Lock & Key

by Sarah Dessen
Lock & Key cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Technical
  • ID: 5808
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
app.thestorygraph.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
mixed 3.75

The reviewer highly recommends Clifford D. Simak's 'City' (1944) for its critical stance on urban life, empathetic portrayal of downtrodden characters, and readable prose. They found 'Ogre' (1944) inventive but unsatisfying due to its breakneck pace and 'Spaceship in a Flask' (1941) below average, though it hints at Simak's recurring themes.

The reviewer has a deep appreciation for Clifford D. Simak's 'City' (1944), praising its critical perspective on the city as a symbol of human progress and its empathetic take on the plight of the homeless farmers. They found the story's foundation in cheap transportation technology and the threat of nuclear war compelling, and enjoyed Simak's readable prose. The reviewer was less impressed with 'Ogre' (1944), finding it inventive but ultimately unsatisfying due to its rapid pace and lack of depth in its various plot threads. They wished Simak had spent more time developing some of the story's ideas. 'Spaceship in a Flask' (1941) was considered below average, but the reviewer noted that it contains early manifestations of Simak's central themes, such as a deep suspicion of transformative technologies in the hands of big business.

Quick quotes

    The city as a human institution is dead

    Simak elevates nuclear terror as the main cause of urban depopulation in the underrated 'Full Cycle' (1955)

    For sheer inventiveness, 'Ogre' (1944) can’t be matched

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
enthralling 4.50

The reviewer found 'City' by Clifford D. Simak enthralling, despite its lack of adventure or action. The book's focus on robots, dogs, and other creatures, along with its exploration of the ultimate fate of the human race, left a lasting impression. The reviewer appreciates Simak's warm writing style, which makes heavy subjects feel comfortable.

The reviewer was deeply moved by 'City' by Clifford D. Simak, a book that didn't rely on typical adventure or action elements but instead captivated them with its unique focus on robots, dogs, and other creatures. The exploration of the ultimate fate of the human race was particularly impactful, leaving a lasting impression. The reviewer recalls reading the book during a Boy Scout camp, where the warm and comforting writing style of Simak made even the weightiest of subjects feel approachable. The book felt like a legend of the future, framed as a series of tales told around campfires. The reviewer also appreciates Simak's celebration of rural Midwestern values, which adds a unique perspective to his science fiction writing.

Quick quotes

    It didn’t have a lot of adventure, or mighty heroes, chases, or battles in it, but I still found it absolutely enthralling.

    The humans are probably the least interesting characters in the book, with a collection of robots, dogs, ants, and other creatures stealing the stage.

    His work was something new to me: stories that weren’t wrapped around science and technology, heroes who didn’t wield blasters or wrenches, and plots not driven by action or violence.

bookfairyhaven.blogspot.com · Unknown · 2014-10-13
recommended 4.50

The reviewer has a deep appreciation for Clifford Simak's 'City', a collection of interconnected stories that blend pastoral introspection with science fiction elements like robots, ants, and dogs. They find the book melancholic and wistful, with a grand scale that resonates long after reading, despite some dated aspects and stylistic issues. The reviewer highly recommends it, noting Simak's underrated talent and the book's enduring appeal.

The reviewer first discovered Clifford Simak's 'City' as a teenager and has since revisited it multiple times, including a recent re-read in 2015. They appreciate Simak's subtle and gentle style of science fiction, which focuses on pastoral introspection rather than action-packed space adventures. The book is a collection of eight interconnected stories (or nine in the Open Road Media e-edition), told from the perspective of dogs, and explores themes of human evolution, isolation, and the relationship between humans and their loyal companions. The reviewer finds the book melancholic and wistful, with a grand scale that stays with the reader long after finishing. They note some weaknesses, such as the dated style and the absence of female characters, but overall, they highly recommend 'City' for its enduring appeal and Simak's underrated talent. The reviewer also appreciates the additional context provided in the Open Road Media edition, which enhances the reading experience.

Quick quotes

    These are the stories that the Dogs tell when the fires burn high and the wind is from the north. Then each family circle gathers at the hearthstone and the pups sit silently and listen and when the story’s done they ask many questions:

    Simply, it is a set of eight interconnected stories (or in some cases, nine.)

    This is a grand scale of a tale, but not without its weaknesses. Frankly, from the perspective of 2015, it is slowly paced and quite dated in its style.

    He is an underrated writer who is worthy of reassessment. And to my mind, City still resonates as a worthy read. One from the heart.

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