Big Books of Spring
Way Station

Questions About Way Station

by Clifford D. Simak

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Answered Questions (3)

I have read this a very long time ago and even back then when I was a callow youth, I had to wonder about a transportation system that obviously kills the transportee and assembles a duplicate at the end point. I can't think of it as an "arrival" since the duplicate is being assembled there and the only thing that arrives is information about the original. Sure it remembers being the original but what about the soul?
John Gribbin What makes you think there is such a thing as a soul?
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Kevin Kuhn *Spoiler* My take is that it shows growth in the character. He comes to learn that creating the shadow people is selfish and cruel. In the end, despit…more*Spoiler* My take is that it shows growth in the character. He comes to learn that creating the shadow people is selfish and cruel. In the end, despite the loneliness, he chooses to release Mary. I think I understand what Simak was intending, but it's my least favorite part of the novel.(less)
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What year would the story be taking place? The sixties when the book was written? It seemed the CIA were unbelievably complacent, obviously Simak was not familiar with Men in Black—yet.
Matt Shaw There are clear clues in the book that it takes place in 1964. Lewis refers to Enoch as 124 years old and that he was born in 1840, for instance.
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