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The Street That Wasn't There
SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE WORLD! The pendulum clock struck slowly, its every other chime as usual setting up a sympathetic vibration in the pewter vase that stood upon the mantel. Mr. Chambers got to his feet, strode to the door, opened it and looked out. Moonlight tessellated the street in black and silver, etching the chimneys and trees against a silvered sky. But the house directly across the street was not the same. It was strangely lopsided, its dimensions out of proportion, like a house that suddenly had gone mad. He stared at it in amazement, trying to determine what was wrong with it. He recalled how it had always stood, foursquare, a solid piece of mid-Victorian architecture. Then, before his eyes, the house righted itself again. With a sigh of relief, Mr. Chambers turned back into the hall. But before he closed the door, he looked again. The house was lopsided -- worse than before!
25 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1941
About the author
Clifford D. Simak
972 books1,094 followers"He was honored by fans with three Hugo awards and by colleagues with one Nebula award and was named the third Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) in 1977." (Wikipedia)
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford...
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 1, 2023
What will you do if you discover that the shop you regularly visit has disappeared during a routine evening walk? Would you think you became insane if you found that the road to the shop also vanished?
“What exists in our known universe shall always exist and can never be destroyed and only altered and transformed, but in modern Physics and Mathematics, we gain an insight into the possibility and the probability that there are another dimensions of time and space impinging on the one we occupy.”
The parallel world and second dimension are the concepts that have always fascinated me. This book, published in 1941, is one of the earlier works that dealt with this topic. It would be best if you kept that in the back of your mind while reading it. If you are someone who loves books by authors like Blake Crouch, it will be a good choice.
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August 2, 2015
A very short story with an interesting concept: what if our collective awareness of the world around us was the
only thing that kept that world anchored in reality? And what if something happened to a huge proportion of the population, causing that awareness to weaken? Could our world disappear? Or be absorbed by other beings? What would happen to the remaining people? Does anyone understand what is going on? Can anyone stop it? Or will we all simply fade awa
only thing that kept that world anchored in reality? And what if something happened to a huge proportion of the population, causing that awareness to weaken? Could our world disappear? Or be absorbed by other beings? What would happen to the remaining people? Does anyone understand what is going on? Can anyone stop it? Or will we all simply fade awa
May 4, 2012
This is a fascinating story, reminiscent of the work of writers like Philip K. Dick or Stephen King. It's about a man who, after spending twenty years as a recluse because of a book he'd written, finds that the very theories and ideas he'd been ridiculed for were coming true.
This story explores the unique idea that, although science has shown that matter cannot be created or destroyed, perhaps it is shaped by the collective minds or intelligence of those who inhabit it. Our world--our universe--looks the way it does because our minds keep it that way. We unconsciously shape our own universe. But what happens to reality when we die, and our minds vanish away? In this post-World War II world, war, disease and famine have decimated the populations of nearly every country except for the United States. Millions--perhaps billions--have died, and the minds that are left are not enough to hold reality together. And as the world literally vanishes away beneath his feet, the man wonders what the matter that once made our reality will become, and who will come to take control of it?
Even though I find the idea almost laughable, the story still takes you on a psychological ride, and you ponder what you yourself would do if you find that the world is really just a figment of everyone's collective imagination. It forces you to consider what you would do and how you would feel as the world vanishes away around you, and what in life is really important. This story almost seems like a metaphor for death. When we die, will we still be attached to the "stuff" we've spent our whole lives acquiring? What in life is truly important?
I recommend this story not just to science fiction fans, but to everyone.
This story explores the unique idea that, although science has shown that matter cannot be created or destroyed, perhaps it is shaped by the collective minds or intelligence of those who inhabit it. Our world--our universe--looks the way it does because our minds keep it that way. We unconsciously shape our own universe. But what happens to reality when we die, and our minds vanish away? In this post-World War II world, war, disease and famine have decimated the populations of nearly every country except for the United States. Millions--perhaps billions--have died, and the minds that are left are not enough to hold reality together. And as the world literally vanishes away beneath his feet, the man wonders what the matter that once made our reality will become, and who will come to take control of it?
