The Mote in God's Eye (The Mote Series)
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Product Description
Product Description
Aliens - Moties - were first contacted in AD3017 in the region of space known as the Coalsack. The eponymous mote in his eye, which has winked out, much to the distress of pious Himmists, just might have been Motie laser light. It might even indicate the position of their home planet.
About the Author
Larry Niven trained as a mathematician. On turning his hand to writing he met with immediate success. He has since won three Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award with novels such as the classic 'Ringworld' (which won both awards) and 'Tales of Known Space'. He and his wife live in Los Angeles.
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First Sentence
"Admiral's compliments, and you're to come to his office right away," Midshipman Staley announced. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
"Admiral's compliments, and you're to come to his office right away," Midshipman Staley announced. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The publishers blurb on the back of this novel compares it with Dune and Stranger in a Strange Land. In my view Dune is the best SF novel ever written so I had high expectations of this book. Initially I was very disappointed - stilted dialogue, wooden characters and a ponderously slow plot. then as I read on there was a steady improvement and by the end I was enjoying it. It also raises some fascinating issues around over-population and the resultant conflict. The motie world is well described, trapped in an endless cycle of over-population, war, civilisation collapse and eventual recovery. This is not Dune or Stranger in a strange land but it is a good read. 4 stars seems about right.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I first read this great novel some 20 years ago, and wanted to read it again, before tackling the sequel, "The Gripping Hand".
As always, I was curious to find out what the earlier me had found so fascinating, and so began reading with some trepidation.
I needn't have worried, however - it is still the greatest "First Contact" novel of all time, full of action, drama and scientific detail in equal measure, so innovative that it will constantly surprise even the most jaded "Speculative Fiction" palate. Why shouldn't ETs have population, social and environmental issues to deal with?
I've read many N + P novels and their obvious views on nuclear power and environmentalism are often at odds with my own; they seem to believe that nuclear fission will produce a glowing future and I fear that they are right. That said, the authors' decision to revisit their earlier successes (this, "The Burning Tower", "Escape from Hell"; what about the guys from "Lucifer's Hammer"? How are they making out?) is the right one.
A cracking good read, which fizzes along like a firework but with an infinitely more satisfying explosive pay-off.
As always, I was curious to find out what the earlier me had found so fascinating, and so began reading with some trepidation.
I needn't have worried, however - it is still the greatest "First Contact" novel of all time, full of action, drama and scientific detail in equal measure, so innovative that it will constantly surprise even the most jaded "Speculative Fiction" palate. Why shouldn't ETs have population, social and environmental issues to deal with?
I've read many N + P novels and their obvious views on nuclear power and environmentalism are often at odds with my own; they seem to believe that nuclear fission will produce a glowing future and I fear that they are right. That said, the authors' decision to revisit their earlier successes (this, "The Burning Tower", "Escape from Hell"; what about the guys from "Lucifer's Hammer"? How are they making out?) is the right one.
A cracking good read, which fizzes along like a firework but with an infinitely more satisfying explosive pay-off.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'd been trying to get hold of this book for some time and, eventually, ended up getting a second-hand copy. I've read it over the last week and have just put the book down after reading the last 150-or so pages.
As far as characterisations go, there seems, to me, to be a pretty thin veneer on most people in the book - there are quite a lot so it would be too much to ask to develop them all... however, I don't even feel as though Blaine was made clear to me. Sally, on the other hand, did my nut in - as well as the Chief Scientist - they just annoyed me frankly - with their pre-formed ideas being used repeatedly in the book to offset the views of common-sense... so, the book has some realism there - you'll never have large groups of people who are all sensible - so truth in that.
With regards to action... it is spread out, with just about the right levels of suspense and intrigue and guesswork required on your part as you progress through the book. When the action does come you are dragged along with it and are able to visualise it well and care for the outcome.
I still can't really decide whether the Moties are just trying to get out of their "Cycles" and see expansion as a necessity, or whether they are hell-bent on conquest of the only other civilisation they have come across. There are parts of the book - where some of the main Motie characters are talking - when they appear extremely calculating and callous. The Moties, as aliens, are believable and actually quite worrying... faced with the moral dilemmas that are in the book I'd go for the easy option of quick, out-and-out, extermination of the blighters.
