Beowulf's Children

by Larry Niven, Steven Barnes, Jerry Pournelle

Heorot (2)

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BOOK TWO IN THE CLASSIC HEOROT SERIES FROM GENRE LEGENDS LARRY NIVEN, JERRY POURNELLE, AND STEVEN BARNES.

Some twenty years have passed since the passengers and crew of the starship Geographic established a colony on the hostile alien world of Avalon. In that time, a new generation has grown up in the peace and serenity of the island paradise of Camelot, ignorant of the Great Grendel Wars fought between their parents and grandparents and the monstrous inhabitants of Avalon.

Now, under the show more influence of a charismatic leader, a group of young rebels makes for the mainland, intent on establishing their own colony, sure that they can vanquish any foe that should stand in their way.

But they will soon discover that Avalon holds darker secrets still.

At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

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ed.pendragon Similar approach to exploring ecology of a fictional planet while adding to the mix of myth-inspired human interaction.

Member Reviews

14 reviews
Not nearly as good as the first book in the series, this is still a good book. It continues to follow the colonists of Earth's first colony outside the solar system, as they struggle with the planet and politics. Now that they have survived the troubles from Legacy of Heorot, they still have problems with the planets 'unintelligent' species, plus their own unruly second generation. An excellent look at what troubles may come up when colonizing a fertile planet. Well written and with good characters.
½
Much better than the first one in the series. The dynamics between the different generations add a lot more to what was previously just scary monster alien planet adventure story.
Much better than the first one in the series. The dynamics between the different generations add a lot more to what was previously just scary monster alien planet adventure story.
Not nearly as solid as the first book in the series, reads rather as a contractual obligations book. Main flaws I found were in paired description sets timelining between, "What we arrived to see," And, "What we saw happening later," With minor inconsistencies.
This is the sequel to the former Legacy of Heorot novel, also called the Dragons of Heorot, I think, and unfortunately it is not as interesting.

The older generation begin to have health problems from all that they have endured, so a serious generation gap develops between those born locally, and those not.

So, the book mostly is about the difference in cultural attitudes between the two, and the new kids wanting to go their own way.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/08/beowulfs-children-larry-niven-and.html
½
Not as good as the legacy, but interesting enough for a sequel.
sequel to Legacy of Heorot. The next generation, leaving the island of Camelot to explore the mainland of Avalon. New terrors, external and internal also. An intelligent grendel. Interesting.

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Author Information

Picture of author.
333+ Works 97,963 Members
Larry Niven received his B.A. in mathematics in 1962. His first novel, World of Ptavvs (1966), was a success and launched his career. Niven has won five Hugos and one Nebula award, testimony that his colleagues in the science fiction world respect his work. Perhaps Niven's most well-known creation is Ringworld, a distant planet that may be taken show more as a metaphor for Earth, as it was once great but has since fallen into decay. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Picture of author.
75+ Works 13,086 Members
He is the author of 15 novels & as many teleplays has been nominated for Hugo & Cable Ace Awards. He lives in Longview, Washington, with his novelist wife Tananarive Due & his daughter Nicki. (Bowker Author Biography)
Picture of author.
148+ Works 40,392 Members
Jerry Eugene Pournelle was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on August 7, 1933. During the Korean War, he served in the U. S. Army. He received a B.S. in psychology in 1955, an M.S. in psychology in 1958, and a Ph.D. in political science in 1964 from the University of Washington. He worked for Boeing and NASA where he worked on the Mercury, Gemini, show more and Apollo missions. He also advised the federal government on military matters and space exploration. He wrote science fiction and helped popularize the military science fiction genre. His first novel, Red Heroin, was published in 1969 under the pen name Wade Curtis. His other novels published under his own name included Janissaries, Starswarm, and The Mercenary. He also wrote novels with Larry Niven including Oath of Fealty, The Mote in God's Eye, Lucifer's Hammer, Inferno, Escape from Hell, and Footfall. Pournelle was widely credited as the first major author to write a published novel entirely on a computer. He wrote a witty advice columns for computer users in Byte magazine. He received the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer of 1973. He died of heart failure on September 8, 2017 at the age of 84. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Some Editions

Gambino, Fred (Cover artist)
Whelan,Michael (Cover artist)

Series

Common Knowledge

Canonical title*
Beowulfs Kinder
Original title
Beowulf's Children
Alternate titles
Beowulfs Kinder; The Dragons of Heorot
Original publication date
1995-04
People/Characters
Justin Faulkner; Jessica Weyland; Toshiro Tanaka; Sharol McAndrews; Coleen McAndrews; Aaron Tragon (show all 46); Gloria; Ruth McKinowitz; Carey von Davidson; Evan Castemadia; Lil Chaka Muboto; Katya Martinez; Carlotta Nolan; Trish Chance; Linda Wayland; Cadzie Weyland; Mickey Weyland; Terry; Angelica; Derik Crisp; Wendy Powers; Jasper Doheny; Edgar Sikes; Roquell Weyland; Scully Tragon; Ruth Tragon; Aaron Tragon; Sylvia Faulkner; Cadmun Wayland; Joe Sikes; Josef Smeds; Carlos Martinez; Mary Ann Eisenhower; Carlotta Nolan; Zack McKinowitz; Carolyn McAndrew; Terry Faulkner; Hendrick Sills; Julia Chang HOrtha; Cary Lou Davidson; Evan Castenda; Edgar Sikes; Big Chaka Mubutu; Stu Ellington; Heather McKennie; Sharon McAndrews
Important places
Tau Ceti Four (Beowulf); Camelot Isle, Beowulf
Epigraph
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
And the great dragon was cast o... (show all)ut ...
Dedication
For Marilyn, Roberta, and Toni
First words
"Once upon a time, a long time ago, our parents and grandparents left a place called Earth."
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Together.
Blurbers
Clancy, Tom
Original language
English
Disambiguation notice
Beowulf's Children has also been published as The Dragons of Heorot.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Science Fiction, Fiction and Literature
DDC/MDS
813.54Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English1900-19991945-1999
LCC
PS3564 .I9 .B46Language and LiteratureAmerican literatureAmerican literatureIndividual authors1961-
BISAC

Statistics

Members
1,361
Popularity
17,395
Reviews
11
Rating
½ (3.55)
Languages
6 — Czech, Dutch, English, German, Italian, Polish
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
20
ASINs
8