Way Station

Simak is always a thoughtful and contemplative writer, but this is a supremely contemplative book, in which things happen rather quietly; the hero goes nowhere, has no strange powers, and spends most of his time reading, writing, and thinking; although he does take a few significant actions in the course of the story. I enjoy and respect the book; and yet it lacks the sort of compelling scenes that draw me back to read a book over and over again. So I reread it relatively rarely.

I don't see this book as competing with Simak's other best books; it's a different kind of book.