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Callahan's #7
Callahan's Legacy
Twenty years since Spider Robinson first revealed the existence of Callahan's Place, the original bar is gone. Mike Callahan is gone, too, but his spirit lives on in the new bar, named Mary's Place for his daughter. On this particular day, nothing seems to be going right for Jake Stonebender, proprietor of Mary's Place. First a huge storm rips the roof off the bar--and moments later, drops another, better roof on it. Then, Mary Callahan and her husband show up, unconscious, literally out of nowhere, and they bring bad news to the a nasty three-eyed, three-toed, three-everythinged purple monster is going to descend upon them within mere hours. Through laughter and tears, with puns powerful enough to melt Formica, the most famous bar in all spacetime is going to rock this night. But will the Earth survive?
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
20 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
About the author
Spider Robinson
197 books674 followersSpider Robinson is an American-born Canadian Hugo and Nebula award winning science fiction author. He was born in the USA, but chose to live in Canada, and gained citizenship in his adopted country in 2002.
Robinson's writing career began in 1972 with a sale to Analog Science Fiction magazine of a story entitled, The Guy With The Eyes. His writing proved popular, and his first novel saw print in 1976, Telempath. Since then he has averaged a novel (or collection) a year. His most well known stories are the Callahan saloon series.
Robinson's writing career began in 1972 with a sale to Analog Science Fiction magazine of a story entitled, The Guy With The Eyes. His writing proved popular, and his first novel saw print in 1976, Telempath. Since then he has averaged a novel (or collection) a year. His most well known stories are the Callahan saloon series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 19, 2022
One thing that's resulted from my on-and-off cataloguing of my books on Goodreads is that I've noted a few holes, and this one is a prime example. I was looking down the list of Robinson books and saw that I'd only listed eight of the nine Callahan books and deduced that I'd somehow missed this one entirely. I picked up a nice first edition copy for significantly less than I could have when it was new. The first Callahan stories appeared almost fifty years ago in Analog, and the schoolboy me really loved them. I read the books as they appeared over the years, as Callahan's Place became Mary's Place and finally The Place and enjoyed them very much. The current me is much less innocently hopeful and cheery and somewhat more discerning and critical, but I still enjoyed revisiting Jake and his friends. On the plus side, there are a lot of clever puns and wordplay, likable and interesting characters, some challenging social ideas, and a fun romp. On the other hand, some of those social ideas are pretty offensive, the dialog is unconvincing (they always know the right thing to say and the right way to say it, so it frequently sounds rehearsed; I appreciate he was channeling Heinlein, but still...), there's not enough of a plot to make up a full novel so there's a lot of backstory and recap and the puns begin to sound like filler (I believe the best Callahan's stories are the shorter ones at the beginning of the series), and the ending is just a silly thump that doesn't fit with the rest of the book at all. There are some references that date the story very badly, particularly in the computer technology area, but there were some great jokes and a few very touching scenes. Fun, but definitely not a good jumping on point for the series.
February 11, 2020
2.5 stars
Suffice it to say that if you like Robinson’s Callahan novels, you will like this one. This offering was perhaps a bit better than the previous volumes or perhaps the series is growing on me (like a fungus). Something about Robinson’s voice in these books irritates the shit out of me--to me he sounds rather smugly self-satisfied. I hope that I’m wrong on that, but that’s my experience.
This story hasn’t aged well, being specific about certain computer and internet details as it is. It is definitely a creature of 1996. Also, be prepared for a LOT of pun-ishment. The puns are a characteristic of this series, but if you are allergic to this form of humour you may wish to pop an antihistamine before wading in.
Book number 354 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy reading project.
Suffice it to say that if you like Robinson’s Callahan novels, you will like this one. This offering was perhaps a bit better than the previous volumes or perhaps the series is growing on me (like a fungus). Something about Robinson’s voice in these books irritates the shit out of me--to me he sounds rather smugly self-satisfied. I hope that I’m wrong on that, but that’s my experience.
This story hasn’t aged well, being specific about certain computer and internet details as it is. It is definitely a creature of 1996. Also, be prepared for a LOT of pun-ishment. The puns are a characteristic of this series, but if you are allergic to this form of humour you may wish to pop an antihistamine before wading in.
Book number 354 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy reading project.
December 27, 2018
Skim through for the 40-odd pages of new material, the other 180 pages are repetitious recaps, rehashes, and recycles.
August 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book at first. It was witty and open minded despite the era it was written in. The setting is really intriguing and drew me in. A bar that draws in customers from all over this dimension and others.
