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Ringworld Engineers (Ringworld #2)
by
Larry Niven
"This rousing sequel to the classic Ringworld continues the adventures of Louis Wu and Speaker-to-Animals on that fantastic planet."--School Library Journal An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
November 12th 1985
by Del Rey
(first published November 30th 1979)
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The sequel to Ringworld, this has a better story. The characters go on an adventure in which they explore, experience and come into conflict with a lot more people. Niven is incredibly original, designing entire cultures, civilizations, and unique creatures behind the history of Ringworld. This book explains a lot of the mysteries found in the first book, and introduces more. Niven fixes some engineering and ecological gaps that were left in the original, and expands greatly on the plot foun...more
Ali Pasha
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Larry Niven is amazing! In Ringworld, he dares to think bigger than just creating a universe -- he creates sentient beings powerful enough to create a solar systems and he builds solar systems unlike any other. In the process, he also creates a mystery that keeps you looking for answers that he never provides.... until Ringworld Engineers.
Ringworld Engineers takes on the challenge of answering questions about Ringworld. Ringworld Engineers is well thought out, intricate, hard science at it's bes...more
Ringworld Engineers takes on the challenge of answering questions about Ringworld. Ringworld Engineers is well thought out, intricate, hard science at it's bes...more
I have fond memories of the Ringworld from my teenage years decades ago. You know, the Ringworld? The idea they store to make Halo?
Anyway, I wasnt sure how my memories fared but I was in the mood for some classic sci-fi so I got this book. And it holds up pretty well.
This is a quick read that includes some decent characters, some action, and some classic "big idea" science fiction. You want to run the math on the physics of a ring world? I dont either but it seems ...more
Anyway, I wasnt sure how my memories fared but I was in the mood for some classic sci-fi so I got this book. And it holds up pretty well.
This is a quick read that includes some decent characters, some action, and some classic "big idea" science fiction. You want to run the math on the physics of a ring world? I dont either but it seems ...more
Like its predecessor, Ringworld, I really liked the overall ideas of this book: a massive, artificial, circular world that needs saving, varied hominid species filling all ecological niches, non-humanoid alien species that act in a truly alien manner, and a hodgepodge group of heroes. However, the main character, Louis Wu, is portrayed as God's gift to any female hominid; if it's anatomically possible for him to sleep with someone, he does, basically. The Ringworld revolves around sex between ...more
Strangely, I found this book better than the original Ringworld. The story is more compelling (you begin to care about what happens to the characters by the end) and the aliens seem a bit more fleshed out, though we do see less of the puppeteer dynamic. My biggest complaint is that the falling action at the end feels very forced, as if the publisher was begging him to write a book, not a brick. It felt like there was more to tell, and we only got four pages.
Again, I think that oth...more
Again, I think that oth...more
This sequel to Ringworld was largely disappointing when compared to the original. The sense of wonder and adventure was muted, and although the character's internal conflicts were amplified at times, they seemed to function more as plot devices than actual character development. The plot seemed much more contrived, and at the climax of the book, I found myself not particularly caring about the moral crisis faced by the characters.
The sexist elements were also much more prominent in...more
The sexist elements were also much more prominent in...more
Luis Wu, 20 years from his glorious exploration of the ringworld, is a recovering wire head. He is kidnapped along with Speaker-To-Animals (now known as Chmee) the Kzin, enslaved to help search the ringworld for riches and technology. When they arrive, they find that the ringworld is off-balance and falling toward its sun. They embark on a journey to satiate the avarice of another puppeteer, and also attempt to save/repair the ringworld in the process. But neither humans nor kzin make good s...more
A sequel to the Ringworld.
The first 10% of the book deals almost exclusively with Louis Wu, for the lack of a better description, jacking on.
The action does pick up a bit afterwards, and although there are still mathematical problems with the basic premise, and logical problems with the plot itself, it's a fairly enjoyable read, albeit not quite as good as the original.
Niven does address some mathematical issues from the first book here, as well, but raises a few new ones. I'm sti...more
The first 10% of the book deals almost exclusively with Louis Wu, for the lack of a better description, jacking on.
The action does pick up a bit afterwards, and although there are still mathematical problems with the basic premise, and logical problems with the plot itself, it's a fairly enjoyable read, albeit not quite as good as the original.