Even though I find the idea almost laughable, the story still takes you on a psychological ride, and you ponder what you yourself would do if you find that the world is really just a figment of everyone's collective imagination. It forces you to consider what you would do and how you would feel as the world vanishes away around you, and what in life is really important. This story almost seems like a metaphor for death. When we die, will we still be attached to the "stuff" we've spent our whole lives acquiring? What in life is truly important?
I recommend this story not just to science fiction fans, but to everyone.
July 26, 2026
I am so glad that I choose this short book to fulfil my reading challenge for this year, with an author who is a master at creating fantastic imagery and stories. Simak is truly amazing in any length of writing. In this short story he does a wonderful job exploring reality, perception, and the concept of dimensional mortality. Easy five stars and I felt Sam Neill (RIP) would have played the protagonist perfectly in any film adaptation.
One excerpt I loved from this story:
“One man, alone, could not stand off the irresistible march of nothingness. One man, all alone, simply couldn’t do it.”
(The low ratings for this book clearly shows that the imagery, metaphors, and topics discussed must’ve gone well over the heads of the readers giving said low scores lol.)
One excerpt I loved from this story:
“One man, alone, could not stand off the irresistible march of nothingness. One man, all alone, simply couldn’t do it.”
(The low ratings for this book clearly shows that the imagery, metaphors, and topics discussed must’ve gone well over the heads of the readers giving said low scores lol.)
October 14, 2018
This short story was probably mind-blowing in the 1940s, but it's just "pretty good" today. It would be an excellent classic Twilight Zone episode.
March 8, 2025
This dudes imagination is inspiring
December 5, 2012
This was very much a mid century sci-fi story, and everything that comes with that. The premise is intriguing--a reclusive man out on his evening walk discovers that a shop he regularly visits is gone. Not just closed, but completely vanished, as though it never existed. More disturbing, the road that it was on has also vanished. What used to span three blocks is now two.
Sadly, the third act is... less intriguing. The revelation about what is happening to the world and the vanishing streets is very much a product of the time it was written, and feels hokey by modern standards. Everything wraps up very quickly, and I'm left with the feeling that there is a lot of unexplored territory here. The speed with which the protagonist figures everything out, and the absurdity of the "why" dampen the moodiness of the "what" for me.
Still an interesting if dated piece.
Sadly, the third act is... less intriguing. The revelation about what is happening to the world and the vanishing streets is very much a product of the time it was written, and feels hokey by modern standards. Everything wraps up very quickly, and I'm left with the feeling that there is a lot of unexplored territory here. The speed with which the protagonist figures everything out, and the absurdity of the "why" dampen the moodiness of the "what" for me.
Still an interesting if dated piece.
August 25, 2017
An interesting story about a former professor's experience with a changing reality. The premise is that reality is a construct of human perception, and the loss of a large percentage of human beings in the world due to war and disease leads to a breakdown of the professor's world. Deep.
July 25, 2015
Existential horror in 20 pages -- a master demonstrating building a society compactly before tearing it down. (There's a slight weakness in that the details are explained by a book that it's hard to imagine actually having been written, but eh).
January 30, 2012
Don't read this if you are debating the nature of reality. Just don't.
November 9, 2012
A brilliant story about the power of human persuasion. Reminds me of The Twilight Zone.
August 2, 2023
During his routine evening walk, a former metaphysics professor named Chambers overhears a snippet of a news bulletin reporting that the Empire State Building has disappeared into thin air. Dismissing it as a radio drama, he continues about his reclusive existence, disconnected from the world.
As it turns out, Chambers was dismissed from the university for proffering a wild theory that reality as we know it is held together by the collective consciousness of everyone on Earth. With millions of lives lost during WWII, there were fewer minds keeping the world together.
And then the streets in his neighborhood begin to fade away…
As it turns out, Chambers was dismissed from the university for proffering a wild theory that reality as we know it is held together by the collective consciousness of everyone on Earth. With millions of lives lost during WWII, there were fewer minds keeping the world together.
