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Strangers in the Universe
Strangers in the Universe (1956, contents revised in 1957 & 1958). Paperback has 7 of 11 stories from the first hardcover edition: “Target Generation”, “Mirage”, “Beachhead”, “TheAnswers”, “Retrograde Evolution”, “The Fence” & “Shadow Show”.
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
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139 people want to read
About the author
Clifford D. Simak
967 books1,062 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 19, 2025
Clifford D. Simak no fue el típico autor de ciencia ficción obsesionado con el acero y las ecuaciones. Periodista de raza y hombre vinculado a la tierra, se convirtió en el "abuelo" amable del género. Mientras sus coetáneos imaginaban imperios galácticos, él prefería imaginar cómo un granjero de Wisconsin reaccionaría si un robot llamara a su puerta pidiendo hospitalidad. Su literatura es un refugio; hay en ella una melancolía por el pasado y una confianza ciega en que, si somos lo suficientemente pacientes y amables, el universo dejará de ser un lugar aterrador.
En esta antología de 1956, Simak nos propone un viaje que es, en realidad, un espejo. A través de siete relatos, el autor explora cómo la humanidad se enfrenta a lo ajeno ("lo extranjero"). No encontraremos aquí guerras espaciales al uso, sino dilemas morales, el peso de la soledad en el vacío y la sospecha de que, a veces, los mayores extraños somos nosotros mismos. Es un libro sobre la comunicación fallida, la memoria perdida y la búsqueda de un hogar en un cosmos que no siempre se rige por nuestra lógica.
En este volumen, cada pieza aporta un matiz distinto a la filosofía de Simak. Aquí detallo lo que encontrarás en cada una:
El teatro de los espectros (Shadow Show, 1953): Un relato fascinante sobre la necesidad humana de la ficción. En un planeta lejano y hostil, un equipo de investigación mantiene la cordura gracias a unas representaciones teatrales. Es una reflexión profunda sobre cómo el arte es, en última instancia, lo único que nos mantiene humanos cuando el entorno intenta despojarnos de nuestra identidad.
La máquina misteriosa (Beachhead, 1952): Aquí Simak juega con la curiosidad y el ingenio. Es una historia que pivota sobre un objeto inexplicable y la obsesión por comprender su funcionamiento. Representa esa faceta del autor donde la tecnología no es una herramienta de poder, sino un puzzle metafísico.
Las respuestas (The Answers, 1954): Quizás uno de los relatos más filosóficos. ¿Qué ocurriría si encontráramos una inteligencia capaz de responder a todas las preguntas del universo? Simak nos sugiere, con su habitual sabiduría, que quizá las respuestas no son tan importantes como el proceso de seguir preguntando.
La valla (The Fence, 1952): Un ejemplo perfecto de su estilo "pastoral". El conflicto surge de algo tan sencillo como un límite, una frontera. Explora la territorialidad humana y el absurdo de poner puertas al campo cuando ese campo es el infinito galáctico.
La generación del gran objetivo (Target Generation, 1956): Una pieza maestra sobre las "naves generacionales". Tras siglos de viaje, los tripulantes han olvidado que viven en una nave y que existe algo llamado "Tierra". Es un estudio sobre la degradación de la cultura y cómo el mito sustituye a la historia cuando el aislamiento es total.
Kindergarden (Kindergarten, 1953): Con un tono ligeramente más inquietante pero esperanzador, este relato plantea el primer contacto como un proceso de aprendizaje. No somos los conquistadores, sino los alumnos en un jardín de infancia cósmico, vigilados por entidades que nos superan en madurez.
Espejismo (Mirage, 1956): Un cierre atmosférico que juega con la percepción. Simak nos advierte sobre los peligros de ver lo que queremos ver y cómo la soledad del espacio puede proyectar nuestros propios deseos y miedos sobre la superficie de mundos vacíos.
