The Crazy Years: Reflections of a Science Fiction Original

by Spider Robinson

A collection of witty, irreverent essays on subjects running the gamut from the space program to airport bans on smoking are included in this anthology. Written by Spider Robinson, The Crazy Years takes its name from Robert A. Heinlein's designation of the last years of the 20th century and contains essays from Robinson's tenure as op-ed columnist for The Globe and Mail and from Galaxy Online. Environmentalists that place the survival of earth before the survival of humanity, the idiocy of computer designs, and the downsides of the Internet are among the subjects Robinson uses to take the world to task.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Humor, Short Stories, Politics

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2004

About the author

Spider 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.

Reviews

[Mortimer Maffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of R. Heinlein it is difficult not to be a fan of Mr Robinson. As with everyone/everything, I do not see eye to eye with all of Mr R's views of the cosmos, but he writes in such an entertaining way, its fun to disagree.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read as many of Robinson's Callahan books as I could get my hands on. My life changed, I moved around a lot and as a reader lost track of Spider Robinson. Someone reminded me of him, I found this book hoping to be dazzled. Perhaps if I'd read very the last essay first I would have had a more positive response to the rest of the book. But I didn't. Reading two or three of these essays at a time allowed me to pick up on Mr. Robinson's inconsistencies - which he appears to not see for himself. There are some whoppers here too. I take exception to the idea, that Robinson states in a very presumptious way that people like him have figured it all out and if the rest of us meatheads would only pay attention the world would not have any problems. All of that said, Robinson is a good writer and his ideas are worth considering.

[Wetdryvac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out, I don't enjoy editorial writing style very much. That said, Spider Robinson's about as close as I've ever come, and this is well written indeed.

[Brian Gaston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of the Spider Robinson Globe and Mail articles. I miss them.

[QuoththeRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how many copies of this one I've given to people. Superior comments on society and humanity.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I enjoyed this book, Robinson's attitude sometimes grates on me. His ideas that only certain people are entitled to opinions on certain topics makes me mad. But most of the book is good.

[Madjack · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Spider