Customer Reviews

Off the Wall at Callahan's

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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

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.

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.

youll want 2. one to read and keep the other to pull out the really good ones and put on your wall.

This is not a story book. It is a collection of the writings on the wall at Callahan's, as well as some puns and stories added. If you love Callahan, you will love this. If you don't love this book, then you don't love the Callahan series. It's really as simple as that.

[..]

I have loved the Callahan books since I first read Time Travelers Strictly Cash, but this was a disappointment. The problem is that although much of it is amusing, it contains aphorisms that could lead to disaster if actually followed. The assertion that children should be allowed to have "play sex" is a case in point: how do you define "children"? I cringe to think of the increase in AIDS and other STDs in teenagers and even subteens--and if you think the latter is stretching it too far, I know a man who is 54 and whose oldest daughter is 43. I don't wish I hadn't ought it, because if I hadn't I'd always wonder what was in it, but there are a few too many things I wish Robinson had left out.