-down. It seemed too pat and too much of an "Act of God" to deserve the rest of the novel as a prelude. It didn't follow at all from anything else! The truth is, however, that I would gladly have followed the plot for many more books. Even if the ending is somewhat of a letdown, people should still read this book for everything but the ending.

I believe that Clifford D. Simak's The Way Station is one of the most original Science Fiction novels ever written. The book was written 1963 and received the Hugo award in 1964. However, the plot is still one of a kind, and the alien technology described in the novel is still fascinating. This novel is one of my favorite Science Fiction novels. Clifford D. Simak was one of the most prominent authors of classical Science Fiction. He won three Hugo awards, one Nebula award, and was named the third Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SWFA) in 1977.

Unbeknownst to human kind the galaxy is populated by numerous extra terrestrial civilizations. Travel through the galaxy is accomplished via matter transporters that need way stations, mid points, so that the transporter rays do not weaken too much by traveling too far. Our planet Earth is considered too barbaric to be considered for inclusion in the galactic civilization, however, due to its location, Earth has been selected as the host planet for a Way Station. Enoch Wallace has been chosen as that way stations keeper in exchange for near eternal longevity. However, Enoch must keep the way station a secret from the rest of the world.

As the last survivor of the Civil War, Enoch Wallace is 124 years old, however, despite this fact he does not look one day over 30. He lives a reclusive life in the woods of southwest Wisconsin. His house is strange and it seems to be impossible to get inside of the house. Enoch's reclusive life style which so far has been workable is becoming more difficult to maintain in our modern times. For example, his 80-year long subscriptions to magazines are becoming difficult to explain. As a result Enoch attracts the attention of the CIA which begins to watch him.

Enoch is arguably the most important person on planet earth, and still he leads a very lonely and low-key life. He is as lonely as anyone could be. Enoch has always felt a special affection for Lucy Fisher, a deaf and dumb girl who refused to learn sign language. There is something very special about Lucy. She lives in her own world and seems to have magic powers. She can, for example, heal the broken wings of butterflies. Things get complicated for both Enoch, and Lucy, as well as our planet, and the Galaxy, and the story that follows is one of the most original and imaginative stories that I have ever read. It is a story full of adventure, unexpected turns, mysticism, deep reflection, and also feelings. I thought the story was both intriguing, beautiful and in a sense poetic. The ending is hopeful and happy and still a little bit sad. However, above all it is very ponderous. This novel is one of the few Science Fiction novels that I believe is timeless. I highly recommend it.

Written around '69, but holds up very well.
If you like Earth-bound sci-fi, as opposed to more elaborate space opera, this is a very good choice.
Written in a time of war, but somewhat uplifting about what the future might hold. Not the usual dystopian outlook that is popular today.
Great central character, thoughtful, strong, relatable.
Worth a read.

An interesting book book filled with unique concepts. The story seemed to go in fits and starts, never certain of which direction it was heading. Actually, I think the direction was certain but the route of travel was filled with missteps. The main character had some interesting qualities and a lot of history but not much depth. The other characters were shadows at best.

