Rating: 
Summary: More rehash from Niven
Review: Niven was my first favorite author, but he always had a tendency to write as though you missed something. I just finished reading Destiny's Road, which was just awful and boring. This book is pretty much exactly the same, but has fading magic in it instead of fading technology. He also knocks off one of his old short stories about were people. It is so sad to see a once great author nose dive like this, but all of his work in the last 10 years has been terrible. Avoid this book
Rating:
Summary: I was disappointed
Review: Niven's work has been slipping for years, and I think this is a prime example. He just wrote a novel set on a trading route a couple of years ago. Has he become so unimaginative that he has to recylcle the same device? There were too many elements that came from other places.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I expected -- or what the characters expected
Review: Some time ago, Larry Niven invented his 'Warlock' universe, in the story "Not long before the end." The premise is that magic works, but that it requires a natural resource, 'mana,' that was used up by human civilization before the begining of recorded history. THE BURNING CITY is set against that background. I've always simultaneously enjoyed these stories and been depressed by them. For example, in the series the continent of Atlantis existed, but was techtonicly unstable, preserved by magic, and when the Atlanteans finally used up too much mana, it sank. In the long run, there's no hope for the societies and magical creatures that inhabit this universe. The best they can do is to win their temporary local victories. But they usually do win those temporary, local victories, and the tales of how they do so are fine. This novel, the first of a projected trilogy, is set in a city on the site of present day Los Angeles. Whandall Placehold grows up in one of the city's three peculiar social classes, discovers that there are better ways to live, and sets out to escape the trap his city has put him in, all with the best of intentions of course. It's rather a "slice of life" naturalistic novel, except that the setting is a rigorously imagined fantasy world. ... The theme of this novel is that violence and theft are bad for those who commit them, as well as the victims. Whandall's achievement is to recognize that the life he is born to is a trap, and his goal is to find a way to live honestly and peacefully.) Whandall's fate turns out to be bound up with that of Morth, a wizard from lost Atlantis. The novel follows Whandall from childhood to early middle age, and the next book (already sold) will concern one of his daughters. I'm looking forward to it. There's a satiric subtheme to this novel that I was a long time spotting, and what it satirizes is modern USAmerica. That seems to have gotten under a lot of people's skins, and they write reviews here "that make it seem like the book jumped off the shelves and attacked their children." So fair warning: if you think that good intentions guarantee good results for society and govt. policy, this book will enrage you. But I don't think that way, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book, except for the depressing thought that in the end the civilization it depicts is inevitably doomed. I was captured by the story, I liked the characters, and I'll be rereading it. If the impending collapse of their civilization didn't bother me so, I'd have given it five stars. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Zzzzzz - so what
Review: I made a real effort to get through this book, and after 250 pages I just gave up. It is not the writing. The writing, dialogue, character development are great, but the story leads no where. They hint at Atlantis from time to time. There is something going on with the plants. There is a caste system of sorts, and maybe just maybe some magic. But it never seems to get going. I really looked forward to this book. These are the guys who gave us Lucifer's Hammer, The Mote in God's Eye, Footfall and so many other great books. And maybe that's part of the problem. I wanted another science fiction book with aliens, wierd ecologies, space invaders and calamity.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Reading
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I sometimes get tired of re-tellings of The Lord of the Rings or battles between Order(Law) and Chaos. This was completely different. I just can't believe it was written as a single book and not a trilogy or series.
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Summary: ... Warlock's world
Review: I've got just about everything Niven has published, and I've never regretted buying his books before. This book is so bad that I can't even be bothered to finish it. Niven & Pournelle have taken Warlock's World - a tight and most believable fantasy world - and violated it in ways that should be illegal. I guess they decided that their readers just didn't give a damn and they should have fun with things (and after reading the other reviews here, they may be right). Many of the character names in the book are anagrams of current words or phrases, like drug-addict and pirate (the first dies of an overdose, and the second is the captain of a ship - Oh, how clever..., how funny..., how Piers Anthony). Another portion of the book was stolen (almost word for word) from the song 'Captain Jack and the Mermaid' - it's amazing they aren't being sued. How bad is this book? I only wish I had the choice of zero stars. If anyone out there wants my copy, let me know and I'll send it to you. Do I sound bitter? I am. Niven & Pournelle have (taken) a vibrant fantasy setting, and I was stupid enough to pay for them to do it.
