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crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
2.0
Ringworld
Attack of the Killer Sunflowers!
Two hundred year old Louis Wu is bored. So when Nessus, an alien called a puppeteer, offers to include him on a journey to a strange Ring World, Louis accept. The duo is joined by Speaker-To-Animals, a kzin (think Klingon warrior cats), and Teela Brown, a ditzy, lucky woman.
I Liked:
By far the absolute best aspect of the book was the world building. From the moment the Ringworld was described, I was intrigued. A ring, with the circumference of an Earth orbit? That rocks! When does construction begin? Niven puts a lot of effort into the crown piece of the Ringworld. We get the logistics of how it would be built, what it would be made of, what has happened to it and more.
I think the interplay amongst the travelers was well-done too. I liked the friction between the kzin and the others, how Teela actually gets to be intelligent occasionally (more on this later), and how they all have to pull together to make it work. Plus, one of the coolest things was how Nessus was from a far more technologically advanced culture and yet was way more afraid than any of the others. I liked how he was slightly mad, shifting from paranoia to depression. Of course, Teela also gets a bit of development. At the beginning, she’s a reckless “child”, running around and not worrying about getting into trouble or pain. By the end, she’s matured a lot, is a lot more cautious, and is more wary.
While nothing on the caliber of Hitchhiker's Guide or The Princess Bride, there is quite a bit of humor in the novel. Louis is quite the snarker, as is Nessus. Even a few serious situations are made lighter with the humor.
I Didn’t Like:
I struggled to listen to all of this book, and, at first, I didn’t know why. Yes, Louis Wu was your typical, aggravating, superior human male protagonist that can do no wrong, looks amazing at 200, can have great sex, and is wealthier than Bill Gates, but that wasn’t it. Yes, the story did smart a little too much of The Hobbit (Nessus “knocks” at Louis’ door, only Louis agrees instead of being forced into the adventure like Bilbo), but I actually like adventure stories in that vein, so that wasn’t it either. Yes, Teela is yet another 70’s scifi woman shown to be stupid, vacuous, vapid, inane, childlike, and unimportant, but that wasn’t it either.
And that was when I figured it out. The book was boring. Hard to believe, with such an interesting concept as the Ringworld (which I totally loved), but the pace is incredibly slow. The plot is nearly nonexistent. The whole plot is “travelers go to investigate Ringworld, get shot down on the surface, and try to return”. Actually, the plot doesn’t sound that bad and has a lot of potential, but when you actually read it (or hear it), it just becomes snooze-worthy. When the travelers get stuck on the Ringworld, instead of being awed by being on the Ringworld and seeing it firsthand, I wanted to bash my head into a wall as they bickered, argued, postulated, and sped along in fly-cycles. “Please,” I was begging the audiobook. “Make it stop!” The writing, while certainly not the worst I’ve ever seen, just doesn’t transmit the awe and intrigue you would expect. Not to mention, there were some strange word choices, particularly in the love-making scenes.
The characters minus Nessus, as I mentioned above, are hideously stereotyped. We have our trademark warrior race, our trademark super-hero, and our trademark stupid woman. I understand this book was written in the sixties/seventies (there may not have been as many warrior races back then, women were often personified as stupid and incapable to make our hero look so amazing and wonderful and gag-worthy), but I still like a little depth, a little pizzazz, a reason to be invested in the characters. Probably my least favorite character was Louis Wu, who soars headfirst into Marty Stu territory, with his 200 year old wisdom in a 20 year old body, able to make amazing love to any woman and can talk physics with far superior beings. Teela comes in close second for her horrible “character” in the form of “stupid woman drug along to boink the hero”. And the prostitute spacer lady…wrong, wrong, wrong.
As for the Teela and Louis “relationship”…laughable. They jump each other like bunnies, Louis treats her like an idiot most of the time, and Teela laps it up like the lap dog she is. And yet, I get the creepy sense that he is her grandfather, caring for her in a father-figure, slightly demeaning teacher-to-student way. Really doesn’t make me feel good. There are sparse few scenes where they behave towards each other anything like normal human reactions (and yes, I know this is years in the future, but no where was it stated that love has been banned or manipulated, like in THX-1138). The end of their “relationship” is so flat—after Teela’s accident, Louis just up and decides that he doesn’t love her anymore. Pathetic. And I was prepared not to insult the lovemaking scenes (most of them were of the “cut to black” variety), but then I read this one: “Teela impaled herself as she straddled his hips”. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Not. Most of the love-making scenes are written so thoughtlessly and totally ruin any emotion you build up into them.
