Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Pros: Original concept, exciting space exploration, unique likeable aliens, clever plot twist, satisfying overall story
Cons: This is HARD sci-fi. So hard I had to stop trying to figure out what the author was trying to describe and just tell myself something is happening (for the sake of following the plot), because I don't have to patience to understand what he's getting at. It's like instead of describing that they see the color purple, he would go into the science of the wavelengths of light. Not exactly, but you'll know what I mean. So through most of the book I'm not really sure what the settings looked like (well the Ring World I got, thank goodness) and why something is happening (hyperspace travel +/- planet rotation velocity +/- neuritrons(?) = fuck you), which was pretty shitty.
Cons: This is HARD sci-fi. So hard I had to stop trying to figure out what the author was trying to describe and just tell myself something is happening (for the sake of following the plot), because I don't have to patience to understand what he's getting at. It's like instead of describing that they see the color purple, he would go into the science of the wavelengths of light. Not exactly, but you'll know what I mean. So through most of the book I'm not really sure what the settings looked like (well the Ring World I got, thank goodness) and why something is happening (hyperspace travel +/- planet rotation velocity +/- neuritrons(?) = fuck you), which was pretty shitty.
Very well written. However, I honestly can't say how I feel about the book. I felt both attached and unattached to the characters at different times. I found it difficult to follow some of the logic but it also made perfect sense. It was hard to visualize the landscape which gave me a headache at times and I had to google fan art of the aliens.
I will say, I am bothered when male authors poorly write female characters but I don't think it hurts the book too much
I will say, I am bothered when male authors poorly write female characters but I don't think it hurts the book too much
Lighthearted book with interesting characters and setup. I liked the technology presented and how it drove the characters.
Plot was thin, especially in the highly-rushed final chapters. The final outcome of the luck-based Teela Brown is totally forced and one of the worst examples I've seen of telling instead of showing.
It was ok, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wasn't the most hardcore science fiction fan. Then, I'd only suggest it if they were able to endure plotholes.
Plot was thin, especially in the highly-rushed final chapters. The final outcome of the luck-based Teela Brown is totally forced and one of the worst examples I've seen of telling instead of showing.
It was ok, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wasn't the most hardcore science fiction fan. Then, I'd only suggest it if they were able to endure plotholes.
Really enjoyed this. The others in the series sucked. He came back many years later to write the others so they didn't have the same feel. Ringworld is fantastic sci fi. A must read.
Even though this book is 54 years old and the writing style is a bit outdated (I will never use the word 'presently' again, mark my words), I did really enjoy this book. It reminds me of Andy Weir's 'Project Hail Mary', in a way. Four beings- two humans, a giant warrior-race orange cat that walks on two legs, and a three-legged, two-headed, hyper-intelligent, flight reflex goat, must work together on their journey to a mysterious ring structure that surrounds a star. Predictably, things go awry. I tend to get lost a bit when books spend a lot of time explaining the science behind certain aspects of the story, but I wasn't too bothered by the jargon in Ringworld. Yes, there was a lot of it, but I don't think I lost out on much of the story. It's pretty amazing that, even though this book won a Hugo award and some time has passed since its release, the closest thing to the story that I'm familiar with since its publication is Halo. I've moved on to the sequel!
I had heard about this series for sometime and finally found a copy. This is a great read Niven is a brilliant science fiction writer who creates a wonderful world and deals with some complex huge space issues. The ring world itself is a massive almost too big interstellar marvel that I am staggered he could imagine let alone write about.
Without his imagination we wouldn't have had one in Halo.
The story is one of a grand adventure and has a lot of extra information for Niven fans. I had no issue with not knowing the full story (I think I've read one or two others of his). The space adventure was well written and thought out and now I look forward to finding and reading the rest.
Without his imagination we wouldn't have had one in Halo.
The story is one of a grand adventure and has a lot of extra information for Niven fans. I had no issue with not knowing the full story (I think I've read one or two others of his). The space adventure was well written and thought out and now I look forward to finding and reading the rest.
Some 70s sci-fi! Space can be so big, and it’s a joy when the author goes to the effort of creating celestial locations that could theoretically work.
There are flaws in this book, and ways it has decidedly not aged well. But the vision is utterly unmatched, and it remains one of the greats.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
a lot of cool shit to begin with brought down by driving around in literal circles for two thirds of the book. the character drama would work better if they were written with any depth, much less any inkling of character development. coupled with all two women in the story being surrounded by the most exquisite aura of bizzare 60s misogyny. send tweet
I think I had to start this one 3 times before finally finishing. It seemed like the entire point was to follow along on random adventures on the Ringworld caused by Teela Brown's luck. Almost nothing is learned.
The Puppeteer race was by far the best part of the book. Beings advanced enough to develop faster than light travel, but too cowardly to use it remind me of characters you might find in Catch 22 somehow - comically absurd.
The Puppeteer race was by far the best part of the book. Beings advanced enough to develop faster than light travel, but too cowardly to use it remind me of characters you might find in Catch 22 somehow - comically absurd.