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Time Is the Simplest Thing Kindle Edition

by Clifford D. Simak (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 688 ratings
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A telepath acquires a powerful alien consciousness—and must run to escape corporate assassins and angry mobs—in this novel by the author of Way Station.

Space travel has been abandoned in the twenty-second century. It is deemed too dangerous, expensive, and inconvenient—and now the all-powerful Fishhook company holds the monopoly on interstellar exploration for commercial gain. Their secret is the use of “parries,” human beings with the remarkable telepathic ability to expand their minds throughout the universe. On what should have been a routine assignment, however, loyal Fishhook employee Shepherd Blaine is inadvertently implanted with a copy of an alien consciousness, becoming something more than human. Now he’s a company pariah, forced to flee the safe confines of the Fishhook complex. But the world he escapes into is not a safe sanctuary; Its people have been taught to hate and fear his parapsychological gift—and there is nowhere on Earth, or elsewhere, for Shepherd Blaine to hide.
 
A Hugo Award nominee, Time Is the Simplest Thing showcases the enormous talents of one of the true greats of twentieth-century science fiction. This richly imagined tale of prejudice, corporate greed, oppression, and, ultimately, transcendence stands tall among Simak’s most enduring works.
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  1. Print length
    268 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
  5. Publication date
    July 21, 2015
  6. File size
    2034 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Just about any work by Simak deserves to be considered a classic.” —SFBook.com
 
“To read science-fiction is to read Simak. The reader who does not like Simak stories does not like science-fiction at all.” —Robert A. Heinlein
 

 

About the Author

During his fifty-five-year career, Clifford D. Simak produced some of the most iconic science fiction stories ever written. Born in 1904 on a farm in southwestern Wisconsin, Simak got a job at a small-town newspaper in 1929 and eventually became news editor of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, writing fiction in his spare time.

Simak was best known for the book City, a reaction to the horrors of World War II, and for his novel Way Station. In 1953 City was awarded the International Fantasy Award, and in following years, Simak won three Hugo Awards and a Nebula Award. In 1977 he became the third Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and before his death in 1988, he was named one of three inaugural winners of the Horror Writers Association’s Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.
 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00YTFT9BI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy; Reissue edition (July 21, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 21, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2034 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 268 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 688 ratings

About the author

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Clifford D. Simak

Clifford D. Simak

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During his fifty-five-year career, Clifford D. Simak produced some of the most iconic science fiction stories ever written. Born in 1904 on a farm in southwestern Wisconsin, Simak got a job at a small-town newspaper in 1929 and eventually became news editor of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, writing fiction in his spare time. Simak was best known for the book City, a reaction to the horrors of World War II, and for his novel Way Station. In 1953 City was awarded the International Fantasy Award, and in following years, Simak won three Hugo Awards and a Nebula Award. In 1977 he became the third Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and before his death in 1988, he was named one of three inaugural winners of the Horror Writers Association's Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
688 global ratings
More philosophical than expected
4 Stars
More philosophical than expected
Shepherd Blaine telepathically travels to other planets, working for a corporation called Fishhook. Fishhook has a monopoly on this means of travel, and thereby a monopoly on all the goods and information brought back to Earth. The general public fears and distrusts Fishhook, but still buys their products, and resents the hell out of the whole thing. Other paranormals, or "parries" not working for (and protected by) Fishhook are hunted and killed like witches in the 16th century. When Blaine encounters an alien consciousness and melds with it, he is forced to leave Fishhook and go on the run. Encountering parry hunters, reformers, and always one step ahead of Fishhook agents, he grapples with this new alien side of himself and what his new purpose is in life.Interestingly, the only other book by Simak I have read featured folks who telepathically traveled to the stars as well. I wonder if this is a common theme with him. Also similarly to that other book [A Choice of Gods], this novel is short on action and long on philosophical musings. The action parts are quite suspenseful and well written, which makes me wish there were more of them. The philosophy is thought-provoking, but largely moot, and relates only to this fictional society. It points out some interesting things about religion, fear, and the power of backlash, but ultimately, irrelevant.I also have a bone to pick with the cover. I don't think the illustrator even read the book because it contained no scene remotely like the man on a barren planet with a space suit, facing down a spherical alien craft. No one even bodily traveled to another world, or encountered any aliens in battle. It's terribly misleading.I don't mean to be overly critical, because I very much enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this more for people who like to muse about the great 'what ifs' and not for those who like a tight, action-packed space opera (which is what the cover implies).
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Top reviews from the United States

