Rating: 
Summary: A classic
Review: An entertaining look at a world that is a thin ring thousands of miles long. This is a classic and mind-blowing piece of hard science fiction, with the emphasis on the cool implications of the enormity of Ringworld. The characters tend toward the scifi cardboard cutouts familiar to the genre, but this is not to be missed for scifi fans.A better Niven book for the characters, although not the science, is Footfall. Also check out the Mote in God's Eye, a fascinating look at a totally alien world.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bizarre Yet Classic Work
Review: Ringworld, one of the books for which Larry Niven is most well known, is an interesting science fiction novel containing a mixture of disperate elements bound together by a common theme and plotline. The book is as imaginative as it is funny, and as exciting as it is odd. One of Niven's strengths lies in his creation of characters, which are varied and are lended realism by the odd quirks and personalities they each possess. One of the most important parts of this process is motivation; Niven's characters always have a real, burning motivation behind each of their actions, which can bee seen clarly after reading the book. I emphasize "after" because the charcters' motivations are not always immediately apparent- in fact, Niven is so skilled at hiding characters' true intentions until later in the plot that his style would aptly suit the construction of a mystery novel. In many books, one reads of an illogical action and wonders if they will ever understand why it occured. This is never a problem with Niven; you can trust him to have carefully engineered each of his plot twists and odd actions, and they all have both a purpose and a goal. Ringworld features a gargantuan world of incredible proportions. While Niven's skill comes through in his descriptions of the world's size, it truly shines as he describes what this world contains. Some of the most amazing alien creatures you will ever read about live and breathe within the pages of this book. Many of the world's locales and odd devices are equally stunning in their bizarre brilliance and unexpected properties. Niven allows you to experience a fanciful version of what it might be like to explore an alien world, and you will find yourself wondering if you would be up to the challenge. His protagonist is as well-developed as any of the other characters, and acts in a particularly human manner. The humanity and clarity with which the protagonist is depicted provides an anchor in an otherwise strange alien world, ensuring the reader does not lose touch with the greater happenings of the plotline. Ringworld won the Nebula award, perhaps one of the most prestigious awards given to Science Fiction novels in the world. This is no accident, for Ringworld is a truly remarkable book - both for its origionality, and its level of flawlessness of execution. Although a few elements from this book have been copied by later authors and filmmakers (at least after 1970 or so), Niven's ideas remain, for the most part, origional. Ringworld is an interesting and dynamic book, full of fascinating elements and unpredicable changes. If you are ready for a bizarre adventure, give Ringworld a try.
Rating:
Summary: A All-Time Classic Must Read For "Sci Fi" Lovers
Review: If you love reading fast-paced, imaginative, inventive stories about special people traveling to amazing worlds, then you'll love Ringworld. You'll meet Nessus the Puppeteer and Speaker-to-Animals (I guess they aren't people, are they?) and Louis Wu and Teela Brown. They get in a craft protected by their trusty General Products hull and take off for the Ringworld. Ringworld's breathtaking size and Larry Niven's breathtaking imagination will keep you reading until the end and leave you wanting more. And of course, there are sequels! This is the real McCoy; accept no substitutes. Also remember: never eat food that has been dropped on the ground, then picked up by a Puppeteer. And *I'm* not going to be the one to tell why no one knows the location of the Puppeteer home world.
Rating: 
Summary: Great fun but somehow lacking
Review: This book includes all the good and bad of Larry Niven: generally light-hearted and funny; creative and sometimes bizarre characters; interesting technology; difficult to grasp descriptions of aforementioned technology. Niven often fails to describe a given situation or object in a way that I can visualize. I find myself asking "she did what where and with what?" Ultimately, this novel is just a collection of little adventures on the Ringworld strung together by a molecule-thin thread (sorry, couldn't resist!). The ending is kind of one of those "uh, gee, that's it?" sort of endings and I was never moved or touched emotionally by this book. Nevertheless, it's a fun read with nice sprinklings of humor and adventure.
