Status Updates From Clifford Simak SF Gateway O...

A Choice Of Gods: again, far better than I was expecting. More ruminative than the other tales in the omnibus, this is a more complete story. Having said that, in some respects this feels more like a fantasy than science fiction (although that may be intentional).

While still better than many stories written at a similar time, Way Station suffers from a lack of strong female characters (there are basically no female characters with much in the way of self-determination), and some of the macguffins are a little too convenient. It wouldn’t take much to update this for a modern audience however; I can see this making a good movie.

Time Is The Simplest Thing: given this was written in 1961, this is a far better story than I would have expected. Far more nuanced that other SF books I’ve read from the period. There’s even a role for a capable female character (albeit one is described as being competent “despite” being a woman). The SF itself is very hand-wavey, and is more an exercise in “what if” than an attempt at hard science.

Waystation was a pretty sizable at a strolling speed. I loved it; it was somehow a pleasant, contemplative experience and I've started to see the themes and tropes Simak wields with skill and admire them. It is quite a unique, magical yet very basic take on sci-fi. Big things happen, but the story mostly remains on a micro-level. Very much like a leasurly walk under a bright stary sky.

Time is the Strangest Thing was special; it was a fun read but has been slowly growing on me in its subtleties post-read. Way Station is even more 'pastoral' and romantic in nature with a nice premise so far.

Slow progress even though the story itself is taking sprints with only short whiles of reflection in-between. I still like it so much better than Cemetery World even though the mystery of this one seems to have shifted to a power fantasy.

Back to Time is the Strangest Thing after a long break. Simak's simple, flowing and natural storytelling is nice reprieve from having to fight every sentence in Dalhgren.

These first 10 chapters have already been so much better than most of my previous encounter with Simak in 'Cemetery World'. The storytelling flows, the characters are sympathetic, the dystopian futurism immersive, the premise very interesting and well explored so far.

These first 10 chapters have already been so much better than most of my previous encounter with Simak in 'Cemetery World'. The storytelling flows, the characters are sympathetic, the dystopian futurism immersive, the premise very interesting and well explored so far.