Way Station (Simak)

     Clifford Simak Way Station (1963) Enoch Wallace, a Civil War soldier, is recruited to staff an intergalactic way station. All goes well for 100 years, when three events converge: The Talisman, a device for contacting the spiritual force pervading the Universe, is missing and presumed stolen. Lucy Fisher, a sensitive, is beaten by her father, and seeks refuge with Enoch; she becomes the second human to make contact. The CIA has removed the body of a Vegan who died at the Station; now a variety of factions want to use this desecration as a pretext for closing down the way station, and pushing Galactic development into different regions. The Vegan emissary, however, is moved by the inscription Enoch has placed on the headstone of the dead Vegan’s grave; and the CIA returns the body after all. Enoch kills the thief; Lucy turns out to be the next custodian of the Talisman; and all ends well. - So much for the plot.
    Simak has a fertile and somewhat sentimental imagination, but knows how to follow through on the logic of both plot and character. His characters may be thin, but the plots don’t violate their nature; this makes for believable stories, regardless of their fantasy elements. His style can be clumsy, but also very clear and direct. All his books are at least interesting, and this is no exception. It would make a very nice little SF movie, so long as the makers don’t go overboard with the special effects. **½