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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Very good world building. Characters are not the strong suit. They are just interesting enough to keep you hooked.
Another book I've meant to read for most of my adult life, but never gotten around to it until recently reminded of it by a friend.
I don't think the writing quite lived up to the plot. It was serviceable, but still felt rough in some areas. However, I really liked the setup for the story, and the way all the little details circled back around. I think that some of them could have been better addressed (hence, my comment on the writing) but for the most part everything worked. Not to mention all the cool science! Duh.
I liked all four of the main characters well enough (and hope/expect to see them again), but wished the two late additions had a little more fleshing out. Although, perhaps, one was destined to be something of a cutout anyway by nature of his...umm... nature.
I also get the sense that either this is the setup for something potentially better, or rather that it *could* be such a thing. There are lots of good ideas flowing here - a hallmark of some of my favorite sci-fi - and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go. Hopefully somewhere. There are 2 (?) more books in the series....
THREE AND A THIRD STARS
Because it was interesting, but not quite gripping.
I don't think the writing quite lived up to the plot. It was serviceable, but still felt rough in some areas. However, I really liked the setup for the story, and the way all the little details circled back around. I think that some of them could have been better addressed (hence, my comment on the writing) but for the most part everything worked. Not to mention all the cool science! Duh.
I liked all four of the main characters well enough (and hope/expect to see them again), but wished the two late additions had a little more fleshing out. Although, perhaps, one was destined to be something of a cutout anyway by nature of his...umm... nature.
I also get the sense that either this is the setup for something potentially better, or rather that it *could* be such a thing. There are lots of good ideas flowing here - a hallmark of some of my favorite sci-fi - and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go. Hopefully somewhere. There are 2 (?) more books in the series....
THREE AND A THIRD STARS
Because it was interesting, but not quite gripping.
Ringworld is probably Niven's best-known novel, and the one that spawned a some sci-fi conceits that influence many video games, movies, and novels. It has a similar feel to [b:Rendezvous with Rama|112537|Rendezvous with Rama (Rama, #1)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405456427s/112537.jpg|1882772], Arthur C. Clarke's fantastic alien-exploration work.
Niven's a good writer who produces cold characters but interesting worlds and plots (somewhat similar to Asimov).
My problem with his books is that the pervasive sexism (to the point of misogyny) is disgusting and makes me want to throw them across the room at least once per chapter. This is not "a product of his time" or simply a lack of female characters. If there's a woman in a Nivel novel, she's probably relatively simple, young, or stupid, and is definitely there to provide sexual enjoyment for the main (older, smarter, male) character. The females of almost all alien races in his novels aren't even sentient, including in this novel.
There are only two women in this novel (including in crowd scenes); both are beautiful and have sex with the main character within pages of meeting him. Both are constantly corrected and lectured by the main character and referred to as either stupid or simple. Neither has any agency most of the time and both are motivated in their few decisions by "love" (sexual desire). Both of the alien races that are present have non-sentient females who exist only for breeding. Nivel jokingly refers to human women as a separate species from men. The main character twice mentions that he'd have to rape someone if he doesn't get sexual satisfaction.
I found that I could mostly ignore this in Ringworld and [b:A Mote in God's Eye|100365|The Mote in God's Eye (Moties, #1)|Larry Niven|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399490037s/100365.jpg|2190500], but in a novel like [b:The Integral Trees|939740|The Integral Trees|Larry Niven|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383249816s/939740.jpg|7420631] it was so much front and center it was impossible to ignore. I don't understand how a good writer who can imagine and empathize with alien and robot intelligence can fail to empathize with female human intelligence.
The last few chapters of Ringworld collapse under this, as Niven becomes wrapped up in manipulating the female characters, making sure that everyone gets a partner for a happy ending, and squeezing as much sex in as possible.
Niven's a good writer who produces cold characters but interesting worlds and plots (somewhat similar to Asimov).
My problem with his books is that the pervasive sexism (to the point of misogyny) is disgusting and makes me want to throw them across the room at least once per chapter. This is not "a product of his time" or simply a lack of female characters. If there's a woman in a Nivel novel, she's probably relatively simple, young, or stupid, and is definitely there to provide sexual enjoyment for the main (older, smarter, male) character. The females of almost all alien races in his novels aren't even sentient, including in this novel.
There are only two women in this novel (including in crowd scenes); both are beautiful and have sex with the main character within pages of meeting him. Both are constantly corrected and lectured by the main character and referred to as either stupid or simple. Neither has any agency most of the time and both are motivated in their few decisions by "love" (sexual desire). Both of the alien races that are present have non-sentient females who exist only for breeding. Nivel jokingly refers to human women as a separate species from men. The main character twice mentions that he'd have to rape someone if he doesn't get sexual satisfaction.
I found that I could mostly ignore this in Ringworld and [b:A Mote in God's Eye|100365|The Mote in God's Eye (Moties, #1)|Larry Niven|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399490037s/100365.jpg|2190500], but in a novel like [b:The Integral Trees|939740|The Integral Trees|Larry Niven|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383249816s/939740.jpg|7420631] it was so much front and center it was impossible to ignore. I don't understand how a good writer who can imagine and empathize with alien and robot intelligence can fail to empathize with female human intelligence.
The last few chapters of Ringworld collapse under this, as Niven becomes wrapped up in manipulating the female characters, making sure that everyone gets a partner for a happy ending, and squeezing as much sex in as possible.
sad
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The characters aren't really fleshed out, because that time is spent analyzing the super structure that is the Ringworld.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Slavery
Really creative! Hard to understand at some points because I'm not great with science and math concepts but it was still quite enjoyable. Half-way(ish) through the novel there is an excellent sort of plot twist that really made the book much more enjoyable for me. I would definitely recommend it; especially for people interested in science fiction.
Interesting concept, but could have been expanded on. He created a world and the most interesting thing about it is how incredibly large it is. Hopefully the other books add more detail
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated