They say the best place to hide is in plain sight, and while I don't completely agree with that idea, Clifford D. Simak's classic sci-fi novel, *Way Station*, proves the point beautifully. The story unfolds in a remote part of Wisconsin, where nothing ever happens… until now. Enoch Wallace is an unassuming farmer, or rather, he *doesn't* farm; he mostly stays home. Oh, and he's a documented Civil War veteran, set in 1963, making Enoch a cool 124 years old… but he looks about 30. The few neighbor...

2.5 I'm giving "Way Station" by Clifford D. Simak a lukewarm 2.5 stars. It's one of those books that feels like it *should* be amazing, and occasionally flashes brilliance, but ultimately doesn't quite stick the landing. The premise – a Civil War veteran running a teleportation hub for aliens in rural Wisconsin – is undeniably cool, and Simak's folksy prose is generally charming. But the plot meanders, the pacing is uneven, and the ending feels rushed and somewhat anticlimactic. Look, there's ...

Hugo Award Best Novel 1964I like my sci-fi with a solid dose of science, and it's even better when a couple of spoonfuls of philosophical thoughts are mixed in. Weak sci-fi usually doesn't do it for me, so I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed Clifford D. Simak's *Way Station*.It's about this 124-year-old guy named Enoch. Despite his age, Enoch looks like a young man. His house, built before the Civil War, doesn't show its age either.Enoch is a hermit, talking only to the mailman and occasionally ...

I think I’ve found a new favorite classic sci-fi author – Clifford D. Simak. It’s almost a tragedy that I'm just discovering him now – a glitch that needs to be fixed, ASAP. I absolutely loved Way Station and Simak’s writing style. I found it warm, unpretentious, and distinctly Midwestern. Lately, I’ve been rereading Heinlein, Clarke, and Asimov, and some of the shine of my youthful idolization has worn off. Simak might be just the author to restore my love for the golden age of Science Fiction....

He needed sun and soil and wind to remain a man. That line from Clifford D. Simak's *Way Station* just gets to the heart of it, doesn't it? It's a quiet sci-fi novel, less about lasers and aliens, and more about what it means to be human. We realized that among us, among all the races, we had a staggering fund of knowledge and of techniques - that working together, by putting together all this knowledge and capability, we could arrive at something that would be far greater and more significant...

Charming. **Way Station** by Clifford Simak is a very good, classic science fiction yarn. If you're looking for classic science fiction books, this is a must-read.A bit dated, just a little and not hurtfully so, similar to a more modern language than that used by Edgar Rice Burroughs. A great mix of hard science fiction and the softer social sciences cousin of the genre; like Heinlein, without the sexual aggression and with an almost Bradburyesque idyllic sentimentality. **Way Station** was firs...

Teenage Tadiana: YES! Way Station! All the stars! I love this story of Enoch Wallace, a Civil War veteran whose home is being used as an interstellar way station, a stopping point for alien travelers journeying from one part of the galaxy to another. As part of the deal, Enoch never ages while he is inside his home. For 100 years Enoch isn't bothered by anyone--he lives in the backwoods and the local people leave him alone--but eventually the government becomes suspicious of Enoch's agelessness ...

Four paragraphs: "And there she sat, with the wild red and gold of the butterfly poised upon her finger, with the sense of alertness and expectancy and, perhaps, accomplishment shining on her face. She was alive, thought Enoch, as no other thing he knew had ever been alive. The butterfly spread its wings and floated off her finger and went fluttering, unconcerned, unfrightened, up across the wild grass and the goldenrod of the field." "They would say he was a madman; that he had run them off a...

The first science fiction book I ever read was All Flesh Is Grass by Clifford D. Simak. I was so blown away and entertained that I immediately looked for more sci-fi to read, and to this day, I still prefer reading sci-fi over any other kind of fiction. Yes, I should broaden my horizons and read more literary fiction or classics, which I do from time to time, but I'll always favor sci-fi. So, I owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Simak for helping me find my reading comfort zone. Anyway, *All Flesh I...

Posted at Shelf Inflicted Set in a quaint Wisconsin town, this unassuming story introduces us to Enoch Wallace, the caretaker of an intergalactic transport hub known as Way Station. Despite the idyllic backdrop and the insular nature of the town's residents, Enoch is a remarkably likeable and open-minded character.This wonderful and thought-provoking book, "Way Station" by Clifford D. Simak, is a breeze to read. Don't expect explosive action or interstellar battles. There are no shadowy governme...