Clifford D. Simak Books

Simak's City is a series of connected stories, a series of legends, myths, and campfire stories told by Dogs about the end of human civilization, centering on the Webster family, who, among their other accomplishments, designed the ships that took Men to the stars and gave Dogs the gift of speech and robots to be their hands.

On a far future Earth, mankind's achievements are immense: artificially intelligent robots, genetically uplifted animals, interplanetary travel, genetic modification of the human form itself. But nothing comes without a cost. Humanity is tired, its vigour all but gone. Society is breaking down into smaller communities, dispersing into the countryside and abandoning the great cities of the world. As the human race dwindles and declines, which of its great creations will inherit the Earth? And which will claim the stars?

This replica of the October 1950 issue of GALAXY SCIENCE FICTION features a collection of compelling stories from renowned authors. Notable works include Clifford D. Simak's "TIME QUARRY," Theodore Sturgeon's "THE STARS ARE THE STYX," and Isaac Asimov's "DARWINIAN POOL ROOM." Each tale explores imaginative themes and thought-provoking concepts, showcasing the diverse voices of mid-20th-century science fiction. This edition is a treasure for fans of classic speculative fiction, offering a glimpse into the genre's rich history.

Continuing in the collection series of short stories by Clifford D. Simak, who was the 3rd SF Grand Master, as voted by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1977, and he's won 3 Hugos, a Nebula and a Locus Award for his work, and the Horror Writers Association made him one of three inaugural winners of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. For those wanting more Simak short stories, try the collection, "The Big Front Yard and Other Stories". Simak is well known for his novel, "City". Of interest is that Simak was a considerable influence on Asimov, who said Simak was his favourite SF author. Asimov noted that he loved Simak’s clear style and it helped shape Asimov’s writing. Contents: Introduction (Off-Planet) (1988) • essay by Francis Lyall Construction Shack (1973) / short story by Clifford D. Simak Ogre (1944) / novelette by Clifford D. Simak Junkyard (1953) / novelette by Clifford D. Simak The Observer (1972) / short story by Clifford D. Simak The World That Couldn't Be (1958) / novelette by Clifford D. Simak Shadow World (1957) / novelette by Clifford D. Simak Mirage (1950) / short story by Clifford D. Simak (variant of Seven Came Back) .

Contents: The Birch Clump Cylinder (1974) The Whistling Well (1980) The Marathon Photograph (1974) The Grotto of the Dancing Deer (1980)

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...

Two explorers, a robot, a warrior, and even an inky "pond" are stuck on a dead-end planet because the star-tunnel is locked. Yet something is about to happen.

Clifford Donald Simak, an influential American science fiction writer, is celebrated for his significant contributions to the genre, winning three Hugo Awards and a Nebula Award. Recognized as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America, he also received the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Horror Writers Association. His works often explore themes of humanity, nature, and the future, establishing him as a key figure in both science fiction and horror literature.

People work. Folk play. That is the way it has been in this country as long as Sam can remember. He is happy, and he understands that this is the way it should be. People are bigger than folk. They are stronger. They do not need food or water. They do not need the warmth of a fire. All they need is a job to do and a blacksmith to fix them when they break. The people work so the folk can drink their moonshine, fish a little, throw a horseshoe. But when Sam starts to wonder about why the world is this way, his life will never be the same. Along with the other stories in this collection, ?I Am Crying All Inside? is a compact marvel: a picture of an impossible reality that is not so different from our own

Without setting foot on another planet, people like Shep Blaine were reaching out to the stars with their minds, telepathically contacting strange beings on other worlds. But even Blaine was unprepared for what happened when he communed with the soul of an utterly alien being light years from Earth. After recovering from his experience, he becomes a dangerous man: not only has he gained startling new powers - but he now understands that humankind must share the stars. Hunted through time and space by those who he used to trust, Blaine undergoes a unique odyssey that takes him through a nightmarish version of small-town America as he seeks to find others who share his vision of a humane future. Blaine has mastered death and time. Now he must master the fear and ignorance that threatened to destroy him!