The last time we visited the Chelsea, our room shared a hallway with some kind of medical facility. A frosted-glass door with an ambiguous but official-sounding sign led to a small waiting room. We could only imagine the curious business going on inside. Lobotomies? Paranormal analysis?

We let our imaginations wander, while Hamilton uses concrete experiences to explore the creepy allure the hotel exudes. He writes about the strange characters to take up residency, covering the big players -- Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac, and of course Sid Vicious -- but also talking about the unknown souls who escaped to the bizarre hotel from the bizarre streets of New York.

While Hamilton gives some of these anecdotes the heft they deserve, other stories aren't original enough to warrant space on the written page, Giles writes.

Some of the skimpier chapters are driven by generic anecdotes attesting to Manhattan's verve. "Two Tales of Urban Moxie," which runs to a page and a half, concerns an old lady who flips a trucker the bird and an old man who cusses out a biker. Possibly this stuff sang online, though I doubt it.

If you're interested, you can catch Ed Hamilton at one of his book signings in NYC:

Nov. 8, 7:00 p.m.
192 Books
192 Tenth Ave at 21st St.

Nov. 12, 7:00 p.m.
The Half King
505 West 23rd Street

Or we bet you can always pop into the hotel and ask for him.

Related Stories:
· Giles Reviews Chelsea Book [NY Times]
· Hotel Chelsea Reviews [HotelChatter]
· Legends of the Chelsea Hotel [Official Site]