Ringworld | Litsy

RamsFan1963

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

112/150 Finally finished November's #ClassicLSFBC selection. I first read this when I was around 17 and thought it was a great adventure, but looking back on it 44 years later, I see the more obvious flaws. I still enjoyed the Ringworld as an amazingly imaginative construct, something that would take multiple books to fully explore and understand, but the characters annoyed me more this time than before. Louis's attitude toward Teela, and all ⬇️

RamsFan1963 women for that matter, was extremely grating. Teela herself was pretty infuriating at first, but at least she improved a little by the end. The non-humans, Nessus and Speaker-to-Animals, were much more interesting than either human. I have the sequel to this that I might get around to reading one day. 3 ⭐⭐⭐💫 2w

AnishaInkspill yeah, this has flaws but there is something about it and I would also read the second one 2w

kwmg40 Agreed. The non-human characters were much more interesting. 1w

51 likes3 comments

AnishaInkspill

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

thanks @RamsFan1963 and #ClassicLSFBC, great pick

I enjoyed the wackiness and the comedy, but the flat characters, especially the women, left me a little exasperated at times. So, not a perfect novel but there are some interesting parts to it and I am intrigued to know how the story continues in the sequels.

DogMomIrene Astute observation! 2w

RamsFan1963 @AnishaInkspill I first read this when I was around 17 and thought it was great. 44 years later I see the flaws and flat characterization that alluded me before. I hope to finish this this weekend so I can start on Doomsday Book. 2w

AnishaInkspill @DogMomIrene 💛 💛 2w

AnishaInkspill @RamsFan1963 yeah that happens. I think books are wonderful in how we revisit them, and it's different to have we remember it One of my fav things about reading is rereading but I do have a lot of books as well - so it's not always easy.

Doomsday Book, I am tempted but I don't think I havethe time as the books I want to finish before the year ends are bit tough and will need more time with them, and want to join in future reads. 2w

14 likes4 comments

swynn

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

(1970) I'm embarrassed to say that this was my first time reading this, though it's been a book I've meant to get around to since I was a teenager. It's very much up my alley, as I love the "big dumb object" trope. Characters and gender roles are ... straight outta 1970 ... but themes of population and social engineering are very much still relevant and gave me plenty to ponder. I wish I'd read it first years ago so this could have been a reread.

23 likes

Ruthiella

Ringworld | Larry Niven

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀 The reason for the name for Nessus‘ species of aliens “Pierson‘s puppeteer” only becomes evident later in the book. Why do you think we humans (and kzin) dislike being manipulated, even when it‘s to their benefit? Were the puppeteers “playing god”?

BookmarkTavern, wanderinglynn, Readergrrl, Johanna414, The_Literary_Jedi, KathyWheeler, Lizpixie, BookBelle84, Larkken, julesG, Deblovestoread, majkia, LeticiaToraci, sebrittainclark, kwmg40, rwmg, CatLass007, BookwormAHN, CSeydel, rretzler, RamsFan1963, TheSpineView, bnp, swynn, PaperbackPirate, Bookwomble, Klou, RaeLovesToRead, Roary47, MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm, AuthorCjwhitcomb , Lesliereadsalot, PageShifter, tokorowilliamwallace, MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward, Books_et_al, AnishaInkspill

The_Literary_Jedi No one likes the idea of not being in control; our entire society runs on this concept of having control. We scoff at those who say otherwise. This idea of an alien race guiding Humanity goes alongside other theories (religious, scientific, etc.) where Humanity need only get out of its own way but it‘s too blind to see. Kzin were warriors & now perhaps feel inferior & to know a 1-eyed, flying purple blob manipulated it…big yikes! 3w

bookwyrm7 I'm not sure I'll be able to join in December but I'll definitely like to be tagged, so I can hopefully join in next year! 3w

Bookwomble I apologise in advance for my “aktchooly“, but... 🤓 actually, they were called Pierson's Puppeteers because the first human to meet one, a man called Pierson, thought their necks and heads looked like sock puppets, and they were named after him and his observation. As this is mentioned in one of Niven's earlier short stories, it's not evident from the novel, and this is a purely pedantic point on my part. Again, my apologies 🤓 (edited) 3w

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Ruthiella @The_Literary_Jedi I think it‘s interesting that at one level humans dislike thinking they have been manipulated behaviorally when in many ways it‘s a normal aspect of our development and in some cases (when we pray, for example) we invite it. 3w