Most people have never heard of Clifford Simak unless they're longtime SF fans and even those that have tend to gravitate more toward his other classic "City" but those who do, or even those who makes the mistake of ignoring him completely are making a grave error. This book is the equal of any SF classic based purely on the strength of its ideas and subtle conviction in those ideas. It doesn't have an ultracomplicated structure or a hip "postmodern" attitude but the attitude is does have is quiet and understated and undeniably brilliant. What's it all about? Basically Enoch Wallace has been living in his house for what seems like years and years and years but his neighbors are folk who don't question stuff like that. Turns out that Wallace is way older than anyone can think of and his house serves as one of the crossroads of the galaxy, with strange and fascinating aliens visiting him as they pass through, leaving him with a house cluttered with strange and wonderful treasures that he can hardly begin to contemplate . . . while at the same time wondering what all this means to Earth and its place in the galactic community. But forces are closing in on what he actually is while at the same time forces across the farflung galaxy are pushing forward events that even the aliens involved are hardly ready for. What makes this novel so good is not it's depiction of the bizarre array of philosophical and imaginative aliens, although that's part of it, Simak throws out alien races in a few sentences that other authors could spend entire novels trying to explain and describe. No, what makes it good is its unwavering faith in humanity, Wallace and the aliens might not have a high opinion of people at times but for all our dirty little mannerisms, in the end we've got just as much potential as everyone else. That, coupled with his pastoral views of the land around the house and the simple beauty of the untamed wilderness makes for a book mostly light on action but great in depth, Wallace is one of the rare totally three dimensional SF characters, content in his mission but still wondering what it all means even as everyday brings new wonders to light. I thought this book was going to be good but I was amazed at how excellent it was. One of the alltime classics.

"That was the way with Man; it had always been that way. He had carried terror with him. and the thing he was afraid of had always been himself." -- Way Station p. 198.

As a young teenager, I fell upon Way Station in my small town library soon after its publication. This relaxed sf tale caught my fancy and that of my friends. I think it was Harlan Ellison who said that sf is at its root juvenile literature at its best, and that can be said of Way Station. Yet, forty years later, the direct simplicity of Simak's tale now comes across as almost mythopoeic. The author could have filled in so much more detail but chose not to. I remember my imagination filling in the physical details of the station -- Simak's light touch was and still is sufficient.

As one who lives in Wisconsin and has driven through the area depicted, I can attest to the accuracy of Simak's vision. That part of Wisconsin remains under-populated and barren with a rocky beauty. It is worth the visit as is Way Station.

Inspiring? Yes, Way Station inspired me to write sf, none of which has ever seen the printed page. More importantly, Simak's yarn about a man of war yearning for peace during turbulent times is so very appropriate today as it was at the height of the Cold War and the beginning of US involvement in Vietnam.

Way Station by Clifford D. Simak. This was a throwback novel. Classic SF of the style that I haven't read in almost 20 years (I trend more toward military SF and urban fantasy). It definitely required a context switch but it is interesting to stretch my normal bound.

Enoch Wallace is a Civil War veteran who is living in the contemporary times(circa 1963 for the novel) and has finally attracted the attention of the government due to his lack of aging. Shortly after the the war he is offered the chance to become a station master in an chain of FTL transfer stations for travelers. He effectively is a hermit who has little interaction with society but talks with all the travelers who comes through.

Enoch only ages when he leaves his house, so he is aging at less than 1/24 normal, which is what finally draws the governments attention. There are a couple of threads that combine for a burst of activity toward the end and are fairly well wrapped up by the action. The writing has aged fairly well, and there is even concepts that are quite familiar as SF to modern readers (VR shooting range, aliens not so perfect). It does have some of the common threads of SF of the time (humans bad and immature, aliens superior) that does leave it feeling dated though.

I never read this author before and I found it quite entertaining to be exposed to him, definitely a good insightful book. I can see why it won the Hugo for Best Novel in 1964.

The premise of the book is that there is an enormous variety of lifeforms in the galaxy, which have banded together in a loose federation. Transportation is controlled by "Galactic Central" and proceeds through the titular way stations - much like Star Trek's transporters except there must be a pad at each end for transport to work. Earth is in a convenient location for a station but mankind is not ready to join the galactic community; an alien arrives to seek out a stationkeeper, one willing to keep the secret and avoid much human contact. Enoch Wallace is the alien's choice, and this novel is Enoch's story.
The story takes place (and was written) at the height of the cold war. The interesting parts involve Enoch's interaction with the aliens that pass through the station, and with the few other humans he comes in contact with. Simak (the author) obviously put some thought into the variety of alien forms. He wisely avoids explaining too much about the working of alien minds and the alien technology, instead focussing on the human's impressions and speculations, including his hopes for the human race (if they can survive the politics of their leaders).
Unfortunately, the length of the book (under 200 pages) precludes details. There are a couple of subplots that are silly to the point of irritation, such as the "imaginary" friends Enoch manages to create using a half-understood alien text. They are introduced simply to be dispensed with, and it lends nothing to the story or character development.
Therefore, I enjoyed the book, but it seems more like an abridgement of a more interesting and longer novel, and you can't help wondering what it could have been. Incidentally, I think it would make a fine movie, especially today where special effects could pull off the liquid life forms, etc. In that medium, the short length would be a distinct advantage.

