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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Simak's usual Pastoral philosophy, 4 Aug 2003
On the surface this – one of Simak’s better novels – is a complex and intricate tale of time-travel and paradox. Simak is very much a pastoral writer, in that his SF is often set against a backdrop of solid American rural values, and though he never preaches, his writing nevertheless extols the virtues of tolerance and pacifism.
Six thousand years in the future Earth is at the centre of an interstellar Empire, clinging to control of the galaxy with the help of androids who are only differentiated from true humans by their inability to reproduce and the tattoos on their foreheads. Asher Sutton, a reconnaissance agent, has been missing for the last twenty years after being sent to 61 Cygni to assess an alien planet which may or may not pose a threat to the stability of Human Culture.
Sutton’s boss, Adams, receives a visit from a mysterious stranger claiming to be from the future, who predicts Sutton’s imminent return and tells Adams that Sutton must be killed to prevent him from writing a book which will plunge the Human worlds into war.
Sutton’s not-yet-written book is a Bible which explains our relationship with these creatures, a philosophy which could destabilise Human control of the galaxy, since it espouses equality of all life, including androids.
The book itself, copies of which Sutton discovers before he has even begun to write it, is the reason why various factions, including the androids and groups from other periods in time are eager to either kill Sutton or use him and his ‘revised’ book for their own devices.
Like most Simak novels, it’s an affirmation of the basic goodness of human nature and a very ‘cosy’ novel.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
A fine science fiction thriller, but a bit convoluted, 7 Aug 2009
I have read several of Simak's SF books, and I must say, he writes very crisp and entertaining stuff. This book, amazingly, was written in 1951, and it has dated very well. It is ahead of its time.
This book starts really well. The hero of our tale, Asher Sutton, has been sent to investigate an extraterrestrial civilization. That was 20 years ago, and he has never returned. Out of the blue, the boss of the investigation unit receives a message, telling him that Sutton is about to return - and that he must be killed on arrival!!
And Sutton does return - flying a spaceship utterly incapable of flight, with broken portholes, burnt-out engines, and no food or water on board. How has he done it? Is he even human? Did he meet aliens? Who was the man who said he would return, and how did he know? Will Sutton be killed? If so, by whom?
It's a great plot for an SF novel. Unfortunately I feel that at some point in the book, maybe halfway through, the plot simply gets too complicated, and suffers as a result. Also, the ending, which I will not reveal here obviously, is not very satisfying in my opinion.
All in all, a very good read, but towards the end, it's a bit difficult to get your head around all the happenings and what they mean.
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![Way Station [With Headphones] (Playaway Adult Fiction)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PY2cMwkPL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
by Clifford D. Simak
by Clifford D. Simak
