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Way Station

 Way Station
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TVTItem
 Way Station
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Way Station
 Way Station
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WayStation
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Way Station is a relatively short novel written by Clifford Simak in 1963, winner of a 1964 Hugo Award and barely mentioned today... except for the shameless borrowing of ideas later authors got from it, such as glowy beautiful humanoid aliens whose lifeforce manifests as an aura and become emaciated, ugly things when dead, holographic simulation rooms and sentient solid holograms who come to realize they are just constructs and aliens mindwiping Mankind to prevent its self-destruction.Set in The '60s, this Pastoral Science Fiction book chronicles three hectic days in the long life of Enoch Wallace, who lives as an hermit in Southwest Wisconsin, rarely leaving his home but for a daily evening stroll. He has lived there for so long that he has become a local legend, and he's rumored to be immortal. This piques the curiosity of a CIA agent who decides to investigate the rumor, and finds something really interesting in Enoch's backyard. Something that ignites an intergalactic incident at a very critical moment for both Earth and Galactic Center. You see, Enoch is the caretaker of a way station in the galaxy-spanning teleporting network, and has been on the job since the end of the American Civil War.The book is filled with Simak's trademark style, with a foot firmly planted in straight-up SF and the other on plain old sense of wonder. He was a master of the rare Slice of Life science-fiction and it's at its best in this work, while at the same time hinting at events of galactic scope just around the corner and populating the galaxy with memorable alien species with just a few lines.
 Way Station
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2023-04-19T22:00:36Z
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2023-04-19T22:00:36Z
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processingComment
Dropped link to AlienArtsAreAppreciated: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Way Station
processingComment
Dropped link to DisabilitySuperpower: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Way Station
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DBTropes
 Way Station / int_1049848f
type
Aliens Speaking English
 Way Station / int_1049848f
comment
Aliens Speaking English: Averted. Only Ulysses, Enoch's direct supervisor, does speak English.
 Way Station / int_1049848f
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Way Station / int_1049848f
 Way Station / int_1161fb48
type
Bizarre Alien Biology
 Way Station / int_1161fb48
comment
Bizarre Alien Biology: Any of the Earth animals is much closer to mankind than any alien race described, although several alien species are perfectly capable of living on Earth without technological help.
 Way Station / int_1161fb48
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Way Station / int_1161fb48
 Way Station / int_117b3429
type
A Taste of the Lash
 Way Station / int_117b3429
comment
A Taste of the Lash: How Lucy's father disciplines her. Enoch isn't amused.
 Way Station / int_117b3429
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Way Station / int_117b3429
 Way Station / int_14c791fb
type
Conflicting Loyalty
 Way Station / int_14c791fb
comment
Conflicting Loyalty: Enoch is slowly forced to choose between his planet and The Federation.
 Way Station / int_14c791fb
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Way Station / int_14c791fb
 Way Station / int_1cb6d160
type
Weaponized Stench
 Way Station / int_1cb6d160
comment
Weaponized Stench: Seems to be the thief's natural weapon to use when desperate. Enoch almost faints. The idea matches the setting pretty well — what would rural America be without skunks?
 Way Station / int_1cb6d160
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Way Station / int_1cb6d160
 Way Station / int_295087bf
type
Non-Indicative Name
 Way Station / int_295087bf
comment
Non-Indicative Name: Shadows. There's nothing shadowy or ghostlike about them, they look quite solid and substantial. It's just a label Enoch invented for imaginary people conjured through thaumaturgical techniques of Alphard XXII.
 Way Station / int_295087bf
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Way Station / int_295087bf
 Way Station / int_31c5e7fb
type
Starfish Aliens
 Way Station / int_31c5e7fb
comment
Starfish Aliens: Seems to have this as the main idea, as there are only two humanoid species, one of which is a race of natural Genetic Adaptation masters who can live anywhere, so they may be not actually humanoid; another has very bizarre alien biology - they prefer to wear their souls on the outside of their bodies, for one.
