I re-read this book a lot. This and most of the rest in this series, of which this particular book is the 4th. I think.If I ever were to meet Spider Robinson in person, I would kiss him full on the lips and probably weep. While the series ran out of steam after awhile (see the less-than delightful Lady Slings the Booze for reference), the Callahan's Place and Lady Sally books were top-notch escapism for me growing up. Hell, their top-notch escapism currently. Intelligent, thoughtful books about humor and love. They formed (or helped to form) my opinions on both sex and alcohol. The books also made me feel not so alone. I'm sort of weird, but everyone in the books is pretty weird and not disliked for it. Even when I was athletically "skinny," I was still a broad-shoulders, round-hipped and full-breasted big girl, and the supposedly sexiest woman in the whole series is written as an Irish girl who runs 250 pounds if she is an ounce. I'm a balance-craving pacifist, and these books are about striking balance as a way to achieve peace.These books are full of puns and puzzles and world history, and usually in a way which manages to teach the reader about word play and human history without ever dropping the gentle assumption that everyone already knows all this stuff. Never condescending but never unintelligibly intellectual, either.The series can sometimes get a little self-congratulatory. A little contrived and pretentious, sure. But if those are the worst faults you come across in the whole series, that's still not too bad.
I fully admit to having a weakness for light, comic science fiction, as well as short stories that center around a bar or other cozy sort of spot where regulars congregate (Arthur C. Clarke's Tales From The White Hart leaps to mind) and this ticks all the boxes. I'm sorry I had to start with the last book in what the author swears isn't a trilogy, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. I definitely want to go back and read the first two.NB: This book features some shockingly bad puns. Fair warning.
What do You think about Callahan's Secret (2002)?
The last in the trilogy about Callahan's. Puns are prevalent, and as a reader, they don't have any appeal for me. Some of Robinson's seem particularly tortured, so the extent where I was sounding them out out loud to try and get the joke. Since I read the trilogy in the omnibus edition, I might have also been reaching my limit on Callahan's bar."The Blacksmith's Tale," kind of a love story, unusual in the group. Poignant twist and philosophical musing. Quite emotionally wrenching. "Pyotr's Story" had an interesting urban fantasy twist. There's a wake for the guitar Lady Macbeth, and Pyotr has to ferry more drunks home than usual. Clever twist.In the edition I had, there's a short author interlude here discussing puns and a reader contest."Involuntary Man's Laughter" is partly set on Punday night--be warned. The bar gets together to solve the problems of a man with a speech problem."In the Mick of Time" a great secret of Callahan's comes out. Feels a little preachy and contrived. Closer to novella.
—Carol.
The third book in the Callahan's Crosstime Saloon series, it is on par with the other Callahan's books and an enjoyable read. What I like about the Callahan books is that he preaches through laughter. I had the honor of sitting down and talking to Spider at Tri*No*Con in 2005 and we found we had a couple friends in common. He is one of the most unassuming, friendly authors I've ever met. He seems to constantly be surprised at his celebrity. About the only thing I didn't like that he did was to finish off two of Heinlein's posthumous books. But I digress.If you want a funny, thought-provoking, smooth read, pick up all the Callahan books. You won't be disappointed.
—Jack
