Customer Reviews

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

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4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Callahan's Crosstime Saloon," by Spider Robinson, is a collection of 9 linked short stories. All are set at the saloon of the title. Callahan's has a colorful collection of regulars and is often visited by aliens, time travelers, and humans with paranormal gifts. The book contains a fascinating introduction by Ben Bova entitled "Spider Robinson: The SF Writer as Empath."

This book is a great blend of humor and science fiction. Robinson puts inventive spins on classic sci-fi themes. He also deals effectively with such down-to-earth issues as war, motherhood, and personal loss. The book is also full of puns--the Callahan's regulars observe a Punday contest.

Along the way Robinson invokes Isaac Asimov and Charles Fort. The book as a whole is grounded by a real compassion for the human (and nonhuman!) condition--this is sci-fi with both brains and heart.

These were the stories that kick-started Robinson's writing career. Originally appearing in Analog, they met such a warm reception and requests for more that Spider was almost forced to oblige, even though these stories have only a bare minimum of that 'hard science' feel that is the normal requisite for stories in that magazine.

The reason these stories got that kind of reception is simply that they deserved it. All happen within the confines of Callahan's bar, a most congenial place that people seem to find just when they need it, for the patrons of this bar are always willing to listen to and help anyone who truly needs it. Fully loaded with humanity even when dealing with aliens out to destroy our world or turn us into their own private feed cattle, these stories are tightly plotted, filled with recognizable people from just down the street, and just wacky enough to engage both your interest and your funny bone. Just to add icing to the cake, most of these stories are also loaded with puns (most especially in those stories that occur on Tuesday night, officially designated PunDay), some of them quite good and original, and guaranteed to raise a groan or two. And then there is Tall Tales Night, where some really, really tall ones get told just as sidelights to the main story.

The stories I liked the best in this collection were "The Time Traveler" which is science fiction only by courtesy, but is a riveting story that may have you reaching for your handkerchief, and "The Law of Conservation of Pain" where science fiction mixes with the world of music in a most painful and joyous manner. These are two of the longest stories here, and Robinson does seem to do better at this length. Some of the shorter length stories, such as "The Centipede Dilemma", depend too much on a single gimmick or idea to be fully satisfying, but the overall level of this collection is very high. And once you have tasted the flavor of Callahan's bar, you'll more than likely wish you had one just like it around your neighborhood. Alas, the supply of Callahans is very limited, but at least you can read more about this fascinating place in all the other Callahan books Spider has published over the years.

I first came across the stories of Spider Robinson's Callahan's Crosstime Saloon while on deployment in the navy. What an eye opener! Talk about something that will grab your imagination and happily drag you into its world. After I finished the first book, I had to find them all. Still can't find off the wall at Callahans but am perseveering. The first thing I thought when I read the time traveler and the descripions of the bar owner, Mike Callahan, and the patrons was that this was what would happen if Cheers did an outer limits type episode. ANd I was hooked!

I first began to collect science fiction and fantasy when I was thirteen years old, and one of my favorite haunts was the old Victory Bar on Cherry Street in Chattanooga. The Victory Bar-- I always called it "the friendly neighborhood bar"-- sold science fiction books and magazines on the side, and its stock of speculative fiction was often better than that of many used bookstores. I would hunker down on the concrete floor, thrilling to the occasional collector's item of _Analog_ or _Amazing_ or _Fantastic Universe_. Behind me, grizzled men would order drinks and make political speeches and swear continuously. The place enchanted me.

I mention this not as an advertisement--the bar has long since been replaced by a parking garage-- nor even as pure nostalgia. But there is a relationship between bars and speculative fiction. It is a common setting in a great many short stories. What are some of the characteristics of the science fictional bar?

Well, to begin with, it is a place somewhat apart from the rest of the world. In his barroom fantasy, "The Hour of Letdown," E.B. White writes that "the saloon shimmered like a ship at sea in calm weather" (127). Arthur C. Clarke, in _Tales from the White Hart_ (1957) refers to his pub as a "microcosm," in but not a part of London. Larry Niven's Draco Tavern is located in Siberia.

