Way Station

Clifford Simak

Hugo 1964

Alone and isolated on this world, in touch with the infinity of life forms on other planets an ambassador inspired with the possibilities but saddened by the backwardness, aggression, and ignorance ingrained in the human species. Not just an entertaining fantasy but a challenge and exhortation to, as a race, evolve further.

A book written over 30 years ago but just as timely, appropriate, and thought-provoking today. A science fiction classic grappling with the perennial issue of violence and war. Written in the early 60's when the possibility of nuclear holocaust had unceremoniously crashed in on our cultural consciousness, a fresh reminder and inspiration to evolve beyond aggression and warfare. "Until the last man threw away his weapon (any sort of weapon) the tribe of Man could not be at peace."

Perhaps the greatest benefit of science fiction is expanding our vision of the possible dissolving conceptual, imprisoning mind-traps. This is the constant challenge of the the Station Keeper, the protagonist in Way Station. "I've pushed my own human instincts and training to one side. I've tried to understand other viewpoints and to evaluate my own. I am glad of all of it, for it has given me a chance to go beyond the narrowness of Earth."

Following the Station Keeper's story encourages us to likewise put aside our own prejudices, conceptual prisons, and narrow-minded attitudes. Quite an accomplishment for a 236 page book printed in 1963!

And still we find action: "Then Enoh was upon the alien and even as he closed with it, his nostrils were assailed by its body stench a sickening wave of nastiness."; psychology: "That was the way with Man; it had always been that way. He had carried terror with him. And the thing he was afraid of had always been himself."; cultural philosophy: "on the long backtrack of history, the human race had accepted an insanity for a principle and had persisted in it until today that insanity-turned-principle stood ready to wipe out, if not the race itself . . ." and optimism: "Now we shall be one again. Now we shall feel again. Now we shall be a people instead of many people."

Special note: don't be put off by the cover - it's one of the worst you'll see but the book itself is one of the best.

Parental discretion: recommended for any (and every) age.

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