Rating: 
Summary: A very inconsistent book--flawed brilliance
Review: When I first read this book I was in awe and decided that it was a literary masterpiece. There was a wondefully well thought out, brilliant concept rooted in a well developed and detailed universe, as close as we're likely to get to Middle Earth in S-F. I still love the book, and reread it periodically with great enthusiasm, but I realized as I read the negative reviews that this book will not satisfy every reader. It is indeed tremendously sexist, and although I found the storytelling exciting and interesting, it certainly doesn't have the amazing prosaic style or literary merit of such masters as Philip K. Dick. I consider Niven a conceptual writer of the highest caliber, and the hard science elements of this book are truly compelling. This type of writing is something I really love, but if you're looking for a great overall package, look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Quite possibly the best book I've ever read. "Ringworld", aside "Rendezvous with Rama" remains the book to which I compare all others. The scale within the story is huge, leaving you in awe of the characters and enviroment. I cannot reccomend the book enough.I also found it to be a good introduction to many of Larry Nivens works. A good foundation for the universe he has created, the book builds on his excellently continutous backdrop of 'known space'. Frankly, a masterpiece. Get it... now!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful work
Review: This book is very, very good if not excellent. I could not put it down. Originally, i was in an airport and i had nothing to read, so i stopped in the bookstore to find SOMETHING. I was lucky enough, i later realized, to find this fantastic book, the last one actually. Ive read the book twice now. Its like a movie you never want to stop.
Rating:
Summary: It won a Hugo, but not my heart
Review: Sure, this title is considered a classic of science fiction. Sure, it has one of the neatest landscapes of any story. The truth is, however, that this is a so-so book at best, and I LOVE hard science fiction. In the far past, I had read one of the sequels to this book, but had somehow never read the original. Having finally thought to pick it up, I looked forward to the story, based on the great reputation the book has. Ick. The characters are very, very, very UN-interesting. The story starts out to be a rollicking adventure, but ends in a way that feels as though the author was ready to be finished and move on to other things. It's long, detailed, and interesting for a good portion of the book, then, suddenly, the characters just hop off the planet. No resolution, no wrap up, and it doesn't even leave you wanting any more. The book is filled with sex...poorly written, rather juvenile sex. Hey, I have enormous respect for smut, but this is sex as it appears to a fifteen year old boy. It is NOT titillating, and it doesn't add squat to the story. It actually has the phrase "She impaled herself..." in it. I mean come on! Did the author have a hard time with imagery? Read it for the book's value, but don't expect great things. Ringworld is interesting for its strengths, but its weaknesses will leave you gagging.
Rating:
Summary: Great concept but flat story
Review: I was somewhat disappointed with this novel. While the setting was intricately described and amazing in conception, the characters and story fell flat. The alien races were too one-dimensional, and many of the plot devices seemed either ludicrous or contrived. Overall, this book still ranks as a sci-fi classic, if only for one aspect of the book - the Ringworld itself. Given the minimal time investment in this rather short novel, it is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Adolescent Read
Review: I enjoyed the book. The engineers are the most loved people in the whole book, something I can relate to. The problem with the book is that it has too much sex to spice it up for the adolescent reading the book. I really don't think there was much of a point to all the boinking with Teela Brown, and in the end the mind controling capabilities of the prostitute. Come on man, grow up.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable read, but really not much there
Review: First for reference, a small digression. In his excellent "The Real Story", Stephen R. Donaldson has a small afterword (almost as interesting as the book itself) in which he talks about the creative process and how ideas work for him. He has an interesting comment to the effect that he needs two central ideas to really make a book work, generally somthing fantastic and somthing mundane. His says that while he wanted to do a book about a fantasy hero who didn't believe in his surroundings for some time, he couldn't make it really click until he combined it with the idea that this hero should be a leper. Most of his books, from Mordant to The Gap, show this pattern. I thought this was facinating because I reread Ringworld at about the same time as I reread The Real Story, and while Ringworld is a fun read, it's clearly a one-idea book. Now, the one idea - the Ringworld - is a great one. Just look at how big it is. Unfortunately, though, that's all there is. What Niven's done is taken this facinating premise and filled it with stock characters and cranked out an acceptable plot based around this one idea. Other than the Ringworld, there isn't anything there, which is a shame. So what we end up with is somthing that is a reasonably enjoyable and eminantly readable, but hardly engrossing or really satisfying. This isn't to say I don't reccomend the book, because as lighter filler between more substantial books, it's quite a good read. Maybe just a notch or two below Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, but still easily amongst good "classic" sci-fi. For a book with it's reputation, though, it certainly hasn't cracked the top tier. Stephen R. Donaldson he is not.
Rating:
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: A Good Hard SF Adventure
Review: The mainpoint of interest in the novel is the world itself, Ringworld. The Ringworld is what makes it interesting. The characters are strong static, flat, characters. Take Teela Brown, someone in the same position as her would have the same frame of mind. The thing is I'd never put her in a novel because of that same frame of mind. As I said before, I found myself more fascinated with the Ringworld itself than with any of the characters, it is fully envision with depth and imagination. I'd suggest that you read Niven's collection of Beowulf Schaeffer stories, "Crashlander", first if you haven't already. It would make things a lot clearer.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely engrossing
Review: If you are an avid science-fiction reader then Ringworld should be on your must-read list. From the moment I sat down with this book I could not put it down. The most compelling aspect of the book in my opinion is the character development - these are classic characters, well fleshed out for such a short book. Don't let the descriptions of Ringworld and how it works daunt you - it is well worth the read. Have fun - this is pure entertainment.
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