Even with it being a much later entry it was the earliest one in the series I could get access to and despite that I could enjoy the world and references to past books because of the story telling style and it all being enjoyably absurd.
But there is a section where a character tells us the story of his early life as a child which led to him having sex with his sleeping guardian at the age of 13 and then again with consent a few months later.I won't go on and on about what happened next but events lead to the boy now man making the argument for adults being allowed to have sex with children only backing down by saying as long as the world won't accept it , it should never happen.
I'm fine with reading things that make me uncomfortable but the way this book is written with the theme of understanding each other and mixed with the argument being left the way it was I can't suggest it. I now own other works from the author because I was excited by the main concept and liked the cover art. I'm undecided if I want to continue reading his work.
Even with it being a much later entry it was the earliest one in the series I could get access to and despite that I could enjoy the world and references to past books because of the story telling style and it all being enjoyably absurd.
But there is a section where a character tells us the story of his early life as a child which led to him having sex with his sleeping guardian at the age of 13 and then again with consent a few months later.I won't go on and on about what happened next but events lead to the boy now man making the argument for adults being allowed to have sex with children only backing down by saying as long as the world won't accept it , it should never happen.
I'm fine with reading things that make me uncomfortable but the way this book is written with the theme of understanding each other and mixed with the argument being left the way it was I can't suggest it. I now own other works from the author because I was excited by the main concept and liked the cover art. I'm undecided if I want to continue reading his work.
May 12, 2016
I got in trouble reading this book in high school. It was English class and we were supposed to be playing scrabble. I was frustrated by the other students taking half the class looking through the dictionary to find a word to play. So I read.
I was sent to the principal's office. He asked me why I was there, and I told him. He questioned the teacher as to why it was important to play scrabble. She told him it was to build our vocabulary. I replied that I was reading. She didn't get it.
The next time I was sent to the office, he told me to go to the library.
None of that has anything to do with the book, but that's why I remember it. I know I enjoyed it for what it was, but jumping into a series, especially one based off a previous series, isn't a great way to get started.
The first Callahan book is on my list of ones to read. I suspect that when I get back around to this one, I'll enjoy it more. But I will never enjoy it as much as I enjoyed going to the library instead of the principal's office.
I was sent to the principal's office. He asked me why I was there, and I told him. He questioned the teacher as to why it was important to play scrabble. She told him it was to build our vocabulary. I replied that I was reading. She didn't get it.
The next time I was sent to the office, he told me to go to the library.
None of that has anything to do with the book, but that's why I remember it. I know I enjoyed it for what it was, but jumping into a series, especially one based off a previous series, isn't a great way to get started.
The first Callahan book is on my list of ones to read. I suspect that when I get back around to this one, I'll enjoy it more. But I will never enjoy it as much as I enjoyed going to the library instead of the principal's office.
May 7, 2021
Full of one liners, puns, and various word games. Sometimes funny, sometimes groaners. It reads like a bit -- like someone's standup routine. During the course of the events in this book, a character presents a full argument in favour of consensual sex between children and adults. I'm still disturbed by this. In the end the character comes down against such a thing, but still the argument was long and considered. I can't get past it. I won't read anything else by this author because if it.
December 21, 2007
After getting part of the way thru Callahan's Con - I realized that I had only a dim memory of the previous books... in checking my bookshelf, I found I had copies of Callahan's Key and Callahan's Touch, but not this one, so I checked it out from the library.
I wasn't missing much. It was a better book than Con was, but that's not saying a whole lot. In this installment, Zoey Berkowitz Stonebender is 9 1/2 months pregnant, and Mary and Mickey show up with a Scout on their tail. So, once again, the Gang has to save the world while dealing with an impending birth. Solace (the Internet made sentient) plays a fairly major part - and the back stories of a couple of original Callahanians (Doc, Long-Drink and Fast Eddie) are told - one of which was pretty damned hard for me to read.
Again - this is not the book to pick up if you're new to the Callahan's series - start at the beginning with Callahan's Crosstime Saloon. Spider explores a couple of interesting concepts and inflicts some really awful puns in this book - but he's not writing as well as he can. Library or used book recommendation at best.
Great review by Tasha Robinson. She says what I wanted to say, but couldn't find the words.
I wasn't missing much. It was a better book than Con was, but that's not saying a whole lot. In this installment, Zoey Berkowitz Stonebender is 9 1/2 months pregnant, and Mary and Mickey show up with a Scout on their tail. So, once again, the Gang has to save the world while dealing with an impending birth. Solace (the Internet made sentient) plays a fairly major part - and the back stories of a couple of original Callahanians (Doc, Long-Drink and Fast Eddie) are told - one of which was pretty damned hard for me to read.
