Off the Wall at Callahan's [Paperback]

Spider Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

All the best lines from the Saloon at the far-out edge of space-time!

Off the Wall at Callahan's is a collection of epigrams, maxims, proverbs, observations, eye-watering puns, and original song lyrics distilled from the first five volumes of the Callahan's Place series (from Callahan's Crosstime Saloon to Lady Slings the Booze). After the original Callahan's Place was destroyed, all of these gems were painstakingly deciphered from blown-up old photos of the wall behind the bar, where Callahan let his customers scrawl graffiti in place of the usual mirror. So technically, every word is "off the wall." Further ennobled by numerous interior B&W illustrations by Phil Foglio, there are even capsule bios at the end for every person (real or imaginary) quoted in the graffiti section.

Welcome to Callahan's Crosstime Saloon . . .There's no place like it in this, or any other, universe.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The merciful thing about this book is that no one makes it a secret that it's being done for the money. And that's where the pity ends, as Spider Robinson (yes, he legally changed his name to Spider) takes epigrams and aphorisms rent from their natural environments--generally from his enormously successful club stories about Callahan's Place--and leaves them to stand (or fall) on their own, with the help of some quaint Phil Foglio illustrations. Those who didn't long ago tire of stories about Callahan's Place may glory in this self-indulgence, which Robinson modestly compares favorably to Robert A. Heinlein's The Notebooks of Lazarus Long , Heinlein at least had the integrity to include only quotes from his own works. Robinson, apparently unable to fill a book with the wit and wisdom of Callahan's Place (although the introduction cagily implies that there will be a second volume), includes quotes from varous other sources, including Heinlein, Theodore Sturgeon, Chip Delany, Tom Waits and The Rockford Files . There are two sections of puns, all excerpted from the short stories, and some songs (sans music or even chord sequences) with lyrics such as ``My love is like horniness, in that it never quits, / But I'd love you if you didn't have those tits.'' Several of the epigrams are similarly well-conceived, and a few--unlike The Notebooks of Lazarus Long --are outright mean-spirited. It is difficult to dislike a book by someone who enjoys cunnilingus and Ed McCurdy, but Robinson ( Lady Slings the Booze ) does his damnedest to make this book unappealing.

Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Spider Robinson is the hottest writer to hit science fiction since [Harlan] Ellison."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765310465
• ISBN-13: 978-0765310460
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,746,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The collected sayings, puns and songs of Callahan's Place, February 20, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Off the Wall at Callahan's (Paperback)

Off the wall at Callahan's is a collection of all the best sayings that Mike Callahan collected over the years, some of the worst puns, and the nicest songs. There is also a short foreword by Spider explaining how this book came to be, and an section at the end listing the person who appeared over the various books in the Callahan's Saloon series. The book also features several cute interior illustrations by Phil Foglio, and is printed on acid-free paper (according to the jacket). While this book is NOT a collection of stories as are all the other books in this series, it DOES give valuable background and interesting tidbits. It's probably not a good book to get if you've not read any of the rest of the series, but if you have and liked them, it'll probably appeal to your taste. I liked this book very much myself, but could see where it might not appeal to non Robinson fans

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Warning: This is NOT "The Notebooks of Lazarus Long"., April 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Off the Wall at Callahan's (Paperback)

I was extremely disappointed with this book. I have been a Spider Robinson and Callahan fan since the first book. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations. If you have read the "Callahan's" books, you have seen the good parts of the book (if you haven't, you need to get them right away! They are wonderful!). Most of the book is made up of sayings that are supposed to have been written on the wall of Callahan's Place. If this is all that was written, the wall should have been painted over a long time ago. Save your money, and buy the next Spider Robinson book that should be coming out soon.

2.0 out of 5 stars Why did I get the feeling I waked in on a private party?, January 12, 2009

By 

J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Off the Wall at Callahan's (Paperback)

Right off the bat ,I had never been in Callahan's Place,never even heard of it,never read any of Spider Robinson's books,and since Callahan's was destroyed on New Year's Eve 1984;what we're dealing with here is "a blast from the past".I am sure, if one had ever been there and knew any of the people who hung out there;this book would bring back many fond memories.
However,not ever having been part of the scene;the humor in the book was very bland to me; as I am sure that the characters,the book is all about,is what would give it meaning.
It reminded me of watching home movies;when you didn't know the people;not too interesting.