Lo que hace que este libro sea especial es su humanismo. Simak no juzga a sus personajes, los acompaña. Su escritura es limpia y directa, propia de quien sabe que una buena idea no necesita adornos barrocos para brillar.
Aunque los relatos tienen casi setenta años, conservan una vigencia asombrosa. En un mundo actual donde la tecnología parece aislarnos cada vez más, la advertencia de Simak sobre la pérdida de contacto humano y la erosión de la memoria histórica resulta casi profética. Leer esta antología no es solo un ejercicio de nostalgia por la "Edad de Oro", sino una oportunidad para reconciliarse con una visión del futuro donde la empatía y la sencillez siguen siendo los valores más altos de nuestra especie.
En esta antología de 1956, Simak nos propone un viaje que es, en realidad, un espejo. A través de siete relatos, el autor explora cómo la humanidad se enfrenta a lo ajeno ("lo extranjero"). No encontraremos aquí guerras espaciales al uso, sino dilemas morales, el peso de la soledad en el vacío y la sospecha de que, a veces, los mayores extraños somos nosotros mismos. Es un libro sobre la comunicación fallida, la memoria perdida y la búsqueda de un hogar en un cosmos que no siempre se rige por nuestra lógica.
En este volumen, cada pieza aporta un matiz distinto a la filosofía de Simak. Aquí detallo lo que encontrarás en cada una:
El teatro de los espectros (Shadow Show, 1953): Un relato fascinante sobre la necesidad humana de la ficción. En un planeta lejano y hostil, un equipo de investigación mantiene la cordura gracias a unas representaciones teatrales. Es una reflexión profunda sobre cómo el arte es, en última instancia, lo único que nos mantiene humanos cuando el entorno intenta despojarnos de nuestra identidad.
La máquina misteriosa (Beachhead, 1952): Aquí Simak juega con la curiosidad y el ingenio. Es una historia que pivota sobre un objeto inexplicable y la obsesión por comprender su funcionamiento. Representa esa faceta del autor donde la tecnología no es una herramienta de poder, sino un puzzle metafísico.
Las respuestas (The Answers, 1954): Quizás uno de los relatos más filosóficos. ¿Qué ocurriría si encontráramos una inteligencia capaz de responder a todas las preguntas del universo? Simak nos sugiere, con su habitual sabiduría, que quizá las respuestas no son tan importantes como el proceso de seguir preguntando.
La valla (The Fence, 1952): Un ejemplo perfecto de su estilo "pastoral". El conflicto surge de algo tan sencillo como un límite, una frontera. Explora la territorialidad humana y el absurdo de poner puertas al campo cuando ese campo es el infinito galáctico.
La generación del gran objetivo (Target Generation, 1956): Una pieza maestra sobre las "naves generacionales". Tras siglos de viaje, los tripulantes han olvidado que viven en una nave y que existe algo llamado "Tierra". Es un estudio sobre la degradación de la cultura y cómo el mito sustituye a la historia cuando el aislamiento es total.
Kindergarden (Kindergarten, 1953): Con un tono ligeramente más inquietante pero esperanzador, este relato plantea el primer contacto como un proceso de aprendizaje. No somos los conquistadores, sino los alumnos en un jardín de infancia cósmico, vigilados por entidades que nos superan en madurez.
Espejismo (Mirage, 1956): Un cierre atmosférico que juega con la percepción. Simak nos advierte sobre los peligros de ver lo que queremos ver y cómo la soledad del espacio puede proyectar nuestros propios deseos y miedos sobre la superficie de mundos vacíos.
Lo que hace que este libro sea especial es su humanismo. Simak no juzga a sus personajes, los acompaña. Su escritura es limpia y directa, propia de quien sabe que una buena idea no necesita adornos barrocos para brillar.
