CALLAHAN'S LADY

by Spider Robinson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1989

Sort of an episodic companion novel to Robinson's collections of Callahan stories (Callahan's Crosstime Saloon; Callahan's Secret), this time featuring Mike's wife, Lady Sally, and her utterly civilized bordello: the idea, unsurprisingly, is to remove the shame and guilt--that sex, even paid sex, is a good time. Accordingly, the main room at Sally's is a parlor--for parties or conversation or entertainment, complete with piano, bar, and fireplace--visited with equanimity by priests, cops, mayors and even a werebeagle. And a huge selection of private, specialized nooks cater to every sexual inclination and preference, staffed by highly skilled, salaried ""erotic artists."" Plot? Well, narrator Maureen is a tough young street-hooker who cheats on her pimp and gets stabbed for her pains; she's rescued by Lady Sally, becomes fascinated by Sally's business methods, and finally earns the right to stay and be trained in Sally's expert techniques. Among other incidents and clients: Colt, a neurobiologist who experimented upon himself and now suffers from incurable priapism; the Professor, Maureen's former lover and the world's most skilled con man; Diana the beautiful mad Russian scientist; and, of course, Sally's husband, Mike Callahan, will drop by for an evening or two. Very Heinlein-ish--a conscious tribute--which is to say, about equal parts provocative, amusing, cretinous, consciousness-raising, and irritating--and aimed mostly at existing Callahan fans.

Pub Date: May 1, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Berkley

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1989

Categories: FICTION