 Way Station / int_31c5e7fb
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Way Station / int_31c5e7fb
 Way Station / int_32e279c4
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Humans Are Flawed
 Way Station / int_32e279c4
comment
Humans Are Flawed: Too Hot-Blooded and often prejudiced, but nothing that time won't fix.
 Way Station / int_32e279c4
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Way Station / int_32e279c4
 Way Station / int_35022c20
type
No Plans, No Prototype, No Backup
 Way Station / int_35022c20
comment
No Plans, No Prototype, No Backup: The Talisman. All attempts to duplicate it failed.
 Way Station / int_35022c20
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Way Station / int_35022c20
 Way Station / int_393ec3f9
type
Zeerust
 Way Station / int_393ec3f9
comment
Zeerust: The Federation uses engraved metal sheets for record-keeping, and something remarkably similar to a fax machine for interstellar communication. The virtual hunts are non-interactive, and when an enemy kills Enoch, he does not know until the game ends and he checks the film.
 Way Station / int_393ec3f9
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 Way Station / int_393ec3f9
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Way Station / int_393ec3f9
 Way Station / int_401bfa84
type
Immortality Field
 Way Station / int_401bfa84
comment
Immortality Field: The main character is technically immortal (at least immune to age and sicknesses) while he's inside the station's building.
 Way Station / int_401bfa84
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 Way Station / int_401bfa84
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Way Station / int_401bfa84
 Way Station / int_4ef92d0b
type
The Atoner
 Way Station / int_4ef92d0b
comment
The Atoner: This is the first suggestion of the investigator to explain Enoch's oddities: living frugally in an old shack, never entering his house and never leaving the place, despite having means to do so. The first discrepancy is that the shack has no traces of the notebooks and ink Enoch keeps buying.
 Way Station / int_4ef92d0b
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Way Station / int_4ef92d0b
 Way Station / int_53bb70b2
type
Flashback
 Way Station / int_53bb70b2
comment
Flash Back: Most of the first half of the book are Flashback Echos.
 Way Station / int_53bb70b2
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Way Station / int_53bb70b2
 Way Station / int_545d100b
type
Intelligence Equals Isolation
 Way Station / int_545d100b
comment
Intelligence Equals Isolation: Enoch was a man ahead of his time and really open minded. He was ridiculed for that.
 Way Station / int_545d100b
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Way Station / int_545d100b
 Way Station / int_5a22609e
type
Creator Thumbprint
 Way Station / int_5a22609e
comment
Creator Thumbprint: The story is set several miles off Millville, Wisconsin.
 Way Station / int_5a22609e
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Way Station / int_5a22609e
 Way Station / int_5cc25ed
type
Not-So-Imaginary Friend
 Way Station / int_5cc25ed
comment
Not So Imaginary Friends / Tulpa: Enoch learned how to conjure illusionary people he calls "shadows" (despite them looking quite solid and of normal color). They started out as his puppets, but eventually gained personalities and independence. In the end Enoch learned how to make shadow people real, but they all left him, believing a toy and a toymaker cannot forget their mutual past and see each other as equals.
 Way Station / int_5cc25ed
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Way Station / int_5cc25ed
 Way Station / int_5d4be8ab
type
Soulless Bedroom
 Way Station / int_5d4be8ab
comment
Soulless Bedroom: The shed where Enoch supposedly lives. The investigator correctly deduces it is a decoy, but fails to find the door into Enoch's real home.
 Way Station / int_5d4be8ab
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Way Station / int_5d4be8ab
 Way Station / int_5e7eb915
type
Clarke's Third Law
 Way Station / int_5e7eb915
comment
Clarke's Third Law: Outright Magitek in the case of the Shadow Conjuration of Alphard XXII.
