A Gift from Earth

What is it with Larry Niven and telepathic protagonists? At what point in the future is esp supposed to become an accepted thing? This one is the closest to new wave “social” sci-fi I’ve read from Niven. Colonists inhabit a single 40 mile tall mountain top on an otherwise deadly planet. The crew of t......more

This is one of Niven's earliest books, but still an interesting read bearing in mind it's extrapolating from mid-1960's beliefs and assumptions. It's a scientific and political exploration set in the framework of his Known Space series, and while the characterization may be a bit on the weak side th......more

4.2 stars, I really liked it, and probably will read again Larry Niven's works seem to focus on inevitable change occurring in static, exotic worlds. The world described here, a plateau high above a poisonous atmosphere, should be a lesson to interstellar probe designers to enlighten them on more of......more

I wish I had started reading Niven years ago.......more

This is a good minor novel from the 1960s, when Larry Niven was a bright and keen young sf writer, full of ideas, beginning to lay the foundations of his Known Space series. Back then, he was clearly making a conscious effort to Do Characterization, so here we get a variety of characters that differ......more