And then the streets in his neighborhood begin to fade away…
June 6, 2021
Cute listenin
Due to eye issues and damage Alexa reads to me.
A entertaining will written fantasy Sci-Fi adventure novella with an interesting character. The story line is fast moving as the world 🌎varnish around our hero until there is nothing. I would recommend this novella to anyone looking for a quick read. Enjoy the adventure of reading 2021
Due to eye issues and damage Alexa reads to me.
A entertaining will written fantasy Sci-Fi adventure novella with an interesting character. The story line is fast moving as the world 🌎varnish around our hero until there is nothing. I would recommend this novella to anyone looking for a quick read. Enjoy the adventure of reading 2021
March 5, 2025
A classic tale, just what is reality? Whose reality is the "real" one? Or is everyone living their own reality alongside everyone else?
It was refreshing to listen to a simple clean, classic sci-fi tale. I shall look for more by these authors to enjoy more like this.
The narrator did a fine job. His voice is suited for the genre.
It was refreshing to listen to a simple clean, classic sci-fi tale. I shall look for more by these authors to enjoy more like this.
The narrator did a fine job. His voice is suited for the genre.
November 13, 2017
Horror existencial em um conto curto do mestre Simak, de 1941, enquanto o mesmo refletia sobre os impactos da guerra no mundo.
Dá para baixar de graça no Kindle ou para ler ele no Project Gutemberg.
Dá para baixar de graça no Kindle ou para ler ele no Project Gutemberg.
November 6, 2018
"One man alone could not stand off the irresistible march of nothingness."
Eerie, almost Lovecraftian story, that reads more like an episode of The Twilight Zone, than Simak's typical sci-fi fare.
Eerie, almost Lovecraftian story, that reads more like an episode of The Twilight Zone, than Simak's typical sci-fi fare.
December 16, 2019
Not my favourite by Simak. This is short enough, and high concept enough that it's almost impossible to talk about without spoilers, and the unfolding of what is really happening is important to the story; so no further comment from me.
January 25, 2020
A man who is used to doing the same thing at the same time every day...suddenly realizes that he's losing time and places in his hometown that he's been too many times over...is suddenly gone and he works hard to try and find out what's happened.
July 2, 2020
A good short story.
A story of Mr. Chambers who suddenly noticed that his life is changing. Days are shorter, a shop from which he used to buy his evening cigar wasn't there, & people are talking about houses & buildings getting vanished.
A story of Mr. Chambers who suddenly noticed that his life is changing. Days are shorter, a shop from which he used to buy his evening cigar wasn't there, & people are talking about houses & buildings getting vanished.
April 6, 2021
The Street that Wasn't There, by Clifford D. Simak
Simak has done many short-stories (e.g. Junkyard, Project Mastodon, How-2) and this is one of his best.
When illusion and paranoia and reality melt away. To me it had echoes of P.K. Dick's "Electric Ant".
Captivating story. I really liked it. ****
Simak has done many short-stories (e.g. Junkyard, Project Mastodon, How-2) and this is one of his best.
When illusion and paranoia and reality melt away. To me it had echoes of P.K. Dick's "Electric Ant".
Captivating story. I really liked it. ****
July 26, 2018
It was good.
November 11, 2019
Not my cup of tea...
An ex-uni teacher loses touch with reality and everything disappears. I don't see the whole point of the short story.. :/
An ex-uni teacher loses touch with reality and everything disappears. I don't see the whole point of the short story.. :/
March 2, 2020
cliff you nice. story nice
December 4, 2021
4 out of 5
August 1, 2022
A fair book.
This has been done slot. I like Simak but this
was a little stale. The characters were well developed. Overall a fair book.
This has been done slot. I like Simak but this
was a little stale. The characters were well developed. Overall a fair book.
October 1, 2023
Is he going crazy or is the reality of the world slipping away?
December 31, 2024
I too am plagued by vague fears I can neither define nor understand.
May 7, 2026
Scifi, short story by a master,well done!!
March 21, 2017
Very dry, flat style of writing, but still a very interesting idea and leads to the conclusion with a lot of apprehension and suspense.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews