Enoch Wallace took part in the American Civil War. Today, he lives on his family's farm a solitary existence, and doesn't look to have aged a day. Wallace is responsible for a way station, a stop over point on a galactic transport network that brings him visitors from far and distant planets.

Enoch is a very likeable character. A simple man, he brings an air of personal responsibility. He believes in solving problems on his own means, and keeps a certain honour about himself. Not perfect, by far, but he always strives to learn, having grasped alien languages and branches of advanced off-world mathematics. Very little phases him, and the relationship he has with aliens tends to be one of friendship and comradeship - rarely is he hung up on appearance. Enoch is a wonderful ambassador for the human race.

The story starts following two viewpoints - Enoch and his day to day life, and a CIA operative who has been watching him for many years. Enochs life is simple, and uncomplicated until the operative interferes, kickstarting a series of events that increase in complexity until a crescendo is reached.

The number of books with a genuine "happy ending" that doesn't feel contrived are few and far between. This is one of them, and happily goes on my pile of books to read on a rainy day, or when in a less than superb mood. It's honestly uplifting.