A classic of the SF genre ( )

An excellent read & raises a lot of interesting thoughts for me. It's about contact with an alien civilization in a more interesting setting than most. Makes me think a lot about some of our civilizations. Well worth reading & a classic of science fiction. ( )

Pre09:

Characters: They get churned pretty fast, but at least they have personality.
Plot: Just awesome. Exploration and exposition galore.
Style: Again, just awesome. This is science fiction. ( )

http://fantasycafe.blogspot.com/2009/... ( )

As Robert A. Heinlein once said, this is quite possibly the finest Science Fiction book ever written. It's certainly the best "first contact" book ever written, in my opinion. 'Nuff said. ( )

The Mote in God's Eye is the story of the Empire of Man's first contact with an intelligent alien race, after a probe containing an alien corpse is discovered heading for an inhabited system. Once the probe's origins are determined, a ship is sent to make contact. The Moties (aliens) they meet are friendly and only after a disaster occurs do some of the humans begin to be suspicious.

I won't say more, as I don't want to give away some of the delicious plot turns this book takes. It is a great story, one that made me late for work last week as I did not want to put it down after reading it at breakfast table.

http://archthinking.blogspot.com/2009... ( )

This is a classic and belongs on every sci-fi lover's shelf. Both authors have written separate sci-fi novels, but the collaboration brings their individual work to new heights. I think this is one of the best in terms of its vivid and complex depictions of an alien society (Dune is probably better, but this comes close). Just enough high tech stuff to make it realistic and amazing at the same time, but not overly geek-driven. ( )

A wonderful book about first contact with possible aliens quite similar to our species. This book describes one way evolution can aid the development of alien society.

A singular joy! When you begin this, leave yourself some time to enjoy it. The Moties are such loveable beings and the book twists so delightfully, one can reread it every few years and enjoy it again. ( )

I loved this book, and unlike many others I quite enjoyed the sequel. ( )

In the far distant future after the decline and fall of the first human empire, a new CoDominium has arisen from the ashes and is in the process of reasserting its control over the planets that humans have inhabited. The wars of secession and re-integration are proceeding with the usual costs when a new, unifying threat appears on the horizon.

Captain Rod Blaine and his ship is called away from the internal hostilities to intercept a large, fast moving object approaching from a distant star. Blaine and his crew intercept the object and discover it is an alien probe from a nearby star system. Unfortunately, the sole passenger has died so humanity is left without a means to determine the nature of these aliens. After a hasty series of discussions, Rod and his ship are called upon to make first contact with the aliens, to determine their nature and, if possible, to open up diplomatic and trade relations... which the Moties want only too much...

This really is a fantastic novel. Eminently believable given the technology of the Langston field and the Alderson drive. The Moties are well defined with biological and societal imperatives for their actions. The conflicting interests of Science, Commerce and Defense are all represented on both sides. And there's even a nod to Star Trek.

The biggest surprise for me came from the end of the evacuees... I really thought they were going to make it. It felt similar to the way I felt when I read about the Reavers killing the Giants in the Thomas Covenant series. Just disbelief that this would be allowed to happen.

Read 1/2008

Might be the most influential piece by Niven; definetly by the Niven/Pournelle team. Classic SF. To consider yourself well read in SF this one is required reading. ( )

Humans discover the Moties, a very different race of aliens. Neither side is particularly honest with the other, and they are both quite martial.

The Moties prove to be rather a handful, being genius savant types with technology, and gremlin or tribble like as far as being annoying goes.

Interdiction seems the only option.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/01/mote-in-gods-eye-larry-niven.html ( )

Humans discover the Moties, a very different race of aliens. Neither side is particularly honest with the other, and they are both quite martial.

The Moties prove to be rather a handful, being genius savant types with technology, and gremlin or tribble like as far as being annoying goes.

Interdiction seems the only option.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/01/mote-in-gods-eye-larry-niven.html ( )

On the cover of this book a quote from Heinlein"possibly the finest science fiction novel i have ever read. not much to add, other than the book concerns a far future empire se in an alternanate history and their first contact with aliens. ( )

The Mote in God's Eye is essentially a combination of a reasonably entertaining, but far from extraordinary, space opera and one of the best first contact novels ever. The Moties are a beautifully designed sentient alien race--they think differently from humans, act differently from humans, and worry about different problems than humans. They have evolved in a way that provides the species with biological imperitives quite different from those of man. And Niven accomplishes the difficult task of making them both highly sympathetic and ultimately quite frightening. A sci-fi classic that should be in the library of every fan of the genre. ( )

Sample Chapters: http://webscriptions.net/chapters/067...

uit mijn SF tijd
if you want it, you can get it! To be released by Book Crossing somewhere in Groningen (Holland) ( )

An interesting and ingenious puzzle story of an alien anthropology. ( )

I really enjoyed this book, particularly the idea of a space navy with nods to historical ideas such as the young midshipmen. There's some interesting politics and history going on with the idea of the human race gradually rebuilding following the collapse of their first empire. The sudden appearance of aliens throws everythign into confusion and the train wreck that proceeds is somewhat inevitable. My biggest complaint was that sometimes it felt too much emphasis was placed on the politics and military issues withuot consideration of scientific solutions (even by the scientists). For all my enjoyment of the book it also seemed to drag in places, felt like I'd been reading for hours and only managed 30 pages. An interesting story, a fascinating universe, fun characters and an engaging writing style all combine to make a great book. ( )

Niven has created an unusual world here. The Mote in God's Eye is an isolated sun in the constellation of a nebula. It has a planet... and the inhabitants of that planet can only launch into space under certain rare conditions... which is good for Mankind, because they can't stop breeding and their internecine combat is ferocious and finely honed. ( )

A fine novel of First Contact with an alien civilization, if somewhat pessimistic. This is an imaginative look at the human race a thousand years from now, and how it might interact with an alien race of confusing and complex culture and intentions (much like humanity). This is the best Larry Niven novel I have read so far, although it is difficult to tell how much of his co-written novels (the majority of them are with a co-author, it seems) are his work. It is interesting to compare human culture in this novel with Clarke's "3001"; both are set a thousand years from now, and while Clarke pictures a humanity which has rejected religion as superstition, Niven has portrayed a human government controlled by the Christian Church. This is a minor aspect of the novel, however. ( )

Standalone SF, A first contact novel. Very readable. Humans eventually arrive at an alien world whose inhabitants are desperate for more space to live. The Truth of each species weaknesses are hidden on both sides, and things start out admireably but circumstances reveal the darker sides. ( )

"The Mote In God's Eye" is a classic of Space Opera, the first contact between the Empire of Man and the inscrutable, hyper-advanced, but strangely-crippled Motie civilisation. Whatever else you do, do *not* read the "sequel" - a completely unnecessary travesty! ( )