Minor Quibble: People call this book “hard scifi”, and as I was listening, I had to scratch my head in confusion. Faster than light drives? Teleporting booths? Aliens? Sounds pretty soft to me. But this complaint is more about marketing; I don’t care if a book is “hard” or “soft”, as long as it A) has good characters, B) has a good story, and C) is well-written.
Overall:
I am very disappointed. I was so looking forward to reading this Hugo (and Nebula and Locus) award winning novel. I have wanted to read more varied scifi authors and went into this novel excited. And in the beginning, I was entertained and hopeful. But then, as the novel wore on, and the execution didn’t live up to my expectations, my hopes began to die. The characters were dull and lifeless and just couldn’t carry the story. The plot forgot the Ringworld. And Niven’s writing couldn’t save the story at all.
Oh, and as for the review title: there is a pseudo-action scene involving Louis and Speaker trying to evade sunflowers. Strange…
Attack of the Killer Sunflowers!
Two hundred year old Louis Wu is bored. So when Nessus, an alien called a puppeteer, offers to include him on a journey to a strange Ring World, Louis accept. The duo is joined by Speaker-To-Animals, a kzin (think Klingon warrior cats), and Teela Brown, a ditzy, lucky woman.
I Liked:
By far the absolute best aspect of the book was the world building. From the moment the Ringworld was described, I was intrigued. A ring, with the circumference of an Earth orbit? That rocks! When does construction begin? Niven puts a lot of effort into the crown piece of the Ringworld. We get the logistics of how it would be built, what it would be made of, what has happened to it and more.
I think the interplay amongst the travelers was well-done too. I liked the friction between the kzin and the others, how Teela actually gets to be intelligent occasionally (more on this later), and how they all have to pull together to make it work. Plus, one of the coolest things was how Nessus was from a far more technologically advanced culture and yet was way more afraid than any of the others. I liked how he was slightly mad, shifting from paranoia to depression. Of course, Teela also gets a bit of development. At the beginning, she’s a reckless “child”, running around and not worrying about getting into trouble or pain. By the end, she’s matured a lot, is a lot more cautious, and is more wary.
While nothing on the caliber of Hitchhiker's Guide or The Princess Bride, there is quite a bit of humor in the novel. Louis is quite the snarker, as is Nessus. Even a few serious situations are made lighter with the humor.
I Didn’t Like:
I struggled to listen to all of this book, and, at first, I didn’t know why. Yes, Louis Wu was your typical, aggravating, superior human male protagonist that can do no wrong, looks amazing at 200, can have great sex, and is wealthier than Bill Gates, but that wasn’t it. Yes, the story did smart a little too much of The Hobbit (Nessus “knocks” at Louis’ door, only Louis agrees instead of being forced into the adventure like Bilbo), but I actually like adventure stories in that vein, so that wasn’t it either. Yes, Teela is yet another 70’s scifi woman shown to be stupid, vacuous, vapid, inane, childlike, and unimportant, but that wasn’t it either.
And that was when I figured it out. The book was boring. Hard to believe, with such an interesting concept as the Ringworld (which I totally loved), but the pace is incredibly slow. The plot is nearly nonexistent. The whole plot is “travelers go to investigate Ringworld, get shot down on the surface, and try to return”. Actually, the plot doesn’t sound that bad and has a lot of potential, but when you actually read it (or hear it), it just becomes snooze-worthy. When the travelers get stuck on the Ringworld, instead of being awed by being on the Ringworld and seeing it firsthand, I wanted to bash my head into a wall as they bickered, argued, postulated, and sped along in fly-cycles. “Please,” I was begging the audiobook. “Make it stop!” The writing, while certainly not the worst I’ve ever seen, just doesn’t transmit the awe and intrigue you would expect. Not to mention, there were some strange word choices, particularly in the love-making scenes.
The characters minus Nessus, as I mentioned above, are hideously stereotyped. We have our trademark warrior race, our trademark super-hero, and our trademark stupid woman. I understand this book was written in the sixties/seventies (there may not have been as many warrior races back then, women were often personified as stupid and incapable to make our hero look so amazing and wonderful and gag-worthy), but I still like a little depth, a little pizzazz, a reason to be invested in the characters. Probably my least favorite character was Louis Wu, who soars headfirst into Marty Stu territory, with his 200 year old wisdom in a 20 year old body, able to make amazing love to any woman and can talk physics with far superior beings. Teela comes in close second for her horrible “character” in the form of “stupid woman drug along to boink the hero”. And the prostitute spacer lady…wrong, wrong, wrong.