Rating:
Summary: Critical sniping
Review: I seldom review books, but felt I had to add my two cents in favor of this recent Niven/Pournelle collaboration. I hate it when people don't say anything about the book itself, but choose instead to compare it to other books. No, it isn't The Mote In God's Eye--few books are that superb. But The Burning City is a very good coming-of-age story, with several nice touches involving coherent magic, well planned world building, and strong character development. I especially appreciate the last, which another reviewer seemed to think was of little account. The parallels with modern society did not detract at all from my enjoyment, rather the reverse--I did not find it heavy handed or moralistic. So--the basic story revolves around one Whandall Placehold, a Lordkin "gatherer" (thief) who gradually learns to reject the values of his culture. The scene in which he casually participates in a rape, contrasted with a later scene when he saves the Ropewalker/Miller children nicely delineates his disenchantment with his lot in life. Whandall sets off with the children he rescues, finds a new life, and, of course, must come full circle. A number of excellent characters contribute to Whandall's development: his Placehold "gang", especially his brother; the Lordkin self styled Lord Pelzed; the Lord child Shanda; the magician Morth of Atlantis; Kettle Belly of the Bison Clan; and of course, the Kinless (low class) girl, Willow Ropewalker. The quality of writing is excellent, the story well developed, the characters engaging and well rounded, the "ambiance" interesting and enjoyable. I wish I had a fantasy/SF book this good to read every month
Rating:
Summary: Marginal
Review: I admire both Mr. Niven and Mr. Pournelle and have collected all their books. I believe that this particular work is weak for both writers. At times the story isn't carried by their storytelling skills, but by their obvious attempts to illustrate our own times with a fantasy world. At it's best, the story is simplistic, at it's worst it borders on racist.
Rating: 
Summary: The Niven & Pournelle magic hasn't gone away
Review: It must be difficult to write fantasy as science fiction, to address fantasy situations with the same intellectual rigor found in quality science fiction. Done right-- the way Niven & Pournelle do it-- it's a real treat. _The Burning City_ takes place on Earth, but long ago when the gods still lived and magic still worked. Magic was a science then, and gods were all men needed of government. Like government today, the god of the Burning City is unknowable and unpredictable. Life in the Burning City is difficult and often all too short for some, luxurious and long for others. Even the wealthiest there have problems of their own to worry about, however, and even the poorest have opportunities to excel-- or escape. The worst thing about living in the Burning City is the burning. Every so often, the god of fire that controls the city allows part of it to burn. The burnings were once almost festive, but over time they become darker (so to speak), more dangerous. Enter our hero, who gets caught-- repeatedly-- in conflicts among the social classes and their god. These conflicts and his responses to them form the core of a great story. Niven & Pournelle have woven assorted subplots into the mix, as they always do; _The Burning City_ is a big book like their earlier collaborations. It's not a very dynamic book, though there are some great action scenes. The authors have put more work into character development than they've done in some previous books, and I like that. The book still moves along well, but includes messages along with the motion. This may not be to everyone's taste, but Niven & Pournelle are good at it. You probably won't even notice most of this higher-level content the first time you read the book. Fortunately this book is worth a second read, and maybe more than that. It reminds me most clearly of _Oath of Fealty_, though the plots and characters in the two books are radically different. Both are (at least in part) about how individuals relate to each other and to the society in which they live-- a popular topic for these authors and many others. _Oath of Fealty_ is my favorite Niven & Pournelle book, and _The Burning City_ may well rank right up there with it. I'll know better after I've read it a few more times. If you'll excuse me...
Rating:
Summary: Best of its type
Review: I have to admit that I was initially reluctant to purchase this book, as it did not appear to be the kind of story I normally like. But, since Niven and Pournelle have never disappointed before, I gave it a shot. I'm glad I did! The setting of the story was well done (ancient, but still recognizable). The story was engaging and entertaining, with believable and interesting characters. Even more remarkable, they managed to present the idea of a society based on magic in such a logical and believable manner. (As well done as Heinlien's stories Waldo and Magic Incorporated)
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