Ringworld

Hate the accent of the narrator. The story is my absolute favourite. I really enjoyed listening to this.

I have enjoyed this so much I have planned books for the next 12 months.

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13 people found this helpful

Quality to Depth

This is an excellent portrayal of a masterpiece done to the standards you would normally expect only from the BBC.

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A product of the 50s, written in 1970.

The author's attitude to women and sexual politics is extremely hard to take in 2017. Interesting premise and enjoyable story otherwise. The narrator is initially grating, but I got used to him. I don't think I'd seek out more of the narrator's work, but am interested in the rest of the Ringworld series.

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4 people found this helpful

Nearly as good as I remember

I first read Ringworld many years ago, so thought it would be good to revisit it, but this time in sound.
The ideas behind the story are vast and sweeping. The narration is good and the characters are nicely defined.
However I must admit that I was expecting more. Of what I am not sure. It felt a bit like a tv show where the characters have overcome the worst of the dangers, but are not out of the woods, when a voice says ‘and they all lived happily ever after, the end’ you feel slightly cheated. That’s how the last section of the story felt to me. It’s a pity because it tainted the rest of the book.
I really wanted to really like this book - I like the ideas and scope and characters - but it just doesn’t do it for me.
However, I am now going to look for RW2, just to see if it’s me!

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Fantastic Journey with Larry and Tom.

I've read this Book every year since my 18th Birthday. Loved Listening to It Again.

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Somewhat dated

Well, I made it all the way through but it was a long journey. Whilst competently read the narrator's voice didn't sit well with me. I can imagine what an amazing story this may have been in the 70s but now it is way too long, navel gazing and technical. Bring on The Stainless Steel Rat instead!

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Great if you like hard sci fi world building

Feels like if Star Trek had a baby with red dwarf in a good way

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possibly the finest science fiction novel ever

Ringworld sits comfortably at the top of its genre, a defining work in the same league as Lord of the Rings, which defined the whole genre of Fantasy. Niven could look Jules Verne in the eye without blushing. If you call yourself an SF fan and know nothing of Known Space you are no such thing!

Tom Parker is an excellent narrator. Initially I was dubious, but quickly reassured. He gives life to each character and sets an easy, natural pace that carries you through the text without ever once breaking the spell.

Get this book. Be inspired.

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Classic of the genre

Ringworld is a gripping tale: a product of towering technical imagination. A must for fans of the genre it is easy to see how he has influenced later authors such as Ian M Banks. It suffers from a grating misogyny which means it hasn't aged well. Kind of depressing that male science fiction authors in the 1970s could imagine astounding technical developments in the future but couldn't conceive of a change in the social status of women. Unlike some other reviewers I liked the narrator and thought he was a good match.

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A true classic, well performed

Ringworld is a classic SF novel for good reason. Even if some of the physics is a bit dodgy (Niven was heckled by MIT students about it, back in the day!). Presented here as an excellent example of the audiobook art.

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