Limits

Rating:
Summary: More help needed
Review: Limits is a modest collection of science fiction and fantasystories from Larry Niven. Although he has some interesting ideas,it's clear that the short story format is not really Niven's forte. Indeed, the strongest pieces in this volume are those written in collaboration with other writers. Among the fantasies, for example, the mystical feel of "Talisman" (written with Dian Girard) is far more effective than the humdrum restaurant setting of the wholly forgettable "Lion in the Attic". In the former, a beautiful young thief matches wits with crafty magicians to try and find a legendary treasure, while in the latter, a restaurant owner hides a secret from some mysterious travelers. And while "Talisman" draws us in with its subtle characterization and constant movement, "Lion" keeps its secrets until the end, by which time the reader has lost interest in the outcome. Niven gets plenty of help from his collaborators in the science fiction vein as well. "Spirals", with Jerry Pournelle, is an inside look at how space mining began in the asteroid belt, wherein the reader discovers that the main characters, who are later lauded as heroes, were actually very flawed human beings, who acted from the basest and most primitive of motives. In the moving story "The Locusts", written with Steven Barnes, a group of bright, strong and energetic colonials deal with the discovery that their efforts are doomed. The heroes' plight is portrayed with understated drama and a fair amount of realism to make for an unforgettable tale. In both of these stories, the authors emphasize the essential humanity of their characters (despite the science fiction trappings), and this is what gives their stories such a powerful impact. When Niven is on his own, however, he sometimes loses sight of this simple principle. "A Teardrop Falls" is a Berserker story, for fans of such, and shows how a machine cleverly tricks another machine. Without any emotional attachment, the story hinges on the cleverness of the trick, which in this case is no big deal. "Flare Time" deals with adventure on another planet, and has some entertaining features, but tends to be a little unfocused. Niven tries to do too much with this story, introducing new species, an entire series of new environments, etc., and would have been better off writing a short novel that used the same characters and locale. As it is, the reader is rushed through the journey too quickly to appreciate Niven's many inventions. Rounding out the collection are the chirpsithtra shorts, which feature Niven's tall-tale-telling aliens spinning yarns in a spaceport bar. Chirpthistra stories are meant to be amusing, but occasionally Niven slips some serious ideas in as well. Of these, "War Movie" has the most interesting payoff, while "Folk Tale" falls so flat one can almost hear the thud. All in all not a bad collection, but still nothing like the quality we find in Niven's better novels.

Rating:
Summary: More help needed
Review: Limits is a modest collection of science fiction and fantasystories from Larry Niven. Although he has some interesting ideas,it's clear that the short story format is not really Niven's forte. Indeed, the strongest pieces in this volume are those written in collaboration with other writers. Among the fantasies, for example, the mystical feel of "Talisman" (written with Dian Girard) is far more effective than the humdrum restaurant setting of the wholly forgettable "Lion in the Attic". In the former, a beautiful young thief matches wits with crafty magicians to try and find a legendary treasure, while in the latter, a restaurant owner hides a secret from some mysterious travelers. And while "Talisman" draws us in with its subtle characterization and constant movement, "Lion" keeps its secrets until the end, by which time the reader has lost interest in the outcome. Niven gets plenty of help from his collaborators in the science fiction vein as well. "Spirals", with Jerry Pournelle, is an inside look at how space mining began in the asteroid belt, wherein the reader discovers that the main characters, who are later lauded as heroes, were actually very flawed human beings, who acted from the basest and most primitive of motives. In the moving story "The Locusts", written with Steven Barnes, a group of bright, strong and energetic colonials deal with the discovery that their efforts are doomed. The heroes' plight is portrayed with understated drama and a fair amount of realism to make for an unforgettable tale. In both of these stories, the authors emphasize the essential humanity of their characters (despite the science fiction trappings), and this is what gives their stories such a powerful impact. When Niven is on his own, however, he sometimes loses sight of this simple principle. "A Teardrop Falls" is a Berserker story, for fans of such, and shows how a machine cleverly tricks another machine. Without any emotional attachment, the story hinges on the cleverness of the trick, which in this case is no big deal. "Flare Time" deals with adventure on another planet, and has some entertaining features, but tends to be a little unfocused. Niven tries to do too much with this story, introducing new species, an entire series of new environments, etc., and would have been better off writing a short novel that used the same characters and locale. As it is, the reader is rushed through the journey too quickly to appreciate Niven's many inventions. Rounding out the collection are the chirpsithtra shorts, which feature Niven's tall-tale-telling aliens spinning yarns in a spaceport bar. Chirpthistra stories are meant to be amusing, but occasionally Niven slips some serious ideas in as well. Of these, "War Movie" has the most interesting payoff, while "Folk Tale" falls so flat one can almost hear the thud. All in all not a bad collection, but still nothing like the quality we find in Niven's better novels.