Rating: 
Summary: More Danger, Less Fun
Review: Spider Robinson's Callahan's Key continues the story of Jake Stonebender, bartender extraordinaire, and all of his wild and wacky patrons, who this time are called upon to do no less than save the entire universe from destruction. But this one is not as wacky as some his previous efforts, and also not as funny (total number of puns in this work is down by at least 50% from prior pieces of this ongoing saga). As the punning is one of the major attractions of this series, this is a serious detriment. And I didn't get as emotionally attached to the characters and their problems in this one. Often his characters, in their more serious moments, provide a fine illumination of the problems all humanity faces, and by being recognizable people (as strange as they are), forces the reader to accept these insights as having a certain level of validity. But the characters in this book seemed a little thin, going through their motions, but without the underlying touches that would make them a part of the reader's world, that turn them into the person you met last week. Still a fun read, and a nice addition to the one the longest running 'bar' gags ever, but not up to the earlier stories level of insight and hilarity.
Rating: 
Summary: Unquestionably the weakest of the series.
Review: Still, since the others were spectacularly fun, that's what I call "praising with faint damns". It is a good time, and it's great to have another story about characters I've come to enjoy. Unlike other reviewers, I won't say that someone unfamiliar with the series shouldn't read this one; I don't think it would be all that hard to get a feel for this series from this book. But it WOULD be BETTER to start at the beginning, with "Callahan's Crosstime Saloon". Every book in this series is great fun, and well-written.
Rating:
Summary: He's done better
Review: The story, such as it is, tells of the migration of the group formerly known as Calahan's from Long Island to Key West and what happened after. There's very little to the story. While it was quite readable, I found it contrived compared to his other work. Basically, everything which happens after they settle in at Key West could have been cut with an over-all gain to the resulting story. I'm still curious about what happens next, though. It's worth buying if you're really "into" the Calahan's Bar stories or you really like Spider Robinson's work. Otherwise, try his other stuff instead.
Rating:
Summary: He's done better
Review: The story, such as it is, tells of the migration of the group formerly known as Calahan's from Long Island to Key West and what happened after. There's very little to the story. While it was quite readable, I found it contrived compared to his other work. Basically, everything which happens after they settle in at Key West could have been cut with an over-all gain to the resulting story. I'm still curious about what happens next, though. It's worth buying if you're really "into" the Calahan's Bar stories or you really like Spider Robinson's work. Otherwise, try his other stuff instead.
Rating:
Summary: Callahan's Key is a trip!
Review: The US orbiting defense system is bombarded by a freakish cluster of natural phenomena; its target is not just the US or the Earth: it is total & only one man can stop the devastation. Unfortunately he is unavailable so the job falls to bar owner Jake Stonebender & his wife Zoey with their superintelligent toddler Erin. In a risable blend of good science fiction & bad puns this is the saga of a caravan of busses replete with ex-hippies & freaks; drugs; rock'n'roll; Robert Heinlein's wandering cat; a converted cop; a whorehouse parrot & the much misunderstood genius-inventor Nikola Tesla, our hero rumbles off to the rescue....
Rating:
Summary: "...and they all lived happily ever after."
Review: This book was kind of like the last section in Heinlein's "Number of the Beast" where all literary rules are suspended and if it feels good, then do it...which involves a cast of thousands. Seriously, though, this book seemed like closure of the series, with all the loose ends tied up and presented in a package. I would NOT suggest this book to someone who is not familiar with Callahan's gang... as was pointed out, there are just too many in-jokes and horrible nasty puns for the uninitiated reader- who will then come away totally confused and get a bad impression of Spider Robinson and never read anything more of his. Read the rest (or at least some) of the preceding tales, and then this one will sit nicely on the mind like a late-night comfort-food snack.
Rating: 
Summary: Callahan is back!
Review: Today is a glorious day for we of the Callahan's Place -- Spider is back and classic, and I do rejoice. "Key" is another beautiful piece in this great series.
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