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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
So... All the alien races just have "non-sentient" females???
WHAT R U TRYNA SAY
WHAT R U TRYNA SAY
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-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
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I picked up Ringworld because it is a winner of both Hugo and Nebula awards for 1970, so I went into it expecting some amazing sci-fi writing on par with Dune. The literal science part of the sci-fi was actually captivating. Larry Niven introduces some incredibly smart theoretical concepts in the realm of futuristic space travel, technological advancements, and cultural trends. I was immediately impressed by the world that Niven set up.
Unfortunately, the actual plot was woefully lacking. Aimless missions through space and women characterized by solely their idiocy and sexual drive were enough to totally undermine all of the brilliant theoretical science.
Overall: an interesting but one-dimensional technical sci-fi that likely inspired later sci-fi works of a higher caliber. 2.5 stars
Unfortunately, the actual plot was woefully lacking. Aimless missions through space and women characterized by solely their idiocy and sexual drive were enough to totally undermine all of the brilliant theoretical science.
Overall: an interesting but one-dimensional technical sci-fi that likely inspired later sci-fi works of a higher caliber. 2.5 stars
adventurous
lighthearted
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
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
miserable, bigoted, and unimaginative. this book is throughly uninteresting beyond its applications of scientific imagination and even those are delivered so dully that it’s impossible to care.
“she must’ve had a doctorate in prostitution” about one of 2 female characters in the entire book. the other’s story is completely revolved around her having no agency. how creative.
Ursula K. Le Guin wrote circles around this garbage please go read her books instead.
“she must’ve had a doctorate in prostitution” about one of 2 female characters in the entire book. the other’s story is completely revolved around her having no agency. how creative.
Ursula K. Le Guin wrote circles around this garbage please go read her books instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
This one really fed my sense of wonder. I was disappointed to leave Ringworld. So much territory to explore. I'll have to look into the sequels and prequels.
Having said that, Niven suffers from the male chauvinism that mars most science fiction of the period. The women in the story are treated in a condescending fashion. The males (not "men" -- one of the males is a cat-like alien) figure out all the problems and mansplain their reasoning to the women.
On the plus side, the hero, Louis Wu, is not the usual white guy, but a mixture of all human races.
It helps to know that this book it part of a cycle of novels and stories called "Known Space". Some of the races, concepts, and characters appear in other Niven stories. I was a bit thrown by the introduction of an alien race called "Pierson's Puppeteers." There's no explanation in the book as to why they're called that. In spite of that name, the other characters are SHOCKED to find out that the Puppeteers engages in manipulation of other races. Well, duh!
Having said that, Niven suffers from the male chauvinism that mars most science fiction of the period. The women in the story are treated in a condescending fashion. The males (not "men" -- one of the males is a cat-like alien) figure out all the problems and mansplain their reasoning to the women.
On the plus side, the hero, Louis Wu, is not the usual white guy, but a mixture of all human races.
It helps to know that this book it part of a cycle of novels and stories called "Known Space". Some of the races, concepts, and characters appear in other Niven stories. I was a bit thrown by the introduction of an alien race called "Pierson's Puppeteers." There's no explanation in the book as to why they're called that. In spite of that name, the other characters are SHOCKED to find out that the Puppeteers engages in manipulation of other races. Well, duh!
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Perfectly fine science fiction book, but not one of my favorites. If you complain about misogyny in a book written 55 years ago you don't understand societal development over time and should go touch some grass.
The book reads fine, but the writing as as expected dated. I still found the story interesting, but not interesting enough to flat out love it.
The book reads fine, but the writing as as expected dated. I still found the story interesting, but not interesting enough to flat out love it.