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)

The story started off strong

I had a tough time finishing. Interesting premise. The narrator was good or I don't think I could have finished.

Interesting

Enjoyable story. Great Narrator. Good story line. a bit slow at times but it still kept you interested

Very nice

If you could sum up Way Station in three words, what would they be?

Any additional comments?

A terrific book by Mr. Simak. A classic I'd never read before, but one I'm very happy to have finally experienced. I think it holds up really well, 50+ years later. There is a wonderful sense of optimism in the novel that you don't often find in modern SF. Mr. Simak was a master.

The narration by Mr. Summerer was top notch, and made for a very easy, enjoyable listen.

Stellar! Still great in 2015. Rated PG.

Good conceptualization. Interesting from a brotherhood of galactic species perspective. Not full of technical details because alien tech is seen, but not understood. Classic. (Review by Rick)

Great Surprise

It was a wonderful surprise when I picked up this audiobook. It was a big space book that feels very local in style and feel. It's rare that you find a book that basically takes place in one locale, but still feel very expansive.

Very good listen

The premise is a little far fetched, (not surprising based on the 1964 writing date), but the ideas in the story were good and the thought provoking nature of some parts excellent (No wonder it won the Hugo)

My son liked it too, he's 10, and demanded I get all the other Simak books.

Narration was very well done.

Very original theme, very well read, a great yarn.

A great story, dated in a technological sense but very original in its concept. I enjoyed it from beggining to end. The story is never dull, always something happening to draw you further along the path to the end of the book.

Upbeat Science Fiction

This was a neglected classic for me. Boy am I glad Anthony Tollin recommended I check out Simak's work. This one won a Hugo with good reason! No plot spoilers from me here, because you just need to get sucked in. I will say, you are going to like Enoch Wallace, a seemingly ageless hermit who is the book's main character. If you are looking for a change of pace from dystopian sci fi that dwells on the dark side of human nature, this book is for you, Is our inhumanity on display here? Yes, but there's also a string of positivity running through the novel that was absolutely refreshing.

Exceptionally enjoyable classic sci-fi

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Unusually believable characters in an unusually engaging story.

What about Eric Michael Summerer’s performance did you like?

Convincing voice and acting, well-tailored for the role.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

A philosophically stimulating and thought-provoking book, representing the best of classic sci-fi.

engaged

truly love exploring older books, found the story line and characters engaging through out.