Aunque los relatos tienen casi setenta años, conservan una vigencia asombrosa. En un mundo actual donde la tecnología parece aislarnos cada vez más, la advertencia de Simak sobre la pérdida de contacto humano y la erosión de la memoria histórica resulta casi profética. Leer esta antología no es solo un ejercicio de nostalgia por la "Edad de Oro", sino una oportunidad para reconciliarse con una visión del futuro donde la empatía y la sencillez siguen siendo los valores más altos de nuestra especie.
July 17, 2017
I grabbed this off my shelf for my most recent work read. I had a battered used copy, probably picked up at a lawn sale or the like, and I'll admit that, just looking at the book, I wasn't very enthused about reading it. I didn't even realize that it was a collection of short stories until I cracked it open and started reading.
Thankfully, it was actually a really pleasant surprise. I ended up liking all of the stories in here. Given how old it is, I was truly surprised by that. It does have some of the old school scifi weaknesses, mostly evidenced by the fact that women are pretty much nonexistent. I think that between all of the stories, there were three women characters, all fairly minor side characters. One was the main character's wife, and the other two were unspecified scientists with a few speaking lines. The stories are also a bit dated content-wise. I'm thinking particularly of "Mirage" which features a sentient Martian race that is facing partial extinction because of humans hunting them for their fur. Not a terribly believable set-up these days, although I did enjoy the story itself, so please consider that a minor complaint.
The strength of these stories is in the thought that's put into them. They don't really focus on technology or space adventure, although both of those elements are present. Instead, each story has an ethical or philosophical question at its heart, and that's the real focus. I thought that focus let these stories remain enjoyable, even so long after they were written. Simak is talking science fiction, but also talking about the human condition and what makes us human. I may not have always been thrilled by his answers, but I liked the journey to getting them.
Out of these stories, my favorites were probably "Target Generation," the aforementioned "Mirage," and "Retrograde Evolution." However, I can't say that I truly disliked any of the stories. It seems that if I ever want to attempt a more thorough exploration of older sf, Simak might just be a good starting place.
Thankfully, it was actually a really pleasant surprise. I ended up liking all of the stories in here. Given how old it is, I was truly surprised by that. It does have some of the old school scifi weaknesses, mostly evidenced by the fact that women are pretty much nonexistent. I think that between all of the stories, there were three women characters, all fairly minor side characters. One was the main character's wife, and the other two were unspecified scientists with a few speaking lines. The stories are also a bit dated content-wise. I'm thinking particularly of "Mirage" which features a sentient Martian race that is facing partial extinction because of humans hunting them for their fur. Not a terribly believable set-up these days, although I did enjoy the story itself, so please consider that a minor complaint.
The strength of these stories is in the thought that's put into them. They don't really focus on technology or space adventure, although both of those elements are present. Instead, each story has an ethical or philosophical question at its heart, and that's the real focus. I thought that focus let these stories remain enjoyable, even so long after they were written. Simak is talking science fiction, but also talking about the human condition and what makes us human. I may not have always been thrilled by his answers, but I liked the journey to getting them.
Out of these stories, my favorites were probably "Target Generation," the aforementioned "Mirage," and "Retrograde Evolution." However, I can't say that I truly disliked any of the stories. It seems that if I ever want to attempt a more thorough exploration of older sf, Simak might just be a good starting place.
January 11, 2015
What wonderful memories this book brings back. Sci-fi stories that still have the power to thrill me even after all these years, I remember reading several of these stories when I first became interested in sci-fi, and they are just as good now. They are not HEA stories, not even HFN sometimes, but they are great examples of a master sci-fi writer, delving into what really might happen when man goes out into space and encounters other beings.
Cracking good stuff. Five stars for the memories.
Cracking good stuff. Five stars for the memories.
November 20, 2019
Clifford Simak is a man of ideas.
Really good ideas, and he has plenty of them. His novels like "Time and Again" and "City" are so packed with great ideas they made my head spin when i first read them.
This collection of seven stories from the fifties is no different. I won't address each story individually, but the story "Target Generation" is a generational spaceship story (an SF sub-genre of which i am particularly fond), and my favorite of the collection.
