Tales From Gavagan's Bar [Hardcover]

Fletcher Pratt (Author), L. Sprague De Camp (Author), Inga (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Twayne Publishers; First Edition edition (1953)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0007DY9WU
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,672,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic short stories in a strange time, the 50's., November 5, 1999

By 

Geoffrey R. Jacks ([e-mail]) (Indiana, U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tales from Gavagan's bar (Hardcover)

Incredible collection of short stories that bend our ear as it bends reality. The perfect combination of "Cheers" and "Twighlight Zone". Light enough reading to be taken anywhere.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining - drinks all on the house!, June 23, 2011

By 

Paul Brooks (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tales from Gavagan's Bar (Paperback)

L. Sprague De Camp (1907-2000) and Fletcher Pratt (1897-1956), two noted science-fiction authors, concocted a number of related fantastical "bar room" stories collected for our enjoyment under the title "Tales From Gavagan's Bar".

The twenty-nine stories, which comprise the entire body of works, were first published between 1950 and 1959; twelve were published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, three in Wierd Tales magazine and two in Fantastic Universe magazine.

Each story begins and ends at Gavagan's Bar. Several of the regular customers will gather - Mr. Witherwax Doc Brenner, Mr. Jeffers order their preferred beverage - Yellow Rattler, Double Zombie, boilermaker with a long shot - all served by Mr. Cohan the bartender and the tales begin. An unfamiliar person with a quandary, an implausible occurrence, a recalcitrant spouse or a mystifying artifact perks the regular's interest and the story unfolds.
One could only wish to slide up to the bar, order you favorite beverage and be able to add an insight, ask a question or just take in the ambience.

After a few rounds the conversation sometimes dispenses some 1950's wit and wisdom such as:

- "Mr. Baggot" I would say to him. Mr. Baggot, one of these fine days you'll be stepping off with some girl yourself and then you'll find out that a man may choose his own wife, but his friends she will pick for him, by God, just to remind him he has a leash around his neck." from "A Dime Brings You Success"

-"What's that smell all of a sudden? It's like a whale died in here, a long time ago" from "Bell, Book and Candle"

-When asked to relate a story a Mr. Medford tells bartender Mr. Cohan "Another one of these - double scotch - I can't fly on one wing". from "Gin Come in Bottles"

-"This Joe was a feeble minded kid; I don't think he ever got beyond third grade and that was in a school for backwards kids". from "Gin Come in Bottles"

The cover of my Bantam paperback states "A round of strange and supernatural anecdotes - it's on the house" I fully agree.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the later imitators and no KEYS needed!, May 19, 2002

By 

Lloyd A. Mcdaniel (Daytona Beach, Fl United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tales from Gavagan's bar (Hardcover)

Far superior to that one trick pony "Spider" Robinson.. no rabbits out of hats, no SUPER group unable to deal with one little old lady next door, no whining, for gohds sake!,... NO WHINING!

Get it, love it, it's a bit dated but at least THIS book is SUPPOSED to be.. [and probably knows it unlike the losers at Callahans who long ago lost their cachet...].