The Callahan Chronicals, or Callahan and Company
by Spider Robinson
Callahan's (Collections and Selections — Omnibus 1-3)
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This omnibus edition contains the trilogy of science fiction books that introduced the world to Mike Callahan and all of the regulars at Callahan’s Place. Callahan’s Crosstime Saloonis the neighborhood tavern to all of time and space, where the regulars are anything but. These time travelers, talking dogs, alcoholic vampires, and cybernetic aliens really, truly care about each other. It’s the rare kind of place where bad puns are as appreciated as good conversation. Time Travelers show more Strictly Cash is their policy, but then again everybody pays cash at Callahan’s. Lay your money on the bar, name your poison, step up to the line drawn on the barroom floor, and after drinking make a toast and throw the glass into the fireplace. It’s an odd tradition but one that’s led to some interesting stories. And don’t worry about the cost—Callahan gets his glasses at bulk discount. Callahan’s Secret may be one that nobody—not even the regulars—would guess, or it may be as simple as listening to all those post-toast stories. After all, shared pain is lessened and shared joy is increased—a simple concept that could, after a few drinks, lead to saving the world. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
There's a place out on Route 25A in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York; a unique tavern, indeed, but you couldn't tell by looking at it. Oh sure, the jumble of parked cars out front would seem a little odd, like a bumper cars rally frozen in time, or the fact that there was no mirror behind the bar like you'd see in any other drinking institution.
But that's all superficial and easily explained. What makes this institution so very special would require you to spend some time seated at the bar or one of the tables, enjoying a drink made with care and professionalism, before understanding dawned on you.
You see, this place you've found out on 25A (or wherever you are) - and you can only find it when you need to - is Callahan's Place: a show more cross-time saloon and interstellar stop-over frequented by the kindest, nicest, most loyal group of regulars in the whole wide world...and far, far beyond.
There's a motto the folks at Callahan's believe in: "Shared pain is lessened, shared joy is increased." And two rules scrupulously followed: 1)Don't ask prying questions. 2)If a problem is shared, whoever's listening does all they can to help solve the problem.
Come pay a visit to Callahan's and meet the most bizarre blend of barflies you're likely to meet...and never forget. show less
But that's all superficial and easily explained. What makes this institution so very special would require you to spend some time seated at the bar or one of the tables, enjoying a drink made with care and professionalism, before understanding dawned on you.
You see, this place you've found out on 25A (or wherever you are) - and you can only find it when you need to - is Callahan's Place: a show more cross-time saloon and interstellar stop-over frequented by the kindest, nicest, most loyal group of regulars in the whole wide world...and far, far beyond.
There's a motto the folks at Callahan's believe in: "Shared pain is lessened, shared joy is increased." And two rules scrupulously followed: 1)Don't ask prying questions. 2)If a problem is shared, whoever's listening does all they can to help solve the problem.
Come pay a visit to Callahan's and meet the most bizarre blend of barflies you're likely to meet...and never forget. show less
For a second I thought the title was misspelled... then I realized it was a pun. Ha. This is a bind-up of Spider Robinson's first three Callahan's Place books. There's plenty of puns abound, and several spinoffs, including Sally's Place (which I heartily recommend)
The three books in this set can be read by themselves, without needing to read any of the spinoffs or continuations because of how the third book ended. This is light/fun science fiction, with some fantastic and creative stories and puns. Highly recommended for those who like light/funny SF.
The three books in this set can be read by themselves, without needing to read any of the spinoffs or continuations because of how the third book ended. This is light/fun science fiction, with some fantastic and creative stories and puns. Highly recommended for those who like light/funny SF.
This is actually the complete tales from three books featuring one of my favorite places in the galaxy (or would be if it existed), Callahan's Crosstime Saloon. These were actually mostly published as a series of short stories, but the continuity is consistent and they work as a novel. Callahan's is a place where talking dogs and little green men hoist a tall cool one with time travelers and ethical vampires, where they let you smash your glass in the fireplace and where some of the most atrocious puns in the universe are told. It is a place that is almost impossible to find until you have need of it, and then if you are accepted as a regular it is the most convivial place in the universe. A genuine tour-de-force by one of science show more fiction's unique talents. Reading these tales is sure to make one more sanguine about the future of multiculturalism. show less
This collection of short stories creates a world within a neighborhood pub. Callahan's place is like a sci-fi version of cheers. Everyone wants to hear your troubles and share their own. The regulars want to help with whatever you're going through - even if that means saving the known universe from an alien invasion or just getting you drunk after a bad breakup.
In general, I feel that science fiction doesn't age well. That is certainly true of this short story collection, but I still enjoyed reading it. Light-hearted, fun, and ever hopeful, these stories still amuse and warm the heart.
In general, I feel that science fiction doesn't age well. That is certainly true of this short story collection, but I still enjoyed reading it. Light-hearted, fun, and ever hopeful, these stories still amuse and warm the heart.
I got what I needed from Callahan’s Place
I’m pretty sure it was Ben Laifsky who took me to Callahan’s Place the first time. We were sophomores in high school, and he loaned me Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon. And I continued reading Callahan’s stories and Spider Robinson for many years to come. It wasn’t the (fortunately light) science fiction elements of the stories that were the appeal. For me, it was all about the humor, bad puns and all.
Having stumbled across this omnibus collection of the earliest Callahan’s stories (comprised of the books Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon, Time Travelers Strictly Cash, and Callahan’s Secret) during an audible.com $5 sale, I couldn’t resist the impulse purchase and revisiting with these show more old friends. For the past few months I listened to one a night as a bedtime story before falling asleep, and I can think of worse ways to end the day.
