
Ringworld
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Narrated by:
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Tom Parker
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By:
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Larry Niven
About this listen
Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel, Ringworld remains a favorite among science fiction readers and listeners.
The artifact is a vast circular ribbon of matter, some 180 million miles across, with a sun at its center. Pierson’s puppeteers—strange, three-legged, two-headed aliens—discovered this “Ringworld” in a hitherto unexplored part of the galaxy. Curious about the immense structure, but frightened by the prospect of meeting the builders, they set about assembling a team to explore it:
Louis Wu, human—old and bored with having lived too fully for too many years, seeking an adventure, and all too capable of handling it.
Nessus, puppeteer—a trembling coward from a species with an inbuilt survival pattern of nonviolence. This particular puppeteer, however, is insane.
Speaker-to-Animals, kzin—large, orange-furred, and carnivorous. The kzin are one of the most savage life-forms known.
The party’s expedition, however, goes disastrously wrong when their ship crash-lands and its motley crew faces a daunting trek across thousands of miles of Ringworld territory.
©1970 Larry Niven (P)1996 Blackstone AudiobooksEditor reviews
I have enjoyed this so much I have planned books for the next 12 months.
Ringworld
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Quality to Depth
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Slow in places, but good overall story
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Good story, shame about the sexual politics
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I was disappointed with Niven's lack of literary skill. Although he can draw up lengthy technical descriptions, the full potential of the Ringworld was never realised, as Niven let himself touch on too many concepts without exploring them to their full extent.
Clarkes contribuition to the genre was much more skilled in story progression and general descriptive articulation. Rama was elegantly revealed, with just enough flavor added to keep each visit fresh. I felt that Clarke has a much more complete grip on the reader's imagination, which he used to fill in each puzzle piece just as one was at the brink of suspense.
I haven't been left with the motivation to continue the Ringworld series, and have no interest in how the story unfolds.
Niven vs Clarke. Clarke wins this round
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Tom Parker is an excellent narrator. Initially I was dubious, but quickly reassured. He gives life to each character and sets an easy, natural pace that carries you through the text without ever once breaking the spell.
Get this book. Be inspired.
possibly the finest science fiction novel ever
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Somewhat dated
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Great if you like hard sci fi world building
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A product of the 50s, written in 1970.
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The ideas behind the story are vast and sweeping. The narration is good and the characters are nicely defined.
However I must admit that I was expecting more. Of what I am not sure. It felt a bit like a tv show where the characters have overcome the worst of the dangers, but are not out of the woods, when a voice says ‘and they all lived happily ever after, the end’ you feel slightly cheated. That’s how the last section of the story felt to me. It’s a pity because it tainted the rest of the book.
I really wanted to really like this book - I like the ideas and scope and characters - but it just doesn’t do it for me.
However, I am now going to look for RW2, just to see if it’s me!
Nearly as good as I remember
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