Ringworld

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Summary: This novel is incredible.
Review: I'm not usually prone to hyperbole, but this is in fact the single best work of fiction of any kind that I have ever read. The sequel is comparably fine

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Summary: Niven's Imagination In Ringworld Isn't Human!
Review: Ringworld. Niven's solution to one heck of a population problem for a species that was so advanced it was scary. Thousand-year old technology built this masterpiece perfect...or did it. That is what Louis Wu: 200 year old space-worn traveler, Teela Brown: 20 year old walking rabbit's foot, Nessus: A two headed, three footed Pierson's Puppetter whose species likes playing God, and Speaker: an 8' tall Kzin with orange fur, and a 'sharp' smile. They are drawn together by fate to gather more data about Ringworld, a ring built around a star, billions of times Earth's surface area, to collect data and determine whether it is habital or just a worthless space artifact. The puppetter's need the world, due to a core explosion's radioactive wave, which will reach them in a hundred years (destroying everything). As they explore it they discover that something went terribly wrong here once, something they weren't supposed to find out about. Do they, and with their ship wrecked by an old Ringworld defense system, will they ever leave to tell others the secrets of Ringworld. Niven answers these questions in his masterpiece: Ringworld

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Summary: One of the science fiction classics of the seventies.
Review: One of the science fiction classics of the seventies. Niven fuses hard science, speculative imagination, and (his strong point) Phun-Nee Ay-Lee-Yunz into a great yarn over a HUGE backdrop.

Also, _pace_ a previous reviewer, Larry is *not* dead. He has given me verbal permission to mention this here.

Rating:
Summary: Mindboggling.
Review: It is a truly mindboggling experience to read the book and suddenly realize just HOW big the Ringworld is. The engineering effort is almost too great for the earthbound human's mind to grasp. The fact that is not too technical makes it readable almost anybody, though some knowledge of physics and astronomy makes it even more enjoyable. A very good book indeed, though the cast of charachters and their relations are nowhere near as interesting as the setting of the plot.

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Summary: The absoloute BEST!!
Review: Really, this is one of my favorite books. It is one that I have read probably fifteen or more times. A vast mind opening opus of the late great Grand Master of Science Fiction. Larry, we all miss you..

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Summary: A must for all hardcore SF fans
Review: 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.

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Summary: SPECTACULAR
Review: This book is incredible. It keeps you in your seat staying up to all hours of the night just to finish your chapter. A masterpiece of Niven.

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Summary: I, too, found "Ringworld" a truly ingenious series
Review: Just the pure scientific thought that went behind the so-called construction of this massive ring about a lesser-magnitude star is absolutely incredible, even without the storyline and characters! I definitely place this series up there with many other sci-fi works, both old and new: "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Puppet Masters", "Foundation", "2001", "2010", "Rendezvous with Rama", all the "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" books, as well as books as new to the genre as "Advent of the Corps" and others.

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Summary: A masterpiece every sci-fi fan must read.
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: Good Sci-Fi for the non-technical teen/young adult
Review: Over all I found the story interesting and Larry Niven did good research on technology. However, I probably would have enjoyed the book more if I was about 15-20 years younger. You can definitely tell that this was written during the Hippy era. I found the alien characters and Teela Brown to be 2-dimensional. You pretty much knew how they were going to react. Some descriptions of things (vehicle controls) are antiquated. I just couldn't see how people are still using dials, buttons and switches centuries from now.
If you are looking for good in-depth Sci-fi with good characters try the Dune series or even William Gibson's work like Neuromancer.