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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I originally read this book while I was a junior in high school back in 1989. I was taking a summer school class, intentionally - because I was a nerd, and I was at the public library looking for a book. It was my introduction to science fiction novels. I have read several of Larry Niven's other books and have enjoyed all of them. It's not a complex storyline. Fairly direct. My only wish is that it was longer. I feel like he could have made this into a series.
It's been years since I first read this one, and I must shamnefully say that I wasn't smart enough back then to get it. At sixteen, what can you get? That's a rhetorical question, so let's move on.
This story bases itself on the observations that as humans age, their body undergoes certain changes that lead to a third stage of the ageing process. Child, breeder and protector. The protector stage is a very strong, very intelligent (I'm avoiding 'smart' here so they don't sound lke telephones) being whose goal in life is to protect their relatives. But when a 22nd century human from the asteroid belt is transformed into a protector, his goal is to protect the human race. The novel tells the story of how he does it.
This novel is also a good insight into [a:Larry Niven|12534|Larry Niven|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596428206p2/12534.jpg]'s beliefs and viewpoints. He is from a large family where the adults took great pains to guard and nurutre not just their direct children, but also nieces and nephews. This is similar to Bertie Wooster's family in [a:P G Wodehouse|29741118|P G Wodehouse|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s [b:Jeeves and Wooster|56064|Jeeves and Wooster Omnibus The Mating Season / The Code of the Woosters / Right Ho, Jeeves (Jeeves, #9, 7, & 6)|P.G. Wodehouse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170453040l/56064._SY75_.jpg|54639] except that where Wodehouse has humour, Niven has science. This novel is an excellent demonstration of Niven's caveat to [a:David Gerrold|5786|David Gerrold|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] assertion that 'science fiction is 'a literature of ideas' (to which Niven replied, 'Often'). Some of the ideas—for example that ancestor worship derives from our knowledge that there is a third stage of kindly old thing that protects us— might sound a little like [b:Chariots of The Gods|91202|Chariots of The Gods|Erich von Däniken|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348588430l/91202._SY75_.jpg|2015387] or something by [a:Nigel Kneale|491508|Nigel Kneale|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328212566p2/491508.jpg] by today's standards, but the novel sets up these things and sticks to their logical conclusions, which is one of the defining features of Niven's work.
Finally, this novel is part of Niven's [b:Known Space|100359|Tales of Known Space The Universe of Larry Niven (Known Space)|Larry Niven|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1287684785l/100359._SY75_.jpg|1387644] univese, and contains a lot of information which is clearly stated and should settle a few arguments about the canon, which is what made it very enjoyable for me to read this time, now that I'm old enough to be a protector, with nieces and nephews to watch out for, and maybe wise enough to understand.
This story bases itself on the observations that as humans age, their body undergoes certain changes that lead to a third stage of the ageing process. Child, breeder and protector. The protector stage is a very strong, very intelligent (I'm avoiding 'smart' here so they don't sound lke telephones) being whose goal in life is to protect their relatives. But when a 22nd century human from the asteroid belt is transformed into a protector, his goal is to protect the human race. The novel tells the story of how he does it.
This novel is also a good insight into [a:Larry Niven|12534|Larry Niven|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596428206p2/12534.jpg]'s beliefs and viewpoints. He is from a large family where the adults took great pains to guard and nurutre not just their direct children, but also nieces and nephews. This is similar to Bertie Wooster's family in [a:P G Wodehouse|29741118|P G Wodehouse|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s [b:Jeeves and Wooster|56064|Jeeves and Wooster Omnibus The Mating Season / The Code of the Woosters / Right Ho, Jeeves (Jeeves, #9, 7, & 6)|P.G. Wodehouse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170453040l/56064._SY75_.jpg|54639] except that where Wodehouse has humour, Niven has science. This novel is an excellent demonstration of Niven's caveat to [a:David Gerrold|5786|David Gerrold|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] assertion that 'science fiction is 'a literature of ideas' (to which Niven replied, 'Often'). Some of the ideas—for example that ancestor worship derives from our knowledge that there is a third stage of kindly old thing that protects us— might sound a little like [b:Chariots of The Gods|91202|Chariots of The Gods|Erich von Däniken|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348588430l/91202._SY75_.jpg|2015387] or something by [a:Nigel Kneale|491508|Nigel Kneale|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328212566p2/491508.jpg] by today's standards, but the novel sets up these things and sticks to their logical conclusions, which is one of the defining features of Niven's work.
Finally, this novel is part of Niven's [b:Known Space|100359|Tales of Known Space The Universe of Larry Niven (Known Space)|Larry Niven|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1287684785l/100359._SY75_.jpg|1387644] univese, and contains a lot of information which is clearly stated and should settle a few arguments about the canon, which is what made it very enjoyable for me to read this time, now that I'm old enough to be a protector, with nieces and nephews to watch out for, and maybe wise enough to understand.