The tavern is apart, but not isolated. There are regular customers there, to be sure. But there is room for newcomers as well. The newcomer may rest assured that if he chooses, he may remain anonymous. His name, his reputation, his past-- with all of the mistakes, injustices, and regrets-- can be ignored. But if he chooses, he can reveal his past and sometimes find redemption. Spider Robinson writes that many characters come to Callahan's Saloon because they _need_ to come there. They return as a kind of follow-up therapy once they work their way past their crisis.

The science fictional tavern has a social order to it, and usually that order is presided over by the bartender. There is Drew the Bartender at the White Hart, Mr. Cohan at Gavagan's Bar, and Callahan at the bar with his name. There is Rick Schumann at Draco's. Occasionally, the bartender is a grouch (as in White's "The Hour of Letdown") or a sensitive nonentity (as in Mildred Clingerman's "Stair Trick"). But usually, the bartender is made of more heroic stuff. He presides over the bar like King Arthur presides over the knights of the Round Table. He arbitrates disputes, settles arguments, acts as a counsellor.

Finally, and most fundamentally, the science fictional bar is a magic place. It is a place where we believe that the fantastic can readily occur. It does so in two fundamental ways. The first method is by the science fictional "tall tale," told to the customers by a master raconteur. The foremost example of this approach is Arthur C. Clarke's _Tales from the White Hart_. The second way that the fantastic manifests itself is through events that actually occur in the tavern itself. The Callahan's Tavern stories and the Draco Tavern stories fall into this category. Jake Stonebender, the narrator of the Callahan Place stories, says that "A*N*Y*T*H*I*N*G can happen at Callahan's Place-- and that sooner or later, it probably will" (162).

_Callahan's Crosstime Saloon_ (1977) is the first collection of Callahan stories. It consists of nine stories in all. Five of the stories originally saw the light of day in _Analog_: "The Guy with the Eyes," "The Time-Traveler," "Two Heads are Better Than One," "A Voice is Heard in Ramah," and "Unnatural Causes." One story, "The Law of Conservation of Pain," originally came from _Vertex_. Three stories-- "The Centipede's Dilemma," "Just Dessert," and "Wonderful Conspiracy"-- were written especially for the collection. The last three stories are the least of the lot. They are obviously "filler pieces." They are pleasant in their own ways, but there isn't much story to them.

The remaining six stories are solid and workmanlike. They aren't the best Callahan's Place tales that Robinson wrote. Those can be found in later collections. But they are the first. They set up the tavern for the reader-- its physical appearance, the customs and rituals observed therein, and the marvellous characters: Fast Eddie the piano player, Jake, Long-Drink McGonnigle, the alien Mickey Finn, Doc Watson, and the redoubtable Michael Callahan. Oh, yes, and there are the puns worthy of Ferdinand Feghoot at his most outrageous. Give Callahan's Place a try. If you don't like it... well, there's no hope for you.

I love these Callahan stories. It took me a while to realise why I love them. You see, Callahan's is the current reincarnation of the legendary Inn at the Crossroads. It is a place where travellers and strangers and seekers and lost souls can tell their stories. Nothing is a surprize at Callahans, for anything can happen there. For the price of a drink you can tell your story- and have it respectfully listened to by people who will try to help you if they can- or at least sincerely try to understand. Needless to say, this is not your modern sports bar....

Did I mention that the clientel of Callahan's are not just your ordinary Outsiders? It is not at all uncommon for time travellers, aliens, mutants, to cross the threshold. As long as you don't pull any rough stuff there, all are welcome at Callahan's.

The funny thing is, places like Callahan's do actually exist. You don't find them, or even here about them, unless you really need to find them. They are havens outside the world where good fellowship, respect, and empathy still maintain a toehold in this brave new world.

If you'll excuse me, I feel a need to hurl yet another glass into the fireplace....

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon is a compilation of many stories centered around a backwoods bar named Callahan's. It is here where old friends meet, new friends are made, puns are exchanged, glasses are shattered, healing begins, and the world is saved. Join Jake, Fast Eddie, the Doc, and a slew of other characters as they tell jokes, stories, and make the acquaintainces of some very odd aliens, with equally odd problems. No one just stumbles into Callahan's, you find it.

