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Short Reviews: Larry Niven
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"All the Myriad Ways"
[permanent link].
A fascinating story set in a future where people can travel across
parallel universes as predicted in the 'many worlds' interpretation of
Quantum Mechanics, where every decision causes the universe to 'split'
into new universes, each one following each possible decision. But
all is not well; people are committing suicide and the detective
investigating them suspects they may have something to do with all the
various universes.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"ARM"
[permanent link].
A fascinating story about Gil "The Arm" Hamilton who works for the
ARM, an agency tasked with policing new technology to make sure they
are not used illegally. But in this murder investigation, he may be
face to face with a devastating illegal weapon that may just kill him
if he does not move fast enough.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"At the Core"
[permanent link].
Another Beowulf Shaefer story set in Niven's Known Space
universe. This time, the alien Puppeteers hire Shaefer to pilot a
very experimental, very fast ship to the core of the Galaxy as a way
to advertise the abilities of the ship. But what he finds there may
change the lives of the inhabitants of Known Space.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"Becalmed in Hell"
[permanent link].
A pilot and his disembodied partner (a human brain connected to the
ship) suddenly find themselves in trouble while exploring Venus. What
is the cause of the problem? Could it be with the ship itself or with
the person controlling the ship? Try to figure it out before the end
of this interesting story.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"The Borderland of Sol"
[permanent link].
A story set in Niven's Known Space universe and involving
Beowulf Shaefer. Here, Shaefer wants to return to Earth but all
transportation to Earth has been suspended because ships have been
vanishing. Working himself into a ride on a government ship sent to
investigate the disappearances, Beowulf now finds himself caught in a
'massive' situation.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"Choosing Life"
[permanent link].
This story (co-authoured by Brenda Cooper and Larry Niven) looks at a
person who is deciding whether she wants to be 'scanned' and
transferred into a digital self after death. She wonders whether the
experience will be 'real' or not and what will she miss if she does do
it.
Found in Jan 2002 Analog Science Fiction & Fact
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"Chrysalis"
[permanent link].
A story set inside the "Draco Tavern" series. An alien
suddenly asks the tavern's owner for a job. Puzzled but looking for
help, he agrees. It is only later that he learns that the alien was
trying to avoid its siblings for a sexual reason but the resolution
would have a suprising twist to the tale.
Found in Sep 2002 Analog Science Fiction & Fact
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"Free Floaters"
[permanent link].
A fascinating story about two humans sent to establish contact with an
alien species that lives in the stormy atmosphere of a gas giant
planet. Can they communicate with the aliens and discover what it is
the aliens want? Will the results put all involved at risk of death?
Found in Aug 2002 Asimov's Science Fiction
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"Flatlander"
[permanent link].
An amazing Beowulf Shaeffer tale that is part detective
story. Beowulf befriends a 'flatlander' (a term reserved for people
from Earth) who invites him on a journey to see a very strange world.
On arrival, Shaeffer's instincts tell him something is wrong with the
planet but he can't tell why. Can you, based on the clues given in
the story?
Get from Fictionwise
-
"The Fourth Profession"
[permanent link].
A fascinating tale about a bartender who, while serving a Monk (an
alien species in Niven's Known Space universe), is given some
'learning' pills that give him an instant education. Problem is, he
doesn't know what he has learned and the human Government is anxious
to find out what he knows for the fate of mankind may depend on the
knowledge he got from the Monks.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"Grendel"
[permanent link].
This story is set in Niven's Known Space universe and
involves Beowulf Shaeffer. While travelling on a space liner, it gets
attacked and one of its alien passengers is kidnapped. Planet-side,
Beowolf and a friend do some investigating and figure out who the
probable kidnappers are and set out to find and rescue the alien
before there a possible interstellar conflict develops. Nicely
written with a good conclusion but you need to know quite a bit of
detail of Niven's Known Space universe to truly enjoy the
story.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"The Hole Man"
[permanent link].
An interesting story about an artifact found by the first expedition
to Mars. How was it discovered? By the effect the artifact had on
gravity meters. Further investigation reveals that it may have been
used as a signalling device (gravity signals) but what happens if the
device is mis-used?
Get from Fictionwise
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"Inconstant Moon"
[permanent link].
An amazing story that starts off innocently enough with one person
noticing that the moon is much brighter than it used to be. But when
you figure it out, you find that reason for it will pose major
challenges for the characters in the story.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"The Jigsaw Man"
[permanent link].
A fascinating look at the future where the demand for organs have far
outstripped supply. The result: condemnned criminals automatically
become organ donors. In this story, one man is deparately trying to
escape from that fate for a crime you least expect.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"The Lion in his Attic"
[permanent link].
In this fun tale of magic, two travellers arrive at a flooded castle
(flodded when the magical 'manna' began to give out). But the
travellers may not be what they seem; they have come to steal a
magical item from the castle. Can the castle's current occupant stop
them? The answer may lie in the magical ability of the owner as
hinted to by his name.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"Neutron Star"
[permanent link].
A marvelous story that introduced Beowulf Shafer. To pay off debts,
he agrees to be the pilot of a spaceship that will fly around a
neutron star. Problem is, the previous occupants of the ship died
while trying it. So Shafer has to find out what killed them and, more
importantly, survive to tell the tale.
Get from Fictionwise
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"Not Long Before the End"
[permanent link].
In a world where Warlocks and Warriors fight each other (the usual
brains versus brawn story), this particular Warlock finds more than
just the Warrior to be afraid of in this interesting tale about magic
and what is the source of it.
Get from Fictionwise
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"Procrustes"
[permanent link].
A story about Beowulf Shaefer that starts unexpectedly; Shaefer is
shot and is aware that he has been killed but wakes up in a medical
machine. Follow him as he pieces together what has happened to him
and how to find his friends and avoid meeting his murderer again.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"What Good is a Glass Dagger?"
[permanent link].
The title says it all: what is the purpose of having a glass dagger?
As the Warlock and the thief who tried to steal from the warlock find
out, a lot of good; or so it seems in this tale.
Get from Fictionwise
-
"Wrong Way Street"
[permanent link].
An interesting tale about a man who is part of an expedition to the
moon. There, they find an old abandoned alien base and a spaceship
which began to yield interesting but puzzling treasures. The man
believes he has figured out what the ship can do but the journey in
the ship will prove to have consequences for the Earth.
Get from Fictionwise
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