Ringworld by Larry Niven Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Ringworld
Book Review: A masterpiece every sci-fi fan must read.
Summary: 5 Stars
"RingWorld" is so well-knowen that I feel kinda stupid for writing about it - but for those who have'nt read it thus far (and there for cannot call themselves true sci-fi readers):the protagonist is Louis Wu - a 200 years old human , whom a Peirson's-Puppeteer kidnapp's together with speaker-to-animals - a Kzinty ambassedor , in order to investigate Ringworld - an immense structure , a partial Dyson sphere , a ring around a sun , built by an unknowen race of frightening power. The Puppeteers must have more information. The builders might be dangerous.
The puppeteer , Louis and speaker travel to Ringworld , "land" upon it and go through many adventures in order to mend their spaceship (yes it's hurt , eventhough it's a general-products hull).
This book is among the most praised science fiction books in the world , like "Dune" or the original "Foundation" trilogy , and rightfully so ; I promise you one of the most memorable protagonists you have read about , and ofcourse , no side-kick is equel to speaker-to-animals. The plot is excellent , the science is superb if you let the few points that make this a science-FICTION work pass with a smile instead with a grunt. Besides , not everyone will understand enough to recognize a scientific immposibility , and therefore , the science is also great.
Since we are talking about Niven , you know the writing itself is excellent , filled with interesting ideas , facsinating races and cool weapons , in such good use that I can't put it to words - the book is just too great - read it.
"RingWorld" is a masterpiece by one of the best hard-style sci-fi writers , and is equeled by few indeed.
VERY RECOMMENDED.
Book Review: A must for all hardcore SF fans
Summary: 5 Stars
A great book that you can read over and over again and find
it new and exciting each time. Niven introduces us to a
host of characters each unique with their own vews,
culture, and way of life.
As for Ringworld itself, it is a masterpeice of Niven's
imagination and his skill of weaving a world so real, it's
as if he was actually there.
A must for all SF fans, and for those just discovering the
wonders of this genre, a great introduction to the world of
hard-core science fiction.Book Review: A possible solution for overpopulation...and a fun narrative
Summary: 5 Stars
Even fans of Larry Niven will be awed by the stirring vision he presents in Ringworld. A band of six hundred million miles in length and a million miles wide is set in orbit around the sun. Although obviously manufactured by an advanced alien civilization, it is discovered by an exploration team to be utterly devoid of intelligent life.Headed by the swashbuckling Louis Wu, the crew sets out on a laborious trek to expose the mystery of the immense ring's existence. When their journey finally brings them face to face with an entirely primitive humanoid race living in the ruins of a highly-developed metropolis, Wu senses that the solution is all but imminent. Yet little does he know what unapparent mighty forces are secretly at work on the Ringworld.
Despite the book's surrealistic appearance, its idea is based on a distinct scientific possibility. But even though merging a discernible amount of fact with the fiction, Niven ensures a primarily entertaining read with his playful characters and settings.
Book Review: A science fiction classic...
Summary: 4 Stars
which is very heavy on the "science" part of it.Niven is a master of ideas: this novel alone touches on solutions to overpopulation, the possibility that luck is an inherited trait and a solid ring the size of Earth's orbit around another star. All his works tend to feature grand or unusual concepts: he also writes about the use of organ banks as capital punishment, a habitable ring of gas around a neutron star, and the effects of other worlds' environments on the human form itself. These ideas are always wonderful and fascinating, and they are always the focus of his stories.
This, unfortunately, results in a decided lack of depth in most of his characters. This can especially be seen in "Ringworld": while his characters are evolved further in the sequels (which I emphatically recommend reading!), none of them are particularly interesting in this work. Granted, Teela (the genetically-lucky woman) is <em>supposed</em> to be shallow, but the other characters aren't much better, despite the fact that Louis is two hundred years old and the alien Nessus is older and more intelligent than any living human.
Niven's treatment of his characters is not a fatal flaw: this work is fun and the concepts will stagger you, and many of his other stories are much better. He does extremely well with short stories (check out Crashlander and Flatlander, among many others), and his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle are outstanding. Pournelle's work, generally uninspiring (at least to me) benefit from Niven's grand ideas; and Niven does very well leaving many of the character interactions to his colleagues.
I do recommend this book to any science-fiction fan, or anyone who finds the title concept fascinating; but it is most definitely not literary in any sense of the word.
Book Review: A tale of unbelievable scale, scope, and vision
Summary: 5 Stars
Ringworld is Niven at his very best. Luis Wu's return was exhilirating, and in this adventure that leaves all other's behind, Niven has created an artificial world that is soooo large that he will undoubtedly be able to re-visit it for some time. One of the finest overall books I have ever read. Highly recommended.