Ruthiella @bookwyrm7 Fantastic! The more the merrier. @RamsFan1963 if you haven‘t already, will you put @bookwyrm7 on the voting tag list? 3w

Ruthiella @Bookwomble No apologies necessary! That‘s the joy of discussion! So it‘s a second layer of meaning to their appellation. You know, before I saw the picture of them on my book cover, imagined them resembling a two headed Gonzo from the Muppets. 😂 3w

The_Literary_Jedi Flying purple people eaters is what I imagined when I first saw the cover 😆 - right! Being taught manners or morals or anything is natural until we realize it‘s being done 3w

RamsFan1963 @Ruthiella I will be sure to add @bookwyrm7 to the list for December 3w

Larkken No one wants to be livestock, and livestock are the result of selective breeding 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w

Ruthiella @Larkken True that! 3w

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm It definitely opens the doors for discussing what free will really is and how much of it we actually have. I think people like the illusion of choice, so whether it‘s genuine or not, as long as they never find out, they‘re happy. It‘s easier to get my toddler dressed if I let him choose between two shirts rather than say, “Wear this,” and hand him one. He still gets dressed, but now the illusion is there that it‘s on his terms. 3w

Ruthiella @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm It‘s a great discussion point and it kind of ties into the “luck” question, doesn‘t it? How much of our lives is beyond our control, how much within our control and how much of our success or failure is determined by probabilities. 3w

AnishaInkspill I'd love answer this question but I'm half way and just enjoying the comedy. Being completely new to this I'm only listening to this when I can give it my fullest attention but only have 10 days before I have to return it. 3w

Ruthiella @AnishaInkspill I totally understand! 👍 Comment at will and whenever. 😃 3w

kwmg40 @Ruthiella Yes, the juxtaposition of luck and free will is an interesting part of the story. The manipulation of other races also made me think of the themes of our last book, Uplift. 3w

Ruthiella @kwmg40 I thought of Uplift too. I love it when books serendipitously mesh like that! 3w

39 likes16 comments

Ruthiella

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Hope all who celebrate had a Happy Thanksgiving. 🥧

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀 The luck of Teela Brown is a lot of what ultimately propels the story here. What do you think of luck? Do you believe in it? Side question: did you like the adventurous nature of the plot?

The_Literary_Jedi I‘m half in on the luck concept - lots of things had to converge if Louis Wu‘s reasoning is correct & the entire mission only came to pass bc of Teela‘s luck. IRL, people can be lucky often but I don‘t think it can be selectively bred like Teela‘s was. (edited) 3w

Bookwomble Psionic abilities are part of the Known Space universe, so probability manipulation fits that slot. If the power existed, It opens up free will vs determination questions, and if everything always goes your way, the danger of an overweening sense of entitlement, which I think Niven hints at. In evolutionary terms, I wonder if holders of the Teela Brown gene would get stupider, as they wouldn't need much intelligence or foresight to survive. 3w

Ruthiella @The_Literary_Jedi I agree with you that luck exists but it‘s really just random possibility, not a genetic factor. But it is an excellent plot device. 3w

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Ruthiella @Bookwomble Good point about the gene ultimately developing rather stupid humans who rely on luck rather than skill. Sci-fi is a great medium to explore ideas we think would be cool or beneficial and see where the thought experiment takes us. Like mind reading…neat idea but I don‘t think I want to have that talent. Too many thoughts I don‘t want to know. 😱 3w

CatLass007 I couldn‘t decide who I should be smacking upside the head: Teela Brown for being such a dingbat or Larry Niven for writing such a dingbat. I decided to bail. #HailTheBail! 3w

Ruthiella @CatLass007 Fair enough! 😂 3w

Larkken @Bookwomble @Ruthiella good point! I feel like the downside in intelligence is written into her character 👀 3w

Larkken I feel like luck is real, as someone who's friends agree that I have notoriously terrible luck, and the idea it could be "bred for" was one of the more interesting parts of this book. The fact I have badluck means that I can see when there are opportunities available that I should take advantage of since they are fleeting ??‍♀️ 3w

Ruthiella @Larkken There a certainly a few points in my life where I have literally lived to tell the tale due to luck. 3w

Bookwomble @CatLass007 Teela's dingbatness is the prime mover of the story, as it arises from the lack of hardship caused by her exceptional good luck. As her lack of awareness of threat could itself become a significant threat to her wellbeing, getting her into situations her 'probability warp' can't handle, the whole Ringworld escapade is a salutary lesson to help her develop common sense & healthy anxiety: "Don't try to walk on hot lava, it will hurt!". 3w