Again - this is not the book to pick up if you're new to the Callahan's series - start at the beginning with Callahan's Crosstime Saloon. Spider explores a couple of interesting concepts and inflicts some really awful puns in this book - but he's not writing as well as he can. Library or used book recommendation at best.
Great review by Tasha Robinson. She says what I wanted to say, but couldn't find the words.
March 5, 2016
But a really likable three.
Look, it's a bucket of laughs, with a little bit of tears, and some seriously controversial things to say about sex, some that I vehemently disagree with. It's got the potential end of the world, a lot of booze, and two of the ugliest critters that ever lived (and they aren't even aliens).
The story all takes place in one eventful night, and the whole thing is basically a shaggy-dog story where increasingly preposterous things walk into a bar, one after the other. We learn new things about old friends, make a couple new ones, hear some godawful puns, and sing a couple songs. It's business as usual.
And therein lies the rub. It's all pretty good, but it ain't new, unless you're new, in which case a good half of the chat won't mean a thing to you. It just seems a bit tired, like hanging out with a good friend when you've both got other things on your mind. You always enjoy their company, and you'll get a couple good laughs, but maybe next time you'll have some real fun.
Look, it's a bucket of laughs, with a little bit of tears, and some seriously controversial things to say about sex, some that I vehemently disagree with. It's got the potential end of the world, a lot of booze, and two of the ugliest critters that ever lived (and they aren't even aliens).
The story all takes place in one eventful night, and the whole thing is basically a shaggy-dog story where increasingly preposterous things walk into a bar, one after the other. We learn new things about old friends, make a couple new ones, hear some godawful puns, and sing a couple songs. It's business as usual.
And therein lies the rub. It's all pretty good, but it ain't new, unless you're new, in which case a good half of the chat won't mean a thing to you. It just seems a bit tired, like hanging out with a good friend when you've both got other things on your mind. You always enjoy their company, and you'll get a couple good laughs, but maybe next time you'll have some real fun.
February 9, 2020
Books read by their authors are never "pretty good." They're nearly always terrible or great. Many authors are terrible narrators even when they're good authors. Some are good at it, and bring something special to the reading because it is their own work and the experience works out to be exceptional.
Robinson is off the scale. He's amazingly great. So much of his writing is his style of humor and his timing and delivery are hard for someone else to match. While I really enjoyed The Callahan Chronicals (Callahan's Place Trilogy, #1-3), and it may very well be the better book, I simply loved Legacy. Robinson makes all the difference.
Robinson is off the scale. He's amazingly great. So much of his writing is his style of humor and his timing and delivery are hard for someone else to match. While I really enjoyed The Callahan Chronicals (Callahan's Place Trilogy, #1-3), and it may very well be the better book, I simply loved Legacy. Robinson makes all the difference.
September 17, 2017
I forgot how good Robinson is. Crosstime Saloon was an excellent Christmas gift, and like so many of Spider's fans, I felt right at home in the dive bar that time forgot. But in Legacy, it's clear that he's not all dad jokes and one upping Douglas Adams on every page, (which he does) but also a sage prophet and learned intellectual who can wax theologic and philosophic in ways 99% of the population couldn't manage. I listened to the audio, and was delighted that it was narrated by Mr. Robinson as well, and naturally there was that added depth and nuance when the timing is in the right place. Now if I could just get published so I'll have something to talk with him when I bump into him at the new place.
February 3, 2017
Oh boy, if you thought Spider was "out there" before... This is, I think, the most religious of the Callahan books-- or the most spiritual, take your pick. Also the weirdest, and that's saying something. Peace, harmony, telepathy, time travel, the power of music, psychic babies, dozens of puns (and I need some of them explained to me, if anyone's offering...?), artificial intelligence, non-artificial intelligence, an ingenious Irish Coffee maker, and, oh yeah, possible nuclear armageddon. Don't try to understand it all. Just hold on tight and enjoy the ride.
April 2, 2020
Insanely out of the cosmos
Awesome as usual for Spider Robinson, man of many talents, and really out of his mind! I love it!! Don't miss this one!!
Awesome as usual for Spider Robinson, man of many talents, and really out of his mind! I love it!! Don't miss this one!!
July 6, 2021
SO weirdly funny and smart. Totally not my cup of tea, and yet I've enjoyed it immensly.
