City

By: Clifford D. Simak

Narrated by: Peter Ganim

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Jenkins was a robot. He was built to be the perfect worker, tireless and uncomplaining. But, quite unexpectedly, he also became a close companion to generation after generation of his owners as the human race matured, moved beyond the confines of its once tiny planet, and eventually changed beyond all recognition. And then, because he was a good and dutiful servant, Jenkins went on to serve Earth's inheritors.

Here is a masterful tale of an Earth overrun by ants, a series of parallel worlds ruled by dogs, and a Jupiter where the human race finds its Gold Age - if "human" it could still be called.

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

©1980 Clifford D. Simak (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Simak's unforgettable compassion and affection for all creation shines through." (scifi.com)

• All-Time Best Science Fiction Novels (Locus Magazine)

Despondent, Yet Uplifting

How can one summarize Simak's "City"? For one thing, the city itself is gone after the first chapter, abandoned and obsolete. For another, it's a long-ranged look at a future in which humanity becomes abandoned and obsolete. Eventually, everything, including the Earth, becomes abandoned and obsolete.

So why does it feel uplifting? The homey touches Simak always brought to his works helps. So do the notions that everyone who abandons our familiar touchstones have all gone on to something better, even if we barely get glimpses of it. And as the familiar is abandoned, the universe (or multiverse) opens up to wider and wider vistas.

Which can leave Jenkins a bit wistful about it all, even as he, too, abandons the familiar.

There are some period (1950) attitudes that a modern adaptation of this book would revise, but the core story is still strong.

Despite the year, unique and innovative

City is a 1952 science fiction novel by Clifford D. Simak. The book is episodic with eight or nine (depending on which version you read) short stories that have “bridges” between episodes. Version of the book after 1980 includes the ninth tale, “Epilogue.”

The novel contains eight stories which are the mythology of the Dogs. Each tale is preceded by doggish notes and learned discussion. An editor’s “preface” notes after each telling of these legends, suggest that puppies will ask many questions, for example:

“What is Man?” they’ll ask.

Or perhaps: “What is a city?”

Or maybe:”What is a war?

There is no positive answer to any of these questions.”

In the world where these stories are legends, there are no humans, no cities, and no war.

Generally, I find old science fiction awkward and occasionally dull. In City, the technology and science is dated, but the concepts are as innovative and unique as they were when I first read the book in the 1960s.

This “remembered human world” questions whether or not humankind will continue as a species, but not for the usual reason. Quite the opposite.

In these stories, earth was repaired in every way you can imagine. There is enough of everything — food, money, housing. Roads are useless because everyone flies. Cities are empty. Everyone lives in the country. Crime disappears and mutants have strange powers, especially telepathy.

The stories focus around one wealthy family named Webster and their robot Jenkins, . Over time, the name Webster becomes the noun “webster,” meaning “human.” Each story builds on a previous one. All discuss the breakdown of the urban world. The breakdown isn’t a bad thing because human life is enormously better.

And then, there’s Jupiter.

Doug Webster hates the new world. He’s an agoraphobic. Although the word “agoraphobic” is never used, Webster (all his family members share the same issue) becomes ill if he is has to go out into the bigger world. At some point, Webster provides dogs with speech and improved vision. Meanwhile, the breakdown of civilization allows roaming mutant geniuses to make their own odd changes to earth. Joe, a wandering mutant, decides to see what would happen to ants if they remained active and free of hunger year round.

The ants form an industrial society and eventually take over “our” earth while humans go somewhere else — as do the dogs. A lot of stuff happens and there isn’t a lot of specific information provided. You will need your imagination.

Dogs see other worlds. They always have. Their worlds are “cobbly worlds.” In case you were wondering, cobbly worlds are why your dog barks at seemingly nothing. Dogs bark to warn the cobblies to stay away. Other worlds familiar to us, are invisible to Dogs.

Ultimately, humans abandon earth and dogs have nothing but mythical memories of humans. They are not even sure we ever existed. The stories in this book are their myths and legends. A few dogs believe humans existed, but most do not. I really enjoyed the book. I also enjoyed the audiobook. If science fiction is your thing, this book is worth your time.

And don’t forget about those cobbly worlds.

Interesting but not profound

Between chapters they warn you might not understand or you might be upset. It's an interesting story but not as profound as it professes to be.

Will a pandemic replace flying cars?

It has been a great book 30 years ago when I read it for the first time and it is even better now reading it with life experience. Since reading it for the first time I was hoping that internet and robotics would allow people to move apart and live wherever they like. It seems like we might be finally getting there now. Would cities really become obsolete one day?

Disturbing

This was a book I couldn't stop reading and it was also a book I couldn't stop thinking about once it ended. It's message was thought provoking. A story of a family, the Websters, the plot evolves into the ultimate destruction of humanity. And yet we see that other alien races in the novel tend to make similar errors as they, too evolve. Life's questions, such as "to kill or not to kill" and "what does it mean to be human" and even the more abstract scifi rule to not interfere with another race are prevalent throughout the novel. If you are looking for a light reading experience, this is not the novel to read. But if you are looking for a book that will evoke discussion and comment on the human condition, this is a gold mine. Do not let the age of the book fool you into thinking it is no longer pertinent. The story is more pertinent today than it could have been when it was first written. The author's own comment prior to the Epilogue was intriguing. The narrators were very good and overall, this was an excellent read. I am delighted I bought it.

I was happy to rediscover this master piece

I read the story when I was in my teens. It was in a different language at the time. So happy to listen Simak's simple an wonderful words. I since have read other of his novels, I had forgotten that the author was obsessed with the end of our civilization. probably because he went through the two world wars. City or (Demain les chiens) remains my favorite.

Dragged

I read a interview, it said I was one of his best . I don’t think so I’ve read other stuff of smile and and I really enjoyed them this was kinda of draggy not as put together as some of the other other stories I have read . although this is like having a little mini story stuck together in one book and I hate that

Wonderful Masterful Sci Fi

A fantastical recollection of humanity from the perspective of another race! At times the perspective makes you wonder about human influence and what the human race aspires to achieve!

a unique view of the future

A well structured unique perspective of the future. Simak, anckors the story around a single family and their contribution to the future of mankind. But their contributions take unexpected paths.

touching and brilliant

this book ripped my brain apart it's so amazing. it doesn't feel crusty at all in fact it is still incredibly relevant