Bookwomble @CatLass007 Her character arc is from dingbat to capable, and ultimately formidable, adult. That said, I respect your bail - I DNFed the last LSFBC book because I want interested in the characters 😊 3w

Bookwomble @Larkken Further to my exposition to CatLass007, I think the potential "dumbing down" effect of the good-luck gene is precisely the risk the Ringworld adventure is designed to mitigate, and Niven has Louis speculate on this as a self-corrective process. 3w

CatLass007 @Bookwomble I think Teela‘s immaturity is what I what I find so annoying. I‘m trying to remember what I was like at 20, but it‘s been a while. I was a college student trying to make decisions about my future. Teela comes from wealth and privilege, two things that I never experienced. I distinctly remember at the age of 21 shaking my head at the immaturity of an 18-year-old who lived in the same suite of rooms in my dorm. I wondered if I (cont)⬇️ 3w

CatLass007 @Bookwomble had ever been that young. Teela‘s frequent giggles just grated on my nerves. I‘m not sure if I would have tolerated someone like her when I was 20. I remember enjoying Niven‘s writing in the 1980s. Maybe at the time I didn‘t perceive his sexist attitude. 3w

Bookwomble @CatLass007 Thank you for sharing 😊 These things sit with us depending on our experiences, no? I've certainly changed over the course of my life (thank goodness! 😁) and have had the same experience of revisiting books I've loved to find that their meaning and significance has shifted to the degree that my understanding has shifted. 3w

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I personally adore Teela. I felt like her inability to take things seriously made sense with the life she lived. Louis even remarks on how clumsily she moves and how it‘s because she‘s never had to bother with worrying about dinged elbows or stubbed toes. Her character arc had me wanting to read only about her. 😅 As far as believing in luck as some sort of genetic advantage, in the story it works, but in real life? Eh, I lean towards no. 3w

swynn Whether I believe in "luck" depends on definitions. Any bell curve has outliers, and you can call one tail "lucky" and the other "unlucky"; but I don't believe in some property that makes one subject more or less likely to land in one tail or the other *in general.* But I also don't believe in psionic powers, which are a given in Ringworld and it seems to me that if genetic psionic powers exist then why not "luck"? 3w

swynn I disagree that naturally "luck" would probably a lack of learning experiences, though: on the contrary, a "lucky" person could easily have experienced *more* injuries, pain, and hard-earned lessons than average by virtue of surviving adventures that would have killed the other 99%. 3w

Bookwomble @swynn Ooh, that's a good point about surviving more dangerous experiences and so building character! I hadn't thought of that perspective, which does rather shift things 🤔 3w

Ruthiella @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I love your interpretation of Teela! And there is enough room to make/consider her the true hero of the story, not Louis. 3w

Ruthiella @swynn @Bookwomble I think that‘s what Niven was hinting at. The known universe was boring Louis Wu and too tame for Teela Brown. The Ringworld gave them the challenge they needed to move forward. 3w

Bookwomble @Ruthiella @swynn Definitely 😊 I had that strand in my head but hadn't quite woven it in until I read Stephen's comment. 3w

AnishaInkspill I'm not sure if I do believe in luck, for me it's the comedy more than the adventure that's keeping me gripped. 3w

Ruthiella @AnishaInkspill I think that is a great point to emphasize the comedy in this book. It‘s an adventure! Louis Wu makes me think he could have been a progenitor of Han Solo. 3w

kwmg40 I had mixed feelings about the luck theme and Teela's character, but I'm finding the conversation in this thread as interesting as the ideas in the book itself! 3w

Ruthiella @kwmg40 That‘s definitely the advantage of a group discussion about a book. Even if it doesn‘t necessarily make me like or dislike a book more, it usually helps me understand why others liked or disliked it. 3w

AnishaInkspill @Ruthiella Louis Wu ---> Han Solo, that's really interesting, yeah they both have this way to underplay things 3w

37 likes27 comments

RamsFan1963

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Hello everyone!! Sorry I'm so late with November's #ClassicLSFBC check-in. It's been a really hard month for me, the company I work for filed bankruptcy, so I'll be out of a job just in time for Christmas. Not feeling the holiday spirit for sure. Anyway, I hope everyone got a copy of Ringworld and has enjoyed it (despite the 70s sexism). Remember December's selection is Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.
@Bookwomble @Ruthiella @TheSpineView