Really good ideas, and he has plenty of them. His novels like "Time and Again" and "City" are so packed with great ideas they made my head spin when i first read them.
This collection of seven stories from the fifties is no different. I won't address each story individually, but the story "Target Generation" is a generational spaceship story (an SF sub-genre of which i am particularly fond), and my favorite of the collection.
September 3, 2016
Exploring the human condition against an alien backdrop
Maybe it was the location -- the Painted Hills of Oregon, Mars-like in their desolate beauty -- but this book stood out as a real gem of science fiction. I found it in the car, no doubt rescued from some thrift store, and decided it would be a fun read next to the grassless hills and alien cliffs of columnar basalt. Simak had a masterful control of the short story form, turning each vignette into a deep exploration of the human condition as experienced on spaceships, lunar outposts and alien planets. Seven stories in all, there was not a bad one among them. Target Generation was a powerful look at how quickly we can take for granted our external conditions, how dangerous it can be to squelch curiosity, and the deep disruption that occurs when whatever bubble we happen to inhabit is popped. Mirage was my favorite, homing in on resource depletion (sentient beings hunted for fur), the sexual spectrum (Martian natives included seven sexes, each required to reproduce) and a dimension of reality accessible only from subconscious. And Retrograde Evolution was a fascinating premise about a race that purposely dumbed itself down to avoid the ravages of war that always seems to accompany technological advancement; I’m pretty sure the name of the race hungry for information, the Googles, is where the search engine giant got its name (despite their claims that it references the numerical term).
Well worth the read in the Painted Hills, in bed or on a spaceship hurtling across the universe.
Maybe it was the location -- the Painted Hills of Oregon, Mars-like in their desolate beauty -- but this book stood out as a real gem of science fiction. I found it in the car, no doubt rescued from some thrift store, and decided it would be a fun read next to the grassless hills and alien cliffs of columnar basalt. Simak had a masterful control of the short story form, turning each vignette into a deep exploration of the human condition as experienced on spaceships, lunar outposts and alien planets. Seven stories in all, there was not a bad one among them. Target Generation was a powerful look at how quickly we can take for granted our external conditions, how dangerous it can be to squelch curiosity, and the deep disruption that occurs when whatever bubble we happen to inhabit is popped. Mirage was my favorite, homing in on resource depletion (sentient beings hunted for fur), the sexual spectrum (Martian natives included seven sexes, each required to reproduce) and a dimension of reality accessible only from subconscious. And Retrograde Evolution was a fascinating premise about a race that purposely dumbed itself down to avoid the ravages of war that always seems to accompany technological advancement; I’m pretty sure the name of the race hungry for information, the Googles, is where the search engine giant got its name (despite their claims that it references the numerical term).
Well worth the read in the Painted Hills, in bed or on a spaceship hurtling across the universe.
December 28, 2024
A collection of science fiction short stories written from 1950-1956. Most of these deal with space travel and far future societies and the unforeseen consequences of those things on humanity. None of these are particularly famous stories, but they are really good examples of this era of SFF writing, Simak is well worth your time.
February 23, 2012
An undistinguished collection of early stories by Clifford D. Simak which I picked up at the Rogers Park Community Church's thrift store in Chicago.
September 7, 2025
Anthology of eleven stories by Simak, previously published in magazines and collected in the 50s.
There's some pretty good stuff in here:
"Shadow Show" - A deep space mission deals with the isolation and distance with a VR simulation of a play, none knowing who's playing the other characters. Problem, one of the crew has died, what do?
"Contraption" - A kid on a farm being raised by abusive foster parents gets some help from aliens.
"The Answers" - Humans are just one species among many and not that special. A survey team of species, including a human, come across the old planet Earth, long abandoned except for some isolated communities.
"The Fence" - Guy finds out his community is actually an alien zoo.
