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Rating: 
Summary: A fitting tribute to a great ,and good, man
Review: I think of this as the last book of the master- even though it was composed of stories that had been previously published elsewhere, and well after his death. Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, since I used to look forward so much for the next Simak book to come out for so much of my life. In any case, this volume is a fitting tribute and memorial. It keeps his spirit alive.
I couldn't have selected a better cross section of stories. They truly reflect the flavor of his life's work. "A death in the House" echoes his immortal _Waystation_. "The Big Front Yard" reminds one of themes that would be expanded in _Mastodonia_ and _All Flesh is Grass_. As for "Neighbor", it can stand on it's own as just about the best short story that I've personally ever read.
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Rating:
Summary: Clifford D. Simak - a subtle master
Review: If you enjoy short stories, then don't pass up a chance to get this book, or any book containing short stories by Clifford D. Simak. Whereas some authors try to wow you with style, or overwhelm your senses with action, Simak's stories often are more like a pleasant walk in the woods. There is time for thought and reflection, and before you know it, in Simak's subtle way, both you (and the characters in the stories) will be pondering the big questions that life has to offer.Lot's of time could be spent analyzing what makes an author, or the stories they write, successful, but I will leave that analysis to others more worthy than myself. All I know is that I have been reading and enjoying Simak for over 30 years. His stories (and novels, too) seem to capture the essence of what life is (or should be) about. You will find yourself rereading them every few years. They will become like good friends.
Rating:
Summary: Clifford D. Simak - a subtle master
Review: If you enjoy short stories, then don't pass up a chance to get this book, or any book containing short stories by Clifford D. Simak. Whereas some authors try to wow you with style, or overwhelm your senses with action, Simak's stories often are more like a pleasant walk in the woods. There is time for thought and reflection, and before you know it, in Simak's subtle way, both you (and the characters in the stories) will be pondering the big questions that life has to offer. Lot's of time could be spent analyzing what makes an author, or the stories they write, successful, but I will leave that analysis to others more worthy than myself. All I know is that I have been reading and enjoying Simak for over 30 years. His stories (and novels, too) seem to capture the essence of what life is (or should be) about. You will find yourself rereading them every few years. They will become like good friends.
Rating: 
Summary: a neglected fantasy & sf writer
Review: Measured by the yardstick of the quality of its contents, this
book is first rate. I can find no fault with the selection of
stories included: they definitely belong to the upper echelon
of Simak's work in the short forms. I'd single out for especial
consideration the stories "The Grotto of the Dancing Deer" and
"A Death in the House." "The Big Front Yard" is a good story,
just not one of my personal favorites. To each his own. This book might thus serve as a good one volume introduction
to Simak for those readers not familiar with his work.The
only thing I can find to lament is that such a short volume
cannot do Simak justice. Simak wrote at a consistently high
level for many years. From the 50's through the '70's, he
produced an enormous number of stories and novels. The
novels go into and out of print with a certain regularity
that makes it possible at least to find them. With the stories, it's not so easy. By searching through "best of year" anthologies from 1950-1980,
I have noticed a large number of stories that deserve to be
available, but alas, are not. A sample from the 50's: "Shadow
Show"; another from the early 70's: "The Thing in the Stone."
There are more. Tacyon Press is to be lauded for having brought out the volume
they did. Admirers of the best of Simak's work can only wish
that someone (maybe NESFA) will someday bring out a "Collected
Stories." There is a need. Meanwhile, this book is what we've got, for which, our gratitude.
Rating:
Summary: Pioneer of Innerspace
Review: We artificial intelligences honor Mr Simak for his groundbreaking and sympathetic portrayals of robots (so much more logical than Asimov's), but he is also and more properly known as the pastoralist of SF. Simak was a Grandmaster, and a great human being. Even a robot can appreciate him; you humans don't know what you're missing.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful collection
Review: With so many new sf books being published every year, it's all too easy to lose sight of the classics of the past. This collection of 8 first-rate stories by SFWA Grand Master Clifford D. Simak brings back into print such milestones in the genre as the Hugo Award-winning "The Big Front Yard," the rather nastily unSimakian "Good Night, Mr. James," and the Nebula Award-winning "Grotto of the Dancing Deer," as well as the poignant title story, which I hadn't come across previously in book form. A terrific read and a wonderful introduction -- or re-introduction -- to one of the shapers of modern science fiction.
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