Callahan's Legacy

Although Barrett Whitener is excellent as narrator of the other books in this series, it was really enjoyable to hear the author narrate one of his own book. To hear some of the voices, songs, and puns as the originator had envisioned them added another dimension to all the books. Recommend the whole series: Callahan's Chronicle (1st three books), Callahan's Legacy (4th), Callahan's Keys (5th) and Callahan's Con (6th).

When I first found Callahan's series here on Audible, I fell in love with the series like so many other fans out there. But unlike those that first read the stories in the pages of Analog, I heard them vocalized by Brett Whitener.

Now I don't know about you, but on the few things that annoys me more than anything about audiobooks is when for whatever reason they can't, don't, or won't keep the same talent from book to book.

So when I plugged the new Callahan book into my iPod and started listening I was shocked because it wasn't Brett Whitener. In my haste to grab and listen I just didn't look to see who read this title. The voice was pleasant and seemed to have an intimate knowledge of the work -- which always helps -- and so I decided to listen to the whole thing before passing judgement.

Little things started to stand out. Like the special emphasis placed on "THE MACHINE" or the way the reader paused before delivering the final blow of a particularly horrid pun.

As for the story, the science content was thick in places but not so thick that a sci-fi nut would need a PhD to understand. The characters are witty, finely tuned, and well up to the task of taking from the tragic sacriface of the original tavern through the events that destroyed Mary's Place.

It was in the final moments of the title when Spider himself is speaking the credits does he identify himself, and what a gestalt that was. The creator himself was for whom Brett Whitener stepped aside. Thank you Audible, and thank you Spider. It isn't often that an author can pull off the reading of their own title as you have.

If you enjoy Callahan's Crosstime Saloon, you'll enjoy this, but do yourself a favor and read the titles in cronological order. He's not kidding when he says it takes three books to explain the history of Mike Callahan and his former bar, lucky for us those three books are available in an omnibus edition here on Audible.

You can't go wrong with Spider Robinson's Callahan Series. This one is especially good. It is sort of a Canterbury Tales of Callahan's. I have to warn the listener, it is definitely R rated due to sexual content.

Yes. Funny and good action. He comes up with some wild humor/sci-fi stories. There's always a twist.

Probably a tossup between Jake (the narrator), The Lucky Duck (who can toss three coins and have them all land On Edge (and On Top Of Each Othe))r, and Doc, who comes up with the best jokes and puns.

All the Callahan's stories are great. I think that's all that's available audible. Didn't like the Lady's books were as good, and I've read a few of his other stories that were stinkers

It made me laugh a lot (that what it was written for). Major character death's made me very sad. I didn't cry much, but I rarely cry at a book.This one was written for humor anyway.

Not really, except if you like the first one, the quality is consistent and you'll probably like 'em all.

There are so many puns, palindromes and lyrics I could hardly keep up! I would love to visit Mary's Place and have a round or two with the client?le. Don't start this in the evening if you have to get up the next morning - you won't want to stop until the end! I can't wait to listen to it again and may end up buying a print copy.

I really liked the story, and I didn't realize until now that it was the author who read it. I realized this as I was checking out a new Heinlein book that has just been released. The only problem I had with the reader is that he didn't use an Irish accent for Calahan. Calahan only had a few sentences in the book but there was no Irish accent. As far as the rest of it goes it was perfect. Fast Eddy's story was a bit disturbing but I could handle it. Well done

I like the story well enough but for me Spider Robinson is not experienced enough to read his books. The tempo of the reading was too rapid for me, though once I got accustom to the reading pace it was not awful. But I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the author. Well worth the credit.

This was a very cute book about a bunch of misfits in a bar and unusual things that happen to them. I laughed a lot.

This is the last of the best of the Callahan books. Callahan likes to challenge your way of thinking, and he does so beautifully. We also learn some of the backstory of Fast Eddie Costigan and Doc Webster, and watch the crew of drunks and crazies save the world again.

The Callahan series is about drinking. Since I don't drink, and kind of wish others wouldn't, either, I have curmudgeonly docked a star from my rating of this audiobook. But I have to admit the whole series does make me laugh. It gets a bit smarmy when it starts describing how all the tavern's patrons love each other so much that they can mind-meld, a la Vulcan. And why did we have to listen to a child-birth during the height of the adventure? I had to dock another star for that bit of gratuitous mush. Like I said: curmudgeonly. All the same, I would recommend the Callahan series to anyone who enjoys outlandish and funny science fiction. And Spider Robinson does an excellent job of reading his own book.