 Way Station / int_5e7eb915
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Way Station / int_5e7eb915
 Way Station / int_6bda9a30
type
Meaningful Name
 Way Station / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: Old Testament patriarch Enoch "walked with God: and he was no more; for God took him", which is interpreted as being the first man to enter Heaven after Adam. The apocrypha attributed to Enoch describe heavens. Enoch Wallace is the first man to enjoy the wonders of Galactic Center.
 Way Station / int_6bda9a30
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Way Station / int_6bda9a30
 Way Station / int_7360806f
type
In-Series Nickname
 Way Station / int_7360806f
comment
In-Series Nickname: Ulysses is named after Ulysses S. Grant. His species' naming conventions are too alien for humans to understand.
 Way Station / int_7360806f
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 Way Station / int_7360806f
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Way Station / int_7360806f
 Way Station / int_7913eb6f
type
Healing Hands
 Way Station / int_7913eb6f
comment
Healing Hands: Lucy's talent. Enoch sees her heal a butterfly.
 Way Station / int_7913eb6f
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1.0
 Way Station / int_7913eb6f
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Way Station / int_7913eb6f
 Way Station / int_796fa10c
type
The Ageless
 Way Station / int_796fa10c
comment
The Ageless: Enoch doesn't age while he's inside the station. Which means he only ages 1-2 hours per day or 4-8 years since he got the job. Explained as some kind of Time Dilation Field that only affects aging processes. Rip Van Winkle is mentioned, even.
 Way Station / int_796fa10c
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Way Station / int_796fa10c
 Way Station / int_79a80b74
type
Fair for Its Day
 Way Station / int_79a80b74
comment
Fair for Its Day: In-universe. Enoch always carries a rifle when he leaves his home. It was normal for 1860s, but not for for 1960s. Locals don't care, since he's always been like that, but outsiders are surprised.
 Way Station / int_79a80b74
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Way Station / int_79a80b74
 Way Station / int_7c46c734
type
Common Tongue
 Way Station / int_7c46c734
comment
Common Tongue: Averted, to a degree. All species have their own language, and attempts to create a Conlang aren't that successful, because there are species that don't use sounds to communicate.
 Way Station / int_7c46c734
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Way Station / int_7c46c734
 Way Station / int_7d152a2d
type
Agent Mulder
 Way Station / int_7d152a2d
comment
Agent Mulder: What would you call a CIA agent that goes undercover to check on a rumor about immortals on the hills of Wisconsin?
 Way Station / int_7d152a2d
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 Way Station / int_7d152a2d
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Way Station / int_7d152a2d
 Way Station / int_7d5324cf
type
The Federation
 Way Station / int_7d5324cf
comment
The Federation: The Galactic Centre, which maintains the Portal Network.
 Way Station / int_7d5324cf
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Way Station / int_7d5324cf
 Way Station / int_7e081ea0
type
Slice of Life
 Way Station / int_7e081ea0
comment
Slice of Life: A unique life, though. Much of the novel is Enoch going through his daily routine as a keeper of a Portal Network way station. Then problems start to pile up, namely: a passing traveller dies, a passing mathematician confirms Enoch's calculations about the inevitability of nuclear war, a CIA investigator suggests Enoch abandons the station, Lucy Fischer has troubles at home, and to top it all, the thief tries to hide on Earth with stolen Talisman.
 Way Station / int_7e081ea0
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Way Station / int_7e081ea0
 Way Station / int_8524c217
type
Twinmaker
 Way Station / int_8524c217
comment
Twinmaker: The way teleporters work. All the information is transmitted by faster-than-light radiation together with the soul, the new body is built at destination, and the original body is dissolved in acid.
 Way Station / int_8524c217
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 Way Station / int_8524c217
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Way Station / int_8524c217
 Way Station / int_8618825d
type
Portal Network
 Way Station / int_8618825d
comment
Portal Network: Galactic Center operates it. The reason why they came to Earth is they needed a way station to circumnavigate a dust cloud.
