Spider Robinson
The Callahan's Crosstime Saloon Series
This
series is so excellent that I actually went through a phase of truly wanting
to open a saloon just to see if I could make it as cool as Callahan's.
This phase was somewhat deterred by the realization that a) aliens and
time travelers probably would not be quite as likely to drop in on my place,
and b) I'm just not nearly calm and cool and collected enough to handle
the types of things that go on in this joint. Still, a guy can dream, right?
These little collections of short stories (and unfortunately I haven't
been able to get my hands on Time Travelers Strictly Cash yet), are just
incredible. Robinson makes you truly feel for the characters that wander
into Callahan's. Even beyond that, he makes you feel with them.
I'll never forget the moment when I first read the story in which Jake's
Lady Macbeth (read it, you'll understand) is broken, I had tears rolling
down my cheeks. I mean, I love my guitar, but still...
Therein lies Spider Robinson's brilliance, though. He creates a place
that we can all go, and even if we are only there as observers, we feel
truly welcome. The characters are our friends, our drinking mates, and
we can only wish that we could tell them our problems and get their advice.
But we have to be satisfied with hearing their stories (which, truth to
tell, are usually more interesting than mine, at least) and laughing at
their bad (sometimes painful) funs. I think that I can probably live with
that. (Still, Bjorn's Place has a nice ring too it...)
General Comments
Just
one quick one: I actually really enjoyed the books about Lady Sally's as
well and would definitely recommend them, but with a word of warning: these
books tend to take for granted a certain very open-minded (very Heinleinian,
as I'm sure Mr. Robinson would point out) view on sex. If you are not particularly
comfortable with the subject, these may not be your cup of God's Blessing
(and if you don't get that, you should go read Callahan's and worry about
Lady Sally's later).
Memorable Quote (again, there are lots):
From an ergonomic engineering standpoing, the only pardonable object
in the typical human bathroom is the towel rack.
-- Mickey Finn