rumorsmatrix_

Ringworld, Larry Niven

Ringworld

Ringworld is a 1970 science fiction novel by Larry Niven, set in his Known Space universe and considered a classic of science fiction literature. Ringworld tells the story of Louis Wu and his companions on a mission to the Ringworld, an enormous rotating ring, an alien construct in space 186 million miles (299 million kilometres) in diameter.

Wikipedia

This was a re-read for me; I first read Ringworld sometime in my twenties, and perhaps tellingly, have never been back to it or any of the sequels in the time since.

But, I recently joined an online book club, and it was the book of the month, so I purchased a copy for my Kindle and gave it a re-read. I didn't much enjoy it. It felt very dated, badly paced, and I hate magic woo-woo in my sci-fi (and you very much can't selectively breed for luckiness).

"A blunderbuss of ideas from the pub bore"

I was very much expecting to have a minority opinion here, but it turns out the rest of the group agreed; most didn't enjoy it, although with a begrudging admission that the premise was solid and agreement that the idea of a ring world (and its big brother, the Dyson sphere) have since become beloved sci-fi tropes.

I won't be returning to the Ringworld, or the Known Space universe.

Sorry, Larry.

books, ringworld, larry niven, grogsquad book club, blaugust, blaugust2024

Comments?

Comments are moderated before publication and may be lightly edited. Be a respectful human being, try to stay on topic, and please don't make me write a proper comments policy or have to implement CAPTCHA.