"Target Generation" - Guy find out his world is a generational spaceship and the ship is a little off course. An early example of what would become a well worn trope (Even Star Trek did it in "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky")
"Beachhead" - No matter how much you plan and prepare when landing on a new world, there's always some unaccounted for factor you miss.
"Kindergarten" - Guy finds mysterious item in his field that gives out presents to the local humans. Of course there's more too it, but is it benign or dangerous?
"Mirage" - An early example of "Humans settling on Mars and treating native sentient species badly as a metaphor for while people screwing over native tribes"
"Skirmish" - Machines and appliances begin an uprising against humanity. Robot rebellion without robots. Maximum Overdrive without cars (yet).
"Retrograde Evolution" - An alien world that avoids wars and conflicts by voluntarily knocking their civilization down a few levels every couple of years. Hilarious in that the people of the planet Zan are "Googles." Not sure if it's a reference to Barney Google.
"Immigrant" - Kimon is an amazingly advanced planet capable of technological marvels and only a select few humans are allowed to visit. Selden is one of the select few and eager to make it big with his business degree. Only Kimon doesn't have businesses and treat humans nice, but a little condescending. Like pets. Selden tries to find out why.
I'm being glib in my descriptions, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers. Reading from the 21st century a lot of the stories seem familiar because the tropes have been done a lot. For example "generation spaceship where the inhabitants don't know they're on a ship in space" has been done a million times.
Except Simak wrote these stories before they became common and...honestly...his stories are better. They contain twists and nuances the later versions lack.
One aspect that stuck out to me reading this collection was many stories were told from the point of view of the main character. Like, the story isn't about the unusual item or situation, but how the main character deals with it.
For example, on one level, "Kindergarten" is about an alien device in a field. Touch it and it gives you what you desire. A piece of jade, a bottle of perfume, a ray gun. Of course the government and military are going to get involved. But the actual story is Peter Chaye who initially found it, and his inner monologue on his terminal cancer diagnosis, his neighbors, the weird alien item. What is is. Why is it giving out person-specific gifts.
It's like we're sitting inside their head watching them try to understand what's going on. I'm reminded of American Splendor. You wouldn't think a comic about a file clerk would be interesting, but it's how Pekar and Crumb tell the story that keeps you engaged.
And they're old school golden age stories which I love. In Beachhead, the explorers of the future have rockets and scanners and robots and lasers...and still wear wristwatches that use gears and springs.
In Shadow Show, they have a mechanical device that reads thoughts and projects the users into a simulation where they play out character archetype in a scripted play. Basically VR in 1950s.
I didn't like all the stories. I disagree with the ending of The Answers, I thought it a little too pessimistic. But overall they're fun stories and worth reading.
There's some pretty good stuff in here:
"Shadow Show" - A deep space mission deals with the isolation and distance with a VR simulation of a play, none knowing who's playing the other characters. Problem, one of the crew has died, what do?
"Contraption" - A kid on a farm being raised by abusive foster parents gets some help from aliens.
"The Answers" - Humans are just one species among many and not that special. A survey team of species, including a human, come across the old planet Earth, long abandoned except for some isolated communities.
"The Fence" - Guy finds out his community is actually an alien zoo.
"Target Generation" - Guy find out his world is a generational spaceship and the ship is a little off course. An early example of what would become a well worn trope (Even Star Trek did it in "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky")
"Beachhead" - No matter how much you plan and prepare when landing on a new world, there's always some unaccounted for factor you miss.
"Kindergarten" - Guy finds mysterious item in his field that gives out presents to the local humans. Of course there's more too it, but is it benign or dangerous?
"Mirage" - An early example of "Humans settling on Mars and treating native sentient species badly as a metaphor for while people screwing over native tribes"
"Skirmish" - Machines and appliances begin an uprising against humanity. Robot rebellion without robots. Maximum Overdrive without cars (yet).
