Rating: 
Summary: superbly believable
Review: This has to be one of the 4 or 5 best books I have ever read. I am a weather hobbyist, and I found the comet's meteorological impact very plausible. The word pictures were also brilliant, especially the sky on the night before impact, and the weather changes soon after. The image of "two shadows, one moving" is one of my alltime most memorable. But this book is so much more than just good sci-fi! The character depiction is very good, and the fears and even hopes of impact for the various individuals, are the beating heart of this story. One superb instance of this is the scout leader about to face serious legal difficulties, so he plans to "accidentally" fall to his death while leading the scouts on a mountain trail; the comet could literally give him a new lease on life. Another great study is the interaction of the American and Soviet astronauts on a joint mission in space, and the fears and suspicions they hold toward each others' nations. I don't want to spoil the experience for new readers, so I had better stop even though there is so much more. If a person has a decent imagination, he or she will find this story's images will outdazzle the special effects of any movie.
Rating:
Summary: A book that made a Deep Impact
Review: After seeing the movie "Deep Impact" on TV recently, I decided to re-read an old favourite: "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. And while "Deep Impact" was certainly a better effort than the simultaneously released "Armageddon", "Lucifer's Hammer" was so much better again.The book describes the discovery of a new meteorite by a millionaire astronomer, Timothy Hamner. Its orbit is calculated to bring it very close to Earth and speculation starts that it might actually hit. The authors vividly describe two sets of events with a very different timescale: the gradual changing of the meteorite's orbit over a period of millions of years, and the very rapid change in human society from almost universal indifference to total obsession with this particular meteorite. A joint US-USSR Spacelab mission is launched (the book is from 1978) to monitor and record the passing of the meteorite. When the meteorite hits Earth in a series of strikes ranging from the Mediterranean to the eastern Pacific, the crew is left stranded in space. The book gives a brilliant and well-founded description of events following the meteor strikes: the giant tsunamis, the earth quakes and volcano eruptions, the mud rain, the onset of an Ice Age. It describes even better man's reaction to these events, told through a multitude of short tales. The story of a young surfer who decided to ride a tsunami created a picture that I found indelible. The book then focuses on a number of survivors in California, gradually coalescing into three main groups: a community in a valley trying to re-establish an agricultural society; a band of society's outcasts led by a preacher who urges the destruction of all things technical; and the construction and operation personnel of a nuclear reactor that has withstood the strike impacts. The authors are very good in their portrayal of the initial panic and "everyone for themselves" mentality, followed by a need to restore some form of order in a world that has changed beyond imagining. Amongst all of this there are snippets of information on what is happening around the globe, showing the fragility of our civilisation to an event of this nature. And somewhere in all of that, the crew of Spacelab makes it back to Earth. The book starts slowly because it introduces such a large number of characters who later are woven together in a quite intricate plot. The book falls into the category of "natural disaster science fiction", but is much better than the average offering in this genre, not because it so well represents the technical issues about a meteor strike, but because it meets the definition of good literature: it tells us a little bit more about ourselves. Niven and Pournelle have collaborated on a number of good books ("The mote in God's eye" is recommended as a sample of well thought-out classic SF), but in my opinion this is their best. I found myself wondering why Hollywood had not used this book instead of the "Deep Impact" script. I suppose that like "Lord of the Ring" it would need a highly motivated director and producer to bring this to the screen, and compressing it into the usual three hours or less could be quite difficult. But it could be sooo good, if done well.
Rating:
Summary: Best End of the World book Ever
Review: I first read this when I was in 5th or 6th grade...in the 70's. I still re-read it at least every few years and it is still my favorite end of the world book ever. While some of the plots and descriptions of the world have become outdated, they rang true at the time. When given the chance I tracked Mr. Pournelle and Mr. Niven down and got a signed copy. To this day Mr. Pournelle is my favorite all time SF author. If you haven't read his books you are missing one of the Icons of the artform.
Rating: 
Summary: Sci-fi like you always wanted - weak ending
Review: Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have combined to create a real winner. For once, the blasted thing hits! How many tales have we read about close calls, altered calls, mistaken calls, meteors that broke apart, that barely hit, etc. No, this is a real winner - both the rock and the book. The first 40% or so of the book is pre-hit with a long buildup in excitement and all the requisite "it won't ever hit" bull. We know, of course, that is does and when it happens, things are never the same. The criminal element has a field day but the good people of Earth join forces and fight back. All of God's chillin are involved - Americans, Russians, whites, blacks, cops, farmers. All united against the New Brotherhood, a band of religious nuts who think God wants folks to live like cavemen. The Brotherhood boys are caricatures who scream just the sort of things people who don't go to church think people of that ilk scream. In the end the good guys plan to win the power plant while out in space another asteroid is beginning its long path.
Rating:
Summary: The best "survival manual" I've ever seen!
Review: Although published in 1977, this book continues to be one of my favorites. A great sci-fi suspense thriller. From the initial sighting of a new comet, speculation grows as to whether or not the comet will strike the earth. The characters are well presented and you easily follow their actions and reactions to this catastrophic event. You will quickly become involved with the characters as Tim Hamner, who first sights the comet, fights to stay alive after being blamed for the terrible things that are sure to happen if the comet hits earth. Amidst the turmoil there is a wonderful story of love, death, relationships and ultimate human survival instinct that you will enjoy.
Every time I want to relax and enjoy a good thriller- sci-fi survival story I pull out my tattered copy of Lucifer's Hammer. When ever I see a copy in the store, I quickly purchase it, just to have a new copy around. I have given this book as gifts to many family members and friends.