This collection of short stories remains one of my favorite books. Callahan's is the neighborhood bar that everyone secretly wants to find - regulars are truly family and the focus isn't really drinking. This collection revolves on the notion that people find Callahan's when they need to - when they have a problem and need help solving it. Of course, it's science fiction, so some of the problems are a little unusual. The characters are warm, funny, and very human. I should warn you though that the book is FULL OF PUNS. Overall, the book is well-written and I highly recommend that you buy it. Right now.

I think it's important for you to know that this book is not traditional sci-fi. It's a collection of 9 stories. The setting for all these stories is a local bar run by a guy named Callahan. Like many little bars in fiction (and probably some in real life), there's a collection of regulars who treat each other like family. Newcomers are welcome to hang out for an evening or to join the cast of regulars. Most choose to come back again and again.

Typically, as a new person introduces himself to the group, they relate their life story. Let me tell you, at Callahan's, EVERYONE's got a story. It's these stories that give the place life. The bar is only as interesting as the people who frequent it.

Despite the cover of the copy I read, only 2 of the stories deal with aliens. The rest deal with people who are basically just people. 1 or 2 of them have special circumstances that are typically only found in sci-fi. But otherwise, the stories could happen in any genre of literature.

For that reason, this would be a good introduction to sci-fi for readers who don't typically like the genre. As long as they can think outside of the box, they should like most of the stories.

Mainly, I wanted to write this review to counter the quotes I read about it. The descriptions I read made it sound like characters from all through history would bump into each other in this bar and then return to their own spot in time or the universe. It's not like that. With one exception, everyone who walks through the door of Callahan's exists on Long Island in 1974 (or thereabouts). They may have lived longer than is typical or they may have begun their life on another planet, but they are currently living on Earth in our time period (with the one exception). I hope that doesn't give too much away, but I think the descriptions really give the wrong impression. I envisioned that a Regency era highwayman would be engaged in an argument with a Greek philosopher at one corner of the bar while Attila the Hun and Ramses II arm wrestled at the other. Yeah, that's not even close to what this book is about. (Though maybe I should write that book.) This book is more "mundane" but much more real. Less gimmick and more heart.

I started reading the Callahan's stories in Analog. This book was the start of collecting them into books. I enjoyed each of the stories in this book and I really would not mind finding Callahan's in real life.

Somewhere in Suffolk County, NY is a little place you will find if you need to, it's where you share your pain and joy, it's a place where every drink costs 50 cents, for the extra change you can toe the chalk line and throw your glass into the fireplace and make a toast so you can talk about your problem. It's Callahan's Place and you can join the regulars Fast Eddie, Tommy Janssen, Doc Webster, Long-Drink McGonnigle, and the author's self projection Jake Stonebender. Order your drink from Mike Callahan or Tom Hauptman and settle in for a night of comradarie. This book's a collection of nine short stories originally written for Analog magazine. Good stories only lightly bordering the SF line to some people's dismay.

First off you meet Mickey Finn, proving humans aren't the only one's going to Callahan's. What's an alien to do when he's here to spy on earth for annihilation. Second is a different take on time travel with the introduction of Tom Hauptman and future shock. Thirdly, how do you stop a telekinetic from cheating at darts? Fourth, it's tall tale night at Callahan's and the regulars spin some yarns, but then enters Jim who has to deal with head games with his brother Paul. Fifth, Fill-More night brings out a more conventional time traveller with a story of lost beauty. Sixth, how to deal with a practical joker. Seventh, it's rare when a woman comes to Callahan's and Rachel has shown up; what's a 232 year old woman to do for a legacy? Coming in next, a second story involving an alien seeking absolution, what are we to do upon finding out a non-violent alien race has been manipulating human progress for several millenia for their own needs? And lastly, more of a wrap up story on another place similar to Callahan's called The Farm.

Some stories are better than others but overall, they are all readable and you'll probably want to read more about Callahan's Place where everyone will know your sorrow.