The Ringworld Throne, Larry Niven

The Ringworld Throne by Larry Niven is a book in the Ringworld Series.

Started: 8/4/2020

Completed: 8/10/2020

Recommendation: Recommended

Recommended By: Nobody

Words for which I sought help:

neoteny -- the retention of juvenile features in the adult animal

Review:

I read Ringworld and Ringworld Engineers around 30 years ago.  It turns out that my memory of the books was not as strong as I thought.  It took me a little while to adjust to the terms and some of the assumptions that the book makes.  It still really expands my imagination and I remember feeling like there was something new around every turn.

Niven has a vivid imagination and his concept of the Ringworld is fantastic.  It is interesting and fun to experience his concept.

The Barsoom Project, Larry Niven and Steven Barnes

The Barsoom Project by Larry Niven and Steven Barnes is a sequel to Dream Park which I read as a kid.  This is the second book in the Dream Park Series.

Started:  1/16/2016

Completed:  1/29/2016

Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Recommended By:  Nobody

Words for which I sought help:

Fimbulwinter - From Norse mythology.  The "mighty winter" that precedes the end of times (the Ragnarok).

fugue state - A rare psychiatric disorder characterized by reversible amnesia for personal identity, including the memories, personality, and other identifying characteristics of individuality.

Review:

What a truly enjoyable read!  I loved the mix of science fiction and fantasy that Dream Park brought to the game and The Barsoom Project does not disappoint.  Mixing together a fantasy theme park that caters to all wishes (sort of a mass holodeck for the Trekkies who read this) with the science fiction that makes it happen, this book takes the reader back and forth with ease and pleasure.  Either of the stories could stand on their own (mix in the whole Barsoom Project which is a bit of a red herring) and the read is both fast and pleasurable.  The characters are poorly developed, but one does not crack a scifi or fantasy novel looking for character development--there is enough to carry the story and that is enough for me.  I love the way scientific ideas are explored and enough is left to the concept of "magic" that one really doesn't want to go down and see all the nuts and bolts.  Very enjoyable!