Comments on: Dream Park, Paladin of Souls http://www.ficml.org/jemimap/wordpress/2004/04/17/dream-park-paladin-of-souls/ Cheating on the Kobayashi Maru since 2001 Wed, 13 May 2026 20:57:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: mike hollihan http://www.ficml.org/jemimap/wordpress/2004/04/17/dream-park-paladin-of-souls/#comment-533 Tue, 20 Apr 2004 20:00:26 +0000 http://www.ficml.org/jemimap/wordpress/2004/04/17/dream-park-paladin-of-souls/#comment-533 "Mote in God's Eye" was about First Contact. Turns out humans were very, very lucky these aliens were bottled up like they were. About the influence of lines of stellar flux FTL on intergalctic empire-making, three-limbed aliens, odd biology, fallen empire. "Legacy of Hierot" is about human settlers in a "no FTL" universe. ("Destiny's Road" is set in the same universe but another colony world, but it's a coming of age story with a mystery.) They accidentally discover a very dangerous, fast predator. Their "solution" unleashes real hell. Heinleinian Alpha-males, real settler fears, cool biology and a very cool alien monster. Note that none of these novels' sequels are quite as good as the originals. Diminishing returns.... "Protector" posits humans are a breeder stage of another being that's smarter, faster and a longer-range thinker. Galactic seeding theory and evolution. "World of Ptavvs" is about an ancient race of uber-telepaths, the Thrintun, who can mind control everything, including their slave race, the tnuctipun. The slaves figure out a revolt and everyone dies. Now, a billion years later, we keep finding their relics of empire. Including a stasis box with a living Thrint in it! That oughta start ya. ;-) “Mote in God’s Eye” was about First Contact. Turns out humans were very, very lucky these aliens were bottled up like they were. About the influence of lines of stellar flux FTL on intergalctic empire-making, three-limbed aliens, odd biology, fallen empire.

“Legacy of Hierot” is about human settlers in a “no FTL” universe. (”Destiny’s Road” is set in the same universe but another colony world, but it’s a coming of age story with a mystery.) They accidentally discover a very dangerous, fast predator. Their “solution” unleashes real hell. Heinleinian Alpha-males, real settler fears, cool biology and a very cool alien monster. Note that none of these novels’ sequels are quite as good as the originals. Diminishing returns….

“Protector” posits humans are a breeder stage of another being that’s smarter, faster and a longer-range thinker. Galactic seeding theory and evolution.

“World of Ptavvs” is about an ancient race of uber-telepaths, the Thrintun, who can mind control everything, including their slave race, the tnuctipun. The slaves figure out a revolt and everyone dies. Now, a billion years later, we keep finding their relics of empire. Including a stasis box with a living Thrint in it!

That oughta start ya. ;-)

]]> by: Jemima http://www.ficml.org/jemimap/wordpress/2004/04/17/dream-park-paladin-of-souls/#comment-532 Tue, 20 Apr 2004 04:04:56 +0000 http://www.ficml.org/jemimap/wordpress/2004/04/17/dream-park-paladin-of-souls/#comment-532 I liked the big big idea of Ringworld, but I've read other Niven and not been overwhelmed by the ideas, either - Dream Park being a perfect example. Have I missed some more impressive big ideas of his? I liked the big big idea of Ringworld, but I’ve read other Niven and not been overwhelmed by the ideas, either - Dream Park being a perfect example. Have I missed some more impressive big ideas of his?

]]> by: mike hollihan http://www.ficml.org/jemimap/wordpress/2004/04/17/dream-park-paladin-of-souls/#comment-531 Mon, 19 Apr 2004 17:12:32 +0000 http://www.ficml.org/jemimap/wordpress/2004/04/17/dream-park-paladin-of-souls/#comment-531 I'll agree with you on Niven. I don't read him for his characters as much as for the Big Ideas. Still, he's my favorite SF author. And he has written Louis Wu, Beowulf Schaeffer, Chmeee, Gil the ARM. See? I can remember these characters by name! ;-) I’ll agree with you on Niven. I don’t read him for his characters as much as for the Big Ideas. Still, he’s my favorite SF author. And he has written Louis Wu, Beowulf Schaeffer, Chmeee, Gil the ARM. See? I can remember these characters by name! ;-)

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