But unfortunately in our pessimistic, cynical and violent world, a beautiful, pastoral and gentle book such as "Way Station" is out of print!!! May I remind everyone that this novel won the '64 Hugo Award and it should be the obligation of publishers to ensure it never gets out of print. It really burns my hide to see such novels as Bester's "The Demolished Man" or Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", two of the greatest (possibly THE two greatest)SF novels of all time disappear from the bookshelves for a decade or four. I don't see "Dune" or "Stand on Zanzibar" off the shelves because "they're old and no one will read them anymore despite the fact that they were honored by the SF community". But with all the media tie-in novels attracting the readers (I don't necessarly mind them, since I actually like reading a "Star Wars" novel from time to time and I think if publishers could promote classic and "real, honest-to-God" SF through those books then the much-talked-about but nothing-done-for "Death of SF" will never happen, although I would like to see less "BattleTech" and post-Weis and Hickman "Drangonlance" pulp novels), the market for such classics of SF literature maybe lost forever in the stars of time. Please buy or check out of your local library "Way Station" or any other Simak novels before they can only be found collecting dust in second-hand bookstores.

This is a superb pastoral novel full of the mystery of the alien and the honour of the best of humanity. It does get occasionally get bogged down in philosophy and its own plot line justification. But that hardly seems to matter.

Perhaps I was disappointed at the end with the one shooting that was necessary to resolve the outcome - maybe a different resolution would have sustained the pastoral nature of the story better. And it is my belief - hope - that killing is not needed to resolve all outcomes. Perhaps Simak could have allowed Lucy the final control, but maybe he felt Enoch - the hero we can all relate to - the one moment of glory.

Other recommendations:

'Pavane' by Keith Roberts
'The Goblin Reservation' by Clifford Simak
and some of Simak's short stories to look out for:
'Limiting Factor'
'Drop Dead'
'Shadow Show'

Long out of print, this very good novel is now reissued by a small publisher. The hero is a Civil War veteran who becomes the stationkeeper for an inter-galactic transport system. In return, he is granted virtual immortality. Approximately a century after assuming his responsibilities, an outsider begins to suspect something unusual. Simultaneously, there are political crises developing on Earth and in the Galactic Federation employing him. This latter aspect of the plot reflects the Cold War anxieties of the early 1960s, particularly the fears of a nuclear exchange between us and the Soviets. Simak resolves these plot elements by tying them together with a fairly straightforward deus ex machina conclusion. Simak was a direct, unaffected writer who liked to present characters exhibiting quiet decency. This book is no exception. The character of the protagonist is developed well and this book contains a nice portrait of an individual increasingly separated from other humans by the passage of time and the secretive nature of his work. Decency and accomplishment come with some unavoidable costs. This book may have had some special resonance for Simak as it is set in the part of southwestern Wisconsin where he grew up.

There was amazingly little plot in this book. You get through 90% of the book don't even really know what it's going to be about. Then suddenly the main story conflict becomes apparent. Very little time is actually spent resolving the problem, the resolutions are not realistic (even in a sci-fi novel), and most of the resolutions are just talked about happening later rather than the reader actually getting to "see" them happen. The writing style was pretty good, but the lack of plot and minimal character development get 2 stars from me. Perhaps future books in this series will be better, but I won't be giving them a try.