akgypsy
5.0 out of 5 stars TImeless in my opinion
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024
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I first read this book in the mid-'60s, and it has been one of my favorite books ever since. Not just in sci-fi, but in all genres. And I read a lot. Simak had an amazing imagination and he also delivered his stories with a sense of compassion and empathy that I find compelling. He knows how to portray his characters' thoughts and feelings with such heart. This book captures much of Simak's talent. I won't tell you the story, plenty of other reviewers do that, but I will tell you that this book is dear to my heart and while it my be dated in some ways, the message is not. Gift this story to yourself. I'm pretty sure, unless you have a cold heart, that you will find it a treasure. Also, the story has plenty of action and tense moments, you won't be bored!
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Elaine Bailey
4.0 out of 5 stars This is one sweet read. Some of the interior dialogue during the ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2018
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This is one sweet read. Some of the interior dialogue during the protagonist's transformation was at first difficult to follow, but the problem went away in the remainder of the book, which is clever, consistent, dystopian a bit, hopeful a bit, engaging and free of deus ex machina. Simak's been at this a while. He's a craftsman.
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TravelsWithBooks
5.0 out of 5 stars CLIFFORD SIMAK...HE WRITES IT REAL
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
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This story is about us, aliens, hatred & fear, us, humanity and emotional intelligence. SIMAK was of an age where writing taught you something as well as entertained. The future of mankind can be wonderful, but not if we take ourselves along with us.
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Tim OBriant
3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not his best
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2017
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This is my second Simak book. It is interesting that books about the future are written with the voice of the present, and, from that point of view, it is dated. So, one has to put that and the technology references mostly aside in order to get the message. (The copyright here is 1961.) With that said, the theme seems very progressive for its day and makes its points effectively. I really enjoyed the unpredictability of the story arc.

One of the things he shares in common with one of my other favorite authors (Jack McDevitt) is that he doesn't try to overexplain the technology (or, in this case, paranormal abilities) within the story. He simply uses them expecting the reader to just keep up. If you are a gear-head and need to know the HOW and WHY of everything, Simak is not your guy.

Although I'm glad I read the book, the reason I didn't rate it higher is because of what felt to me like plot holes and contrived situations. Like most authors, Simak doesn't show us characters who don't contribute to the story. You just don't always know WHY they are important till later. That makes the story interesting and somewhat unpredictable. Yet, how he gets them together with the main character is the bone I'm picking here. Randomly meeting a truck driver who just happens to be one of the linch-pins of the story is just a little too convenient. Reconnecting with a character on a river who just happened to come along in a canoe is just too convenient. When it comes to the paranormal element, I took exception with a couple of situations. I confess I'm not normally fond of paranormal books, so for me the action has to still have a logic to it for me to get behind it. A few times, actions are taken without enough followup for me to understand what the point was supposed to be.

Another reviewer's main complaint was the love interest of the story. The main character, in the last scene, ends up with a girl who until then has been described as a "teenager". For the purpose of this story, this is a little too ambiguous to accuse Simak of condoning pedophilia. (After all, 19 is still a teenager.) But, it is a little uncomfortable. If this development is making some kind of social point, it mostly escapes me.

