A man hunts for lost knowledge in a future society that’s reverted to a primitive tribal state in this novel by the author of Way Station. More than a thousand years have passed since humankind intentionally destroyed its treacherous technology, choosing to revert back to a primitive tribal state. In this society the rusting brain cases of long-inert robots are considered trophies, and the … considered trophies, and the scant knowledge that has survived is doled out to an inquisitive few in monastery-like “universities.” It is at one such center of learning that young Tom Cushing first reads of the legendary “Place of Going to the Stars,” rumored to exist on a high butte somewhere in the western part of the land. Driven by enthusiasm and an insatiable need to track the myth to its source, Tom sets out on an amazing trek across what was once called “America,” teaming up with a witch, the world’s last remaining robot, and other odd companions. But all the astonishing discoveries and dangers they encounter along the way will pale before the revelations that await them at journey’s end.
Clifford D. Simak, award-winning science fiction Grand Master, offers a breathtaking vision of the future that is both dystopian and hopeful in equal measure. In A Heritage of Stars, he boldly displays the heart, intelligence, and awesome imaginative powers that have established him as one of the all-time greatest authors of speculative fiction.
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When I read a Simak story, I imagine the following scene. Clifford and I are seated in rocking chairs on a large wraparound porch, at a rustic log cabin deep in the Wisconsin woods. He has a piece of grass that’s gone to seed in the corner of his mouth. It’s past dusk and we’ve just finished a fine dinner of venison and root vegetables. A wisp of smoke rises from the stone chimney, as Clifford likes to keep a modest fire burning continuously. You can smell the fire in the air along with the earthy and musty scents of the deep forest. A guitar and a shotgun lean against the cabin behind us. I ask Clifford to tell me another tale. He refuses at first, but after some requisite pleading, he begrudgingly agrees. As he tells the tale, first the forest, then the cabin dissolve and the story plays out all around us . . .
“When it came to hope, you do not write off even the faintest hope of all. You held on to every hope; you cherish all, you let none get away.”
This is not Simak’s best book. It’s not in the top five. I’m sure many would dislike it as it has some flaws. But I enjoyed its leisurely pace and Simak’s trademark ability to evoke nostalgia. It reminds me of his ‘Cemetery World,’ as both stories have a similar structure of introducing a set of mysteries, then following an odd cast of characters as they journey to the answers. For me, the best parts are the travels through nature as Simak is at his best describing the Midwest wilderness. His love of nature shines through his prose. The story is set thousands of years in the future on a post-apocalyptic earth. All technology has been destroyed and mankind is in a dark age with scattered settlements and roaming bands of barbarians. The beginning of the tale does indeed establish some mystery and wonder and provides the curiosity to carry us through a subdued wilderness journey, where the main character picks up a band of odd fellow travelers along the way. It delighted me that the University where I teach (University of Minnesota), plays a key role in the tale. It’s not only the last remaining University, but possible the last remaining stronghold of intellectuals and cache of knowledge. However, I wasn’t impressed with Simak’s character building in this book as some of the characters border on silly. The ending is rich with ideas and provides plenty of closure, but it’s abrupt and more telling than show. The book begins and ends with large sections of exposition that first explain the world-building and at the end, explain the resolution of the mysteries. But a passage at the end of Chapter 15 might sum it up best: “It doesn’t matter, laddie boy,” she told him. “It’s been a lovely trip.”
I love the serenity and melancholy that Simak educes. I enjoy his descriptions of nature. I like the questions he asks and appreciate his storytelling skill. A wonder-filled adventure, set in a relatively tame post-apocalyptic future, where the journey exceeds the destination. Three and a half stars.
A long time fan of science fiction and Robert Heinlein, I recently found this quotation: “Since the earliest thirties, to read science fiction is to read Simak. A reader who does not like Simak stories does not like science fiction at all.” Intrigued, but totally unfamiliar with Clifford Simak, I chose “A Heritage of Stars” as my entry point. I was not disappointed. This dystopian novel describes an Earth eerily familiar. A cataclysmic rejection of a world order warped by technology has resulted in another Dark Ages. Tribalism, hardship, and conflict have been humankind’s lot for a thousand years. As before, islands of knowledge and learning, what is left of universities, exist, but are barely capable of sustaining themselves, much less sparking a new Renaissance. This is a story of one man’s quest to find the legendary “Place of Going to the Stars” described in questionable ancient texts. Along the dangerous way, a team of unique individuals comes together to help complete the odyssey. Classic science fiction and a good read. Recommended for classic SF fans. I intend to read more Simak—any recommendations?
I appear to be in the minority when it comes to this author, but I wasn’t a fan of this book. I love a good Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel but I’m reading for entertainment, not a philosophical or religious moral.
Waystation, another book by Simak is a classic and one of my favorite novels. Unfortunately “A Heritage of Stars” is not. The basic idea is that humans had a vast technological society 1500 or 2000 years ago. For reasons that are never made clear, humanity abruptly turned away from science and technology and after over a 1000 years are still living without electricity, gun powder, printing presses, medicine, etc. Our hero, living in the ruins of an ancient University sets out on a quest to find a mythical place from which humanity explored the stars. Along the way he just happens encounter the brigands, witches, robots, etc. needed to complete his quest. The coincidences and pseudo science just did not work for me. Maybe it was intended for a younger audience, rather than a cranky old guy…
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