Enoch Wallace is unique. He is a station keeper for Galactic Central...the only Human to have the job...and the only Human to know that there are an awful lot of alien species out there, making there way around the galaxy. As station keeper, Enoch runs a galactic train station of sorts, an intermediary location that allows numerous sentient entities to travel deep within our particular spiral arm of the galaxy. For nearly a century, Enoch Wallace has faithfully manned his station, befriending many of the lifeforms that have made their way through the station. But now things are changing, Enoch's station may end up being shut down by Galactic Central, and if that happens, not only will Earth lose its chance to join the galactic cofraternity of sentient species, but it may also tear Galactic Central asunder.

Simak's Way Station is a thoughtful tale of one man's attempt to figure out where he belongs in the big picture of things. As the only Human to know about Galactic Central and to have been in their employ for nearly a century, Enoch feels a certain loyalty to galactic culture at large; but he also knows that his roots lie on Earth and he simply cannot turn his back on Humanity. As Enoch walks the line between the two cultures he feels apart of, he must be careful where he steps, and following Enoch on this journey makes for a very worthy scifi tale.

I have not gotten the Kindle version of this SF classic--yet. But I have a paper version from years ago. If you have not had the pleasure of reading this, you are in for a treat. It is truly a SF classic. Like has been mention in other reviews, this is story that you will reread in years to come. Not many SF novels are ones you'll want to revisit, this one is.

Possibly the finest Si-Fi novel I have ever read! My brother and I have discussed this book many times. With (did it again) today's technology, this would translate to the big screen easily but I would not want to see it if the characterizations and essence of the story were not captured as Simak wrote them. Simak peaks your interest from the very start, then places you on an emotional roller coaster that really never ends. This book is clever, exciting, thought-provoking, and most of all, fun! I actually have a hardback (stays on the shelf) and two paperback editions. The first one is so worn, I retired it and the other one will soon gain the same status. What does this tell you? Find a copy (more than one if possible) and experience one of the greatest Sci-Fi books ever written. This is a true masterpiece!

This books make you think about how you would react if you were the only person on Earth that knew about and had contact with advanced Alien races. I would not call this an action book but it did make me think about how I would react in this situation. I found the story original and enjoyed most of it. I thought the final wrap up was a little contrived but overall a good read.

In the early 1960s, a government intelligence agent finds that a veteran of the Civil War is still alive, but doesn't look a day over 30. The man lives in a house that nobody else can get into, and in the family cemetery behind the house, alongside the tombstones of his mother and father, is a third tombstone with an inscription written in a language nobody can identify.
If all that isn't enough to get you interested, maybe there's something wrong with you! What follows is a story that is undoubtedly one of Simak's best, bringing together a wealth of scientific ideas, an imaginative plot, and the descriptive power and deep, introspective characterizations for which Simak is well-known. The result is a story that is captivating, philosophical, and, in the end, spiritual.

Simak's booklet deals with visiting aliens, matter transporters, longevity, interstellar travel and dito politics. All sound and solid sf themes. What makes the book enchanting is the music to which these notes are set, the way the protagonist sees the world, the way the people in the direct environnement of the way station are being described. Here are also themes, better known in fantasy literature, like the magic in the "Talisman", the savior lost and found, the faul smelling thief, the alien friend. Simak's writing style that seems so clear, is very capable of luring the readers into his plot.
Not 5 stars because things come together a bit to neatly at the end and to quickly. But I asure you that that will not spoil a pleasant evening with this book.

Whenever I travel through the hills of SW Wisconsin I keep an eye open for Enoch Wallace's house. Simak has me convinced that it, and its owner, must be real. You cannot read this book without feeling that Enoch is an old, old friend. There is something about this 19th century man's lonely vigil through the centuries that seems right. Only a person so completely human could treat alien visitors with such unstinting hospitality- and humanity. They are just "folks", a might peculiar, but still folks. I can also believe that the old timers back in the hills would not give him up to outsiders if he did exist- not if he minded his own business, not if he belonged there.