The final point of trouble for me is the story "solution". (SPOILER ALERT: This may reveal more than you want to know if you are going to read the book.) In the world of this book, there are "normals" and "paranormals". The latter group (whom Simak calls "PK's) is being discriminated against in violent ways. Simak's protagonist discovers a way for the PK's to avoid the discrimination by escaping the planet. He, the protagonist, wants to send them all away to a "safe place" while he stays behind trying to save the ones he hasn't yet reached. When the times are more favorable for PK's, they can come back. For me, this smelled a little too much like sending black people back to Africa. The writing of this book preceded the successes of the American Civil Rights movement which achieved its goal of changing hearts and minds rather than escaping and leaving the prejudice in place. I would like to think that Simak observed people like Jackie Robinson endured prejudice and wound up being haled by everyone as a hero of his generation (and not just for his baseball accomplishments). For a science fiction author, Simak's vision is wrong-headed and escapist.
As I said, I am glad to have read this book. It is good, but not Simak's best work.
14 people found this helpful
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David Coppard
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Simak Novel
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2023
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Really readable novel, arrived on time. Good service
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Merrill Hess
4.0 out of 5 stars Good story but has some writing flaws.
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2022
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The story is fine classic Simak. The writing could have been better. The protagonist is on the run from danger but there are not even hints at the reason he is in danger until 1/3-1/2 way through the book. Ir robs the story of drama needed to truly empathize with the protagonist.
There are also several logical inconsistencies in the story. At one point he loses his wallet and the $15 in it. Later, with no indication of how he got it, he has $15 again.
The story has a unique theme. If you can overlook those things it is an enjoyable story.
2 people found this helpful
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beergeekjoey
5.0 out of 5 stars grandly imagined, beautifully written
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2023
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a story that begins with a dead end. humanity cannot get to space. they’ve tried and failed. but then a new science of the mind offers options for exploration. wonderful story, even though it all too accurately portrays human bias, fear, & loathing. it also accurately captures the soaring human spirit & the hope that is brings.
One person found this helpful
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L. A. Veronie II
4.0 out of 5 stars Mind travelling...where do I sign up?
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2022
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The idea of "remote viewing" AKA mind teleportation, is TREMENDOUSLY interesting...and Simak has concocted both the pros and cons of its usage--all profoundly plausible. It would seem though, that the weak link in ANY idea whose time has come, is the ordinary human brain that it has emerged from. Can we break from our own limitations? I wonder. Simak does too...and it makes for profound intellectual adventure.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Joe Reed
5.0 out of 5 stars What ‘The Chrysalids’ didn’t quite achieve.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2023
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This is a classic story of its time, when tales of human evolution frequently held ‘paranormal’ talents as their central theme, with the unevolved beings left behind to wither and fade away.
However, Simak’s works carry a compassion and a humanity that Wyndham, despite being a far better-known author, was unable to achieve.
Simak has a pastoral style of writing that will not suit every reader but, if you should be unfamiliar with his work, this would be a good starter-for-ten. (If you ARE familiar with him then you’ve probably already enjoyed this story but, perhaps, like me, you would find it worthy of re-reading.)
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David D.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!!
Reviewed in Germany on December 17, 2022
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This is one of Simak’s finest novels. Excellent science fiction. Intriguing concepts.
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Viktor
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book of Simak
Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2019
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My favorite book of Simak and maybe my favorite science fiction story
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Fernando A. O. Prieto
5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo !
Reviewed in Brazil on January 13, 2017
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Muito bom autor, enredo atraente, bem redigido, leitura agradável com passatempo. Bem melhor que a maioria dos livros de hoje, que só parecem preocupados em detalhar sexo e violência. Deste autor, prefiro este livro e o "All flesh is grass".
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V. Marco
4.0 out of 5 stars Old time solid SF
Reviewed in Italy on May 1, 2015
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As usual Simak is a guarantee! More than a regular paranormal story, a development of Xmen diversity point of view. Normality is not an absolute but a state of our mind. Strongly advisable especially in our troubled days.
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