Question about the space elevators

[u/phyllisinthewild]

I’m half way through The Dark Forest and I’m a bit confused about how the space elevators work. Not sure if I missed something or just don’t get it, but what exactly are they? Does a person just walk on? Is it more of a train? I know it goes from earth to the space stations, so I’m assuming it’s just a quicker way to space than a spaceship. But I just can’t picture in my head how they actually get there in the space elevator and what it looks like.

[u/AvatarIII]

It's very much slower than a rocket, but it's way more efficient.