Ringworld's Children

I think this book stands up well in comparison to other books in the Ringworld series. The story moves quickly, especially in the first 150 pages, and Niven's ability to combine action and hard sf is in top form. The book will be especially rewarding for readers who, like me, have long wondered what the ringworld was like when it was originally built, governed by a coalition of Machiavellian and super-intelligent beings, rather than the wrecked civilization it became. The main difficulty for the reader is the amount of effort required to understand and enjoy the story. First, it is helpful if the reader is very familiar with the three previous ringworld books, and with the novel Protector. The novel is definitely not a stand-alone story. Second, over the years Niven's writing style has become increasingly telegraphic, so that important plot points are often covered in just one or two sentences. Thus, I recommend reading this book slowly. Trying to read it all in one sitting will give an unfocused and unsatisfying experience.

Larry, Larry, Larry. Where have you been? Like just about everybody else, I found the original Ringworld to be one of the most awesome SF stories ever written. I found Ringworld Engineers to be a worthy sequel. Like others, I found The Ringworld Throne to be a bit disappointing when compared to the other two but it was still entertaining and it was a good read. Now we have Children of Ringworld. Like I asked at the top of this review. Larry, where have you been? The book is a fairly accurate glimpse into the Larry we grew to know and love in the first two books. Yes, you can entertain us, but here you return to that total immersion into the enormity of Ringworld. The book has new characters, new situations, and more than a few surprises. Larry, you've got us. Keep it up.

The farther we get from Larry Niven's original Ringworld book, the more the central characters evolve and change, just as the Ringworld itself changes. Not only do we learn more about the nature of the Ringworld itself and how the interference of many protagonists has changed (and almost destroyed) it, but we learn how the natives have changed as well. For me, this is the essence of science fiction, and it's a pleasure to watch a master at his craft. Nivin's writing, too, has changed over the last 35 years, which is hardly surprising, and his readers' tastes have undoubtedly changed, too. Larry has other, newer things to say today, and they're worth reading. You need not have read the previous three books, but might be a good idea; the Ringworld books tell a complex story, and if it's been a while since you've read them, it certainly wouldn't hurt to do a bit of review. Larry updates his slant on technology, but he does it in a way that weaves it into the previous books. This may jar some readers, but it has, after all, been 35 years. Recommended.

For the last 20 years readers and fans have bemoaned the lack of a worthy sequel to Lary Nivens 1970 Ringworld. 1980's Ringworld engineer was fair, and Ringworld Throne completely LAME. A lot of Niven recent work seem plain and uninteresting. I began to suspect that like his mentor and idol, Robert Hienlein that in his older years Niven was losing the ability to tell stories and had been reduced to essentially delivering long monolgue travel brochures. Not so with this book. Niven has come through with an interesting and delightful tale that brings full circle a number of story lines and characters. I enjoyed how he over came some of his previous "Deus ex machina" such as puppeteer hulls, stasis generators. Just as in the real world,a seemingly over powering technology soon becomes less dominant in the face of newer technological advances. Ie the usage of anti matter against scrith and Puppeteer hulls. I further enjoyed the more in depth examination of the motives of Louis Wu and Teela Brown from the first book. Without giving a spoiler simply let me say that this is the finest book Niven has delivered in a decade.

It was a sad experience, like reading Harry Potter 7. This seemed pretty clearly the last ringworld book. Its been a grand 34 years for the story. Children was short, far too short, and in my opinion, over-edited. I liked that rishathra, contrived and distracting in previous books, was tamed. I didn't like that Niven has jumped on the nanotech elven-magic bandwagon. I loathe the concept of persistent nanotechnology, its become a literary krutch for science fiction, the ultimate Deus Ex Machina when far more interesting possibilites may have crossed the creative mind. This is not to suggest in the least that Niven is slacking, the sunfish ship and the details of Quantum II Hyperdrive are interesting enough by themselves.I liked the in-depth view of protector thinking, the satisfying plans-within-plans that has come to be expected of Niven's colorful and clever aliens. Louis Wu was at his analytical best. I was able to guess the fate of the ringworld (it was obvious), but not the extended truth of Teela Brown. The entire story is drawn carefully though somewhat breathlessly to a satisfying conclusion. I just wish it didn't have to end. Then again, Louis Wu *did* resolve to live forever...