"Retrograde Evolution" - An alien world that avoids wars and conflicts by voluntarily knocking their civilization down a few levels every couple of years. Hilarious in that the people of the planet Zan are "Googles." Not sure if it's a reference to Barney Google.
"Immigrant" - Kimon is an amazingly advanced planet capable of technological marvels and only a select few humans are allowed to visit. Selden is one of the select few and eager to make it big with his business degree. Only Kimon doesn't have businesses and treat humans nice, but a little condescending. Like pets. Selden tries to find out why.
I'm being glib in my descriptions, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers. Reading from the 21st century a lot of the stories seem familiar because the tropes have been done a lot. For example "generation spaceship where the inhabitants don't know they're on a ship in space" has been done a million times.
Except Simak wrote these stories before they became common and...honestly...his stories are better. They contain twists and nuances the later versions lack.
One aspect that stuck out to me reading this collection was many stories were told from the point of view of the main character. Like, the story isn't about the unusual item or situation, but how the main character deals with it.
For example, on one level, "Kindergarten" is about an alien device in a field. Touch it and it gives you what you desire. A piece of jade, a bottle of perfume, a ray gun. Of course the government and military are going to get involved. But the actual story is Peter Chaye who initially found it, and his inner monologue on his terminal cancer diagnosis, his neighbors, the weird alien item. What is is. Why is it giving out person-specific gifts.
It's like we're sitting inside their head watching them try to understand what's going on. I'm reminded of American Splendor. You wouldn't think a comic about a file clerk would be interesting, but it's how Pekar and Crumb tell the story that keeps you engaged.
And they're old school golden age stories which I love. In Beachhead, the explorers of the future have rockets and scanners and robots and lasers...and still wear wristwatches that use gears and springs.
In Shadow Show, they have a mechanical device that reads thoughts and projects the users into a simulation where they play out character archetype in a scripted play. Basically VR in 1950s.
I didn't like all the stories. I disagree with the ending of The Answers, I thought it a little too pessimistic. But overall they're fun stories and worth reading.
February 16, 2020
Discovered this book at a local record/used books store and was intrigued initially by the title. On reading the back, it immediately reminded me of Ray Bradbury’s “The Illustrated Man”, one of my favorite books. Science Fiction is strangely attractive in how much it makes you think. I loved the amount of creativity and thought that went into each story, though some provided details that I don’t think had monumental contributions to the reception of each overall. Better stated, I think bradbury is more concise and easy to understand. Some of these stories I had to reread the first pages a few times to figure out what was going on/how the stage was set, but later learned that much of the exposition/layout is explained mid-story. I think my favorite was Beachhead and Mirages. I often think about the undeniable ignorance of the human race when considering the way humans embrace the belief in superiority to everything else out there, and that they are in control of all. It scared me- these simple humanoids - as much as the characters in the story are fearful - always so scared of what we don’t know. But I think that’s the point, understanding that we react defensively out of selfishness in our own security to threats, but not everyone is out to harm or hurt or win. our minds trick us into reading too much into some things, while simultaneously grazing over perhaps what we need to realize the most. Interesting and weird. I appreciate people who think to write things like this.
July 13, 2025
Clifford Simak is the real deal when it comes to classic science fiction. He doesn’t resort to cheap gags, but bases each story on a genuinely challenging “What if?” Each of these seven stories begins with an alien extra-terrestrial situation, but the point is not “How weird” but “how do our ‘natural human responses’ get in the way of our thinking?
Story #1 deals with the question “How could mankind really reach the stars, billions of light-years away? What society would have to be built on a spaceship designed to last for generations, but still to allow successful colonization once the destination is reached?
Story #2 imagines a society which human greed has nearly decimated, but which shows one human a path to another level of understanding.
In Story #3 human hubris is humbled as a survey crew meets the unexpected.
In the other stories the continuing theme becomes even clearer – that human lust for exploration and exploitation will not lead to satisfaction. Was Simak a closet Buddhist?
Simak’s “City” is the best collection of interlocking short stories ever. Start with that one, but keep this one on your list.
Story #1 deals with the question “How could mankind really reach the stars, billions of light-years away? What society would have to be built on a spaceship designed to last for generations, but still to allow successful colonization once the destination is reached?
Story #2 imagines a society which human greed has nearly decimated, but which shows one human a path to another level of understanding.
In Story #3 human hubris is humbled as a survey crew meets the unexpected.
In the other stories the continuing theme becomes even clearer – that human lust for exploration and exploitation will not lead to satisfaction. Was Simak a closet Buddhist?
Simak’s “City” is the best collection of interlocking short stories ever. Start with that one, but keep this one on your list.
June 27, 2022
This was written in 1956, so, pre-Apollo. There's a lot of interesting ideas. But, in the seven decades since publication, they have been thoroughly explored by others and with a more modern sensibility. I love classic sci-fi, but in this case it was hard to go back along these particular lines because it really is a series of essays masquerading as stories. When the ideas are not surprising to the reader, the lack of compelling characters, plots, or writing doesn't leave one with much to go on.
OK stuff and a fun read when found in a dusty second-hand bookstore. But doesn't really hold up compared to Wells, Verne, Le Guin, Clarke, Asimov, or even some del Ray as classic sci fi.
OK stuff and a fun read when found in a dusty second-hand bookstore. But doesn't really hold up compared to Wells, Verne, Le Guin, Clarke, Asimov, or even some del Ray as classic sci fi.
August 31, 2021
"Startling stories of time and space by a master of science fiction" reads the blurb on the 1962 edition I read and it is not wrong!
June 13, 2023
Great short story collection by a sci fi grand Master, if you like generational ships, Martians, and talking spiders, this book will blow your mind
May 26, 2025
I read this awhile ago and thought it was good. It was in the usual Simak style with his special mixture of imaginative SF ideas balanced by a contemplative and often rural protagonist. While I don't remember the specifics of the paperback, which only had 7 of the original 11 stories, I just came across a much longer and very good story that was only in the original hard cover. The story is called Kindergarten and begins with a man dying with cancer who moves to a small farm to live out his remaining days. He picks out the setting because he can find beauty and comfort in the simple things there like birds singing and sunsets. An alien artifact appears on his land giving a gift to anyone who touches it. A gift that is exactly what the person wanted. Of course things quickly move on to swarms of onlookers, newspaper reporters and finally the military. I'll stop here since anything more would be a spoiler.
September 11, 2018
An excellent collection of short stories by an author from the Golden Age who deserves to be more widely read.
The thing I was impressed by, as I read these stories, was how Simak was a writer of his time -- the main characters, the character who seem to have "agency" are all stereotypical, chisel-jawed white males, and the stories might seem to be little more than glorified scientific puzzles. But Simak clearly recognized that things were changing, that his world (and therefore the world of the future he was writing about) was going to have to change too. For example, in a number of these stories, the main characters ignore the disempowered (the female crew members, who are dismissed and patronized, the natives of a planet that is to be explored and colonized) at their peril, and the traditional "heroes" get their come-uppance in the end.
The thing I was impressed by, as I read these stories, was how Simak was a writer of his time -- the main characters, the character who seem to have "agency" are all stereotypical, chisel-jawed white males, and the stories might seem to be little more than glorified scientific puzzles. But Simak clearly recognized that things were changing, that his world (and therefore the world of the future he was writing about) was going to have to change too. For example, in a number of these stories, the main characters ignore the disempowered (the female crew members, who are dismissed and patronized, the natives of a planet that is to be explored and colonized) at their peril, and the traditional "heroes" get their come-uppance in the end.
May 7, 2015
1984 grade D
short stories
short stories
March 3, 2017
I started rereading this as I had a different edition. the first story was so intriguing I enjoyed it even more the second time.
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