Whenever I travel through the hills of SW Wisconsin I keep an eye open for Enoch Wallace's house. Simak has me convinced that it, and its owner, must be real. You cannot read this book without feeling that Enoch is an old, old friend. There is something about this 19th century man's lonely vigil through the centuries that seems right. Only a person so completely human could treat alien visitors with such unstinting hospitality- and humanity. They are just "folks", a might peculiar, but still folks. I can also believe that the old timers back in the hills would not give him up to outsiders if he did exist- not if he minded his own business, not if he belonged there.

Whenever I travel through the hills of SW Wisconsin I keep an eye open for Enoch Wallace's house. Simak has me convinced that it, and its owner, must be real. You cannot read this book without feeling that Enoch is an old, old friend. There is something about this 19th century man's lonely vigil through the centuries that seems right. Only a person so completely human could treat alien visitors with such unstinting hospitality- and humanity. They are just "folks", a might peculiar, but still folks. I can also believe that the old timers back in the hills would not give him up to outsiders if he did exist- not if he minded his own business, not if he belonged there.

Enoch Wallace, a veteran of the Civil War, is selected to be the caretaker of a Way Station for aliens buzzing through the galaxy using some mysterious teleportation system. Unlike in the Star Trek series, these aliens leave their bodies behind when they de-materialize, hence Enoch's role is to place these bodies in appropriate solutions to dissolve them and keep the station clean. Mostly, though, he just enjoys sitting and chatting with them. By the 1950s, the government is investigating Enoch's mysterious ways and the way he is able to look 30 though born before the Civil War.

This novel takes a while to take off; there is a lot of exposition and speculation in the first third, but once the narrative starts moving forward (rather than looking backward) with his timely rescue of Lucy Fisher--a psychic deaf-mute--the pace quickens and the tale becomes more engaging. This is a satisfying SF novel, but I find the ending has too much a touch of "deux ex machina" for my tastes. If you enjoy this Simak, then make sure you find yourself a used copy of Mastodonia, which I found a better novel.

I used to love golden age sci-fi, but for me, most of it just doesn't hold up today. This was my first Simak novel. I enjoyed the writing and the story, and I can understand why it was a Hugo winner -- in 1964. I wonder how much this novel influenced the writers of Star Trek. Today, of course, four decades later, the interstellar federation which Earth is just on the verge of being ready to join has been done and done and done in every possible variation, so Simak's vision seems a little quaint. Apparently he was known as one of the more optimistic sci-fi writers, and that's apparent here; most of the conflicts are intellectual rather than violent, and the ETs are more alien in form than in manner. It all takes place in a homey backwoods setting and the resolution involves all the species of the galaxy recognizing their spiritual oneness so... yes, a pleasant story, but not a particularly challenging or mindbending one.

This is one of Simak's best--the story of a man who lives quietly in an isolated part of Wisconsin and manages a transportation depot for an interstellar civilization of which Earth is not a part. Now Earth is in serious danger of a nuclear war, and at the same time, the interstellar society is experiencing a crisis of the spirit. Simak offers highly imaginative descriptions of aliens and their culture, and intersperses them with a loving appreciation of the natural world. The writing style is slow-paced and a little downbeat, reminiscent of Edgar Pangborn (author of the fine A Mirror for Observers), but even so, well worth the read.

A new edition of WAY STATION (& CITY !) was released by Old Earth Books at the 62nd annual World SF Convention over Labor Day weekend and will eventually, I'm sure, appear on the store.

The book is a great read.

This is what Robert A. Heinlein wrote about Clifford Simak:

"To read science fiction is to read Simak. The reader who does not like Simak stories does not like science fiction at all."

And for someone more contemporaty, Allen Steele:

"Clifford Simak was one of the finest writers to ever grace

science fiction; there has never been another voice quite like his. CITY and WAY STATION are two of his best novels; if you haven't read them, now is a perfect opportunity."

