Ringworld, Larry Niven
Ringworld, Larry Niven
94 Rating(s)
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Ringworld

Author: Larry Niven

Narrator: Grover Gardner

Unabridged: 11 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/24/2005

Synopsis

Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel, Ringworld remains a favorite among science fiction readers.The artifact is a vast circular ribbon of matter, some 180 million miles across, with a sun at its center. Pierson’s puppeteers—strange, three-legged, two-headed aliens—discovered this “Ringworld” in a hitherto unexplored part of the galaxy. Curious about the immense structure, but frightened by the prospect of meeting the builders, they set about assembling a team to explore it:Louis Wu, human—old and bored with having lived too fully for too many years, seeking an adventure, and all too capable of handling it.Nessus, puppeteer—a trembling coward from a species with an inbuilt survival pattern of nonviolence. This particular puppeteer, however, is insane.Speaker-to-Animals, kzin—large, orange-furred, and carnivorous. The kzin are one of the most savage life-forms known.The party’s expedition, however, goes disastrously wrong when their ship crash-lands and its motley crew faces a daunting trek across thousands of miles of Ringworld territory.

About Larry Niven

Larry Niven is the New York Times bestselling and multiple Hugo, Locus, and Nebula Award–winning author of science fiction short stories and novels, including the Ringworld series and The Burning City, as well as many other science fiction masterpieces. 

About Grover Gardner

Grover Gardner is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Katie on November 14, 2009

A very interesting concept....BUT, I have to get on my soapbox for a minute. After reading a few of his books, I have to say that Larry Niven's attitude towards women, what they are like and what they are capable of, is sadly lacking. Though his male characters seem to be pretty well fleshed out (hu......more

Goodreads review by Baelor on October 04, 2017

I started this book expecting an awesome experience -- it won the Hugo AND Nebula awards, after all. Too bad it was a hot mess. The smile is because the book was lighthearted. What to say of Niven's prose, other than that it is horrible? The dialog is stilted; often it is impossible to tell what the c......more

Goodreads review by Kemper on March 03, 2011

I’d wanted to read this because I’m a fan of the Halo video games, and I’d heard that it was a big influence on those. I gotta say that I’d have liked it more if the Master Chief would have shown up and started chucking some plasma grenades around. Set in 2855, human Louis Wu is recruited by an alien......more

Goodreads review by Greg on March 06, 2010

I can't believe this won three big awards. The story is about as interesting as the trade war minutia of Episodes 1-3 of Star Wars. In non-geeky terms, not very interesting. Actually as I went out to buy a cup of coffee this morning I thought that if Larry Niven had teamed up with George Lucas the p......more

Goodreads review by Andrea on September 09, 2012

I'm afraid this made me want to punch Larry Niven in the stomach on the behalf of all women everywhere. Along with people who aren't so privileged that life bores them with its comforts, but mostly on behalf of women. A 180 year old man sleeping with a 20 year old woman? Just so wrong, and it keeps......more

Quotes

“Larry Niven’s 1970 Hugo Award winner, Ringworld, is arguably one of the most influential science fiction novels of the past fifty years…It’s clear that Ringworld hasn’t just become a cultural staple because it’s a good idea: its inspirational power comes from Niven’s success in bringing it to life. The sense of scale and wonder is joyful. I challenge you to read it without feeling awestruck.” Guardian (London)

“[Grover Gardner] captures the personalities of the travelers through individual vocalization and provides smooth, expressive narration. The listener is soon caught up in the adventures of these vivid characters as they struggle to survive…A rousing adventure.” AudioFile

“Niven’s style is such that you can be awed, then titillated, then amused all on the same page…After more than thirty years, the story remains interesting, and the ideas fascinating. I highly recommend this audiobook, whether you’ve experienced Ringworld already or not. I enjoyed every minute.” SFFAudio

“[Gardner] skillfully uses inflection and timing to heighten drama or highlight humorous details as appropriate. Parker deftly brings to life Louis Wu and other members of the ‘motley crew’…This is SF—and narration—at its best.” Kliatt

Awards

  • Nebula Award
  • Hugo Award
  • Locus Award
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