Ringworld is the most stunning artifact in known space - an artificial world with 3 million times Earth's surface area.
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About the Author
Larry Niven was born in California in 1938 and studied mathematics at Washburn University, Kansas. His first published science-fiction story was 'The Coldest Place' in 1964 and he immediately established himself as a significant figure in the science-fiction world, winning four Hugos for short fiction. Ringworld is the most important novel in his future history, Tales of Known Space sequence. He has also collaborated, most notably with Jerry Pournelle on The Mote in God's Eye, Oath of Fealty, Inferno, Lucifer's Hammer and Footfall.
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From AudioFile
Two humans and two aliens, who are traveling to distant reaches of space to prevent a future catastrophe, crash on a ringworld apparently created by superior technologies. Tom Parker 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. Although this is a rousing adventure, some listeners may experience difficulty visualizing the alien settings. M.A.M. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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In the nighttime heart of Beirut, in one of a row of general-address transfer booths, Louis Wu flicked into reality. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
In the nighttime heart of Beirut, in one of a row of general-address transfer booths, Louis Wu flicked into reality. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Anthony
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The first time I read "Ringworld" was when I was in high school and I still own it and have read it, along with the rest of the series, several times. It is definitely that enthralling! I have placed it alongside other works of this type such as "Cryptonomicon", "Snow Crash", "Neuromancer", "Foundation", "Darkeye: Cyber Hunter", etc. Each as intriguing and gripping in their own rights.
By vicky fanjoy
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of those timeless books that is as relevant in its message then as it still is today... couldn't put it down
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By "thejrl"
Format:Paperback
Some sci-fi stories make psychological and social exploration their dominant them, others focus on scientific/technological themes. "Ringworld" has both elements, but it is unquestionably the scientific/technological that gives this story its strength. The heart this work is the presentation of the "Ringworld" itself, a manufactured world millions of times bigger than Earth, a technological accomplishment truly mind-boggling in its sheer size and audacity.
A huge part of any sci-fi stories' strength is what I call the "what if?" factor, the introduction of a new, or freshly presented, idea that really gives you food for thought. Niven's development of Ringworld itself and his idea of luck as a sort of psychic power has succeeded in this respect.
I give "Ringworld" 4 stars: it's good, but not THAT good---it's the concept of the Ringworld itself that gives the story its real strength. I think the character development, though adequate for the book's purpose, could have been stronger. I was also a little non-plussed with the powerful sphere of influence finally attributed to "luck."
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3.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Confusing but Good
I enjoyed this book very much even though there were many parts where I found myself not quite understanding what the author was saying. Read more
Published 24 months ago by B. Went
5.0 out of 5 stars
I, too, found "Ringworld" a truly ingenious series
Just the pure scientific thought that went behind the so-called construction of this massive ring about a lesser-magnitude star is absolutely incredible, even without the storyline... Read more
Published on Jun 16 2004 by Eric
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolute genius!
I rank Larry Niven up there with the other great science-fiction authors. His "Ringworld" books adding themselves to works by other such sci-fi masters: "Childhood's... Read more
Published on Jun 15 2004 by Christopher
3.0 out of 5 stars
A classic example of "high-concept" science fiction
The great thing about Ringworld is--you guessed it--the ringworld. The concepts of a world that is a ring, the huge size of said world, and the problems such a world might have... Read more
Published on Jun 13 2004 by debeehr
1.0 out of 5 stars
What the heck was this?
I heard all kinds of good things about this book, so I decided to give it a try. Wow. The characters are somewhat thinner than cardboard, the writing is childlike, and very, very... Read more
Published on Jun 2 2004 by barbre
2.0 out of 5 stars
A complete waste of time...
This book is a fine example of the kind of scifi I don't like. It's completely nonsensical(is that a word?) and incoherent. Read more
Published on May 27 2004 by Dan Cox
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but I wanted more.
I liked this book a lot. Niven's aliens are some of the most creative I have ever encountered in s.f., particularly Nessus. Read more
Published on Dec 22 2003 by foneman
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great classic
Ringworld is a marvellously inventive story - two humans and two Aliens, a cariverous, Cat-like kzin and a herbiverous puppeteer - set out to explore a vast world built in a ring... Read more
Published on Nov 24 2003 by Susan Norton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Greatest Work of all time.
Ringworld is by far the best book I have ever read, that along with its sequel are my absolute favorite works from any author, throughout all time.
Insane? Maybe, Exadurate? Read more
Published on Sep 8 2003 by Dan Nemirovsky
4.0 out of 5 stars
A science fiction classic...
which is very heavy on the "science" part of it.
Niven is a master of ideas: this novel alone touches on solutions to overpopulation, the possibility that luck is an inherited... Read more
Published on Aug 27 2003 by "pdeconinck2"
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