February 22, 2022
Spider Robinson is probably best known for his Callahan's stories. Some readers stopped reading after the bar was destroyed in a nuclear explosion. But the latest book, CALLAHAN'S LEGACY, is a good reason to give the later series a better look.
This latest volume takes place in Mary's Place, Jake's new bar. Most of the usual characters are present as well as a few new ones who happened through the front door. Jake's wife is nine and a half months pregnant when the story opens. The story progresses through some of the usual tales and word games we have come to expect. Then Mary and Mickey Finn suddenly appear unconscious on the floor. Once revived it becomes clear that a terrible threat is heading towards Earth. Finn's counterpart is coming. Jake and the gang must find a way to save the Earth. During that course we learn how some of the older members first found Callahan's Place and we gain some new insights into the author.
While an entertaining and light-seeming read, there is plenty to stimulate the brain. Word games (and puns) are found throughout the book along with some other mental exercise equipment. If it has been a while since you last visited with the Callahan's gang you should pick up this book and drop in again, I am sure they would like to see you.
This latest volume takes place in Mary's Place, Jake's new bar. Most of the usual characters are present as well as a few new ones who happened through the front door. Jake's wife is nine and a half months pregnant when the story opens. The story progresses through some of the usual tales and word games we have come to expect. Then Mary and Mickey Finn suddenly appear unconscious on the floor. Once revived it becomes clear that a terrible threat is heading towards Earth. Finn's counterpart is coming. Jake and the gang must find a way to save the Earth. During that course we learn how some of the older members first found Callahan's Place and we gain some new insights into the author.
While an entertaining and light-seeming read, there is plenty to stimulate the brain. Word games (and puns) are found throughout the book along with some other mental exercise equipment. If it has been a while since you last visited with the Callahan's gang you should pick up this book and drop in again, I am sure they would like to see you.
April 14, 2022
The next round is on me.
Jack and Zoey are two bar owners expecting their first child last week. The bar's patrons are also their close friends who hail from all walks of life, time, and weird occurrences involving saving the world. What should be just another fun evening of drinks and song is interrupted by new patrons and trouble.
The Callahan novels were recommended to me via a list of humorous books. The only one I could lay my hands on easily was Callahan's Legacy, one of the later instalments in the series. It seems to be representative of the rest of the books, as near as I can tell, and fans seem to enjoy it.
I'm really not sure what to say and how to rate this book. It was mildly amusing, the banter flowed freely, and some of the puns were ingenious. But I could pretty fairly say that virtually nothing happened in the story. This was pretty much a novel devoted to documenting an evening of drinks between friends, some of whom are aliens, resurrected early 20th-century scientists, and people from the future.
I'll be generous and give this 3 stars because I quite liked the joke about the Buddhist Burger Joint that made you one with everything.
Jack and Zoey are two bar owners expecting their first child last week. The bar's patrons are also their close friends who hail from all walks of life, time, and weird occurrences involving saving the world. What should be just another fun evening of drinks and song is interrupted by new patrons and trouble.
The Callahan novels were recommended to me via a list of humorous books. The only one I could lay my hands on easily was Callahan's Legacy, one of the later instalments in the series. It seems to be representative of the rest of the books, as near as I can tell, and fans seem to enjoy it.
I'm really not sure what to say and how to rate this book. It was mildly amusing, the banter flowed freely, and some of the puns were ingenious. But I could pretty fairly say that virtually nothing happened in the story. This was pretty much a novel devoted to documenting an evening of drinks between friends, some of whom are aliens, resurrected early 20th-century scientists, and people from the future.
I'll be generous and give this 3 stars because I quite liked the joke about the Buddhist Burger Joint that made you one with everything.
March 6, 2022
The short rise and fall of Mary’s Place, with an increasing cast of characters. The fun quirkiness of Callahan’s Place starts to lose its appeal when every character has to be particularly bizarre, and older characters return in later editions like bad Marvel Comic movie franchises. The puns also begin to wear thin – they never were for everyone – but I begin to wonder how many people REALLY like them as well as Spider likes to throw them out? It’s always more of a standup comic routine than a coherent story. It’s still entertaining enough to pass the time, but I wouldn’t set aside too much time just to read it.
April 20, 2020
Slightly weird jumping into this one, as I haven't read a Callahan book in over a decade, but it got me caught up pretty quick and I managed to follow through. A nice piece of science fiction popcorn with good humour, fun moments, and some very nice thought provoking moments on life, the universe, and everything... wait wrong book.