RamsFan1963 @BookmarkTavern @wanderinglynn @Readergrrl @Johanna414 @Lizpixie @BookBelle84 @Larkken @julesG @Deblovestoread @majkia @LeticiaToraci @sebrittainclark @kwmg40 @CatLass007 @BookwormAHN @CSeydel @bnp @PaperbackPirate @Klou 4w

RamsFan1963 @Roary47 @AuthorCjwhitcomb @PageShifter @MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward @Books_et_al @rwmg @tokorowilliamwallace @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @rretzler @RaeLovesToRead @The_Literary_Jedi @KathyWheeler @Lesliereadsalot @AnishaInkspill 4w

kwmg40 I'm very sorry to hear your news. Hope you're managing OK and that things will get better soon. As for Ringworld, the sexism was definitely noticeable, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! 4w

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The_Literary_Jedi Didn‘t age well for certain but hilarious. I kept imagining Bridgette Bardot in a silver “space” bikini 🤣 The concept was interesting and the world building mediocre for me. 📚📚📚 3/5 stacks 4w

Lesliereadsalot Bummer! Who needs bad news at the holidays? Or anytime for that matter. Hoping for better things for you. 4w

Ruthiella Sorry to hear that about your job. ☹️ I‘m only about halfway through the book. When there‘s action or dialogue, it‘s pretty entertaining but all the physics of the Ringworld is way over my head. 4w

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick So sorry about your job. Sending positive thoughts that a better opportunity is right around the corner. 4w

rwmg Sorry to hear your bad news. Hope something better comes along soon. It's a bit too soon since last time I read it so I skipped this one. Looking forward to the Connie Willis one. 4w

swynn Sorry to hear about your job, and at such a time. Hoping for better news soon. I haven't gotten to Ring world yet, but there's a chance I'll get to it this weekend, depending on how long my current read takes me. 4w

Leftcoastzen Oh man! So sorry about your job! Seems like many businesses are declaring bankruptcy. Let‘s hope a good opportunity presents itself! 4w

Larkken I‘m so sorry to hear about your job. Hopefully the year ends on a positive note for you! I had read this book a while ago and my annoyance with the casual misogyny meant I wasn‘t going to reread it even if the mechanics of the ringworld itself was neat. I can‘t understand how Niven managed to write a plant with more agency than that given to any human woman. 4w

julesG Sorry to hear about your job. I hope you have better news soon. I haven't read this one. I read a lot of reviews that mentioned it didn't age well, especially re: sexism. 4w

AnnCrystal That is just awful, especially during the Holidays 😳, believe that 2025 will bring a new and secure employment for you! 💫🤞😉. 4w

Bookwomble I'm so sorry to hear about your job, Andrew. 4w

Bookwormjillk I‘m sorry to hear about your job. 4w

Amiable Ugh. That sucks. Sending good juju for positive job-hunting news in early 2025. 4w

AnishaInkspill sorry about your job, awww that's really crap, warm wishes sent

Ringworld, I have my copy. I was surprised by the wacky characters and this book would have completely bypassed me if it wasn't for your post. 4w

TheSpineView Man, that sucks with your job. Sorry 😞 Wishing you a better New Year! 4w

bthegood Hoping something else comes along soon💙 3w

CatLass007 Losing a job is awful, I know. I‘m sorry you‘re going through this, especially during the holidays. I hope you find something soon. 3w

BookNAround I‘m so sorry about your job. I hope something good comes along asap! (edited) 3w

51 likes21 comments

kwmg40

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

This was a low pick for me. I enjoyed it, despite the fact that some of the comments about men, women and sex made me roll my eyes. It was a fun read in an interesting setting and with great alien characters.

#ClassicLSFBC

48 likes

Bookwomble

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

#ClassicLSFBC @Ruthiella @RamsFan1963
I first read Ringworld when I was 12, and it's been a favourite novel in a favourite sci fi universe ever since, so I really enjoyed this revisit to one of the galaxy's most amazing structures.
The Ringworld itself dominates the story. Niven tried to make it as scientifically credible as possible, having to conjure "magical" materials to create his vision, but that's the "fiction" part of SciFi. Famously, ⬇️

Bookwomble ...he got a lot of the physics wrong and his fans 'kindly' pointed out his errors, so he corrected later editions, but felt compelled to write the sequel, Ringworld Engineers, to address those problems he couldn't retro-fix.
Louis Wu and Nessus had featured in earlier stories in the Known Space universe, Teela Brown and Speaker-to-Animals introduced in this one, and all four returning for the Ringworld sequels. I have a soft spot for Nessus, ⬇️ 1mo