As for the Teela and Louis “relationship”…laughable. They jump each other like bunnies, Louis treats her like an idiot most of the time, and Teela laps it up like the lap dog she is. And yet, I get the creepy sense that he is her grandfather, caring for her in a father-figure, slightly demeaning teacher-to-student way. Really doesn’t make me feel good. There are sparse few scenes where they behave towards each other anything like normal human reactions (and yes, I know this is years in the future, but no where was it stated that love has been banned or manipulated, like in THX-1138). The end of their “relationship” is so flat—after Teela’s accident, Louis just up and decides that he doesn’t love her anymore. Pathetic. And I was prepared not to insult the lovemaking scenes (most of them were of the “cut to black” variety), but then I read this one: “Teela impaled herself as she straddled his hips”. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Not. Most of the love-making scenes are written so thoughtlessly and totally ruin any emotion you build up into them.
Minor Quibble: People call this book “hard scifi”, and as I was listening, I had to scratch my head in confusion. Faster than light drives? Teleporting booths? Aliens? Sounds pretty soft to me. But this complaint is more about marketing; I don’t care if a book is “hard” or “soft”, as long as it A) has good characters, B) has a good story, and C) is well-written.
Overall:
I am very disappointed. I was so looking forward to reading this Hugo (and Nebula and Locus) award winning novel. I have wanted to read more varied scifi authors and went into this novel excited. And in the beginning, I was entertained and hopeful. But then, as the novel wore on, and the execution didn’t live up to my expectations, my hopes began to die. The characters were dull and lifeless and just couldn’t carry the story. The plot forgot the Ringworld. And Niven’s writing couldn’t save the story at all.
Oh, and as for the review title: there is a pseudo-action scene involving Louis and Speaker trying to evade sunflowers. Strange…
happycactus's review against another edition
2.0
Romanzo invecchiato male, che sconta un'aspettativa molto alta.
Peggiora le cose una traduzione a dir poco vergognosa.
Peggiora le cose una traduzione a dir poco vergognosa.
bperl's review
3.0
Oh, it started so well. I ended up liking the portions of the book which did NOT take place on the Ringworld much more than those that did. The universe outside the ring was casually realistic, which I applaud. Unfortunately, this did not apply to the ring itself; often simultaneously confusing and boring, the titular setting was supremely underwhelming.
Nivan’s aliens are more thought out and unique than most, which I appreciated. However, his character development lacked luster and his overarching theme of genetic luck seemed shoehorned in at the last moment.
Glad I read it, wouldn’t read it again.
Nivan’s aliens are more thought out and unique than most, which I appreciated. However, his character development lacked luster and his overarching theme of genetic luck seemed shoehorned in at the last moment.
Glad I read it, wouldn’t read it again.
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I read this because it was recommended to me by someone I met ..three decades ago. Although it's a recent recommendation a lot of the story writing feels like it comes from the dark ages. I guess I can say that about any title that was written before I was born, so this falls into that category.
Among ideas of ultra fast (extra-Einsteinian) space travel, Dyson spheres, age prolonging technologies, intergalactic translation software, instant intra-planetary travel and globalisation, and population control laws, we have a boys' adventure fantasy with a cast of cool aliens and ultra-hot nympho girls.
Say what now? At about 40% through I nearly DNF because the main female crew member bursts into tears and is told she needs to smile, by the guy that she only tagged along on the mission with because she claimed to be in love with him. Of course he said yes, because interstellar travel is so much easier when you have an onboard playmate who is willing to get recreational. It's okay though because she shows her womanly fickle skills when she changes her mind about who she's in love with half way through. Later he meets with a woman whose actual job was to be the crew entertainment on a different voyage.. which is all a bit.. lé sigh.
As far as the aliens are concerned, in our main non-human character I see the (now stereotypical) alien who is scared of everything; a tripod whose main defense it to turn tail and run, or withdraw into the fetal position like a turtle. This guy gets together a crew of a 200 year old human (obviously good at staying alive), a girl with good luck, and a predatory alien like a big cat monster, whose main redeeming feature at the outset is that he doesn't kill them on sight.
(As a gamer of the 90s I am reminded of the Spathi from Star Control 2. As a gamer in the 2010s I am amused that the structure of the Ringworld is described with a shell of dirt, over stone, and then an impervious layer that if you could get through you would be in the void beyond... at least there were no Zombies or Endermen).