August 17, 2023
This book sat on my shelve for a long time before I read it. It is a worthy book in the Callahan series but it seemed a little dated to me (my fault for taking so long to read it). If you like the series, you should read this book.
July 6, 2025
I've read lots of Callahan books. How well they age varies, and I would say this one is so-so in that regards. The storyline of we at the bar are so great and we save the world again has gotten a little worn. I would say it has jumped the shark.
July 30, 2017
One of those series where you just keep reading to finish and move to the next one.
October 31, 2017
Continuation of the style of the first ones. Lots of philosophy and puns.
April 24, 2018
All of this series is fun
July 21, 2019
Not really my cop of tea i guess. I like a little more actual plot.
December 18, 2022
Gave up on this book. Not my thing.
February 6, 2023
We learn about Doc, Long Drink and Fast Eddie. Unfortunately Mary's Place gets shut down at the end of Legacy.
June 11, 2023
So far my least favorite in the Callahan series. Felt reparative.
January 8, 2024
A Sci-Fi wonder with a large dash of philosophy. You will think , You will feel, the question becomes, will you agree with the summations ? Great read for first time Sci Fi/Fantasy Readers.
August 14, 2024
Super fun read!
July 27, 2012
Spider Robinson is weird.
The plot is thus: a giant evil alien lizard (with 3 breasts) is on its way to destroy the earth. So the main characters decide to share how they all first came to be a barfly at Mike Callahan's tavern. In short.
I can't help but feel by this stage Robinson was getting a teensy bit too comfortable with...expressing himself. And, like I said above, Spider Robinson is weird. Not bad weird, just...neutral weird. At least, his perception of reality is a bit skewed (in a lovely, upbeat, positive-themed way though).
For example, for the vibe of acceptance and friendliness pervelant through the entire series, I've always found the idea of having Fast Eddie blackjack someone for asking questions gives the whole place a kind of sinister edge. Seriously, here one new guy asked one question and he's already reaching for his piece.
The problem is the denizens of Mary's Place are portrayed as being just too level headed, too calm, too accepting of everything, too perfect. In the stories within, one character we learnt once killed a guy in a knife fight, and says the act "felt so good the only thing I can liken it to is orgasm"...and the other characters assure him that that's perfectly fine because the guy "had it coming". Uhh, ok. Creepy.
Another tells the (ok, pretty awful) tale of his upbringing as a young bisexual kid in conservative America. An innocent man (his Uncle) gets imprisoned, a priest uses him as a boytoy, all pretty horrendous stuff. But then it ends with the argument that the biggest crime is that "nobody asked [him]" about how he felt about his sexual relationship with his Uncle, and that a thirteen year old kid is perfectly capable of making reasoned decisions about their sex life. Up to and including sex with adults. What.
Yeah. Weird. But...ok, the above two examples are narrowing out the strangest, most confronting parts of an otherwise harmless, and ultimately upbeat and fun novel. It's just...weird.
The plot is thus: a giant evil alien lizard (with 3 breasts) is on its way to destroy the earth. So the main characters decide to share how they all first came to be a barfly at Mike Callahan's tavern. In short.
I can't help but feel by this stage Robinson was getting a teensy bit too comfortable with...expressing himself. And, like I said above, Spider Robinson is weird. Not bad weird, just...neutral weird. At least, his perception of reality is a bit skewed (in a lovely, upbeat, positive-themed way though).
For example, for the vibe of acceptance and friendliness pervelant through the entire series, I've always found the idea of having Fast Eddie blackjack someone for asking questions gives the whole place a kind of sinister edge. Seriously, here one new guy asked one question and he's already reaching for his piece.
The problem is the denizens of Mary's Place are portrayed as being just too level headed, too calm, too accepting of everything, too perfect. In the stories within, one character we learnt once killed a guy in a knife fight, and says the act "felt so good the only thing I can liken it to is orgasm"...and the other characters assure him that that's perfectly fine because the guy "had it coming". Uhh, ok. Creepy.
Another tells the (ok, pretty awful) tale of his upbringing as a young bisexual kid in conservative America. An innocent man (his Uncle) gets imprisoned, a priest uses him as a boytoy, all pretty horrendous stuff. But then it ends with the argument that the biggest crime is that "nobody asked [him]" about how he felt about his sexual relationship with his Uncle, and that a thirteen year old kid is perfectly capable of making reasoned decisions about their sex life. Up to and including sex with adults. What.
Yeah. Weird. But...ok, the above two examples are narrowing out the strangest, most confronting parts of an otherwise harmless, and ultimately upbeat and fun novel. It's just...weird.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews