Ryan Berger’s Reviews > The Worlds of Clifford Simak > Status Update
Ryan Berger
is on page 153 of 378
The Big Front Yard - This is apparently one of Simak’s most popular short stories/novellas.
I’m a little dismayed because I at once feel like it’s the perfect combination of Simak’s whole thing (Portals to other worlds, optimism, Aww-shucks approach to science) and yet I didn’t really like it that much. Too many elements, too many paths that go nowhere. Kind of a big disappointment.
— Jan 11, 2023 07:35AM
I’m a little dismayed because I at once feel like it’s the perfect combination of Simak’s whole thing (Portals to other worlds, optimism, Aww-shucks approach to science) and yet I didn’t really like it that much. Too many elements, too many paths that go nowhere. Kind of a big disappointment.
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Ryan Berger
is on page 281 of 378
Lulu - A little long but a ton of fun. I guarantee if you found the right four actors for this, you could make a fucking amazing SF comedy with a sneaky profound message about love.
If nobody writes this screenplay, I will.
— Mar 05, 2023 10:07AM
If nobody writes this screenplay, I will.
Ryan Berger
is on page 243 of 378
Green Thumb - Simak probably could have used a better editor. That, or some of these stories just have so much fat on them whereas modern SFF short stories tend to be more focused and it's just incompatible with the majority of what I read.
That said, his charm is undeniable. It really is. The moralism is extremely heavy-handed but it's hard for me to pan him.
— Mar 04, 2023 01:04PM
That said, his charm is undeniable. It really is. The moralism is extremely heavy-handed but it's hard for me to pan him.
Ryan Berger
is on page 224 of 378
Death Scene - "Giving them all a chance to prove that they were civilized" wow who in this dust jacket is cutting onions
— Mar 04, 2023 07:26AM
Ryan Berger
is on page 218 of 378
Jackpot - My rapid reaction is this is one of my favorite stories I think I’ve ever read. The tone, the subtle world building, it’s ultimate conclusions. He also indirectly writes what I have to imagine is one of the first instances of VR technology in SF.
— Mar 03, 2023 11:36AM
Ryan Berger
is on page 90 of 378
Founding Father - The inherent loneliness of a generation ship, and facing difficult truths over comfortable lies.
I really enjoy Simak's approach to feeling over facts in regards to sci fi premises (same school as Ray Bradbury and PKD), but this is one where I think a little more context would leave me with fewer questions.
— Dec 19, 2022 01:31PM
I really enjoy Simak's approach to feeling over facts in regards to sci fi premises (same school as Ray Bradbury and PKD), but this is one where I think a little more context would leave me with fewer questions.
Ryan Berger
is on page 78 of 378
Carbon Copy - Huh?!? What??? What was the point of any of that? The last half-page of this story is like an I Think You Should Leave sketch that didn't make the cut.
— Dec 16, 2022 06:00PM
Ryan Berger
is on page 39 of 378
Honorable Opponent - This is quirky story about the future of war-- but because it's Simak he finds a way to write about a war with no death. Made me say "this fucking guy" with a smile on my face out loud when I realized what he'd done.
— Dec 04, 2022 07:58PM
Ryan Berger
is on page 26 of 378
Big thank you to Dave from Storyphoria for sending me this.
Dusty Zebra - Simak is so incredibly readable. I can't tell if I'm forcing this comparison because I'm in the middle of my Vonnegut project but he reminds me of Kurt in many ways.
Captivating jaunt about transactional relationships and the nature of business. A very inventive first-contact story.
— Nov 26, 2022 07:26PM
Dusty Zebra - Simak is so incredibly readable. I can't tell if I'm forcing this comparison because I'm in the middle of my Vonnegut project but he reminds me of Kurt in many ways.
Captivating jaunt about transactional relationships and the nature of business. A very inventive first-contact story.