The jokes really are pretty bad, but then they’re advertised as such. In Callahan’s, Robinson created a place where everybody not only knows your name, but your entire life story. And they’re pretty much guaranteed to love you unconditionally and fix all of your problems. What’s not to like? Did I happen to mention the aliens, time travelers, and talking dog?
That said, I can’t claim the same affection for these stories that I once had. For starters, references to Nixon and Vietnam were dated when I first read these stories in the early 80’s, but now they’re positively period pieces! It’s a little weird to realize just how much time has passed since these were written. They have not aged like a fine wine. Also, and this is sad, but the oft repeated mantra “shared pain is lessened, while shared joy increased,” might have seemed profound when I was 14, but today seems simplistic.
Clearly revisiting these stories was not unpleasant, or I would not have listened to Barrett Whitener’s broad comic performance for 17 hours. Still, I doubt I’ll feel the need to read or listen to these stories again. On the other hand, I see that Robinson has continued writing several new Callahan’s novels in recent years that I’ve never seen. Perhaps I’ll give one of them a look the next time I’m feeling nostalgic. show less
I’m pretty sure it was Ben Laifsky who took me to Callahan’s Place the first time. We were sophomores in high school, and he loaned me Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon. And I continued reading Callahan’s stories and Spider Robinson for many years to come. It wasn’t the (fortunately light) science fiction elements of the stories that were the appeal. For me, it was all about the humor, bad puns and all.
Having stumbled across this omnibus collection of the earliest Callahan’s stories (comprised of the books Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon, Time Travelers Strictly Cash, and Callahan’s Secret) during an audible.com $5 sale, I couldn’t resist the impulse purchase and revisiting with these show more old friends. For the past few months I listened to one a night as a bedtime story before falling asleep, and I can think of worse ways to end the day.
The jokes really are pretty bad, but then they’re advertised as such. In Callahan’s, Robinson created a place where everybody not only knows your name, but your entire life story. And they’re pretty much guaranteed to love you unconditionally and fix all of your problems. What’s not to like? Did I happen to mention the aliens, time travelers, and talking dog?
That said, I can’t claim the same affection for these stories that I once had. For starters, references to Nixon and Vietnam were dated when I first read these stories in the early 80’s, but now they’re positively period pieces! It’s a little weird to realize just how much time has passed since these were written. They have not aged like a fine wine. Also, and this is sad, but the oft repeated mantra “shared pain is lessened, while shared joy increased,” might have seemed profound when I was 14, but today seems simplistic.
Clearly revisiting these stories was not unpleasant, or I would not have listened to Barrett Whitener’s broad comic performance for 17 hours. Still, I doubt I’ll feel the need to read or listen to these stories again. On the other hand, I see that Robinson has continued writing several new Callahan’s novels in recent years that I’ve never seen. Perhaps I’ll give one of them a look the next time I’m feeling nostalgic. show less
Reading this was an odd experience for me; a lot of it felt hackneyed, until I realized that that was because it had been so influential over the past forty years. The first two stories in the collection are the most important, especially the one that discusses the idea of "time traveling the hard way". The 1970s eastern mystical transcendentalism becomes obvious in the last story, but otherwise these tales are not at all dated. I'd recommend reading this in the bath with a beer if only because of the amount of influence this volume has exerted over modern speculative fiction.
I figured it was time to revisit some old favorites and Callahan's Saloon seemed like a good place to start. I've missed Jake, the Doc, Fast Eddie, and Callahan, himself, and the others, so it was nice just listen to some truly awful puns and fun storytelling. The riddles in book two don't quite work in audio format, but otherwise, not bad as an audio book.
>Steps up to the chalkline with a glass of Shirley Temple and holds it up: to some wonderful memories of the past! Drinking off the rest of the glass, I raise my arm and throw the glass dead center of the fireplace. Smashing glass has a wonderfully satisfying sound, doesn't it?
>Steps up to the chalkline with a glass of Shirley Temple and holds it up: to some wonderful memories of the past! Drinking off the rest of the glass, I raise my arm and throw the glass dead center of the fireplace. Smashing glass has a wonderfully satisfying sound, doesn't it?
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Science fiction author Spider Robinson was born in the Bronx, New York on November 24, 1948. He received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the State University of New York. He began writing professionally in 1972 and has won numerous awards including three Hugos, one Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. He is best known for show more his Callahan stories and for the Stardance Sequence, which he co-wrote with his wife Jeanne Robinson. He was selected by the Heinlein Prize Trust to write Variable Star, a novel based on a 1955 outline created by Robert A. Heinlein. He also worked as a book reviewer for Galaxy, Analog, and New Destinies magazines and his opinion column Future Tense has appeared in The Globe and Mail since 1996. In 2001, he released Belaboring the Obvious, a CD featuring original music. He currently lives in Bowen Island, Brisith Columbia, Canada with his wife. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Contains
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Callahan Chronicals, or Callahan and Company
- Original publication date
- 1989
- People/Characters
- Mike Callahan; Jake Stonebender
- Important places
- Callahan's Place; Long Island, New York, USA; New York, USA; USA
- Epigraph
- ‘There is nothing which has been contrived by man by which so much happiness has been produced as by a good tavern or inn.’
Samuel Johnson - Dedication
- To Ben Bova, Jim Baen, Eleanor Wood and Susan Allison
- First words
- Books get written for the darnedest reasons.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)‘I know dere’s a couple hours ta go yet – but Happy New Year.’
- Publisher's editor
- Frenkel, James
- Disambiguation notice
- Callahan's Crazy Crosstime Bar is a different work to The Callahan Chronicals / Callahan and Company. The former contains a selection of Callahan stories from the first three volumes in the series, the latter collects all of ... (show all)them.
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- Reviews
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- Rating
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- English
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- ISBNs
- 11
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