Amongst the philosophical discussions about eugenics, religion, controlling others through being sexually desirable,.. which all boils down to "making friends and influencing people", we have macho posturing, casual racial jibes, zipzap laser battle, and more nookie than Captain Kirk.
By the end of it I was kind of bored, and as such a baffled when all of a sudden I ran out of book.
Yawn.
Among ideas of ultra fast (extra-Einsteinian) space travel, Dyson spheres, age prolonging technologies, intergalactic translation software, instant intra-planetary travel and globalisation, and population control laws, we have a boys' adventure fantasy with a cast of cool aliens and ultra-hot nympho girls.
Say what now? At about 40% through I nearly DNF because the main female crew member bursts into tears and is told she needs to smile, by the guy that she only tagged along on the mission with because she claimed to be in love with him. Of course he said yes, because interstellar travel is so much easier when you have an onboard playmate who is willing to get recreational. It's okay though because she shows her womanly fickle skills when she changes her mind about who she's in love with half way through. Later he meets with a woman whose actual job was to be the crew entertainment on a different voyage.. which is all a bit.. lé sigh.
As far as the aliens are concerned, in our main non-human character I see the (now stereotypical) alien who is scared of everything; a tripod whose main defense it to turn tail and run, or withdraw into the fetal position like a turtle. This guy gets together a crew of a 200 year old human (obviously good at staying alive), a girl with good luck, and a predatory alien like a big cat monster, whose main redeeming feature at the outset is that he doesn't kill them on sight.
(As a gamer of the 90s I am reminded of the Spathi from Star Control 2. As a gamer in the 2010s I am amused that the structure of the Ringworld is described with a shell of dirt, over stone, and then an impervious layer that if you could get through you would be in the void beyond... at least there were no Zombies or Endermen).
Amongst the philosophical discussions about eugenics, religion, controlling others through being sexually desirable,.. which all boils down to "making friends and influencing people", we have macho posturing, casual racial jibes, zipzap laser battle, and more nookie than Captain Kirk.
By the end of it I was kind of bored, and as such a baffled when all of a sudden I ran out of book.
Yawn.
gleizer's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
e_oneita's review
3.0
Hoo boy. While I haven't yet finished the book, I have so many thoughts that I want to get out. Basically, this now over 50-year-old book truly shows its age, and I highly recommend proceeding at your own risk, if you decide you want to take a foray into this old school sci-fi. Possibly the most egregious, continuing issue is that the main character is an elderly, know-it-all man who jokes about (CW) as a next resort if he can't sleep with a willing woman. Throughout the book, he is a smarmy jerk to his current girlfriend, a woman literally a tenth his age. He's continually amazed she has any type of intelligence, and makes the most breath-takingly insulting observations about her. Beyond this consistent sexism that turns up on every page, there are some pretty horrendous racial comments by the narrator, and casual homphobia with the main character's unwillingness to accept that one of the other characters (he/him) is engaged to marry a he/him. Reading this, I'm amazed that it was ever published, and even more amazed that it (thankfully!) didn't influence the subsequent generations of sci-fi writers, who have been a million times more thoughtful and insightful.
Pros: very good writing, and some fascinating world-building (but generally couched through the narration of the smarmy main character, so it's annoying to read).
Book/series to read instead: Ninefox Gambit, the first book of the Machineries of Empire series. As I'm reading Ringworld, I keep drawing parallels to that incredible sci-fi offering, and wishing I was re-reading that instead.
Spoiler
rapePros: very good writing, and some fascinating world-building (but generally couched through the narration of the smarmy main character, so it's annoying to read).
Book/series to read instead: Ninefox Gambit, the first book of the Machineries of Empire series. As I'm reading Ringworld, I keep drawing parallels to that incredible sci-fi offering, and wishing I was re-reading that instead.
linwin's review
3.0
As if ”A Randezvous With Rama” was written by Robert A. Heinlein.
Entertaining read from page one and I enjoyed the writing style and the story and the quirky little details about the reality the characters exist in.
Would have been 4 stars if not for Louis Wu being such a gross patronising old man to his 20-year old girlfriend.
Entertaining read from page one and I enjoyed the writing style and the story and the quirky little details about the reality the characters exist in.
Would have been 4 stars if not for Louis Wu being such a gross patronising old man to his 20-year old girlfriend.
shragoo's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I liked the book a lot, but it ended very suddenly and in sort of a sad fashion
justinreadsalot's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
soben's review
4.0
Ended a little too anticlimactic but didn’t leave anything unanswered that would annoy me, so that’s good.