Born in Millville, Wisconsin in 1904, Clifford Simak grew up developed a love of science fiction after reading H.G. Wells. In 1931, he published a short story, “The World of the Red Sun,” in the December issue of Wonder Stories. A year later, he had successfully placed four more short stories in various publications.
Though his work is most well-known in the genre of science fiction, he only had one sci-fi story published between 1932 and 1938. The story stood out not just because of the genre he wrote in, but also because it had religious tones, a theme that wasn’t typically seen in science fiction stories at that time.
After 1938, Simak began contributing to the science fiction world on a regular basis, shaping and defining the genre with the work he produced. Many of these influences, such as the pastoral settings, contrasting and defining personalities as a way of identifying various species, and even boring heroes helped broaden the scope of what science fiction could explore and how the future might be approached.
Over the course of his career, Simak won three Hugo Awards and a Nebula Award. He was the third SFWA Grand Master and one of three inaugural winners for the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. If you’ve ever been curious about Simak’s work, here are seven of his novels that capture the scope of his writing.
Time Is the Simplest Thing
Shep Blaine is able to communicate telepathically to beings across the galaxy. He isn’t the only one. But when he reaches an entirely new alien being lightyears away from Earth, he is transformed by the experience. Not only does he have new powers, he has a profound understanding of how important it is for humanity to share the stars. Unfortunately, now everyone agrees. Hunted through time and space, Blaine finds himself in a nightmare version of small-town America. He’s mastered time and overcome death. Now, he has to find other humane individuals to help him overcome the fear and ignorance that threatens to destroy everything.
Way Station
From the outside, Enoch Wallace and his mundane farmhouse haven’t changed much over the years. Every day he walks his farm, never working the land, carrying the same rifle he was issued in the Civil War. But inside his house, he receives otherworldly visitors. For more than 100 years, Enoch has been the keeper of Earth’s only galactic transfer station. Now, the data shows that Earth is doomed. His alien friends can only offer solutions that are more disastrous than staying on Earth. And when he discovers an even bigger horror on the other side of the galaxy, his options go from bad to worse.
City
Long ago, the Webster family were responsible for changing the future of the world. They designed the ships capable of taking humans to the stars, gave dogs the ability to speak, and made robots to take care of the dogs. In this collection of interconnected stories, told by the dogs. Some feel like myths, others campfire stories. But this is their version of how human civilization ended and the time of the dogs began.
A Choice of Gods
One day, most of humanity disappeared. Only a few remained, scattered on a deserted planet with a large population of robots. The humans simply learned how to make do. Some returned to the ancient ways of their ancestors while others futilely attempted to rebuild the technology they once enjoyed.
As for the robots, some of them remained loyal to the humans they were programmed to serve. Others broke free and formed a society of their own, one based on religious beliefs instead of logic. Now, millennia later, a star traveler discovers the people of Earth. They want to return to their home planet. But there’s more: There’s a central intelligence to the entire universe, and what that discovery means is yet to be understood.
Why Call Them Back from Heaven?
Forever Center promises the ultimate reward to humanity: immortality. That’s why in the year 2148, most people choose to live their lives in poverty, giving their money to Forever Center so that they can enjoy a second life as an immortal. Daniel Frost works is a key worker for the Forever Center. But when he accidentally finds classified documents, he is marked as an enemy and cast out of society. Few people will risk their immortal afterlives to help him but there are a few. What they discover might shatter Forever Center and redefine the essence of life itself.
The Visitors
The giant black box appeared out of nowhere. Landing on forestry student Joshua Conklin’s car in Lone Pine, Minnesota. In a matter of hours both the government and the public were aware of its existence. But only Jerry Conklin knew exactly what it was. After all, he was the one abducted. Held prisoner for hours and then let go.
The box was a living being … and then more arrived. If left alone, they seem to be harmless. But that wasn’t enough. Humanity wanted answers. When Jerry followed up on a rumor that these beings were leaving fantastical gifts, he realized that these payments just might destroy civilization entirely.
The Trouble with Tycho and Cosmic Engineers
Chris Jackson put everything he had into his chance to prospect on the Moon. Too bad for him, most who tried left unrewarded. After all, it’s dangerous. And most greenhorns never came back. But with his entire financial future on the line, failure isn’t an option for Chris. He decides to hedge his bets and go all in with Tycho. So what if three expeditions left and never returned. What exactly happened on the moon? And even if Chris manages to succeed, will he ever see Earth again?
