Where I Re-Read an Old Favorite

The Goblin Reservation by Clifford D. Simak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the first SF books I ever read, and Simak became and has remained my favorite author since then. It was interesting and enlightening to re-read it some 45 years later.

First of all, I love his writing, love his characters, love the long philosophical discussions, love the contemplative tone, love the natural/rural/pastoral settings. That's all still true.

But--second--I *do* have a different take on the novel this time. Not only am I older, but times have changed, too. Here's what I see now:

•It's short! Maybe 70,000 words. And I like it. Anything under 100,000 words is my favorite. (I'll read and enjoy big fat fantasies, but even good ones get old after page 500 or 600...)
•Lots of cool ideas. Time travel and long-distance space travel are perfected; the MC returns home to find a copy of him returned first and was killed; fantasy creatures, like goblins, are discovered and brought to the university; one of the characters is a ghost; the possible love-interest has a saber-tooth; there's a crystal planet that predates the Big Bang; and bunches more.
•Related--many ideas are left as loose threads. Shakespeare is brought to the university from the past, and nothing of note happens with him. It's just a matter of some interest. Also, we're left wondering what will happen with the incredible knowledge stored at the crystal planet. The difficulties of time travel are ignored. And I'm left with questions about the little people...

But those unfired Chekhov's guns are beside the point. The plot makes sense, moves along briskly while still exploring some interesting ideas, and we get a meaningful conclusion. I still like it.

And somehow, the author has written the whole thing in a tone that makes me think that everything is gonna be alright in the end...

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