Writing separately, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle are responsible for a number of science fiction classics, such as the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning "Ringworld", "Debt of Honor", and "The Integral Trees". Together they have written the critically acclaimed bestsellers "Inferno", "Footfall", and "The Legacy of Heorot", among others. "The Mote In God's Eye" is their acknowledged masterpiece, an epic novel of mankind's first encounter with alien life that transcends the genre.
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"Minneapolis Tribune" Intriguing and suspenseful...the scenes in which the humans and aliens examine one another are unforgettable.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By julianbury
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The mote in god's eye:
The transcription from the paper book to the e-book was botched.
It is saturated with errors that could have been avoided by the use of a spell checker.
And it is not just the spelling; there is a sprinkling of non-ascii characters like @, {, ~, #, $, ^, and so on.
The Scottish accent is also badly rendered.
The story, in its original form, is excellent, but the errors disrupt the reading flow. What a shame.
The transcription from the paper book to the e-book was botched.
It is saturated with errors that could have been avoided by the use of a spell checker.
And it is not just the spelling; there is a sprinkling of non-ascii characters like @, {, ~, #, $, ^, and so on.
The Scottish accent is also badly rendered.
The story, in its original form, is excellent, but the errors disrupt the reading flow. What a shame.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By D. Martin
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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4.1 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great story
A great story about alien contact. In my view, It's a pity that the story does not have many women characters.
Published 6 days ago by Silous Umali
4.0 out of 5 stars
Different and interesting
The concept is innovative and the plot well studied. If you are science fiction with a sociology tilt, you will adore this book.
Published 2 months ago by K. Haidar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic
One of my favourite books. Looking forward to the rest of the series I have just discovered. It's a classic.
Published 3 months ago by Terence Wilkinson
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
I have read this many times over the years & I keep going back. Not a bad read if you like Si-fi
Published 4 months ago by Tunz202
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book I love.
I have read this more than once over the years. If you read this, read the sequel. (Released as the Mote Around Murchinson's Eye in the UK)
Published 4 months ago by HW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Sci-Fi, Niven and Pournelle one of the finest writing teams in...
It has it all. Truly alien Aliens, threats to the existence of humanity, conflicts both religious and interplanetary (sometimes the same thing) and just enough suspense to keep you... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Bill Roberts
2.0 out of 5 stars
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 12 months ago by D. B. Train
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 13 months ago by Mulletmeister
4.0 out of 5 stars
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 19 months ago by J. Hind
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not a classic
The publishers blurb on the back of this novel compares it with Dune and Stranger in a Strange Land. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Neilybags
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