At times the book can be a little slow - with, seemingly, not much happening - however, these lulls might be storytelling means of building the reader up onto the crest of a up-coming wave of intrigue or action - of which there are plenty.
The final solution in the book was a bit of a surprise to me - I didn't see the story going that way - and obviously I've now started researching for the follow-on book - but I see that it has generally negative reviews on Amazon... I wonder if I really will bother trawling through it?
So, all-in-all, four stars for this... I had waited for such a long time to read it I might be guilty of allowing myself to be a tad disappointed.
As far as characterisations go, there seems, to me, to be a pretty thin veneer on most people in the book - there are quite a lot so it would be too much to ask to develop them all... however, I don't even feel as though Blaine was made clear to me. Sally, on the other hand, did my nut in - as well as the Chief Scientist - they just annoyed me frankly - with their pre-formed ideas being used repeatedly in the book to offset the views of common-sense... so, the book has some realism there - you'll never have large groups of people who are all sensible - so truth in that.
With regards to action... it is spread out, with just about the right levels of suspense and intrigue and guesswork required on your part as you progress through the book. When the action does come you are dragged along with it and are able to visualise it well and care for the outcome.
I still can't really decide whether the Moties are just trying to get out of their "Cycles" and see expansion as a necessity, or whether they are hell-bent on conquest of the only other civilisation they have come across. There are parts of the book - where some of the main Motie characters are talking - when they appear extremely calculating and callous. The Moties, as aliens, are believable and actually quite worrying... faced with the moral dilemmas that are in the book I'd go for the easy option of quick, out-and-out, extermination of the blighters.
At times the book can be a little slow - with, seemingly, not much happening - however, these lulls might be storytelling means of building the reader up onto the crest of a up-coming wave of intrigue or action - of which there are plenty.
The final solution in the book was a bit of a surprise to me - I didn't see the story going that way - and obviously I've now started researching for the follow-on book - but I see that it has generally negative reviews on Amazon... I wonder if I really will bother trawling through it?
So, all-in-all, four stars for this... I had waited for such a long time to read it I might be guilty of allowing myself to be a tad disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Tired
Most reviewers seem to have read this book as a younger person and look back on it through rose tinted glasses. I didn't have that pleasure. Read more
Published 17 days ago by D. B. Train
Simply the best
I first read this years ago and loved it. Having read it again, it is even more relevant now what with the population explosion on Earth. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mulletmeister
A real curate's egg of a book
I have a confession: when I first read this book about 30 years ago I was so naive that I actually got to the final chapter still thinking the aliens were benevolent. Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. Hind
wonderfully complete vision of an alien culture
This is another addition to the shelf of truly excellent "first contact" scifi. It has good characters, mysterious clues that add up in a later climax that is entirely... Read more
Published 12 months ago by rob crawford
Fluffy little animals
I got this book based on other peoples opinions, and that tought me to be more sceptical.
The story starts out pretty well, gets increasingly outlandish in the middle,... Read more
The story starts out pretty well, gets increasingly outlandish in the middle,... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Christian Wendt
An exceptionally well written "First Contact" story
I liked this book very much, for many reasons:
- it is REALLY interesting and I couldn't stop reading it
- the alien civilization (Moties) is really alien and very... Read more
- it is REALLY interesting and I couldn't stop reading it
- the alien civilization (Moties) is really alien and very... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Maciej
Niven & Pournelle - What a team!
When Niven & Pournelle get together, the stories they create are truly amazing. They have a depth of characterisation and a wealth of background that clearly demonstrates a... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Tom
Fun and thought provoking
Finally re-read this book after a 20 year gap. Enjoyable plot, but whilst the Moties and their civilisation are truly inspired creations I never quite warmed to the human... Read more
Published 19 months ago by TM
My favourite SF-novel
This is probably one of the best SF-novels, I have read, and it is definitely my favourite. A proof of this is that after having worn out one paperback copy and working on doing... Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2009 by Torsten Bille
Classic SF
Easily one of the best SF novels ever written. No one can quite do hard SF better than Niven/Pournelle. Read more
Published on 29 April 2009 by zargb5
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