Cifford D. Simak was born on this date, August 3, in 1904.  He passed away in April of 1988.

Simak was one of the great science fiction writers of the Twentieth Century.  Among his awards were three Hugos (“The Big Front Yard”, Way Station, “Grotto of the Dancing Deer”) and a Nebula (“Grotto of the Dancing Deer”).  He was the third SFWA Grandmaster after Robert Heinlein and Jack Williamson.  Simak, Fritz Leiber, and Frank Belknap Long were all awarded the inaugural Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.  Not too shabby.

Simak has frequently been called the pastoralist of science fiction.  Many of his works are set in rural areas of his home state of Wisconsin.  Robots, time travel, and the nature of God were often themes in his work.  Although he is best remembered as a science fiction author, Simak also wrote fantasy, westerns, and war stories.  A newspaper man by trade, Simak also wrote a handful of science books in the 60s and early 70s.

Unfortunately, as often happens these when a writer dies, his work soon fell out of print.  For years the only place to buy his work was in used books stores.  I’m glad to say that isn’t the case anymore.  Open Road is bringing back all of Simak’s work, including his complete short fiction.  Early Bird books often has electronic editions on sale for $1.99.  You have to act fast, though.  These sales only last 24 hours.

If you’ve not read Simak, you should give him a try.  I’ll be lifting a glass in his memory and reading one of his short stories