Customer Reviews

The Crazy Years

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thhis collection of Spider's Columnns [not previously seen in the US] is a wonderful collation of his wit, predictions, and social observations.

It is a reflection of the "interesting times" in which we live that Spider's collection of common sense essays are viewed by some as controversial.

The subjects range from pro-cigarette diatribes (nicotine is addictive but harmless, while tars are harmful but not addictive), marijuana (good), politics (bad), religion, Hollywood, global warming, computers, pre-emptive wars, the natural moral superiority of Canadians... All stuff you'd expect from his novels, which touch on such everyday morality but never really come out and slap it on the counter.

Here, Spider brings the fish out from its display case.

It's a brave move, prairie-dogging in the shooting gallery*. Lesser men have lost ears, and you won't be hearing from THEM again. But Spider (despite his name) has some kind of aversion to webs of deceit ("What kind of spider understands arachnaphobia," sang Robert Wyatt) and insists on "telling it like it is" -- despite the fact that right this minute Valentine Michael Smith is probably testing the grandfather paradox with Winston Smith.

What was it Yossarian said? When everyone around you is crazy, acting sane is the best way to get put away (or something like that... ask Klinger).


* - I never metaphor I didn't like, sorry.

*** Spider Robinson has established a reputation as being one of the masters of science fiction, and here he proves Andrew Greeley's point that sci fi and fantasy writers are the philosophers of the modern world. His collected essays, ranging from the rigors of nicotine withdrawal, the variations of stupidity, and the differences between Canadians and Americans, particularly in politeness often amuse, when not hitting too close to home. His wit runs from dry to laugh out loud, yet the one true drawback of this book is that the more agnostic moments will most likely disturb or even offend those who do have faith. At these points, the best advice to readers is to pick out the bones, but keep the fish. ***


Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

I've always enjoyed Spider Robinson's work. Here, we have a collection of columns published over the years that reflect his sense, his humor and his mass of insights. His philosopher side shows through with great talent and strength; I refer to this one often when I'm feeling a bit off. Wisdom doesn't have to be ancient to be true:)

While I don't agree with Spider Robinson on most things political, I enjoy reading him because he never wastes my time. His writing is concise, his opinions clear, his energy evident.

I finally got around to reading (part of) this collection of some of his columns for the Toronto Globe and Mail. I used to really enjoy Spider's book reviews, and I like the capsule reviews (usually for music) that he slips into his fiction, or afterwords, or whatever. Unfortunately, this collection is basically Spider's views on politics, life and such, which I didn't find very interesting or readable. And column collections always suffer from short shelf-life -- many of the older ones here are pretty dated. YMMV, but not of much interest for me. I note that the Globe & Mail has since dropped his column.

Happy reading (something else?)--
Peter D. Tillman