Reviews

Au carrefour des étoiles by Clifford D. Simak

megawhoppingcosmicbookwyrm's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

After my first Simak merely a week ago, I was nervous about how much I might like this one. I ADORE it! It’s a library copy but I love it so much it’s been added to my list of books to buy for my collection. Enoch is such a wonderful protagonist. Just enough of the old fashioned without being a patriarchal ass. His relationships with all the supporting characters were so lovely. I will absolutely be picking up more Simak in the future!

randombanana's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

bethriley's review against another edition

4.0

Way Station is a book that weaves the simplicity of backwoods living in rural Wisconsin with intergalactic travel and communing with aliens. I enjoyed this book very much, because it creatively used this otherworldly context as a lens into humanity and community. What kept me from loving this book were some non sequitur tangents attempting some sort of metaphorical weightiness and some questionable explanations for the logistics of alien culture that strained the suspension of disbelief. Despite the book's rawness, a good story and interesting thought experiment make Way Station well worth the read.

0o0000o000o0o0000o's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

shawniebooks's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would as I sometimes get bogged down in classic science fiction. I may look for more of his work.

I love the idea of a way station for alien explorers!

shalini_rasamdaa's review against another edition

4.0

Excellent bit of work, plodding in places, but the wealth of ideas! Simak's idea of transportation where a body is reassembled at the destination point put me in mind of Gene Roddenberry's own transporters in Star Trek. I have heard Simak's explanation being used to explain the ST transporters, but without Simak credited.

This is a man far ahead of his time, and incredibly compassionate. His other works show his compassion and hope for the human race. It's a balm with this current fashion for dystopia (in the midst of fear that the world is in a dystopian age now).

Most recommended.

downby1's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

4.0

bookwomble's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Ahh 😌 I love the quietness of Simak's writing. He deals with big questions calmly, he's enchanting and optimistic, but tinged with sadness, opening majestic vistas while acknowledging the transitoriness of life and the inevitability of change. I think the sadness is in the limitedness of individual experience, the optimism in the potential of collective growth, and his magic is in seeking to reconcile us to both realities.

grayjay's review against another edition

4.0

A fast-moving tightly-written story about a man of Earth who, alone on the planet, knows of Galactic Central, a co-fraternity of planets, and acts as a station keeper for interstellar travel. Can he help elevate Earth to galactic participation? Is Earth ready?

I would say that the ending was a little bit rushed, verging on deus ex machina, but that I still enjoyed the outlook of the novel. Full of hope for humanity. It also tied in spiritual elements fairly well for a vintage science fiction novel. Maybe I should read more Simak.

xispo's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this. Strong, simple prose (evokes Cormac Mccarthy) buttressed by a compelling, Star Trek on Earth/60s kind of vibe. Not a ton of nail-biting conflict—the protagonist seems to have it all under control, but it’s still an enjoyable trip.