Customer Reviews

Project Pope

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Very interesting and very clever. Interesting, because Simak presents new insights in the longstanding debate between theology and science, faith and knowledge. Clever, because Simak's characters and their worlds are breathtakingly imaginative. He peoples his planet, the End of Nothing, with a variety of fascinating creatures, from robot cardinals to a computer pope to a sentient cloud of molecules. All have souls and all seek the truth. In many ways, this novel reminds me of C.S. Lewis -- had Lewis not been so sure of himself and his theology.

In this book, Simak explores ideas about what it means to be human, mankind's search for knowledge, the need for spiritual fulfillment, and what ultimately brings us happiness. Heavy stuff for a science fiction novel, and this is a great book to handle it.

This was the first of Simak's books I read, and it inspired me to immediately look for more. I think it's a real page-turner for the intellectual set and if you're into books where there isn't a lot of action but there's plenty to think about, you'll love this one.

My one caveat is that the ending is a bit weak - I was left with the feeling that while the most vital elements of the plot had been resolved, the story could easily have gone on for another thousand pages or so. Perhaps Simak didn't do a good job of bringing conclusiveness to the end of the book, or perhaps he just created such an interesting story that I was left craving more, it's hard to say.

What is a robot to do when the world's largest Christian religion refuses to recognize it as a child of God. Start its own religion, of course. And this is what project Pope is all about, robots' search for God. In the end, they succeed beyond their wildest dreams, proving that God does not discriminate, but makes Himself known to all who seek Him...even robots!

A very inspirational novel!

Project Pope is Clifford Simak's masterpiece in my opinion. The story line is very imaginative, dealing with the essence of spirituality, love, relationships and hope.

Robots have set up a planet of their own in a back water of the galaxy. A physician in another world must stow away on a ship bound for there, and he meets a journalist who is marred by a birthmark on her face.

I won't spoil it anymore, but it's an outstanding tale, easily my favorite novel of Simak's, which is saying something.

Simak wrote some memorable novels and short stories. "Project Pope" is not, in my view, among his best efforts. The plot is long on talk and short on action, which would be acceptable if the dialogue were more substantial. However, the psychic explorations of the galaxy by sensitives, and the reflections of the robots in their enclave, don't yield any clear discoveries about reality to make plodding through the tale ultimately rewarding. I thought much was promised but not delivered. If you haven't read "City," "Way Station" or "Ring Around the Sun," read them before spending time on "Project Pope." They are far more rewarding to read. Also watch out for collections of short stories with "Immigrant," and "Beachhead" in them: classic stuff.

I'd read City and was enthralled with the story. I went ahead and purchased a whack of his (Simak) books. As I read the others, i became a lot less enthusiastic. The covers didn't draw me in (Project Pope was no different in that respect). Our Children's Children, Cemetary World, were OK. And Destiny Doll was OK too.
A common thread through his books are a return to a simpler time, living close to the land. no different at "The End of Everything" where robots migrated a thousand yrs ago, copying the human institution of the Vatican, feeding information into the goal of religious community of 'Vatican-17', an infallible computer Pope.
Humans are an adjunct to the project in the Listeners, who travel telepathically to other worlds gathering information and in the townsfolk, largely unmentioned, but who form the laity of sorts.
The main protagonist is Jason Tennyson, a physician fleeing from trumped charges from another world, who finds a sanctuary and a peace in the community, much of it in taking long walks and communing with the mountains in the distance.
The factions of Vatican-17 are set against each other when a Listener claims to have visited the literal Heaven. Does the Vatican turn inward, cut off the Listeners, and seek 'faith' instead of outward and science?

Simak gives us a different type of robot than Asimov's. Not better, just different and refreshing. His robot's take up religion when mankind deserts it and show us what really makes someone/something human or not.

The climax is much better than I expected leading up to it. Very exciting build up.

I have to think the the sanitized robots in this novel are
based on Asimov types. In an era when robots are being prepared to be used in wars and build cars, we seem to see things differently.
As microprocessor power goes up and the remote Mars probes are proving long term success for robots is possible, wiil actual Robot AI really be possible in the future
and will robotics continue to ignore Asimov as it does today?
The novel makes some interesting points about a future when
religion exists beside science in a space expanded mode.
"Heaven" and technology may be confused...

Simak is many things, but never typical science fiction. Project Pope is one of his most challenging novels, and also one of the ones that hold up best over time.

A good place to begin with Simak and an introduction to his worlds of speculation, religious questions, and the desire for contact. One of the things that I like best is that Simak understands that in some cases it may be easier to make contact with aliens than to make contact with other humans.

This was one of the worst books I have ever read.

It has a few interesting ideas in it but is largely ruined by his hackneyed view of robots. They seem no different than humans other than that they are cautious and methodical.

Simak also decides to throw a love story in. Hell, why not?
Really bad lines like "Oh, Jason, I've been running, running all my life" had me cringing.

Avoid this piece of trash and read City by the same author. Much more worth your time.