Customer Reviews

Out of Their Minds

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Imagine that there are parallel worlds. One world is the world that everybody knows. The other is a place of pure imagination-- populated by the myths, legends and creatures of lore that humans have thought about since the beginning of time. In the beginning, this parallel world is a dark and wild place and the creatures in it are gods and demons-- awesome and mighty. Imagine the consternation that mass media brings: Suddenly, the Devil is face-to-face with Mickey Mouse. When that happens, there is Hell to pay...

Out of Their Minds is a charming conceit, but truthfully not one of the best of the Simak collection. I have kind of the feeling that he had a terrific idea, but never worked it out very far past the point of being a terrific idea. The introduction is great, but the follow-through is a pale shadow of some of his greater novels like Way Station or Destiny Doll.

Simak fans should find this a nice digression (I love the moment with Snuffy Smith!) but people new to his work should begin elsewhere.

The concept behind this book is that everything the human race has imagined, from the Devil to Disneyland, exists in another world governed by all the bizarre rules we've thought of too. Not a bad idea and the characterisation works quite well. The storyline moved along nicely towards the punchline but when it arrives, the delivery isn't great. A good read but a disappointing ending.

A book I read many years ago and really enjoyed.
Having just read it again I found the concept still as intriguing as the first time.
Mr Simak tells a good story and although it could be said this one is now a liitle old fashioned, it has a theme much more likely than the current crop of "fantasy Sci Fi"
Go on read it!!!!

Like many of Simak's books, the ending may leave you wishing for a different resolution, but it is still an engrossing read. The premise is interesting, and as usual the writing style is superb.