A new generation is growing up on the island paradise of Camelot, ignorant of the Great Grendel Wars fought when their parents and grandparents fi...
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Apr 03, 2009
Bryan
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Dec 08, 2010
Rusty
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This is an exciting read about a group of bright and highly intelligent earth explorers who settle a world they call Avalon which has creatures beyond what they ever experienced on earth. The most feared is the grendel and the survivors finally settle on an island they name Camelot where they manage to kill all the grendels. As the colony expands, the population divides into two groups - The Star Born and the original colonists. As the intergenerational conflict escalates, Cadmann finds his
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Oct 01, 2010
Nathan
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Reading Beowulf's Children I found my self equal parts absorbed and frustrated. I enjoyed the setting, no, I loved the setting - a beautifully constructed world that the inhabitants were struggling to understand and live in, with lifeforms that struck the right chord between alien and believable. Where I struggled was with the protagonist's. More specifically the protagonists'ages. Here we have a community where 16 and 17 year-old's have a genuine say in the politics and governance of the commun
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May 09, 2011
Fantastic Sequel to "The Legacy of Heorot".
While most reviewers here were disappointed, I found it better than the first in the series.
Anyone into alternate ecological systems should read both of these.
As a footnote, I've found this note online indicating a third book in the series is in the works.
"Larry Niven and Steve Barnes came over just after my morning walk and we had a conference on a notion for a new book in the Avalon (Beowu More...
While most reviewers here were disappointed, I found it better than the first in the series.
Anyone into alternate ecological systems should read both of these.
As a footnote, I've found this note online indicating a third book in the series is in the works.
"Larry Niven and Steve Barnes came over just after my morning walk and we had a conference on a notion for a new book in the Avalon (Beowu More...
Sep 29, 2009
Dave
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An excellent follow up to The Legacy of Heorot. I really wouldn't mind if they did another book set on Avalon, maybe one set a few generations in the future, once the colonists have really started to come to terms with Avalon's unique biodiversity.
I also like the snippets, early on, from a speech (made by one of the characters) on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein having a crypto-feminist agenda. I wonder if that speech exists in full somewhere.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyabl More...
I also like the snippets, early on, from a speech (made by one of the characters) on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein having a crypto-feminist agenda. I wonder if that speech exists in full somewhere.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyabl More...
Aug 10, 2009
Zachary
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I grabbed this book because I remembered it being mentioned as a highlight of Larry Niven's bibliography in another of his books. That, and the cover was kinda exciting with the gold print and all. That said, I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book too much because one of the aspects of sci-fi that I enjoy so much is the gadgets, gizmos and high tech in general. This was a book about a group of colonists sent out to a planet from Earth who have lost contact with Earth and are struggling to make th
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Feb 27, 2011
TeraD
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Aside from some editing errors that I found distracting (misspelled words, improper word usage), this book was fantastic. A continuatiion of the story of a group who have come from Earth to settle a new planet. We now here the story of the Star Borns and how they cope with being the first generation of children in this new world and the new challenges and dangers they face.
Sep 06, 2011
Andreas
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A peaceful offworld colony is attacked by beasts. Very exciting stuff. The second book is not quite as good, but still a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed these.
Note: Beowulf’s Children was published in the UK as “The Dragons of Heorot”.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1106
Note: Beowulf’s Children was published in the UK as “The Dragons of Heorot”.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=1106
May 21, 2011
Wetdryvac
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Not nearly as solid as the first book in the series, reads rather as a contractual obligations book. Main flaws I found were in paired description sets timelining between, "What we arrived to see," And, "What we saw happening later," With minor inconsistencies.
Jul 11, 2011
A.R.
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The sci-fi emphasizes exobiology and the attempt at a utopian human colony on the planet Avalon. The planet comes alive in the description and the characters are interesting. But, how did three separate authors blend this all together? Very good.
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Aug 29, 2011
Derrick
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sequel to Legacy of Heorot. The next generation, leaving the island of Camelot to explore the mainland of Avalon. New terrors, external and internal also. An intelligent grendel. Interesting.
Mar 10, 2011
Jason
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Much better than the first one in the series. The dynamics between the different generations add a lot more to what was previously just scary monster alien planet adventure story.
Jan 25, 2010
Rich
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This would've made a nice short story... it needs 350 pages chopped out. If I wanted a soap opera, I'd quit my job, buy some bon-bons, and sit at home with the other ladies.
Jul 05, 2010
Wes
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If you enjoyed Legacy of Heorot, you should like this sequel, which continues the story of the settlement of the planet Avalon, with a few new 'Avalon Surprises' added.
Jan 08, 2010
Group_Captain_Lionel_Mandrake
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I really liked the Legacy of Heorot. I was hoping that this would be that good. It wasn't. These guys also did the same thing with "THe Mote in God's Eye" and "The Gripping Hand." The former was GREAT! the latter, not so much.
Feb 22, 2012
Keith
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Cleopatra (the cat) arrives, terrorizes, make goal to finish first draft, scanning files, sick on last day of reading
Apr 22, 2010
Aaron
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Not horrible, but I'd only bother to read if you quite enjoyed the first one. It's OK as a sequel.
Aug 07, 2010
Yolonda
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I chose to read this book based on the authors' previous works alone. I felt it was an enaging read. I am always looking for something different and I was not disappointed. Good read!
Mar 15, 2008
Melinda
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First part dragged, but I did enjoy the hostile world the colonist aimed to settle. The Old Grendel was a great presence in this book, but the sociopath Aaron - geez, so much time was given to how perfect he was, too perfect... ad naeseum. Anyway, though it explores intriguing themes of intergenerational conflict and the role of sexual mores in society, Beowulf's Children just beat it's dead horses to a pulp. I'm done, and I'm not bothering to read the first in this series, "The Legacy of H
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Jan 27, 2009
Erinn
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I found this to be an interesting read, so much so that I started trying to find the book that comes before it. However it didn't take me long to realize that the first book is out of print.
What I think is the most interesting thing about this book is that years later I still find myself thinking about some of the things that happened in this book and the color blue.
What I think is the most interesting thing about this book is that years later I still find myself thinking about some of the things that happened in this book and the color blue.
Jan 30, 2009
Hien
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This is the sequel to The Legacy of Heorot. It's nowhere near as good as the original. The Grendels in the original had personality and were scary. The species that humans go up against in this one is some insect-like creatures. Even though they're just as deadly as the Grendels, they just don't evoke the same level of visceral fear like the Grendels.
Oct 11, 2011
Nick
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The premier, the best of the many collaborations between Niven and Pournelle with Barnes. A followup to _The Legacy of Herot_, this charts the aftermath of the first interstellar colonization as they expand. The rugged individualist, the types of protagonists that Heinlein created so well, are expanded by these authors. Strongly recommended.
Sep 22, 2007
Brent
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This is one of my favorite science fiction pieces of all time. Many times collaborations between two or more authors fall flat, but not here. Niven, Pournelle and Barnes work together very well on this one and the sequel Legacy of Heorot. I wish there were more in the series.
Feb 01, 2008
Paul
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Beowulf's Children is the Sequel to The Legacy of Heorot, the settlers think they have figured out the planet and the next generation is ready to take over, they think, and the planet has some deadly surprises for them.....
May 30, 2008
Retarius
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Another sequel let-down. Not bad, but I yearned for it to be better.