 Way Station / int_8618825d
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 Way Station / int_8618825d
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Way Station / int_8618825d
 Way Station / int_874176be
type
Psychic Powers
 Way Station / int_874176be
comment
Psychic Powers: Lucy. There are also telepathic alien species, although they are stated to be rare. And there's also the hazers, who not only keep contact with members of their families, and know instantly, from light-year distance, when something happens to them, but also can keep the same contact with their frigging corpses
 Way Station / int_874176be
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 Way Station / int_874176be
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Way Station / int_874176be
 Way Station / int_8a1bb4eb
type
Conlang
 Way Station / int_8a1bb4eb
comment
Conlang: The Galactic Gesture language, named Pasimology in story. It is fairly easy to master for humans.
 Way Station / int_8a1bb4eb
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 Way Station / int_8a1bb4eb
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 Way Station
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Way Station / int_8a1bb4eb
 Way Station / int_92a61707
type
The Speechless
 Way Station / int_92a61707
comment
The Speechless: Lucy is mute. And her parents didn't bother to teach her a sign language. Or to write.
 Way Station / int_92a61707
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Way Station / int_92a61707
 Way Station / int_932da128
type
Monster Clown
 Way Station / int_932da128
comment
Monster Clown: Subverted. Ulysses literally looks like this: his mouth without lips looks more of a gaping slash wound than an actual mouth; it's full of shark-like teeth; random colorful spots cover his face. Despite this, he couldn't be further from being a Monster Clown as he's one of the most amicable characters introduced.
 Way Station / int_932da128
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 Way Station / int_932da128
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Way Station / int_932da128
 Way Station / int_9c45b5a2
type
What Measure Is a Non-Human?
 Way Station / int_9c45b5a2
comment
What Measure Is a Non-Human?: Enoch feels closer to Ulysses and any Hazers than to his human neighbors.
 Way Station / int_9c45b5a2
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Way Station / int_9c45b5a2
 Way Station / int_9e1eef4c
type
Always Lawful Good
 Way Station / int_9e1eef4c
comment
Always Lawful Good: The Hazers are described as positively angelic.
 Way Station / int_9e1eef4c
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 Way Station / int_9e1eef4c
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Way Station / int_9e1eef4c
 Way Station / int_a588cd12
type
Cool House
 Way Station / int_a588cd12
comment
Cool House: Nigh indestructible and you don't age inside.
 Way Station / int_a588cd12
featureApplicability
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 Way Station / int_a588cd12
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Way Station / int_a588cd12
 Way Station / int_a7caa5b5
type
First Contact
 Way Station / int_a7caa5b5
comment
First Contact: When Enoch is hired — one of the most mundane first contacts.
 Way Station / int_a7caa5b5
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Way Station / int_a7caa5b5
 Way Station / int_abdf7d09
type
Weirdness Censor
 Way Station / int_abdf7d09
comment
Weirdness Censor: Enoch is barely worth of minor gossiping in his neighborhood. Until he shelters Lucy and the Fishers call for Torches and Pitchforks.
 Way Station / int_abdf7d09
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Way Station / int_abdf7d09
 Way Station / int_acecb17d
type
Chekhov's Skill
 Way Station / int_acecb17d
comment
Chekhov's Skill: Enoch's "rifle range" is a holodeck, where he hunts alien beasts. This proves critical in the penultimate chapter. Lucy's psychic healing talent makes her a good Talisman operator. In a time, when nobody else is fit for this job. And that forces aliens to come out of hiding and start solving Earth problems.
 Way Station / int_acecb17d
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 Way Station / int_acecb17d
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 Way Station
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Way Station / int_acecb17d
 Way Station / int_b04fdcc4
type
Loners Are Freaks
 Way Station / int_b04fdcc4
comment
Loners Are Freaks: The neighbors try to keep their distance from Enoch as much as they can.
