Clifford D. Simak

[Fusiomax]

has anyone here read any of Simak's story's?

I am currently reading through as many as i can get my hands on.

If you have read any of his story's what do you think about adventure game's based on his story's?
I was thinking that "The Grotto of the Dancing Deer" would make a good short game and for a longer one that "Time and Again" or "The Goblin Reservation" would make good long games.

What do you guys think?

Fusiomax

[Al_Ninio]

I have!
"City" is one of my favourite science fiction novels ever ever ever.
I recommend it!

[GreenBoy]

One of my favorite writers, he writes some of the most exceptional short stories I've ever read.  The thing I love the most about his writing is that the characters seem so real to me, like they could be someone living down my street.

I was randomly looking through some books at a hospice store while on holiday when I spied one of his books, I almost cakked myself with excitment.   :o

[Fusiomax]

"City" looks like its a really good one i plan on reading it soon.

GreenBoy what book was it?

have you read "Time and Again"?
that is my favourite book of his.

Fusiomax

[RickJ]

Well, you guys may want to check-out an old Radio Show called "X-Minus One".  It aired in the mid 1950s and Simak authored a handful of the stories.   He was in good company of other famous authors such as Robert Heinlein, Issac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Fredrick Pohl, Robert Silverberg, L. Sprague DeCamp and others whose stories also appeared on this show.   L. Sprague DeCamp is one of my favorite authors and he has a great sense of humor.  I can highly recommend his "Jorian" series and think it would make an excellent candidate for an adventure game.  Anyway enjoy the links below. Cheers!

X-Minus One Radio Show 1955-56

Episode Guide: http://www.otrsite.com/logs/logx1001.htm

Clifford D. Simak:
http://www.archive.org/download/XMinus1_A/xminusone_550818_Courtesy.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/XMinus1_A/xminusone_560403_How-To.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/XMinus1_A/xminusone_560605_ProjectMastodon.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/XMinus1B/xminusone_570822_DropDead.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/XMinus1C/xminusone_571031_Lulu.mp3

L. Sprague DeCamp:
http://www.archive.org/download/XMinus1_A/xminusone_560307_AGunForDinosaur.mp3


Jorian Series:
  1. The Goblin Tower (1968)
  2. The Clocks of Iraz (1971)
  3. The Unbeheaded King (1983)
  4. The Reluctant King (omnibus) (1985)
  5. The Honorable Barbarian (1989)

[GreenBoy]

It was Shakespeares Planet.  No, unfortunately it's very difficult to find his books I've found out.  The library has some but they're all kept in storage.   :'(  I should order them, and then not return them 

[Kweepa]

Thanks RickJ for the link to the archive!

[Akril15]

Wow...

X-Minus One is one of my favorite old time radio programs, and it acted as a gateway to 1950's-60's science fiction for me (which has become one of my favorite genres). A sizeable percentage of the stories on X-Minus One were contributed by an author named Robert Sheckley (an amazing, yet woefully underrated sci-fi author). I found some of his short story collections in a used book store, read them, got hooked and eventually branched out to other authors in the genre, Simak included.

I first read The Goblin Reservation a few years ago, and it has become my favorite Simak novel so far. There aren't many novels I know of that can mix fantasy creatures, formerly extinct animal species, time travel, William Shakespeare and aliens in such a masterful manner in one single novel (although the modern author Jasper Fforde pulls some similar shenanigans in his books).

I actually briefly fantasized about what The Goblin Reservation would be like as an adventure game, since I think it definitely has an adventure game "feel" to it. Not only does it have a unique atmosphere and characters, but there are a lot of scenes that could easily be translated into puzzles.

I've read a few of Simak's short stories, but I haven't been able to find many books containing them. I have So Bright the Vision, Other Worlds of Clifford D. Simak and Strangers in the Universe, but that's about it. Still, I always keep an eye out for them when I visit a used book store.