If you haven't WAY STATION - or CITY - boy, are you in for a treat!

worthy of all the awards it has received, and all the more remarkable for when if was written.

great concepts, characters, and story, the ending is a little too neat and big picture concerns clearly derived from early cold war fears (as is common in SF written during this period)

This is a wonderful book. The science is outdated, but the writing style seems so slow and deep and luxurious compared to all the more modern sci fi I have read lately. It has a subtle, understated spirituality that I do not normally associate with

sci fi, except in Ray Bradbury.

I think that the fast paced, short attention span mentality of MTV and the internet has in some way harmed the style of lots of the current sci fi writers. There is a quality in Bradbury and in Simak that I don't see anywhere today. I am not a great reader of sci fi though. Maybe there are new Bradburys and Simaks out there that I don't know about.

I have a hard copy of this book which I am going to have to replace one of these years. I re-read it every year and it never fails to be enjoyable . The concept is extra-ordinary and well developed.
love this book

I can't really judge since I read it when I was sick. I actually think Simak's less dated then some of his contemporaries. After all this book had virtual reality, love of nature, teleporters, & a "Force" of sorts way before Star Wars or Star Trek. Despite the fact that Simak mentioned virtual reality in this & City it would be difficult to imagine anything less like cyberpunk then him. For the most part right on Salah Hasanpor even if I end up not liking this when I read it again. You know since I was sick the first time.

The aliens in this book are not the problem. The problem is the human interactions with each other, and the simplistic and unbelievable reactions to events that unfold. Shallow human characters defeat the high potential the premise had. It's hard to believe most of what occurs. Without being able to buy into the story, I simply had no interest in what happened. A forgettable book. Even allowing that it is fictional, credibility is stretched too far. The "aliens" were more convincing than the humans, who are unfortunately necessary to the story. I don't see the basis for the praise this book gets, though I have enjoyed other books by Simak.

By accident, a U.S. agent hears rumors about a very old man on his holiday. Matter is interesting enough to be forwarded higher in the command chain. The man turns out to be the last survivor of the Civil War. According to calculations he should be 124 years old but nobody seem to know that for sure. Enoch Wallace has been living in his ranch for decades, collecting his post, living in peace and invisibility. In Country Western no man's land where time and values between neighbors remain unchanged. What is this mystery?

The book starts contemplatively slowly and builds up the character of Enoch who took the responsibility to keep "way station" in galactic travel. The alien stops are told very briefly by the memories of Enoch's diary and his recollections of the artifacts passengers had been donating. Suddenly the book's pace changes radically. At the middle the tranquil style shifts to CIA grave robbery which triggers galactic diplomacy strife, where Enoch is held accountable for the whole of Earth. Even more crooked development follows: a mental talisman chase of galactic robber in the backwoods of Earth. An alien tramples loose and levels hills to melting magma with his ozon laser.

Three (3) stars. Written in 1963 the book won Hugo Award for Best Novel the following year. The concept of psychological study of a lone man -- near immortal thanks to the magic of the station where time stands still --, who seeks peace and wants retreat, is touching basis for the story. The past and decades, the losses and seclusion, are within him. Unfortunately the pacing is disrupted with thrown in subplots, like galactic politics, CIA, hillibilly lynch group, interminable spirituality of galactic spirit, and miraculous resolution to appoint Earth born deaf mute girl to take heritage of saving the Galaxy. Regrettably the story slowly accelerates into a mush. A pity for otherwise full 5 star story.

I haven't ever rated a book though I read quite a few. This book deserves my "taking the plunge" into reviewing. It is a rare find. If you enjoy the author Philip Dick or the book Stranger in a Strange Land, this story/writing style is reminiscent of both.
Very enjoyable read.

I love this guy. I think he must have been such an interesting person. He has a lot to say about the senselessness of war and violence, but he holds out so much hope that we can do better. I hope someday we prove him right.

