The Science Fiction Novel - Larry Niven

It's pissing down rain at the moment and there are pretty high winds as well. Jo is out having lunch with one of her friends and the dogs and I are hunkered down indoors. We will brave this around 3 to check the mail...… maybe.. 😉

So today my look at the Science Fiction novel involves American author, Larry Niven.

The Science Fiction Novel - Laurence van Cott Niven

Larry Niven

Larry Niven was born in Los Angeles, California in 1938 and is a Science Fiction author. He has won various awards for his novel Ringworld and is also well known for his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle; A Mote in God's Eye and Lucifer's Hammer.

In 2015, Niven received the Damon Knight Grand Master Award from Sci-fi and Fantasy Writers of America. He is mainly known for hard science fiction, using scientific concepts and theoretical physics.

He was first published in 1964 with his short story "The Coldest Place" concerning the dark side of Mercury. In 1970 and 1971 he won the Hugo and Locus awards for Ringworld. Niven is known for Niven's Law "There is no cause so right that one cannot find a fool following it."

Since he began writing Niven has produced a number of series; Tales of the Known Space, Ringworld, the World series, Man-Kzin Wars, etc. I first heard of his books when I belonged to the Science Fiction novel book club (or something like that anyway). I tried a few of his books but I will highlight two, both written with Jerry Pournelle.

a. Lucifer's Hammer (1977).












" The lucky ones went first...

The gigantic comet had slammed into Earth, forging earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale, tidal waves thousands of feet high. Cities were turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam. It was the beginning of a new Ice Age and the end of civilization.

But for the terrified men and women chance had saved, it was also the dawn of a new struggle for survival--a struggle more dangerous and challenging than any they had ever known...." (4 stars). I recall this being a fascinating, terrifying story.

b. Footfall (1985). A great invasion of Earth story. It has elephants!













"They first appear as a series of dots on astronomical plates, heading from Saturn directly toward Earth. Since the ringed planet carries no life, scientists deduce the mysterious ship to be a visitor from another star. The world's frantic efforts to signal the aliens go unanswered. The first contact is hostile: the invaders blast a Soviet space station, seize the survivors, and then destroy every dam and installation on Earth with a hail of asteroids. Now the conquerors are descending on the American heartland, demanding servile surrender--or death for all humans." (4 stars)

Larry Niven's complete catalogue is available at this link.

So there you go. That was a relatively short one, but you should still try Niven's books. Have a great weekend.