Man-Kzin Wars VI

If you like Sci-Fi and you like Space, then You've GOT to read Larry Niven's Man Kzin books. He's gotten together with scientists and over 20 writers and created a so-fi world unlike any that's ever been created. His sci-fi world will continue perpetuating itself long after he's gone because many young writers have bought into his sci-fi version of space as well as MANY older well established ones.

For those of you new to this series, the Kzinti are a race, created by Larry Niven, which he has given other authors permission to write stories about in this series. They are a spacefaring, sentient race evolved from carnivorous hunting cats rather than omnivorous monkeys, just as intelligent as humans and slightly more advanced technologically, at least in some areas. The only thing that has kept them from enslaving all of humanity is that they have a code of honor that frowns upon sufficient caution; their general idea of strategy and tactics is "First you scream and then you leap".In many ways, this installment is the best of the series so far; the quality of the writing in both stories is extremely good. The only drawback is that while in neither story can it be said that the heros "fail", the price for their success in each story is depressingly high.The first story is a continuation of the first story in volume IV of the series; those who read and enjoyed that story will not want to miss this one.

The Man/Kzin Wars have been full of dering-do but light on character development and cultural insights. Donald Kingsbury remedies this in "The Heroic Myth of Lt. Nora Argenine",the novella that comprises most of Man/Kzin VI. My only critique is that some of his intricate creations--Kzin mathematical traditions, for example--sit uneasily against the Kzin we see in most of this series--written as hidebound, unimaginative goons. For a refreshing foray into real characterization, try this story. The book's other story, "The Trojan Cat", is a decent effort with an unexpected ending.