Niven does address some mathematical issues from the first book here, as well, but raises a few new ones. I'm sti...more
Arguably Niven’s best solo novels, as well as the ultimate BDO (Big Dumb Object) story. Great adventure in an incredible setting with trademark Niven “quirky characters”. They’re not perfect but the sense of wonder created is second to none.
Interestingly, the premise of The Ringworld Engineers, that the Ringworld is unstable, was figured out by physicists after the first novel was published. At the 1971 World Science Fiction Convention, MIT students were chanting “The Ringword is unsta...more
Interestingly, the premise of The Ringworld Engineers, that the Ringworld is unstable, was figured out by physicists after the first novel was published. At the 1971 World Science Fiction Convention, MIT students were chanting “The Ringword is unsta...more
Oddly enough, I seem to have a habit of starting with the second book in any given series (or later even, as with Xanth), and Ringworld Engineers continues that tradition. Now I'm not certain that it's the second book in the "Known Space" series, but it IS the second Ringworld, isn't it?
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, even moreso than Ringworld itself once I'd gotten around to reading it. I admit to shamelessly riffing on Niven in some of my own fanfic a bit, but hey-if you'r...more
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, even moreso than Ringworld itself once I'd gotten around to reading it. I admit to shamelessly riffing on Niven in some of my own fanfic a bit, but hey-if you'r...more
I liked this one alot better for it showed lous wu in a complete different manner so instead of being this honorable being from earth who explored ringworld like in the last book he is now a addicted wirehead! This one has alot more action and some romance in it but it gets father as they found the somewhat remaining decendents of the previous rulers of ringworld The Ring World Engineers. This is just the start I hope the other 2 get better and better! Larry Niven is a very good author with a...more
1. Some Non-Trivial Calculus
As the MIT students sang back in 1971:
fascinating. If you like that kind of thing.
2. The Puppeteer Shock Doctrine
See, they engineered this disa...more
As the MIT students sang back in 1971:
Oh, the Ringworld is unstablePeople who want the details should check out Non-Linear Dynamics of Ringworld Systems, by Colin McInnes (http://testservice-eprints.gla.ac.uk/38/...). It's
the Ringworld is unstable
did the best that they were able
and it's good enough for me!
fascinating. If you like that kind of thing.
2. The Puppeteer Shock Doctrine
See, they engineered this disa...more
It would be hard to beat the original. And I don't think the author did. That said, it was a decent little read, propelled for the most part by my love for Ringworld.
There are some of the same great characters, the same wonderful technology, and, of course, the same magnificent habitat. There are also some new characters and extrapolations about the Ringworld history and engineering behind the environment.
If you liked Ringworld, you'll probably like Ringworld Engineers.
There are some of the same great characters, the same wonderful technology, and, of course, the same magnificent habitat. There are also some new characters and extrapolations about the Ringworld history and engineering behind the environment.
If you liked Ringworld, you'll probably like Ringworld Engineers.
As the series progresses, I continue to enjoy Niven's clear style of writing. He makes the hard science interesting. We learn more about the Ringworld and get a little deeper into the character Louis Wu. While I recommend this as an enjoyable read, I couldn't give it more than 3 stars because of the predictable plot. But there are enough surprises and revelations to entertain the Ringworld / Niven fan.
As an example of what I like about Niven is the scene where the puppeteer looks int...more
As an example of what I like about Niven is the scene where the puppeteer looks int...more
The Ringworld is such an awesome imaginary place. Technically feasible - assuming the existence of matter strong enough to create it, it would give our species a virtually limitless land area to live in. In the story, Ringworld is very very old - old enough to have allowed humanoid creatures to evolve into a variety of very different life forms. If you are a lover of science fiction and you have yet to read this book, go get it today - but start with book one.
Overall, not as impressive as I had hoped. It tended toward the pedantic, with a "Been there; done that" sort of feel through many spots. Sure, there was interesting material presented in many chapters and interesting problems to solve on occasion, but the novel was way too episodic: Go somewhere new, discover some problem, then have a sudden and fortuitous event, condition, or insight occur to magically fix everything, allowing the character to leave; end the chapter. It became dul...more
Like the first book in the series, this is strongest when revealing the "obvious" solution to puzzles posed elsewhere in the text (often noticed primarily by the characters themselves) and grappling with the ways in which the impossible (a Ringworld) might seem possible. However, some of the novelty has worn off, the puzzles were more widely spread, and the more prurient focus of some of Niven's speculation on inter-species "diplomacy" gets tiring.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Ringworld is an amazing concept, but this second visit to the construct was a bit of a disappointment.
