The Draco Tavern
Larry Niven
Tor Books, 2006
304 Pages

27 stories collected from various publications, ranging from 1977 through 2006. The original publications aren't cited.

The Draco Tavern is Niven's version of Callahan's Cross-time Saloon, Spider Robinson's off-track dive where aliens come to hobnob with humans. Niven's establishment is deliberately built to accommodate visitors from outer space who show up as tourists.

In typical Niven fashion the stories technology hangs together well and the world behind them is consistent and coherent. The stories have a clean, neatly finished feel that Niven's so good at, but they perhaps lack some of the humor and humanity that Robinson delivers so well. He does have a nice turn though, especially with "Assimilating our culture...".

An amusing light read, good for a Niven fix if you've wandered the Known World through it's latest ending.