Way Station (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Clifford D. Simak
- First Published: 1963
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Science fiction—alien civilization
- Time of Work: 1964, with flashbacks to the 1860’s
- Setting: Millville, in southwestern Wisconsin
- Genres: Long fiction, Science fiction
- Subjects: 1960’s, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Abused persons, Nineteenth century, Other worlds, Midwest, Civil War, Nuclear warfare or weapons, Intelligence service, Longevity, Talisman or magical object, Aliens, space, Wisconsin
- Locales: Wisconsin
The Plot
Although Way Station is the story of an Earth man’s contact with alien civilization through a dimensional bridge in rural Wisconsin, its focus tends to be philosophical and psychological, exploring the personality of Enoch Wallace, the Station Master of this bridge to the stars. The necessity of keeping the Way Station a secret isolates him from human society but at the same time opens him to a wider society—the universe—and larger modes of thought. The necessity of thinking of himself in terms of a larger community introduces the conflict that generates...
[The entire page is 970 words long]
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