![The Mote in God's Eye [1/2] by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle (Doug Tisdale Jr)](https://i3.ytimg.com/vi/Zf3DHLZkU-U/maxresdefault.jpg)
The Mote in God's Eye [1/2] by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle (Doug Tisdale Jr)
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Date: 2024-03-20
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Comments and reviews: 26
Knifegash
Slight spoilers:
The biggest thing I liked about this book was how differently it approached First Contact. Most media has a hyper-advanced alien species or a confederation of species contacting humans, and it's about how we fail to cope with their elevated culture due to our primitive human nature which causes everything to boil over as we realize if we can't get along with each other then we have no hope of getting along with other species. But this book, written back in 1974, was standing in the wind with its story that we are the hyper-advanced alien species with ships full of multi-cultural inhabitants getting along, and our efforts in trying to integrate a society of aliens that outright insist on war over a constantly dwindling resource supply. There's a lot to analyze with it, as a macrocosm of what societies have to go through when they're first being established and how tense negotiations get with others, islands as they attempt to balance their consumption and restoration, etc. Only a few details obviously date it, such as using a stylus to manipulate their pocket computers which is a bottleneck in interface compared to touch screens that couldn't be conceptualized at the time. Other things as a single female being unofficially part of the crew didn't even seem to irk me, though sometimes her attitude did which suggests that the writers were shakey at writing the female perspective. Overall fantastic book that I enjoyed my time with, had an awesome and haunting ending, and apparently there's a sequel written decades after the fact, I should check it out!
reply
Slight spoilers:
The biggest thing I liked about this book was how differently it approached First Contact. Most media has a hyper-advanced alien species or a confederation of species contacting humans, and it's about how we fail to cope with their elevated culture due to our primitive human nature which causes everything to boil over as we realize if we can't get along with each other then we have no hope of getting along with other species. But this book, written back in 1974, was standing in the wind with its story that we are the hyper-advanced alien species with ships full of multi-cultural inhabitants getting along, and our efforts in trying to integrate a society of aliens that outright insist on war over a constantly dwindling resource supply. There's a lot to analyze with it, as a macrocosm of what societies have to go through when they're first being established and how tense negotiations get with others, islands as they attempt to balance their consumption and restoration, etc. Only a few details obviously date it, such as using a stylus to manipulate their pocket computers which is a bottleneck in interface compared to touch screens that couldn't be conceptualized at the time. Other things as a single female being unofficially part of the crew didn't even seem to irk me, though sometimes her attitude did which suggests that the writers were shakey at writing the female perspective. Overall fantastic book that I enjoyed my time with, had an awesome and haunting ending, and apparently there's a sequel written decades after the fact, I should check it out!
reply
Astroponicist
while this was an excellent book for its time by 8: 47 it proves itself to be more fiction than the suspension of disbelief can withstand in todays world. if we do not learn to live in this solar system we have no business in another solar system. imagine telling a mother of a 6 month old child that if the child is not able to drive a car in the next week there will be no justification for the child. ever notice that no one is writing works of science fiction dealing with space colonization from the perspective of what is off the shelf tech today where are the thousands of SpaceX starships filled with passengers eager to build new & better lives for themselves where are the vast cities on cycler orbits built in cellular fashion filled with Astroponics equipment producing a vast array of food, lumber, resin, & other products where are the maverick families risking everything to prospect asteroids for vital materials while navigating the bureaucracy of permits, claims, & environmental requirements that is why these dusty old books get attention because the audience is afraid to face the implications of what writing a hyper realistic space opera would be.
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while this was an excellent book for its time by 8: 47 it proves itself to be more fiction than the suspension of disbelief can withstand in todays world. if we do not learn to live in this solar system we have no business in another solar system. imagine telling a mother of a 6 month old child that if the child is not able to drive a car in the next week there will be no justification for the child. ever notice that no one is writing works of science fiction dealing with space colonization from the perspective of what is off the shelf tech today where are the thousands of SpaceX starships filled with passengers eager to build new & better lives for themselves where are the vast cities on cycler orbits built in cellular fashion filled with Astroponics equipment producing a vast array of food, lumber, resin, & other products where are the maverick families risking everything to prospect asteroids for vital materials while navigating the bureaucracy of permits, claims, & environmental requirements that is why these dusty old books get attention because the audience is afraid to face the implications of what writing a hyper realistic space opera would be.
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HuplesCat
I’ve read it a few times but revisiting age 59 after a few decades. I’d forgotten the long and interesting build up to the Mote. Fascinating future. The male crew is now laughable as is the blind obedience to an emperor but it still stands as a great tale. The sequel was a bit meh as I recall. I think Rama one and two are marginally better tales. Great uploads
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I’ve read it a few times but revisiting age 59 after a few decades. I’d forgotten the long and interesting build up to the Mote. Fascinating future. The male crew is now laughable as is the blind obedience to an emperor but it still stands as a great tale. The sequel was a bit meh as I recall. I think Rama one and two are marginally better tales. Great uploads
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ptfsndsw7028
I came across Larry Niven a few years ago in a really dark time in my life, needless to say, i was hooked. I own several physical books and tons of digital copies, and i am always looking forward to reading or listening to another book of his.