Bookwomble ... the mad puppeteer, a representative of a carefully thought out alien species that contains individuals who aren't just copies of a type. Of course, the tigerish Kzinti are magnificent and will be amazing if they are ever translated to the screen (Star Trek, the Animated Series notwithstanding).
The sexism is typical for the early'70s, and I think earlier ClassicLSFBK books have been as bad, if not worse (The Forever War and The Stars My ⬇️ 1mo

Bookwomble ... Destination). Most noticeable to me this time round were the attitudes of compulsory sexuality and allonormativity, with celibacy and asexuality being so outside Niven's comfort zone he had to allocate those traits to non-human species. (Thank you, if you read this far! 🙏🥲) 1mo

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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Great review! I was thinking how amazing seeing this adapted to screen would be. All the visuals Niven gives would be stunning to see done well. 🤩 I took the narrow view of sexuality as more a Wu problem than a Niven problem, but I‘m beginning to think I was mistaken. 😅 1mo

Bookwomble @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Thank you 😊 Ringworld has been optioned several times, but never made it to screen so far. I think it's currently owned by Amazon, but their 2017 announcement hasn't led to anything yet 🫤 Perhaps the success of Dune will be a motivator. 1mo

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Ah, Amazon‘s adaptations have been hit or miss (sadly mostly miss) for me. I hope if they do decide to do something with it that they do a good job. 🤞 1mo

Bookwomble @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I liked the first season of The Man in the High Castle, but lost interest part way through the second. Despite (or probably because of) my love for Town, I have up on The Rings of Power after a few episodes. I have to say that I struggle to find anything on Prime that I want to watch. It seems they throw money at spectacle but not on story. 1mo

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm The only adaptation I loved so far was Fallout (the only reason we even have Prime still 😅). I haven‘t the heart to even attempt Rings of Power. 😔 I need to check out The Man in the High Castle (book and show). 1mo

Bookwomble @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I might give Fallout a try, then. I've not played the game, but have a general idea of it. Naturally, I'd recommend reading TMITHC first, then watching the show. It has an interesting narrative structure, as it features the Chinese divination sheen of the I Ching, and when he got to a plot turn, PKD cast for his he should take it. 🔮 1mo

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Fallout does a great job of making it so that someone could fully understand it without ever having played the games. There‘s extra stuff that established fans will notice and geek out over, of course, but it‘s great as a stand alone. 1mo

AnishaInkspill it's interesting you say how Niven and the science, and though physics is not my thing it's interesting 3w

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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

4 ⭐️s
I really enjoyed this, the scientific ideas were fascinating, the aliens were unique and I adore Teela Brown and want to follow her on her adventures. Honestly, Louis Wu can go fly a kite, just give me a whole series on the “walking Improbability Drive” that is Teela. 😅 I also want to see how the group‘s relationships continue to grow and mold around each other. I‘ll definitely be continuing the series.

*spoilers in comment*

#ClassicLSFBC

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm There are dry moments and of course the expected 70‘s view of the sexes, but I honestly thought Wu‘s attitude towards Teela was always more a self-own than an affront to Teela. My girl ain‘t got time for that. She‘s just putting up with your sorry ass to get to where she needs to be, grandpa. 1mo

Bookwomble Great review ? Teela is definitely more than the typical "damsel in distress" stock character, even if the narrative focus is on Grandpa Wu ? Ringworld Engineers is a good sequel, though my memory of the subsequent novels is of a declining arc, but it's been a while, so that's not a necessarily trustworthy guide. 1mo

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Bookwomble Thank you! I‘m hoping I‘ll enjoy it. It would be sad to find out it fizzles out in disappointment. 1mo

33 likes3 comments

AnishaInkspill

Ringworld | Larry Niven

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl #ClassicLSFBC @RamsFan1963 #currentread

Libby hold became available. What a fantastic opening.

