Huddling Place

by Clifford D. Simak

In the distant future, man has colonized Mars and lives an apparently easy life, supported by efficient and intelligent robots.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook

20 pages, Unknown Binding

First published July 1, 1944

About the author

"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...

Reviews

[Althea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two hundred years after the events of the Simak's short story, 'City', the descendants of the characters in that story are still living on their country estate - similarly to most of humanity.

Martian civilization has been discovered, and friendly relations are in effect.
However, an unfortunate side effect of humanity's new lifestyle is just emerging: served by robots and with access to what seems just like the Internet, people don't need to physically 'go' anywhere - and have developed extreme agoraphobic tendencies.

[Scott Doherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story follows Jerome Webster and begins at his father’s funeral in what could be a scene in any contemporary set story if the year wasn’t 2117 the pallbearers are all robots. In this future humans for the most part have abandoned cities in the in favour of the gracious living on huge lots of land, served by a small army of robots. Jerome doesn’t see any need to leave his house or estate as with modern technology he can to speak to anybody, virtually visit any place, attend a concert or play, browse a library and conduct any business he might want to conduct, all from the comfort of his home. This peacefull life is interrupted when a friend, a Martian friend no less, finds themselves in need of Jerome’s expertise he must leave his idyllic home to go and help his friend. However this proves more difficult than Jerome first counted on.
This is my first experience with by Clifford D. Simak and I have to say though the plot was rather thin I did enjoy it. It explores so much that for being written in 1944 I find amazing that it captures what life is like in the 2020s let alone what it could be a 100 years from now! The robots and Martians aside I could see parallels in today’s living and all of the advances and ease of life it brings us but at what possible cost to our mental wellbeing when this easy life is set to the extreme

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

-Read in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One-

Dreadfully boring story, and I read City before as well. It deals with a man suffering from agoraphobia. Give credit to Simak for his prescient writing of technology that allows us to do everything from the comfort of our homes, but this story drags.

[Kat Hooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will review at www.fantasyliterature.com.

[Kaleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Science fiction is such a great medium to explore the essence of what it means to be human, but in unconventional and completely novel ways. This short story takes advantage of that opportunity to explore a common shared human experience: anxiety, and in particular agoraphobia. A predictive tale that ponders a future (arguably being fulfilled now) in which people do not need to leave their homes. In the story, technology is available which addresses any need and sociality is achieved through wireless communication and AI. Would such a society lead to a humanity suddenly afraid to leave the safety and comfort of their home? Is that happening now? An otherwise pertinent short story, it suffers from its unconvincing gotcha ending.

[Taja Ofthemarigold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Вполне интересные, но стандартные описания будущего, которыми пестрит любое фантастическое произведение как ХХ в, так и ХХI в. Ничего особенного я, к сожалению, не увидела (разумеется, человеку современности, судить произведение 1940 годов не предвзято, крайне сложно, так как уже есть некое "пересыщение" подобной тематикой). Однако, есть книги интереснее данного рассказа.
Во второй части произведения поднимается вопрос "агорафобии", а именно боязнь покидать собственные уютные дома. Да и вообще,так называемый "low-key", но в то время на весах другой страх - остаться запертым в людской "берлоге", как в древности, где все жались к огню и друг другу. И вот персонаж, мучается мыслью: лететь ли на Марс спасать друга или остаться дома? И добродушный дворецкий робот отправляет космический корабль восвояси, так как его хозяин не может лететь, он попросту это не любит. И вот уже персонаж мучается мыслью: теперь я заперт дома со своими мыслями, а мог бы лететь. В общем, сложная штука жизнь

[Laur-Marian Mertea · Rating 2 out of 5]

There aren't many things that could be said about this short story.
It didn't really "click" with me, maybe because it felt like a small part of something bigger (that could be a good read - I've later found out that this was put in a collection of linked stories called "City".), or maybe because of the really narrow target audience, or maybe because the storytelling style felt so antiquated, I honestly can't put my finger on it.
Overall, there's not much to the story: the most interesting part being what people thought the distant future would look like.

1.85/5

[Anna Hepworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this because it was nominated for a retro Hugo award, so I was reading quite a few works from the same year in a short period of time.

I have rather a lot of Simak short story collections (and I've read them all at least once), but I didn’t recognise the title. It is a sequel to ‘City’ (not yet read), so it will be interesting to see what it is like reading them out of order. I was impressed that the blurb mentioned psychology, but the the start is so evocative (funeral, with robots) that I didn’t care as much about that. This is a much more subtle story than some of the others read at the same time. Content note: plague mention, mental health issues and associated stigma.

[Karen K - Ohio · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sci-fi classic from 1944. Felt unfinished. I wanted to understand more about his condition and why it seemed to be spreading. A doctor who lived on Mars and treated Martians has retired to live on his country estate on Earth in isolation surrounded by helpful robot servants. He realizes that he has developed agoraphobia. He is surprised to learn his father also suffered from it in later life and that it appears to be afflicting the majority of the population.

[Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book hits a bit harder after 2 years of pandemics :) the argophoby of the main characters seems relatable now, after home officing.
And I liked how it did not feel like 1940s. There were inherited psychological illnesses, there was importance of philosophy as a science (which now proves to be true)

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this story years and years ago. Suddenly, today I remembered it. When trying to figure how to formulate the summary to ask the world for the title on Stack Exchange, the similar questions box brought me here. 5 stars for a lasting impact.

[Željko Filipin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can one conquer their biggest fear to save friend's live and help humanity? The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume One, 1929-1964 #9.

[Forked Radish · Rating 3 out of 5]

"City" prototype.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Huddling Place - Clifford D. Simak

This is why I love classic sci-fi. This author pretty much predicted the internet and virtual reality and then dove into Agoraphobia.

[Dr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated and predictable.

[Sergii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice stroy, of current importance. Especially for those who ever had an anxiety

[Jimgosailing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh…this one didn’t grab me at all; about future laziness and agoraphobia.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

[Jeff Ferry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent short story about what happens when people don't need to travel anymore.

[J_BlueFlower · Rating 1 out of 5]

Huddling Place
Clifford D. Simak
read June 2023
In The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One 1929-1964

The weakest of the stories. The concept of “being able to be somewhere else without leaving home” is spot on: We do that now all the time in a different form, and we travel less, at least after the Covid. And it is correct that some people have increased social angst, but the story is going waaay to far. Why this stupid exaggeration of 100.000 years? And stupid robots that makes important decisions without consulting the owner? Hmm, I guess ChatGPT could do just that: It is the owner that is stupid in relying on the answers. The story did not ring with me. Had it been a novel, I would have stopped reading when it turned out that the exaggerated social angst was the main thing. Maybe the story was the one hinted at in the introduction: Included to honour a contribution?

[Sean Shin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The message of this book is very clear: Why do we want to come back home?
SF is just a genre to justify the real motivation of this written one: after years and years of Adventures over the home, do you need to come back? Why?

Many leaders like Alexander The Great, did never come back. Because they understood that they changed and the home will never be the same "Sweet Home". Maybe "Home, sweet home" is just an illusion, just in the dreams, just in an imagination