SOLVED. Sci-Fi - During an intergalactic war, there's a safe house where people share stories of their adventures [s]

[Matt]

Read this around 2008-10. Older male author who'd only written a few books at the time (so a fairly new writer). It was about some location in space (it was a bar or diner I think) that acted as a safe haven during an intergalactic war. No matter what faction you belonged to, you were allowed in as long as you didn't start trouble. So, people came from all over the galaxy to share stories of their adventures during the war. It read a lot like an anthology because of that, with the bar/diner place as a frame story.


SPOILERS AHEAD


If I remember correctly, it ended when a group from one faction brought an army with them and attacked the place. The people inside had to put their differences aside to defend the place.

EDIT: Books I've ruled out

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon - This is a short story collection, mine just reads like one but is actually just one long novel.

Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grille - It does have some similarities but apparently the bar in this story moves around and travels through time to avoid some sort of conspiracy. None of that happens in my story. It's just a place floating there in space. Also, the bar in this story apparently has an in-house band, whereas mine doesn't.

The Draco Tavern - Another short story collection.

The Star Trek Captain's Table series - It wasn't a licensed book.

The Big TIme - Way too old and way too notable of an author.

[Martini]

I haven't read any of them, but your description sounds like it could be part of the Callahan's series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/4962...
The first book is Callahan's Crosstime Saloon.

[Matt]

Nah. That was suggested on Reddit. It's definitely not that.

[0possum]

Cowboy Feng sort of fits. I think the same people stay in the bar though. Different people and places are outside it. I read it years ago so I can't quite remember. Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grille
Could it be a themed anthology rather than reading like one with just one author ?

[Martini]

Matt wrote: "Nah. That was suggested on Reddit. It's definitely not that."

Then please edit your first post and add the books that you have already ruled out so that people here don't keep suggesting them. We don't know what's going on on Reddit.

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Perhaps The Big Time? Much older, and famous author.

Also, I second Martini's recommendation. I usually use the [s] stikethru html function, to list those when I edit my first post. In addition, you can put how that one differs from the one you're looking for (or, did you not even read the suggestion?), so we have additional information to use when we think about your question.

[Matt]

Martini wrote: "Matt wrote: "Nah. That was suggested on Reddit. It's definitely not that."

Then please edit your first post and add the books that you have already ruled out so that people here don't keep suggest..."

Good call. Didn't think of that. Just edited my post.

[Andy]

Justanotherbiblophile wrote: "Perhaps The Big Time? Much older, and famous author.

Also, I second Martini's recommendation. I usually use the [s] stikethru html function, to list those when I edit my first post. ..."

I was thinking of "The Big Time" too, but the two sides in that war (Snakes and Spiders) definitely don't share rest and recuperation facilities.

[Matt]

Andy wrote: "Justanotherbiblophile wrote: "Perhaps The Big Time? Much older, and famous author.

Also, I second Martini's recommendation. I usually use the [s] stikethru html function, to list tho..."

The Big Time is far too old. This book was from the early 2000s or maybe late 90s at the very earliest.

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Andy wrote: "but the two sides in that war (Snakes and Spiders) definitely don't share rest and recuperation facilities."

Are you certain? As I recall: the actual snakes and spiders don't, but the pawns/grunts did... and nobody knew who their superiors were, or even if they were different (or really existed in physical form?). Which is why it was a DMZ, what you did outside didn't matter, you were on R&R. But, it's been a minute since I've read that, so I'm not saying you're incorrect.

[Andy]

You could be right, but my impression is that even the grunts stayed apart (except for a little fraternizing perhaps). I should reread it

[Evan]

It sounds like "The Outpost" by Mike Resnick

[Andy]

Evan: That does sound promising https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Out...

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Interesting, I'd only read the outer frontier stories.

[Matt]

Finally figured it out after 6 months. It was The Outpost by Mike Resnick.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Fantastic.

[Bargle]

Link The Outpost by Mike Resnick.

The link at the tops of the thread never leads to main book page for me, which is where I want to go.