Possibly the finest SF novel---ever! My brother and I have dicussed this book many times. This, with todays technology, would be great to see on the big screen. Not for it's special effects, they would be secondary, but for the story. It is such a shame this book is out of print because so many Sci-Fi fans are being deprived, unless they are lucky enough to have someone tell them about it, of a true masterpiece of science fiction. Simak peaks your interest from the very start, then puts you on an emotional roller coaster that really never ends. This book is clever, exciting, thought-provoking, and most of all, fun! I actually have a hardback(stays on the shelf) and two paperback copies. The first one is so worn, I retired it and the other one will soon gain the same status. What does this tell you? Find a copy (more than one if possible) and experience one of the greatest Sci-Fi books ever written.

My ragged little 1970s paperback edition of Way Station is one of my most treasured books. I must have been in my early teens when I first read it.

When I ask my students to name several books they want their kids to read, I give my answers as well, and Way Station is one of them.

Like some other reviewers, I've thought for years that it would make an outstanding movie. My only fear is that they'd bastardize it and give us a frenetic, over-acted, gee-whizzed, trivialized version. Think Dune, I Robot, Starship Troopers, War of the Worlds... But, at least it would create a new group of readers!

Clifford Simak was a newspaper writer who also wrote SF. His profession was obvious in the way he always grabbed your attention with the first few sentences. The Way Station is probably his finest novel. It shows a deeper level of character development and empathy than is customary in most SF. The story is about a man living in isolation on his home planet Earth, while maintaining a way station for citizens of the galaxy, unknown to earthlings. The loneliness of this portrayed brilliantly.

I read this book for the first time when I was in my twenties and found it marvelous. I have read it several times since, and expect to read it again. I am now in my twenties and this is in the top 50 of the books in my library that I don't want to lose. Dune and Geisha being two others.

I still have the paperback from 1964, when I was in high school. It has always been among my favorite science fiction novels. Created a new genre of scifi, the pastoral one. Lovely country setting and an interesting story. Enoch Wallace was a civil war soldier who agreed to man a waystation for alien travelers. He only aged when he left to waystation to get the mail, etc. After 100 years of tranquility, neighbors and the government agencies began to be curious. His house was immune to any outside forces or powers setting up a interesting conflict. I still enjoy rereading it occasionally for its gentle story and message. I can't remember if the book won the Hugo or was it Heinlen that year, but it was one of the top candidates.

.... I always enjoy this unworldly sense of peace and serenity when I re-read Way Station. CDS excels at hinting at the vastness of the cosmos, and the enormous importance of love and tolerance. I am not ashamed to say I was touched by CDS's Way Station in a way other far more brilliant and technically-accomplished sci-fi works has not. Re-reading it is a spiritual experience for me, no joke this. ....

The premise makes this a classic science fiction novel that every sci fi lover should read. It holds up well, and my only reason for four starts is that the story itself loses steam after the premise has been explored. If you don't mind a "slower" story than you might be used to, then you'll enjoy this.

I am almost ashamed having disccovered Simak very late. WAY STATION is a good entrance to the world of Clifford D. Simak and among the 7 books I have read until now it remains one of my favorite. It is not only a well written story, but as well a poem about the encounter of a man rooted in a concrete american landscape with the "sense of wonder". Not the war of the worlds is a subject of Simak but the encounter and communication which can solve almost every issue. Beside all that, Simak is mostly interested in human nature and how people react when they encounter strange worlds.
It is a big shame that Simaks wonderful books are in some countries not in print anymore.