Rating:
Summary: A Spectacular Tale That's Missing Something
Review: Ringworld by Larry Niven Ringworld presents us with a rich, highly detailed novel about a 200-year old man who is bored with his life. But when he is confronted with a special journey to a mysterious relic, Louis Wu accepts the challenge. Along with a twenty-year old female, an alien from a race which has been missing for quite some time, and a cat-like alien named Speaker, Louis boards a mysterious ship to investigate a world three million times the size of Earth. Upon crash landing on the surface, the team is confronted with a planet so mysterious and large that they may never return from it alive. This first of a three novel series is great, however, many may find it hard to visuallize the Ringworld itself as the author doesn't clearly detail what it looks like. It often had me confused when details of the land were being described. It was an above-average sci-fi novel, however, and should appeal to most who read it. The character development was well written and the character interactions were well portrayed. I recommend this novel to anyone who is willing to read about an enticing sci-fi journey.
Rating:
Summary: Famous for a Reason
Review: Recently I've noticed something interesting. The "Greats" of science fiction are so recognized for a reason. They are great, and this is one of the best books I've read in a long, long time. Not only are certain of the concepts refreshingly mindblowing, but it's also just a damn funny book! Read it already!
Rating:
Summary: Required Reading
Review: A great Sci-Fi book that is not to be overlooked by anyone who considers him/herself knowledgeable in the realm of Science Fiction. One of those flawed but amazing works that stands as a benchmark in the field.
Rating:
Summary: a classic - in both senses of the word
Review: I've been very much looking forward to finally reading Ringworld. I first spotted it some 20 years ago, but never actually got around to reading it. My hopes and expectations where high when I started reading it. Partly I'm thrilled by the book. It containes some really amazing technical and sociological concepts. I cannot imagine how anybody can think that this book is based on just one concept: the ringworld itself. Sure, that's a magnificent imaginary leap into the unknown (and certainly was in 1970). But next to that there's this other subplot line, that turns out to be the mayor drive of the story: the actions and chances of a person breeded for luck. How that affects others and herself. And the magnitude of the idea that a cowardice alien race out of fear "improves" at least two whole races (two whole planets) genetically to better fit in their own plans. And how this wonderfully backfires on them. But also on the others. And then there are the nice technical gadgets in this book, ways of transportations, methods to immortallity, ways to build houses, cities and starships (yeah, yeah, and worlds). Enough to fancy hardcore SF-readers. Partly I was disappointed by the book. I felt it's speed dropped considerably when they landed on the ringworld, and the book switched from SF to (almost) fantasy, with it's all to normal quest-structure. It stopped thrilling me then, though I kept with it, still interested. In part the lack of character depth and development was showing more profoundly in this quest. I didn't mind the sexual parts of the book. They are not arrousing (at least not in the 21th century). I see them as just a normal part in SF from this period (end 1960's, begin 70's. See f.i. Logan's run). I see the critical notes about character depth, sex and the (in 2000) all to often used queste structures as anachronistical. But still, instead of the 5 star feeling I had about the book, before I ever opened it, I must give it 4 stars, reading it in this day and age. It's a classic SF-book. And that shows in both possitive and negative ways. But read it anyway!! It's still very much alive. And you'll find out afterwards that a lot of present day writers use Nivens ideas as if they where their own. These ideas have been So influentual that they are now incorporated in SF as a genre.
Rating:
Summary: Hard sci fi at its best
Review: To be honest I dont read a huge amount of sci fi novels but of thosew I have read nivens are among the best. I loved this book the ringworld really caught my imagination, as did the puppeteers. Granted the charactors arent all that strong but the level of imagination gone in to this makes it easy to over look. Even if your not a sci fi fan you should give this book a try, it is worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Ok, but not what i really wanted
Review: It was a good book, but I think that Niven got a little too caught up in depicting his world, and less time actually telling the story. The real story line doesnt begin until halfway through it. It also left me with a lot of questions that shouldnt be left hanging, (i dont intend to read any other ringworld books for a while) like what is meant by a "slaver" weapon? I found the hard science, that was supposed to be there, a little soft (with little or no explination). still the book is full of really good ideas, and i recomend it to anyone who is tired of bland "me too" science fiction.
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