 Way Station / int_b04fdcc4
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1.0
 Way Station / int_b04fdcc4
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 Way Station
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Way Station / int_b04fdcc4
 Way Station / int_bd842706
type
Hologram
 Way Station / int_bd842706
comment
Hologram: Alien beasts in Enoch's rifle range.
 Way Station / int_bd842706
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1.0
 Way Station / int_bd842706
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 Way Station
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Way Station / int_bd842706
 Way Station / int_bddb820f
type
Must Have Caffeine
 Way Station / int_bddb820f
comment
Must Have Caffeine: Ulysses has acquired a craving for Earth coffee. He tried to make it grow on his planet, but it doesn't quite taste the same.
 Way Station / int_bddb820f
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Way Station / int_bddb820f
 Way Station / int_c3478f1d
type
Badass Bookworm
 Way Station / int_c3478f1d
comment
Badass Bookworm: Book lover, compulsive writer and amateur philosopher and scientist, but don't forget Enoch is a Civil War Veteran, too.
 Way Station / int_c3478f1d
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 Way Station / int_c3478f1d
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Way Station / int_c3478f1d
 Way Station / int_ce6f28b5
type
Pastoral Science Fiction
 Way Station / int_ce6f28b5
comment
Pastoral Science Fiction: Science fiction set in the countryside in an idyllic rural ambiance. Simak is the Trope Namer, chiefly in describing this book.
 Way Station / int_ce6f28b5
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Way Station / int_ce6f28b5
 Way Station / int_d64827f6
type
Good Hurts Evil
 Way Station / int_d64827f6
comment
Good Hurts Evil: In this case just really scares. Lucy Fisher's father runs away, when the Talisman is activated. Other people's reaction is much milder or completely positive.
 Way Station / int_d64827f6
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Way Station / int_d64827f6
 Way Station / int_deb39de3
type
Bad Future
 Way Station / int_deb39de3
comment
Bad Future: Enoch's calculations show the global war to be unavoidable. The only way to avert it might be a worldwide Mind Wipe.
 Way Station / int_deb39de3
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Way Station / int_deb39de3
 Way Station / int_eb2195d9
type
Rousseau Was Right
 Way Station / int_eb2195d9
comment
Rousseau Was Right: Lucy's disability leads to her having No Social Skills and growing up pure and kind-hearted.
 Way Station / int_eb2195d9
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Way Station / int_eb2195d9
 Way Station / int_eff83d77
type
Mundane Utility
 Way Station / int_eff83d77
comment
Mundane Utility: Besides soaking for decades on the Galaxy's advanced science and philosophy, Enoch uses his extraterrestrial contacts to obtain ...alien timber for woodcarving. It's also mentioned that if he ever lost his human contacts, he could use alien duplication technology to get eggs and ham.
 Way Station / int_eff83d77
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Way Station / int_eff83d77
 Way Station / int_fb76b6ec
type
Kiss Me, I'm Virtual
 Way Station / int_fb76b6ec
comment
Kiss Me, I'm Virtual: Mary, a "conjured shadow", with whom Enoch fell in love. When he found a way to make her solid, she left for good.
 Way Station / int_fb76b6ec
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Way Station / int_fb76b6ec
 Way Station / int_fccd06b6
type
Beware the Nice Ones
 Way Station / int_fccd06b6
comment
Beware the Nice Ones: Enoch is slow to anger, but can be nasty when enraged.
 Way Station / int_fccd06b6
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ItemName
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Way Station

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Way Station
hasFeature
Alien Works / int_2541dd12
 Way Station
hasFeature
Genetic Adaptation / int_2541dd12
 Way Station
hasFeature
Klingons Love Shakespeare / int_2541dd12
 Way Station
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Pastoral Science Fiction / int_2541dd12
 Way Station
hasFeature
Portal Network / int_2541dd12
 Way Station
hasFeature
Soulless Bedroom / int_2541dd12
 Way Station
hasFeature
Southern-Fried Genius / int_2541dd12