I just wish that Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle would write a sequel just to let us know how these characters are progressing in their quest to rebuild the world
Rating:
Summary: A realistic, apocalyptic account...
Review: I first read Larry Niven's and Jerry Pournelle's apocalyptic novel "Lucifer's Hammer" when it was released in 1977. Raised on the popular disaster movies from this period (which undoubtedly inspired this book), I remembered thinking this epic novel would make a fantastic movie. I had the good fortune of re-reading this book again recently after many years and was pleasantly surprised, if not haunted, by how accurately the end of the world was portrayed. History, in many ways, has eeriely mirrored "Lucifer's Hammer." From the Rodney King/LA riots to David Koresh to the 911 terrorist bombings, Niven and Pournelle have done an extraordinary job in creating an account of what just might happen if modern society was confronted with a complete end-of-the-world scenario. This book, while dated in many ways, has withstood the test of time. A comet is discovered and as it comes closer to earth, it becomes apparent it may strike our planet. An American/Russian joint expedition is quickly sent into space so the comet can be studied as it passes. The first third of "Lucifer's Hammer" introduces 20-plus protagonists, developing their characters prior to the disaster. All of these characters have similar traits in that they cannot imagine the comet will hit the earth, but they make rudimentary preparations just in case. When the comet does indeed hit the earth in multiple places, causing gigantic tidal waves, earthquakes and destruction, "Lucifer's Hammer" follows these characters' lives as they attempt to survive in a society without law enforcement, without electricity, without adequate food. Some of the most exciting passages deals with the comet strike, witnessed from multiple angles though most memorably from the joint American/Russian spacecraft. The stunned astronauts shockingly view the disaster, the growing cloud cover, the tidal waves and a nuclear war which erupts between China and Russia. As pandemonium strikes, these characters do whatever they can to survive. Cars are stolen, people are shot, and everyone scrambles for high ground as the tidal waves and rain drown everything in sight. The final third of the book deals with the pockets of civilization that slowly form. Small strongholds are built, roving groups resort to cannibalism, everyone looking for safety and food. Like castles in the Middle Ages, these groups form warrior-like bonds, with leaders forced to make tough decisions, fighting off stragglers and armies. Much of the criticism of "Lucifer's Hammer" has dealt with its portrayal of black people, most notably that of Alim Nassor. A former Black Panther and a full-time thief, he gathers his friends together after the comet strike, adorned in a full-length mink coat, spouting ghetto slang and doing whatever he can to survive. He bonds with a band of cannibals, eventually led by a Jim Jones-like quack. They begin sweeping the countryside, raiding, looting and murdering. Granted, it's a bit uncomfortable reading these passages, as society has not only become a huge race war, but a class war. The stronghold they eventually lay siege to is made up almost entirely of caucasin residents, educated, wealthy and determined to survive. When attempting to understand human culture, all one has to do is view a normal high school cafeteria. The pockets are abundantly clear as people bond by class, by status, by culture and by race. If earth was faced with the kind of disaster so realistically portrayed in "Lucifer's Hammer," undoubtedly pockets of survivors would form in such a fashion. When there is no food, people will begin to kill for it. The groups they bond with would be people of similar race, similar class and similar status. In today's politically-correct society, it is uncomfortable reading a book like "Lucifer's Hammer." But there is not a doubt in my mind the wars which take place in this book would indeed happen. A scary, fascinating work, "Lucifer's Hammer" has remained in print for many years because of its uncomfortable realism. It is not a perfect work, with stilted dialogue and a few too many characters introduced and in many ways forgotten, but it is one of the finest of the apocalyptic genre.
Rating:
Summary: Dated, but Interesting
Review: This book tells the tale of how events might unfold after a catastrophic comet impact takes place. While saddled with some standard clichees of the genre (such as two-dimensional characters), it does contain a fascinating view of what life on Earth might be like after such an event. Originally published in 1977, much of the technological trappings are dated, but it's still a well-written page turner of a story. Some of the discussion of race in this book is definitely pre-PC, and left me a bit taken aback, but overall it's a worthwhile read for fans of sci-fi genre fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Niven and Pournelle's `Lucifer's Hammer'
Review: This is without a doubt one of the best books that I've ever read and makes me very thankful that Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, who are very good authors in their own right, joined forces to become a force to be reckoned with anyone in terms of character creations, spinning a good yarn and making it very real. I read this book shortly after it was published, and more than 20 years later, it's still one of my favorites. The authors do a great job of capturing people, their hopes and their fears realized as the comet approaches and their reactions and deeds in the aftermath. For a great ``end-of-the-world'' book with wonderful imagery that can really evoke the amazing pictures in one's mind's-eye...this is NOT to be missed. Read it now.
Rating:
Summary: The end of the begining
Review: now i own the very first relise of this book, its all torn and shreaded. but its still the best book i've ever read. i've read this book over 7 times now and i'm keep on reading it over and over because it never gets old. now the begining is really slow and theres lots of kinda neadless stuff in it, people they show you who just die, and other who start out small and end up main people. But this book makes you think about what would you do? would you run from it if you didn'r know it was comeing? what or who would you take? the world ends in a flash, and million maybe even billions die, and even more after that. the one thing i find extreamly funny is how it ends.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping, an awesome read
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite books. Engaging characters, interesting scenario. What would YOU try to salvage? How would you survive the collapse of society? Wish this was available in hardcover - my paperback copy has been read & re-read!
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