Well known in the Galaxy but lonely on earth
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.
A pre-cursor to Star Trek's Galactic Federation!
Enoch Wallace is 124 years old, the last survivor of the Civil War, living as a recluse in the woods of southwest Wisconsin. For reasons of their own, aliens have selected Enoch to run an inter-stellar way station, a hub of their galactic transportation network that enables aliens from planets across the galaxy to travel instantaneously from one star system to another. Because the aliens have decided that mankind and earth are not yet ready for membership in this galactic federation, Enoch must labour in splendid isolation and keep the station's secret to himself. Inevitably, Wallace's astonishing longevity attracts notice and the US government begins to investigate both Wallace and the odd happenings at his house in the woods.
When the investigating agent inadvertently interferes with alien property, the aliens (whose political alliances are also uncharacteristically strained) threaten retribution and removal of the way station from earth entirely. With the aid of alien science and mathematics, Wallace now believes the world is headed unavoidably for self-annihilation in a nuclear war that will destroy humanity for centuries to come. Despite his obvious desire for a union between mankind and the alien races he has come to know and respect, Wallace is left with what amounts to an impossible Hobson's choice - abandon humanity, join the aliens in their travels across the galaxy and man a way-station elsewhere; or bid farewell to the aliens and toss in his lot with the human species that he is convinced is destined for self-destruction.
In many ways, "Way Station" is a typical Simak novel, quiet and soft in a comfortably low key character and idea-driven pastoral style. One might even go so far as to say it hovers on the edge of fantasy or mysticism as it explores the idea of humanity's reaction to other sentience in the universe or other more difficult ideas such as what might form the basis for an alien "religion". But, in this very short novel (perhaps typical of the classic sci-fi era), Simak also explores some harder sci-fi ideas such as teleportation, holograph technology, the form that sentient aliens may take and the construction of alien language.
The intensely emotional happy ending, comfortably warm and fuzzy is probably a reflection of Simak's personal optimism (or at least hopes) for the future of man and Earth as we evolve in the years to come. A thoroughly enjoyable must read for any lover of classic sci-fi.
Paul Weiss
A masterpiece indeed
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.
Recommended for younger readers, devotees of classic sci-fi
The theme of quiet solitude and self-sufficiency is the cornerstone of Simak's career, particularly in his famous series of stories collected as "City". In Way Station, this is only a starting point for a tale of intergalactic intrigue. Enoch lives alone in his mountain home, seldom coming out except to get his mail, and receiving no visitors, and has lived this way for 150 years. The local folk have no idea that his home is a way station for extraterrestrial travelers, until an inquisitive investigator makes a shocking discovery, forcing Enoch to choose whether he owes his allegiance to his own race or to the greater good of the galaxy.
One should probably classify this work as a "juvenile" mainly because there's nothing in it that is likely to offend the sensibilities of younger readers. Adults might find this book pretty lightweight despite the plethora of cool ideas, to wit: the Talisman (that contacts the spiritual force of the universe) the tanks (where bodies of the interstellar travelers are assembled) Enoch's `imaginary' friends (are they real or something else?) the station's impenetrable external structure, and the secret of Enoch's aging (or non-aging). The first half progressed far too slowly, but the second half made up for it in energy and suspense. The main character was the only one even half developed, the plotting had some nasty holes in it, and the science was sketchy at best, but this was a fun book. Recommended for younger readers, and devotees of classic sci-fi. Others will want to look for something a little meatier.
A Childish Exercise in Wish-Fulfillment
Way Station is long-winded and silly to the point of being embarrassingly childish. Simak piles on coincidence after coincidence and wonder after wonder until you are infuriated at the degree of credulousness he expects from the reader. His narration is ponderous and repetitious, and he feels a need to explain the obvious--often more than once. He and his editor appear to have a problem with subject-verb agreement. As a fifty-year lover of science fiction, I am amazed that this book won the Hugo Award.
(59 reviews)