ShyBookOwl 😍 that's a hook! 1mo

21 likes1 comment

RamsFan1963

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Finally starting Ringworld for #ClassicLSFBC and I hope to finish the Malcom Gladwell book this weekend. The Audible Original, Isaac Steele & The Forever Man, has been a nice change of pace from the recent bleak books I've listened to.
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Lesliereadsalot Malcom Gladwell podcast coming up on Chicago Humanities Tapes on Spotify and other platforms. Either this Tuesday or 2 weeks from Tuesday. 1mo

65 likes1 comment

KathyWheeler

Ringworld | Larry Niven

so-so

So-so is the best I can do with this book; I really don‘t get the awards for it. The sexism is a major problem, some of the science seems wrong to me, the dialogue can be stilted, the plot is boring in parts, and the prose isn‘t that great. I‘m glad I read it because it‘s so influential, but I highly doubt I will read the other Ringworld books. #ClassicLSFBC #audiowalk

DogMomIrene I can relate to your review! My husband bought Stranger in a Strange Land because he wanted me to have more sci-fi books. I had to break it to him that I‘d already read that one and found it horribly sexist. Appreciated his effort, but I was like, let me buy the sci-fi from now on😉 Won‘t be buying Ringworld! 1mo

KathyWheeler @DogMomIrene I have Stranger in a Strange Land but haven‘t read it yet. If the story and writing is good, I can sometimes dismiss sexism as a product of the time, but I truly want sci-fi writers to show more imagination than that! 1mo

DogMomIrene @KathyWheeler I can ignore a sexist character but not whole worlds. Agree that sci-fi authors should have better creative chops. 1mo

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KathyWheeler @DogMomIrene I just don‘t get it. Those authors can imagine whole worlds and technology that don‘t exist, but they can‘t imagine worlds where women aren‘t subservient and aren‘t little more than sex objects? 1mo

DogMomIrene @KathyWheeler I know! I did an analysis of some sci-fi movies for a college class, specifically looking at the role of women. So much sexism. Even when my group got to Ripley from Alien, we were disappointed because the role had actually been written for a male. Like really? 1mo

KathyWheeler @DogMomIrene I bet that was an interesting paper. 1mo

DogMomIrene @KathyWheeler We did a presentation. We had fellow students asking engaging questions because we were all over it. It was actually a great example of cooperative learning. My 3 group mates were really into feminism, and I was too, but I was the sci-fi nerd so they were like, let‘s look at women in sci-fi movies. Worked out great! 1mo

KathyWheeler @DogMomIrene I love that everyone was interested in the presentation and that y‘all worked well together. 1mo

26 likes8 comments

Bookwomble

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Having bailed on my previous SF read, I'm picking up Ringworld, the #ClassicLSFBC November pick.
It's the first in a series, and part of Niven's Known Space universe, knowledge of which enhances the enjoyment, I think, but this can comfortably be read as a standalone.
The art book at back is "Alien Landscapes" and shows a painting of Louis Wu's spaceship, Lying Bastard, approaching the Ringworld with his team of human and non-human ⬇️

Bookwomble ... expeditionaries, contracted to explore an enormous alien artefact, whose surface area can contain a million earths.
Written in 1970, so set Sexism Shields at maximum! 🛡️ 1mo

Leftcoastzen 😂 1mo

39 likes2 comments

KathyWheeler

Ringworld | Larry Niven

I‘ve only got a couple of hours left to this book, and I can‘t say I‘m really drawn to it yet. And that‘s outside of the problems with the depiction of women. I can see great promise in the premise, but so far it‘s just okay to me. #ClassicLSFBC #audiowalk

23 likes

KathyWheeler

Ringworld | Larry Niven

OMG! If I‘m old enough to be someone‘s lover, I‘m old enough to be spoken to in an adult manner instead of being condescended to as if I‘m a 3 year old! I may not be able to get past the misogyny in this book although I‘ve been able to do so before. The sun was out today! I haven‘t seen it since I‘ve been back home. #ClassicLSFBC #audiowalk

20 likes

KathyWheeler

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Some things, besides sexism, bother me in this book. Wouldn‘t a society advanced enough to build a ring around their entire world have discovered radio waves? It started to rain when I got out of the car, but I pulled out my raincoat, so it stopped. 😄 #audiowalk #ClassicLSFBC

23 likes

KathyWheeler

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Today is the first time I‘ve gotten to walk in November! I‘m back home now and noticed that some parks have yet to take down their Halloween decorations. I‘m listening to Ringworld for #ClassicLSFBC and haven‘t yet made up my mind how I feel about it. It‘s got a similar problem to most of the classic SF that I‘ve read — a lack of imagination when it comes to women. #audiowalk

Ruthiella So true. Even LeGuin‘s protagonists (in the two novels I have read) were men. 1mo

