The Callahan Chronicals

By: Spider Robinson

Narrated by: Barrett Whitener

This omnibus edition contains the trio of books that introduced the world to Mike Callahan, Jake Stonebender, Doc Webster, Mickey Finn, Fast Eddie Costigan, Long-Drink McGonnigle, Ralph Von Wau Wau, and the rest of the regulars of Callahan's Place, in the stories that helped Spider Robinson to win both a John W. Campbell Award and a legion of fans.

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon is the neighborhood tavern to all of time and space, where the regulars are anything but. These time travelers, talking dogs, alcoholic vampires, and cybernetic aliens really, truly care about each other. It's the rare kind of place where bad puns are as appreciated as good conversation.

Time Travelers Strictly Cash is their policy. Lay your money on the bar, name your poison, step up to the line drawn on the barroom floor, and after drinking make a toast and throw the glass into the fireplace. It's an odd tradition but one that's led to some interesting stories.

Callahan's Secret may be something even the regulars would never guess. Then again, it may be as simple as listening to those post-toast stories. After all, like Callahan says, shared pain is lessened and shared joy is increased, a simple concept that could, after a few drinks, lead to saving the world.

©1997 Spider Robinson (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Robinson is the hottest writer to hit science fiction since Ellison, and he can match the master's frenetic energy and emotional intensity, arm-break for gut-wrench." (Los Angeles Times)
"Tall tales....fine and funny....A significant achievement for light humor!" (Houston Post)

Wow!

Although I love science fiction, I don't read just everything and that's my only excuse for not having found Calahan's before. There are a lot of in jokes, many of which I get. This is for people who don't mind thinking about what they heard. I agree with a previous reviewer that the lack of breaks between stories is mildly irritating. The biggest drawback I had was that if I were reading it would be easy to go back over things like some of the riddles. Maybe Audible could have a link to an online addendum for visual jokes and riddles. The sections are wonderfully set up for the beginning of each story. There is a dark section that I might not listen to each time. You can't help but care about the characters. I will definately buy everything that Audible offers, and maybe even buy the books as well. Advantage to the audio version in that we get to hear a couple of the songs instead of just reading them. I guess that balances out not being able to see the riddles.

Consider that Heinlein's estate has chosen to allow Spider to write a book which was completely outlined and populated with characters but never actually fleshed out into a book. So this guy is good enough to be Heinlein's co-author.

Oyrish?

Great book, well read... except what's with the narrator's Irish (Peruvian? Romanian?) accent? It is, without doubt, the worst attempt I've ever heard. And I've heard Jonathan Frakes try and sound like Scotty...

I loved this, and now I am a member of a family

this book has me wrapped up, laughing, sighing, reflective, saddened, but completely attached the whole way through. Oh man what a ride. I got the next set first, then had to stop mid story to get this one so I could fully understand everything. IT was well worth the credit. I'm probably going to listen again. New fan and family member to this rag tag group and loving it

Great listen

Having read all of Robinson's Callahan books from this one through Callahan's Key (available here on Audible), it was a pleasure to revisit these stories where the Callahan legend begins. New readers should not beleive Robinson when he says in the Forward (or "Backward" as he calls it) that there will be no more Callahan stories. He went on to write a number of other Callahan books between this one and "Key". They are all just as fun.

My only beef is with the narrator. The book is made up not so much of chapters as with interrelated short stories, yet the narrator makes the transition from the end of one into the beginning of the next without so much as a pause for a breath.

With luck, Robinson and Audible will see fit to add all the intervening books that fall between this one and Callahans Key.

If you are a fan of Science Fiction, Mysteries, puns, riddles, tall tales and just plain good story telling, I highly recommend this book.

Simply the best story

thisbwas simply the best story I have ever come across. I am almost ashamed thatbit took me this long to find it. I have friends that I know must have read it and I can see the effects that it has had on them and I now know them better. I need a punday and a tall tail day in my life.

a place to be merry

What made the experience of listening to The Callahan Chronicals the most enjoyable?

Have never read any Spider before but the puns and Heinleinesk writing style suits me just fine.

Wonderfull

Having read the first 3 of the series it was great to sit back and hear them again. I don't understand the bad revues. You weren't misled you just don't get it. Too bad!