Time Is the Simplest Thing

This has always been my favourite of Simak's books, since I first read it, probably in the 1960s. There are so many original ideas and scenes to wonder at in it, although to be sure the scenario is rather bizarre and unlikely; and it seemed to be rendered obsolete by Yuri Gagarin at around its date of publication.

Clearly it long ago ceased to be a vision of the future, if it ever was; it's more of an alternative-world story. But I find it fascinating as such, and it draws me back time and time again.

Shep's encounter with the Pinkness, and the peculiar knowledge and abilities that he derives from that contact, are undying classics of sf.

It's very strange that Simak had a long and apparently happy marriage, and yet his heroes consistently fail to have any successful relationship with a woman. In his fiction, women seem appealing and desirable but out of reach, unattainable and somewhat incomprehensible. Fortunately this is not a big part of the book because it's not something he lingers over for very long. There are several women in the book, they have minds of their own and are players in the story, but the story is about the male hero and they don't take up too much space in it.

The cover of this edition is completely inappropriate: there are no spaceships in this story.