He is not a reactionary writer however -- it is clear that every essay has a lot of thought put into it, far more than can be boiled down into a few hundred words. Robinson frequently revisits especially worthy topics such as the hectic and sometimes misdirected pace of technological development.

In "'His bow-tie is really a camera...,' or The Future Is Not Listening," from March 2000, he laments the ridiculous, Internet-ready devices that futurists were then touting (and he laments futurists in general in "'The worm on the skyhook'"). On the other hand, in "Voluntary Poverty Threatens Real Poor People" he stresses the importance of staying the course until we can realize the benefits of nanotechnology. For another example of revisiting old topics, see my discussion of his essay "If You Take It ... We Can't Leave It" in my review of By Any Other Name.

Spider Robinson is not afraid to take a stand that might be controversial or unpopular. "Ain't That A Shame" is a startling defence of being a consumer. "Mass Destruction Isn't Rocket Science," is a criticism of Bush's Nuclear Missile Defense shield. "Buzzed High Zonked Stoned Wasted," is a discussion of the benefits of driving while under the influence of mild doses of marijuana. In "Devil's Advocate," he does the almost unthinkable -- defend the moral character of Bill Gates. It immediately follows "Nuking Themselves in the Foot or, Look out, tech's press!" which criticizes the behaviour of Microsoft towards its critics.

Despite repeatedly calling attention to humanity's many flaws during the Crazy Years, it is also clear to the reader that Robinson is neither a Luddite nor a nihilist and is truly hoping for us to make it through this maddening era in one piece. Several essays tout the urgency of space colonization or the achievement of heroes of the past including Theodore Sturgeon and Nikola Tesla, and he also uses his column to honour everyone from Nova Scotia hippies to little known but influential computer geniuses.

Though I sometimes disagreed with Robinson's opinions, I always enjoyed the strength of his beliefs and his constant need to consider what the future may bring. Even when dealing with the darkest subjects, he engages each topic with the kind of humour and insight all too often lacking in the opinion pages of most newspapers. When The Globe and Mail suddenly quit carrying his columns, Spider Robinson hailed the benefits to his sanity and creative output; however, the rest of us have lost a much-needed voice of reason. Until the next time a science-fiction writer with a vision as piercing and a mind as sharp is given this kind of rarefied opportunity, The Crazy Years will just have to see us through.