Way Station

By: Clifford D. Simak

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

In this Hugo Award-winning classic, Enoch Wallace is an ageless hermit, striding across his untended farm as he has done for over a century, still carrying the gun with which he had served in the Civil War. But what his neighbors must never know is that, inside his unchanging house, he meets with a host of unimaginable friends from the farthest stars.

More than a hundred years before, an alien named Ulysses had recruited Enoch as the keeper of Earth's only galactic transfer station. Now, as Enoch studies the progress of Earth and tends the tanks where the aliens appear, the charts he made indicate his world is doomed to destruction. His alien friends can only offer help that seems worse than the dreaded disaster. Then he discovers the horror that lies across the galaxy.

BONUS AUDIO: Way Station includes an exclusive introduction by Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Mike Resnick.

©1963 Clifford D. Simak (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1964
• All-Time Best Science Fiction Novels (Locus Magazine)

Slow but magical

This is an example of classic science fiction. It might also be called a work of "spiritual fiction".

A nice soft classic sci-fi novel from another age

A well deserved classic from its time. Good exploration of authors idealistic hope for humanity.

All that said... very thin on anything resembling a plot and may bore an audio looking for something with more action or tension. The few characters seem to be little more than ways for Simak to preach for a more rational and connected humanity.

Amazing storytelling

A fantastic story of other worlds and yet well grounded with Earth and Humanity. A story of isolation and yet connection. A story masterfully crafted with just enough world building to be credible, but not so much as to be overwhelmed. Extremely satisfying in its simplicity. The author's essential optimism in humanity shines through and makes me wish I was as optimistic as he.

Very well done!

Where does Way Station rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5

What did you like best about this story?

The unique story line, the performance, and the expert way in which the story was developed.

Which scene was your favorite?

The first meeting with the Alien

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When he sheltered the girl from her father

Any additional comments?

The plot kept me guessing. I had no idea it would end like it did. This is one of my favorite books!

Holds up in this day and age!

I loved the premise of the story which first interested me. I had held off purchasing due to the time it was written as most of these old sci fi books show their age with the tech they portray but this book did really well and even surprised me with the tech involving his pastime which could be used in a modern day book. Anyhow really enjoyed it and was narrated very well!

Timeless classic

Clifford simak is a grand master of science fiction and this novel shows why. The storyline is engaging, Enoch Wallace is an interesting character and there are enough plot twists to keep things interesting

Way Station

Loved the story but it could of been a bit better performed..this is a story I wish had a full cast Reading.

thought provoking and still timely

themes are still relevant today with many questions we all struggling with as a society.

Love it!

I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I've listened to it twice (a rare thing for me to do). I loved the main character who has a sort of haunted quality, if it's possible for one to be haunted by one's own past. Has to be one of the best Sci-Fi books I've listened to. A timeless classic.

Very Dated

I read this book more than 40 years ago when I was very naive, believed in things like mind reading, wanted to believe in some kind of God but unhappy with religion, and when I longed for happy endings. At the time I loved the book but it didn't have enough substance for me to remember almost anything of the story. So I wanted to relive the wonder I felt in my youth but instead was disappointed. The story is very dated from the writing style, to the lust free characters, to ideas that in the light of science and experience seem childish, and even in the plot leaves much to be desired. Might be a great book for the young but for science fiction fans that like ideas to challenge them, that want characters that are believable, and that like their imaginations to be stretched then they need to look else where. Was a good book in its time but more suited for the comics than for exciting listening.