Comments on: Neutron Star by Larry Niven http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/ The Best Science Fiction Short Stories - and where to find them! Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:53:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rusty http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1471 Rusty Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:16:33 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1471 Ha! That was pretty funny scatterbrain! Actually, I'm not too surprised - I have met some other people who really didn't like it, but usually their complaint was the stupid aliens (the Puppeteers.) I can see your point on several of those items, but overall I enjoyed the story - and yeah, I liked the whole concept of the ringworld (even though there are several scientific fallacies in it.) Oh well, to each their own right? Ha! That was pretty funny scatterbrain! Actually, I’m not too surprised – I have met some other people who really didn’t like it, but usually their complaint was the stupid aliens (the Puppeteers.)

I can see your point on several of those items, but overall I enjoyed the story – and yeah, I liked the whole concept of the ringworld (even though there are several scientific fallacies in it.) Oh well, to each their own right?

]]> By: scatterbrain http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1467 scatterbrain Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:57:21 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1467 I am all alone. I must come clean, and though I might be throwing myself into a tank of electric eels without paying a gas bill, I must be truthful: I didn't like Ringworld very much. At all in fact. I know you must be punching the screen by now, but that's just the way I am. I read the novel and I couldn't believe it even got published, nevermind won awards. The cardboard characters, the deus ex machinas, the hollow plot, the overload of pointless technical data, and, most troubling of all, the promise of the death which dosen't happen. But worst of all was the ending; it just cuts off. In mid-paragraph, in the middle of a conversation. I was so sure my edition had a printing error that I went to Waterstones especialy just to check the last page, but no, it was no printing error, that really was the end. Looking over it, I think Niven just wrote it to start off a run-of-the-mill series and, the reason why it became so popular was the concept of the ringworld itself and nothing more. Whoo! Glad I got that out of my system. I know you're all too depressed now so'll just stop. I am all alone. I must come clean, and though I might be throwing myself into a tank of electric eels without paying a gas bill, I must be truthful: I didn’t like Ringworld very much. At all in fact.

I know you must be punching the screen by now, but that’s just the way I am.

I read the novel and I couldn’t believe it even got published, nevermind won awards.

The cardboard characters, the deus ex machinas, the hollow plot, the overload of pointless technical data, and, most troubling of all, the promise of the death which dosen’t happen. But worst of all was the ending; it just cuts off. In mid-paragraph, in the middle of a conversation. I was so sure my edition had a printing error that I went to Waterstones especialy just to check the last page, but no, it was no printing error, that really was the end. Looking over it, I think Niven just wrote it to start off a run-of-the-mill series and, the reason why it became so popular was the concept of the ringworld itself and nothing more.

Whoo! Glad I got that out of my system. I know you’re all too depressed now so’ll just stop.

]]> By: Carl V. http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1423 Carl V. Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:33:47 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1423 Just put up my review if you are interested. The reference to Shaeffer is that the reward for them participating is the ship Long Shot, that Shaeffer took to the galactic core. Searching wiki indicates that this event is told in the story At the Core. Just put up my review if you are interested. The reference to Shaeffer is that the reward for them participating is the ship Long Shot, that Shaeffer took to the galactic core. Searching wiki indicates that this event is told in the story At the Core.

]]> By: Rusty http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1422 Rusty Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:39:56 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1422 Carl, Very cool! I am glad you enjoyed it, I think that it was a great book. There was a reference to Beowulf Shaeffer? I honestly don't remember that, guess I'll have to read it again. I have only read the first and second Ringworld novels, and I thought the second was pretty good too - not as good as the first, but still good. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts about it on your website. And one day? Wow! Carl,

Very cool! I am glad you enjoyed it, I think that it was a great book. There was a reference to Beowulf Shaeffer? I honestly don’t remember that, guess I’ll have to read it again. I have only read the first and second Ringworld novels, and I thought the second was pretty good too – not as good as the first, but still good. I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts about it on your website. And one day? Wow!

]]> By: Carl V. http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1421 Carl V. Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:14:38 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1421 Hey Rusty, I just finished Ringworld! Spent the day reading and got through it all in one day. Good stuff, I really enjoyed it. I am really curious now about the other Ringworld novels. It was great to see a reference early on in Ringworld to Beowulf Shaeffer! I'm so glad I read this or the reference would have completely escaped me. Several elements in the story reminded me of elements in A World Out of Time and now I am really wanting to read that book again. Hey Rusty, I just finished Ringworld! Spent the day reading and got through it all in one day. Good stuff, I really enjoyed it. I am really curious now about the other Ringworld novels. It was great to see a reference early on in Ringworld to Beowulf Shaeffer! I’m so glad I read this or the reference would have completely escaped me.

Several elements in the story reminded me of elements in A World Out of Time and now I am really wanting to read that book again.

]]> By: Kailana http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1414 Kailana Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:18:38 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1414 Yeah, I have no idea what the Ringworld series is. I am a fantasy nerd and pretty clueless when it comes to sci-fi! Off to find out what you and Carl are talking about. :) Yeah, I have no idea what the Ringworld series is. I am a fantasy nerd and pretty clueless when it comes to sci-fi! Off to find out what you and Carl are talking about. :)

]]> By: Rusty http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1412 Rusty Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:09:41 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1412 Kailana, Larry Niven has written some great stuff. While this story is good, I don't think it is his best work. I have only read two of his Ringworld novels, but I really liked both of them - especially the first one. I'd recommend giving it a try. Kailana,

Larry Niven has written some great stuff. While this story is good, I don’t think it is his best work. I have only read two of his Ringworld novels, but I really liked both of them – especially the first one. I’d recommend giving it a try.

]]> By: Kailana http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1410 Kailana Sat, 24 Jan 2009 05:20:36 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1410 This is the only thing I have ever read by Larry Niven! Terrible, I know! I really must remedy that, though. I see him at the second hand bookstore all the time, so I think I will be picking up some books. :) This is the only thing I have ever read by Larry Niven! Terrible, I know! I really must remedy that, though. I see him at the second hand bookstore all the time, so I think I will be picking up some books. :)

]]> By: Carl V. http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1405 Carl V. Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:52:55 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1405 Keep repeating: I will get to Ringworld this year, I will get to Ringworld this year... :) Keep repeating: I will get to Ringworld this year, I will get to Ringworld this year… :)

]]> By: Rusty http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/comment-page-1/#comment-1403 Rusty Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:04:01 +0000 http://bestsciencefictionstories.com/2008/12/31/neutron-star-by-larry-niven/#comment-1403 Kim, I also didn't know that Niven had written some stories set in the Known Universe, but since reading this one I have come across a couple more too - ones I plan on reading soon. You're right though, the bartending scene was a little bit disturbing! Kim,

I also didn’t know that Niven had written some stories set in the Known Universe, but since reading this one I have come across a couple more too – ones I plan on reading soon. You’re right though, the bartending scene was a little bit disturbing!

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