Simak's estate should consider pushing to sell the movie rights to this work, especially given the current political climate. Someone like Lance Henriksen or Denzel Washington (think about it) would be terrific.
The book is short, but still manages to wander - the subplot about Enoch's imaginary friends isn't really necessary, and the whole arc of the intergalactic community's politics and Earth's place in it - as well as the religious stuff about the Talisman - would have benefited from more attention.
That aside, Enoch Wallace and Ulysses are two of SF's strongest characters, and the book is really a buddy picture about these two fine creatures and their relationship across more than 100 years. Too, it is a finely turned tale about loneliness and alienation that nothing else I've read on those two subjects touches.
Someone would do well to write a spec screenplay and shop it around.

A classic that holds up simply because of the premise. Nothing much "happens," but the premise and the situation the main character finds himself in is what sticks with you. If you're looking for a well-plotted story, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for the roots of many science fiction stories, read this and enjoy Simak's leisurely pace.

Here we go again. This is yet another sci-fi book written in the 60s with a really interesting premise that gets too bogged down in the preachy social issues of the time. Simak's prose isn't the most eloquent, but it suffices. The story does meander a bit, and suffers from descriptive prose that really would have been better suited to fleshing out the main character (Enoch) who is ~135 years old, and fleshing out the story more. More interaction with traveling aliens would have been better too help give the feeling that the galaxy is a vast and strange place. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but felt it could have been much more...and more interesting.

This book is a bit dated, but still beautiful and relevant to today's world. The first 2/3 of the book which recounts the station's history is especially interesting and moving. The climax of the conflict is not spectacular but still enjoyable. There're some small problems such as how people react calmly when facing aliens for the first time, but none of these would damage the integrity of the novel.

This is one of the best short novels (around 200 pages) that the science fiction genre has to offer. Simak tells the tale of Enoch Wallace, a man with the responsibility of galatic travel weighing on his shoulders. Enoch is a wonderful character because he remains so very human when faced with the knowledge and understanding of alien culture and philosophies. Simak keeps the story short and simple which is good. I can't imagine this story unfolding into an epic novel like Dune. I rated this one four stars because I think the author has done better work. "City" by Simak was an astonishing collection of chronological short stories and altogether a better piece of writing. But, nevertheless, read "Way Station." It doesn't take long and it is well worth it.

WAY STATION is about -- well, a way station. Unlike those of the old West, this way station is a place where interplanetary travelors stop along their journey. In a lonely farmhouse in rural Wisconsin lives Enoch Wallace, who operates this Way Station. After nearly a century of this work, and without aging a day, Wallace is beginning to attract attention.
Great story, with a wonderfully satisfying ending.

A simple, seemingly dated novel that is anything but. The characters are not doing shakespeare and yet they cover most of real life, and they ask -- and answer -- questions that plague the real world in 2016.

I have read it numerous times, and I always find something new.

A great early sf novel, this story of a long-lived Civil War vet whose home is used as a stopover point for interstellar travelers will captivate and entertain all who love the poignant tales that Simak was noted for. Probably his best after the classic, City. Great read!

actually i don't have much to add to the previous review. he realy said what i thought about the book. the book was great and very imaginative, but the end was very "holliwood" style - but what's so bad whith happy endings, when life outside doesn't seem so full of them ?

I did find this book for like 5 dollars on ebay, so your getting screwed out of your money if you buy from one of these sellers here. I read the book a few months ago and would just like to say that it only took me a two days to read it. I got sucked in and couldnt put it down until i was finished, its books like this that are true diamonds in the ruff when going through the hugo award winners list.

I "read" on Audible. I felt that it rambled on a bit on philosophical ideas. And was hard to understand/ follow the direction.

Given the age of the book it's consistent of authors of that time.

Classic sci-fi. Full of fantastic alien species and wonderous gadgets but they are almost entirely left up to the reader to create in their own mind. Like all good sci-fi it's about people and relationships and emotions.

This is one of the best SciFi novels around. Its beauty lies within the subtlety of the ideas and and simple humanity found throughout. I have read and reread this book over the years, and each time the story seems to change in my perception. My copy fell apart from over use and I now find it out of print.If you come across this book...buy it because you'll never regret doing so.