The Mote in God's Eye

[Kurt (OP)]

I just thought I'd comment.  I originally read this book long ago, probably not when it was published, in 1974, but probably not too long afterwards.  It has always been one of my favorites.  I remember not being as thrilled with the sequel, which was written long after the original, but it was okay.  I recently noticed that the author's daughter, who is a former military officer and an anthropolgist/archeologist, has writtten an authorized "sequel" of sorts, set in the same universe.  I bought the daughter's book, but when I started browsing it I realized it had been so long since I had read the original that I thought it would be a good time to read it again before reading the daughter's book. 

I can't comment on the daughter's book yet, but I just wanted to say to all of you that haven't read The Mote in God's Eye that you should go out and read it.  This book is exactly what made me want to begin building my own empires.  It has everything.  It has gotten me enthused about my campaign again, which had hit a rough patch and had slowed down considerably, as many have noted.  An all around good read. 

Kurt

[procyon]

Read it back in the early 80's.  Then again in the 90's.  Not yet this millenium though.
Good book.  Still on the shelf in my bedroom waiting for me to pick it up again.

[Charlie Beeler]

"The Mote in God's Eye"  by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle 1974. 

I consider this a classic must read for any science fiction fan.  It's set in Pournelle's CoDominium universe after the civil war that brought down the Empire of Man and before the rise of the Sauron's.

[Hawkeye]

Read it back in the 80s in a german translation and just got it from Amazon in the english original along with a couple of other classics I allready have and read in german like "Lucifers Hammer  also Niven/Pournelle, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and "Starshiptroopers" from Heinlein. Then a bunch of books on Naval Warfare, some Alternate Reality Novels, ...

Man! So much to read, so little time

[Beersatron]

Can you read Mote on it's own or is it best to get the chronological books from the same universe first? I hate starting a series of books and then realizing I started in the middle 

[Charlie Beeler]

Can you read Mote on it's own or is it best to get the chronological books from the same universe first? I hate starting a series of books and then realizing I started in the middle  

Mote stands very well on it's own.  Once your into it you'll understand the term "on the gripping hand".   Same with Grok if you read Heinlien's "Stranger in a Strange Land".  

[Beersatron]

Mote stands very well on it's own.  Once your into it you'll understand the term "on the gripping hand".   Same with Grap if you read Heinlien's "Stranger in a Strange Land".   

Do you mean Grok from Stranger in a Strange Land?

[Charlie Beeler]

Do you mean Grok from Stranger in a Strange Land?

!@#$#%  hate it when I do that.  Yes that is what I ment. 

[Beersatron]

!@#$#%  hate it when I do that.  Yes that is what I ment. 

It is ok, I grokked what you were trying to say ... 

[Steve Walmsley]

Yes, this is one of my all time favourite books. I wasn't keen on the (original) sequel though.

Steve

[Kurt (OP)]

Yes, this is one of my all time favourite books. I wasn't keen on the (original) sequel though.

Steve

I feel the same about the sequel, it was alright, but not great.  I've now read the sequel by Pournelle's daughter.  Not my cup of tea, but I did enjoy re-reading the original again. 

Kurt

[TrueZuluwiz]

There is a large chunk of the book that was cut and then published in "N-Space" by Niven, in 1990.  Iy was cut from the front of book, on the advice, I believe, of R. A. Heinlein. Worth reading but not worth buying the book to read, in my opinion.

[Kurt (OP)]

There is a large chunk of the book that was cut and then published in "N-Space" by Niven, in 1990.  Iy was cut from the front of book, on the advice, I believe, of R. A. Heinlein. Worth reading but not worth buying the book to read, in my opinion.

IIRC, there was also an initial sequence involving combat between the MacArthur and the rebel cruiser which was cut for length reasons.  Pournelle later published it in one of his anthologies, either War World or There Will be War, or something like that.  Interesting read, but not vital to the story, which is why they removed it.