I am always interested in reading outside of my comfort zone, as I have been very pleasantly surprised on many occasions during which I’ve done so. I believe that by being close minded I might be missing out on my new favorite book or series, so I make a concerted effort to avoid falling into that trap as a reader.
As a fan of fantasy, I’ve always felt that sci-fi is the logical next step in my reading journey. I have also, as with fantasy, wanted to culture myself on the classics of the genres I read. They have a different feel to them, and I find it an enjoyable-if difficult- experience to feel out how the style of prose and genre has changed from the classic era to the present day.
That is all to explain my thought process going into this book.
Lengthy preamble aside, I will say that I enjoyed Protector fairly much. It has extremely interesting ideas and a very engaging plot. The world building was, if a bit brusque, wildly fascinating. I am not sure if this is a standalone or the first installment in a series, but the world (or universe, I suppose) of the story feels packed and alive.
I have heard that classic sci-fi books are engines for ideas. You go into them for the weird and cool ideas that stretch your brain and make you go, “Huh. Wow. Interesting.”
This was certainly my experience. Unfortunately, my experience was hampered slightly by the lack of character in the story. It truly felt like an engine chugging toward the end of the plot, with every character serving only to pull me ever closer to the end. There was some characterization, but nothing I could latch onto. That truly isn’t too egregious a writing style, particularly keeping in mind context for what kind of book you are reading, but paired with the pacing of the story it was held back from being a “great” book to me. The pacing felt at some times like it was moving through syrup, and at others like I was being shuttled to the next scene. Even realizing how difficult it is to keep a fluidity to a story over the course of hundred of in-story years, it felt quite choppy at times.
Despite all of my bellyaching, I really did enjoy Protector, and I am quite glad it was my introduction into more classic sci-fi. Especially knowing that this is one of Larry Niven’s lesser works, I absolutely can’t wait to read more.
As a fan of fantasy, I’ve always felt that sci-fi is the logical next step in my reading journey. I have also, as with fantasy, wanted to culture myself on the classics of the genres I read. They have a different feel to them, and I find it an enjoyable-if difficult- experience to feel out how the style of prose and genre has changed from the classic era to the present day.
That is all to explain my thought process going into this book.
Lengthy preamble aside, I will say that I enjoyed Protector fairly much. It has extremely interesting ideas and a very engaging plot. The world building was, if a bit brusque, wildly fascinating. I am not sure if this is a standalone or the first installment in a series, but the world (or universe, I suppose) of the story feels packed and alive.
I have heard that classic sci-fi books are engines for ideas. You go into them for the weird and cool ideas that stretch your brain and make you go, “Huh. Wow. Interesting.”
This was certainly my experience. Unfortunately, my experience was hampered slightly by the lack of character in the story. It truly felt like an engine chugging toward the end of the plot, with every character serving only to pull me ever closer to the end. There was some characterization, but nothing I could latch onto. That truly isn’t too egregious a writing style, particularly keeping in mind context for what kind of book you are reading, but paired with the pacing of the story it was held back from being a “great” book to me. The pacing felt at some times like it was moving through syrup, and at others like I was being shuttled to the next scene. Even realizing how difficult it is to keep a fluidity to a story over the course of hundred of in-story years, it felt quite choppy at times.
Despite all of my bellyaching, I really did enjoy Protector, and I am quite glad it was my introduction into more classic sci-fi. Especially knowing that this is one of Larry Niven’s lesser works, I absolutely can’t wait to read more.
This was the first science fiction novel I ever bought back in the 70's. (Actually, thinking about it, I lie, I nicked it from my sister) and it had me hook line and sinker. Up to then I'd been reading Simak, Wyndham, Heinlein et al and this hard science story set in a relativistic universe was a breath of fresh air. As I've grown older it's dated a bit and a lot of the implicit attitudes are archaic but I can see why it got its claws into a wide-eyed teenage boy.
Space is big and empty and the Universe is not likely to be friendly nor are human beings (if we survive) going to be top of the pile. I loved that all that he projected was, at least theoretically, possible which meant that, unlike Star Trek or Doctor Who, you could imagine it actually happening.
Space is big and empty and the Universe is not likely to be friendly nor are human beings (if we survive) going to be top of the pile. I loved that all that he projected was, at least theoretically, possible which meant that, unlike Star Trek or Doctor Who, you could imagine it actually happening.
"Вставил в считыватель катушку со свежей газетой" - да уж, кто мог предугадать iPad с подпиской на NY Times ;)
Really enjoyed this one ... I love Known Space and how Niven has developed his Universe.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really interesting book. Really two stories separated by thousands of years. Like a lot of sci-fi of its time there's parts that didn't age as well as others but if you've read any modern hard sci-fi it's impossible not to see the impact Niven's books have had on them.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No