One of my favorite childhood science fiction books. I still read it from time to time along with the sequel. It's a fantastic concept that really captures the imagination. ( )

This fits the universe of Known Space but isn't really part of it. Typical of Niven, it is a well thought out exploration of a new world. Character development and plot are very good, but also serve to lead one from place to place so one sees this world from a variety of angles. The science is excellent, characters memorable, and the whole concept makes me hope that some day we find such a thing...just to explore it. ( )

Incredible imagination ( )

I must admit, I love this story. I have read it three times and I recently went through it again in audio format. Though as far as the audiobook, I could not stand the narrator! It was read by Pat Botino, who I think is the most dry sounding, worst acting (if there is any), terrible audiobook narrator I have ever listened to. Granted, I haven't listened to many audiobooks, but I would definitely avoid anything else involving him.
The Integral Trees takes place in a gas planet with very low gravity. Within this gas, or smoke, ring floats giant trees, hence the name, to which descendants of humans live in the ends, or tufts, of the trees. Because of the low gravity, the people involved have become highly elongated and almost fragile in their body structure. The story starts with a group of people from a primitive colony embark on a journey to save their village from famine and drought. And what an adventure they have!
This is the only book by Larry Niven I have read, so I can't compare them to his other works. I have read that he is a fantastic world builder, and this is a prime example. I loved finding out new things that the people would discover and how they used centuries old technology for what has become a fairly primitive culture.
Some people say that the characters in this book are rather shallow, but I tend to disagree. They may not be the deepest characters I have ever read, but are by no means shallow. I enjoyed the thought processes of the different characters and how they acted. The things that set them apart came from what function they held within the tribe. The characters seemed quite real to me, especially in the case of their culture.
Overall, excellent book! As I said, this was the fourth time I went through this novel much to my delight. I have never read the sequel, The Smoke Ring, though I definitely have new plans to do so. I just hope it is as good as the first. ( )

Larry Niven is a workmanlike writer of science fiction; he revels in creating new environments and worlds, but it takes some time to warm to his characters, if ever. This novel involves a a gas cloud around a neutron star in the far future, populated by descendants of human colonists and free-floating tree environments, and an attempt by the inhabitants of one tree to secure survival and freedom after their tree is destroyed. Competent and interesting, but not overly compelling. ( )