The Mote in God's Eye - to read or not to read

[Globalt38]

Have to say that Pournelle/Niven are my very favorite SF team and just about everything they've written is worth a try. The Mote in God's Eye is definitely one of them - it's been awhile but the opening space battle sticks out as one of the best and most realistic in my mind.

Have to disagree with those that say Niven's a hard read on his own though - I rarely am disapointed (there are a few though...) - his science is so good.

Those interested in Fantasy as well should give their "The Magic Goes Away" series a try as well.

[John]

I read The Mote in God's Eye many years ago, and it was a memorable read. It's a standalone book in its own right, so you do not have to read the sequel(s).

IMHO, it is the best Niven / Pournelle collaboration.

[Paul]

I agree with John (#52) above. I think it's perfectly self-contained. Not everything needs a sequel. Not every thing needs to be explained by the author.

[Karl]

I think The Mote in God's Eye is a must read for serious sci-fi fans.

What was the world population in 1974? That is the year we reached 4 billion. Now it is 7 billion. I don't think most people have figured out what kind of crash we are going to have this century.

Who talks about fished out oceans? Our so called economists can't even talk about planned obsolescence. Still pretending it has not been happening for 50 years.

We are the Moties!

[Adam]

The fact that people are still prepared to opine on it, what? 40 years after it was first published, is proof positive that it's a classic. It may not be everyone's idea of a good read any more but I agree that it is a must read for anyone who wants to be well rounded in the genre. I read it as a teenager not long after it came out and I still think about it from time to time. As an aside, I am presently grinding my way through the first English language novel "Robinson Crusoe" (1719) with my daughter. It is a TERRIBLE read and no agent today would touch it with a bargepole. That however, doesn't alter the fact that it is a classic of English literature, a kind of signpost to the future. TMIGE is very similar in that regard. You don't have to like it but you really ought to read it.

[Marius]

The Mote in God's Eye was a pleasant read, and the aliens are ingeniously crafted.

However, the human characters lack depth and, therefore, credibility, in my opinion. Overall, the story seems rather linear to me, one-dimensional, almost predictable.

Also, I believe the gender models employed where already outdated when the novel first appeared. It was published in the 1970s but it smells like 1958.

[Ray]

Anna wrote: "Question to all who have read this book...
I am looking to get into another trilogy or series and I have noticed "The Mote in God's Eye" appears on many fave lists. However, the second and third bo..."

You absolutely should read it. The second and third books can be easily ignored, and it should be noted that the sequels were written decades after Mote anyway.

It's still one of the best examples of realistic, classic, "pulpy" military sci-fi I've ever read, especially since it doesn't bog itself down into military wank and instead actually tells a story.

[Ian]

Have to admit I've read this but not the follow-ups and enjoyed it. Only midly irritated by what I felt were the heavily written Scottish accents

[Ed]

It does tell a story, although it's also hits most possible stereotypes on the planet: Scottish engineers, devious and mercantile Middle Easterners, brave and upright nobility, cold-blooded and murderous Russians.

[Anand]

Mote is probably one of the best First Contact books out there. Truly amazing.

[Scott]

Chas wrote: "...if you enjoy something like the Culture novels or Revelation Space then it will seem dated and a little juvenile. If you set your brain clock back 30 years then it's a good read."

I agree with this. The best word I can use to describe it would be "quaint."

I liked The Integral Trees a bit better.

[James]

I have to say that I loved the The Mote in God's Eye and it remains one of my all time favorite books. I also enjoyed The Gripping Hand, though perhaps not quite as much, it certainly added to the story line.

I think I will buy Outies to see how the story progresses, I think the whole thing is a fascinating premise.

[James]

I really liked The Mote in God's Eye, and I also liked it's companion book King David's Spaceship. The Sequel Gripping Hand was less enjoyable, but still good, and I also enjoyed The Outies. So all in all, I pretty much loved the original, and still enjoyed the others, though to slightly a lesser degree.