Fantastic!

The Pak protectors have both a strange physiology and psychology. They mature from the breeder stage to the very intelligent protector stage, and develop a serious protective parental impulse to go with it.

When a protector has nothing to look after, he goes on a quest for purpose, as without one, he will literally die. Enter humans and their little solar system.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/01/protector-larry-niven.html ( )

For those that know 'Ringworld', we learned in 'Ringworld Engineers' that the Ringworld was built by Pak Protectors, and that Pak are tough, super-intelligent and dedicated to protecting their species, whatever it takes. In 'Protector' we learn more about the Pak and their links with humanity, and how one human - the prospector Jack Brennan - became a protector to our species and our planet...
Even if you haven't read any of the 'Ringworld' books, I'd rate this as an enjoyable read. The relationship between the Pak and humankind is a shockingly plausible bit of science fiction (I won't spoil it by revealing too much) and the story, which takes place across a timespan of several decades, romps along without getting bogged down in background detail. If you are able to get hold of this book and you enjoy SF, I'd thoroughly recommend it. ( )

Purest Niven - for gentle, escapist literature with a sci/fi bent, this is very good indeed. It won't tax the mind but it will engage it.

http://www.sfreader.com/read_review.a... ( )