KathyWheeler @Ruthiella That‘s true in the LeGuin novels that I‘ve read too. 1mo

20 likes2 comments

RamsFan1963

Ringworld | Larry Niven

The voting is done, and the #ClassicLSFBC selections for November & December are made. Ringworld will be the pick for November, and Doomsday Book will be December's selection.
@Bookwomble @Ruthiella @TheSpineView @BookmarkTavern @wanderinglynn @Readergrrl @Johanna414 @Lizpixie @BookBelle84 @Larkken @julesG @Deblovestoread @majkia @LeticiaToraci @sebrittainclark

RamsFan1963 @kwmg40 @CatLass007 @BookwormAHN @CSeydel @bnp @PaperbackPirate @Klou @Roary47 @AuthorCjwhitcomb @PageShifter @MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward @Books_et_al @rwmg @tokorowilliamwallace @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @rretzler @RaeLovesToRead @The_Literary_Jedi @KathyWheeler @Lesliereadsalot @AnishaInkspill 2mo

Ruthiella Looking forward to reading both! 2mo

TheSpineView Excellent! 2mo

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CatLass007 Yay! 2mo

AnishaInkspill Ringworld - just checked, there's at least a 4 week wait for me but just listening to the sample, what an interesting opening 2mo

RamsFan1963 @AnishaInkspill RIngworld is available free on Spotify, if you have a premium account. I checked Audible, but it's not part of Audible Plus, so it costs. 2mo

AnishaInkspill @RamsFan1963 no I don't have it, I've reserved it on Libby and maybe it will be than 4+ week wait 2mo

46 likes7 comments

rwmg

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

Louis Wu is recruited to go on an exploratory mission by a Pierson's Puppeteer who goes on to recruit a kzin and a human woman, Teela Brown.

The wonderful concepts and aliens (Pierson's Puppeteers are one of my favourite alien species ever) are unfortunately not matched by the author's vision of future relations between the human sexes.

16 likes1 stack add

rwmg

Ringworld | Larry Niven

#coffeeandabook

Bookwomble Classic! I love Niven's Known Space universe, and Ringworld is one of the best. It's great as a standalone, but I love how he works in themes from earlier stories. Have you read it before, or is this your first time? 2y

rwmg @Bookwomble I've been working my way through Niven's Known Space stories on and off over the past couple of years. I first read Ringworld. back in the late 1970s and have probably read it every decade or so since. 2y

Bookwomble @rwmg It's definitely rereadable 😊 I liked the sequel, Ringworld Engineers, too, though I was a bit underwhelmed by Ringworld Throne. I've had Ringworld's Children for ages, but not read it yet. And, looking online, I see there's a fifth Ringworld I wasn't aware of. Sounds like a reading challenge 😁 2y

20 likes3 comments

Angitron

Ringworld | Larry Niven

so-so

Honestly for all the accolades I thought it was just okay. A+++ for ideas, C for the plot/story, F for the way the female characters are depicted. It definitely shows its age, and because it‘s influenced so much of SF, it no longer feels as mind blowing as I‘m sure it did back in the 70s when it was originally published. I‘m glad I read it, but I don‘t think I‘ll continue the series.

20 likes

BMWtheAuthor

Ringworld | Larry Niven

so-so

Some great science with not-so-great misogyny. For the full review, please visit http://benjamin-m-weilert.com/index.php/2020/11/04/book-ringworld-1970/

LeticiaToraci

Ringworld | Larry Niven

bailed

I wanted to like this, after all it's one if those classic sci-fi books that are often recomended, but I'm DNFing this after 46 pages. The two human characters are so outdatted and cliché, their dialogue was probably OK when the book was published, but nowadays there are better books to read.

9 likes

TuesdayReviews

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Believe it or not, it IS possible for me to exit a bookstore without buying anything. Ringworld came the closest to leaving with me.

5 likes

LeticiaToraci

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Got these at Oxfam, isn't the golden book gorgeous?

6 likes1 stack add

Eggs

Ringworld | Larry Niven

This ring! Found on Pinterest, sold on Etsy

Melissa_J Want!!! 7y

TiredLibrarian ❤💍❤ 7y

abbsinwonderland 😍💜💜 7y

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mrozzz 😯😯😯😯 7y

MiyakoBunny That ring 💍😻😻😻 7y

Eggs @Melissa_J @TiredLibrarian @abbsinwonderland @mrozzz @MiyakoBunny 😊😊😊😊😊 7y

111 likes6 comments

Midnightyell

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

An enjoyable read, but one must appreciate 60‘s & 70‘s sci-fi to really enjoy it. While reading, it‘s very easy to tell that Niven has an excellent understanding of astrophysics and has given a lot of thought to the requirements and consequences of various theories and concepts.
I‘m tickled pink that ringworld theories in science are called “Niven Rings” because the work Larry put in to this book certainly begs that sort of honor. 3.75/5 stars.