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I came across Larry Niven a few years ago in a really dark time in my life, needless to say, i was hooked. I own several physical books and tons of digital copies, and i am always looking forward to reading or listening to another book of his.
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kevinfinnegan7539
The recommendation by RAH was all I needed. This is a great story, as are all the Niven/Pournelle collaborations. The Legacy of Hearot with Steven Barnes also terrific. I’d love to come across an audio version of that book.
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The recommendation by RAH was all I needed. This is a great story, as are all the Niven/Pournelle collaborations. The Legacy of Hearot with Steven Barnes also terrific. I’d love to come across an audio version of that book.
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badwolf7367
Back when sci-fi had real science. I love how Niven and Pournelle subtly gave a nod to Star Trek by having a Chief Engineer from planet New Scotland who speaks with a Scottish accent, but speaks without it when he's excited.
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Back when sci-fi had real science. I love how Niven and Pournelle subtly gave a nod to Star Trek by having a Chief Engineer from planet New Scotland who speaks with a Scottish accent, but speaks without it when he's excited.
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ForrestWest
First really strange thing. Why on Earth would they run through the alien sail Then bring the alien material aboard the ship where it can contaminate or kill the crew They are acting like Primitives or children.
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First really strange thing. Why on Earth would they run through the alien sail Then bring the alien material aboard the ship where it can contaminate or kill the crew They are acting like Primitives or children.
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AlternityGM
It’s a great sci-fi novel. I remember reading it in the 1980s & wondering what a pocket computer could possibly look like & how it would work. Now we all carry pocket computers.
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It’s a great sci-fi novel. I remember reading it in the 1980s & wondering what a pocket computer could possibly look like & how it would work. Now we all carry pocket computers.
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granttomb8844
Ah. How nice. After all these years! What You don't say. Say it then. I'll climb back in the back seat of the Camaro on the way to Vancouver. And listen.
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Ah. How nice. After all these years! What You don't say. Say it then. I'll climb back in the back seat of the Camaro on the way to Vancouver. And listen.
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eerfmod
I tried to listen to the audible version of this and the narrator is just unbearable, I was glad to find this version The narrator is much much better
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I tried to listen to the audible version of this and the narrator is just unbearable, I was glad to find this version The narrator is much much better
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THEKL7773
I'm definitely impatient, but they talk so much random shit man its realty really annoying, especially when the situations are so interesting.
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I'm definitely impatient, but they talk so much random shit man its realty really annoying, especially when the situations are so interesting.
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tannerdowney2802
In one hand you should read the book, in the other hand this is a great reading, in the gripping hand maybe you should do both
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In one hand you should read the book, in the other hand this is a great reading, in the gripping hand maybe you should do both
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andrewtolley3706
One of my all time favorites by two masters of the genre. I think it would make a truly fantastic film! Thank you for sharing.
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One of my all time favorites by two masters of the genre. I think it would make a truly fantastic film! Thank you for sharing.
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brianiacfive240
In my mind when I read this, it was Space 1999, but I guess it is much funnier in star trek mode. lol. what a great novel.
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In my mind when I read this, it was Space 1999, but I guess it is much funnier in star trek mode. lol. what a great novel.
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joeomalley2835
Thanks for the audiobook of this. I just bought it and look forward to reading. I've heard some good things about it.
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Thanks for the audiobook of this. I just bought it and look forward to reading. I've heard some good things about it.
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SlapClubBrian
One of the coolest stories I've ever come across! This could've been written this decade and you wouldn't know.
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One of the coolest stories I've ever come across! This could've been written this decade and you wouldn't know.
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The_Gnome_Chomskee
I’ll never understand why they never adapted this to the screen. The sequel is pretty good, too.
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I’ll never understand why they never adapted this to the screen. The sequel is pretty good, too.
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java4653
Weird dudes with fascist UnAmerican beliefs. Oath of Fealty is such a messed up book on rereading.
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Weird dudes with fascist UnAmerican beliefs. Oath of Fealty is such a messed up book on rereading.
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joshuawilliams9247
Thank you so much for this reading! High quality sci-fi from a high quality reader!
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Thank you so much for this reading! High quality sci-fi from a high quality reader!
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audiobooks
I like Niven and Pournelle well enough, butThis is a bit too 1950s American utopia for me!
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I like Niven and Pournelle well enough, butThis is a bit too 1950s American utopia for me!
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brazejan1
Thank so much the audiobook I have has a guy with the voice of a 1940s news host speaking
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Thank so much the audiobook I have has a guy with the voice of a 1940s news host speaking
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krakow95
I'm convinced Larry Niven actually invented the smart phone. Here it's pocket computer.
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I'm convinced Larry Niven actually invented the smart phone. Here it's pocket computer.
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ruthcassidy6052
I read this eons ago - thanks for the upload, it's great to revisit the Moties! :)
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I read this eons ago - thanks for the upload, it's great to revisit the Moties! :)
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