Anyone here read any Spider Robinson?

[Zocia]

He has written much, all that I have read, I enjoy. Who doesnt love freindly tavern stories? even those with a twist? or fanciful mysteries with a futuristic turn? or stories about a place ya wish, just once in your life you could go to? He's the guy I will keep on my book shelf forever. Call me strange, but I like beer stories, puns, unbelievable occurances and mythic creatures(friends not yet discovered) and tales of conquering the bad -dudes.... Throw me a good scotch, cold beer or good coffee and I'm all ears. Maybe if I'm lucky, I can help right the wrongs too..

 

[Alcyon]

I live in Vancouver and I've actually met him at book signings and the like, very nice guy, very thoughtful.

I've read almost all the Spider stuff; Very Bad Deaths is quite good, however, I really like The Free Lunch and the later Callahan novels.

First post, by the way. Hello all.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Hi Alcyon, and welcome to chronicles.

 

[Nesacat]

I was given Lady Slings The Booze many years ago by a friend who thought I was like the lady in character. That was the first of Spider's books I'd ever read but it got me hooked. I went on to pick up all the Callahan books and would dearly love to find that bar. I love his short stories as well but am iffy on his SF work.

But this might be because I'm generally fonder of either fantasy or a mix of SF and F. Spiders SF work comes across as being pretty convoluted and take several reading to make head or tail of. But that's just me.

The Callahan tales are on my pile of books to reach for when feeling down.

 

[Ozymandias]

I'm fairly certain I read one of his books in Jail. I can't recall the name of the book but I believe the basic premise was that a scientist had released a virus that infected humans and gave them a hypersensitive sense of smell. The humans were then driven from the cities and other mecahnised areas because the stench was overpowering. I thought some parts were fairly interesting but I wasn't too terribly impressed.

 

[Ian Whates]

I'm fairly certain I read one of his books in Jail. I can't recall the name of the book but I believe the basic premise was that a scientist had released a virus that infected humans and gave them a hypersensitive sense of smell. The humans were then driven from the cities and other mecahnised areas because the stench was overpowering. I thought some parts were fairly interesting but I wasn't too terribly impressed.

Yes, Ozymandius -- that was one of his. A book called 'Telempath', which was actually his debut novel and is regarded as something of a mini-classic.

By the way, this is the first time I've ventured into the Spider Robinson corner of the forum, and just wanted to add that I absolutely love the Callahan stories (which are very different from Telempath) -- humour, warmth and imagination all at the same time. Great stuff.

 

[Finnien]

I've read just about all of the Callahan stuff, as well as Telempath, and just finished his new book Variable Star, which Heinlein had started and never completed. I very much enjoyed it, and can't imagine anyone else doing a better job at finishing a story envisioned by Heinlein.

 

[Faceless Woman]

Very Bad Deaths is all I could find at the library, no sign in any nearby stores. It was brilliant. I would definately agree that he talks to you, not at you.

 

[gyager]

I have read all of the Spider Robinson Callahans books and several of his other books and other books that are in the same league in style and humor and the same style of written schooling for the humor style. I am waitting for the nex Callahan book too come out , I hope he does more stories on the characters from all of his books.

 

[BloodNguts]

I finished Callahan's key and some other one, forget the name and enjoyed the humor.

It is true, he is silly and makes simple things enjoyable. I think intended towards and adult audience though, and probably male. Being in that audience probably helped me enjoy the reading.

 

[dask]

I like Spider Robinson. Very dependable. I used to collect Galaxy Magazine just to read "The Spider Versus The Hax From Sol III." CALLAHAN'S CROSSTIME SALOON was really good too. Haven't read him for quite a while though. As with Orson Scott Card, another writer I greatly admired upon first discovery, I just drifted away from his stuff for no apparent reason. Need to drift back I guess.

 

[Radix]

I'd say my favorite Spider Robinson book is "Mindkiller"

It's been a while since I read any of his stuff...
"Very Bad Deaths" & "Very Hard Choices" are on my list
of books to check out~

 

[Contrary Mary]

My favorite Spider Robinson book is "Callahan's Cross time Saloon". I have also read "Telempath" and "Night of Power". "Telempath is definitely the stronger of those two books.

A books of short stories--Time Travelers Strictly Cash--is well worth looking for as well.

 

[jastius]

This would be a question for anyone with a knowledge of Spider's short stories:

Which story has to do with a character who fathers a child with the intention of later making her his wife?

That's about all I know about the plot.

appreciate any help
anyone might offer with this!

was it a novella published in an anthology by omni magazine about a geneticist who creates a cloned woman contracted by a client only to end up marrying her when she is abandoned pregnant. igor the butler also features. it was called Pygmalion's progress or some such...

 

[neopeius]

I found Robinson by accident when I read my dad's copy of Callahan's Crosstime Saloon. This was back in the day when science fiction was just a bunch of books with no historical context (as opposed to now, when *all* of my science fiction reading has historical context!)

I liked it a lot, so I went through my dad's Analog collection to read the earlier Callahan stuff. Later, I bought Telempath, Antinomy and Mindkiller. I enjoyed them, though they weren't stuff for the ages. Stardance, the novella, was very good.

In late high school (early '90s), I found the third Callahan compilation, and I remember not enjoying it. I haven't read Robinson since.