Ringworld is what happens when you let people who love engineering run wild, it is a colossal structure in space, a manufactured corona with planet-sized shields forming a ring. Each of these shields is like a zoo exhibit with sentient beings.
In Engineers, you return to Ringworld to save the place from a structural flaw.
Ringworld is what happens when you let people who love engineering run wild, it is a colossal structure in space, a manufactured corona with planet-sized shields forming a ring. Each of these shields is like a zoo exhibit with sentient beings.
In Engineers, you return to Ringworld to save the place from a structural flaw.
Much weaker than its illustrious predecessor. Picaresque, burlesque, and in part grotesque. Oh, there are some trademark Niven surprises and flashes of brilliance but overall it comes across as a book Niven had to write (for the clamoring Ringworld fans, or for the money) rather than one he wanted to write. I'll be getting off (the series) here, thanks....
Dan often says that I read so much faster than him. I think it's because I don't read books like this very often.
This is, in its essence, MAN sci-fi. The story was good. Way too much info on thruster engines. Humorous descriptions of women with "large mammaries" Lots of sex (that was never very interesting so don't read the book expecting a thrill ride).
The story was good, like I said, but I honestly don't know if I'll finish reading the Ringworld books. It...more
This is, in its essence, MAN sci-fi. The story was good. Way too much info on thruster engines. Humorous descriptions of women with "large mammaries" Lots of sex (that was never very interesting so don't read the book expecting a thrill ride).
The story was good, like I said, but I honestly don't know if I'll finish reading the Ringworld books. It...more
I enjoyed The Ringworld Engineers, perhaps not as much as Ringworld. There's something slightly unsatisfactory for me in the explanations of the whys of the Ringworld, maybe that is just me missing something and a re-reading at a later date will change my opinion. It is however a good read and I'd recommend it to anybody who enjoyed Ringworld.
More of the same, great science, some fixes and clarifications around both the science and the societies on the Ring World. I still didn't have great affection for any of the characters, and in many ways even the humans appeared alien in their attitudes and behaviours. I think this was a better book than the first in terms of story.
When a bunch of students and sci-fi buffs proposed mechanical problems with a Ringworld, Niven wrote a sequel to answer them. How would the builders of the structure deal with ecology, meteors, solar flares, or the lack of tectonic activity? And then what would happen if those systems broke down?
After you've read the first book, you want to know more, and Niven loves his fans.
After you've read the first book, you want to know more, and Niven loves his fans.
Ugh. The casual misogyny of high science fiction (I guess that's what this is?) really got on my nerves in this one. Probably won't go on with the series. Of course, if I'd paid much attention I might not have gone on to read this one. There was plenty of mansplaining and condescension in the first book. Oh well. Moving on.
Thrilled to return to the Ringworld, and doubly more to have so many of the quixotic mechanisms of the world explained in depth. I suppose I've never really read an introduction to a book where the author relied on readers and scientific speculation to improve the physics of a thing and that was really a delight.
Waltor
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review of another edition
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waltor@capesplit.us
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I rounded up! This was a little tedious in places. I am not sure I am being fair to it since the reader (audio book) was different than for the first book and had a different take on the pronunciation of many of the words including, most distractingly, the first name of the protagonist. It was particularly disturbing since he often switched when quoting other characters. I think if another character in the book can call someone "lu ee" it is a tad odd for the narrator to call him "...more
I stopped reading at page 108. Maybe I will continue again one day, but until that day my rating is one as I didn't like it enough to finish. The story felt very similar to the first story and I didn't feel like I was learning more about the Ringworld.
The heros are back on the Ringworld pieceing together more of the puzzle. My favourite of all of the series.
Loved all of the books in this series.
A great imaginative world, books have a great flow very easy to read impossible to put down at times.
Loved all of the books in this series.
A great imaginative world, books have a great flow very easy to read impossible to put down at times.
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Laurence van Cott Niven's best known work is Ringworld (Ringworld, #1) (1970), which received the Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics. The creation of thoroughly worked-out alien species, which are very different from humans both physically and mentally, is recognized as one of Niven's main strengths...more
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