2 likes

Midnightyell

Ringworld | Larry Niven

TubaSheila

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Starting one of those books that is always on the list of Top X-number of SciFi/Fantasy Books You Must Read. I haven't even read the back cover. I just plucked it from the shelf. #adventure

TubaSheila This copy was printed in 1981, two years before I was born. Looking at the spine, I doubt it was read more than once, if ever. 7y

1 comment

Wesman

Ringworld | Larry Niven

pick

Great sci-fi, page turner,couldn't get enough

mariejoechahine

Ringworld | Larry Niven

I got attached to audiobooks so quickly! Made a small list of some books i wanted to read that i found as audio. Which one should i read next?
I'm not experienced yet with audiobooks and their narrators so if you have any idea about how these are i'd be grateful for feedback! 😊

MisterWhitaker Ready Player One as read by a Wil Wheaton is pretty great, and all of the David Sedaris books are MEANT for audio. 8y

AshleyKorinE Just finished Color Purple on audio and she does such a good job. She's the author so she knows the characters personally I guess and it's easy to distinguish between who is talking, and who your listening too. I could put it down in the middle of a letter and come back and know I'm still listening to Celie or Nettie. (edited) 8y

Ruri_kaichou The whole Enders Game series is fantastic! HP is a lovely one to listen to. Also, His Dark Materials is phenomenal. It's basically a radio play where the author narrates and a cast voices the dialogue. 8y

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bookwrm526 My brother HIGHLY recommends the King - he's been after me to listen to it for ages 8y

readinginthedark I love Ender's Game! Haven't read the other books in the series yet. 8y

MrFluffyPantsMan Dune, it truly is a masterpiece!! 8y

carl.eee Ender's Game is one of my favorites! 8y

Suet624 Dune. 8y

Ncostell I haven't listened to any of these on audio unfortunately but I can highly recommend Born a Crime by Trevor Noah on audio which I am listening to now. The Harry Potter books are wonderful on audio as well. 8y

jessdean 11.22.63 is the only one on this list that I listened to on audio. And I loved it!! The story itself is awesome but the narrator also does a great job. 8y

Juani19 I just started listening as well, with Born a Crime, my first. Read the Harry Potter books and a friend recommended them on audio, stating the narrator is great; just started and have to agree! 8y

rjsthumbelina I loved the fireman by Joe hill on audio. Can't beat being narrated by Captain Janeway!

The Fireman

jlondon1963 Scott brick is a great narrator the only one I haven't listened to is the Niven book. If you enjoy funny you should check out The Tent the Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy the author reads it and it is 😂 8y

ChasingOm I didn't know she was the narrator, @rjsthumbelina! Gonna have to grab that one in audiobook now. 👍🏻 8y

rjsthumbelina @ChasingOm i think she narrates at least one of his others, too! 8y

athenapeterson I'm listening to Enders Game on audible right now! It's kind of a different listen because it's all dialogue, but I really like it! 8y

Oryx The Martian was excellent on audiobook. 8y

GrammaCar I love the narrator of the Ender series! I listened to most of them. And when i do read an OSC book, I hear Rudniki's voice in my head! 8y

98 likes1 stack add18 comments

DogMomIrene

Ringworld | Larry Niven

bailed

Bailing on this audiobook. I think I'll come back to this story because I've heard enough to pique my interest, but my focus is waning and I'm not truly paying attention to characters actions and plot details. Plus since it's a freebie from Amazon Prime, there's no auto-sync between devices, which is frustrating.

Anitta Don't give up reading it. Great characters and incredible engineering :) 8y

DogMomIrene @Anitta Oh I'm coming back to this one! I think I'm going to read the print version so I can focus on characterization more. I found myself spacing out too much and I had to keep rewinding. I think the audiobook format was what wasn't working for me. 8y

17 likes2 comments

DogMomIrene

Ringworld | Larry Niven

Currently listening to the freebie version of Ringworld through Audible's PRIME book choices.

And I'm finally reading Cursed Child, so one of my friends can stop censoring herself around me. 😶

The others are all top choices, but I'm also thinking of adding the audio of Cibola Burns to catch up with The Expanse series. #NovemberTBR #PhotoADayNov16

RealLifeReading

21 likes

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