From the descriptions on here I was well-prepared for a very hard form of sf. So I was pleasantly surprised to find this book to contain many lighter-spirited moments as well. Sure, the titular story is very technical (and a bit dry), but for me it was made interesting through the amazing world worldbuilding throughout, with the later stories also back-referring to other stories. Some interesting technology and the depiction of alien races (and the foreigner's look on Earth in "Flatlander"), too...

I’m not fond of Science Fiction in general, except for the ‘known space’ stories by Larry Niven. Known Space is populated by more than 10 intelligent species, each with its own eccentricities. My favorites are the puppeteers — extremely smart but ditto cowards — and the Outsiders, who do not need an atmosphere and live by selling information: interesting facts about the galaxy, which they seem to know better than anyone. Niven has written many stories about known space. This book was recommended...

Second time through and I was able to finish as well as remember what I read.My favorite is "The Ethics of Madness". I was dumbstruck by the ending. I also really liked the structure and the way Niven related the story and the information indirectly.

Damn fantastic collection of short stories.This would be a great first book to read if someone is interested in getting into Niven's Known Space universe, but don't know where to begin. Since this book's stories consist of much of Niven's initial fleshing out of Known Space, in 1966 and 1967, it is most definitely a perfect book to use to dip one's toes into Known Space. And if you have already read Ringworld or any other Known Space books, this collection is pretty much a must. You will instant...

Holy crap was this ever good. I'm not sure how I missed reading any of the Ringworld series before, but with this being the 40th Anniversary, I figured it was time. With epic series like this, I usually hit the 'net to see if there's a recommended reading order, or anything that will help me to "get it" a little more easily. Every site I visited recommended starting with Neutron Star. This is an anthology of 8 short stories (each novelette length,) set in the universe of Ringworld - the future o...

In other reviews I’ve mentioned that I get nostalgic about books I read as a teen-ager and undergraduate, and could kick myself that I didn’t hang on to them.Recently, I got into such a mood and bought Kindle versions of Neutron Star and 3 Books of Known Space. The following is a joint review and I will link to it in the entry for the latter book.I think I first heard of Larry Niven from an art book that illustrated several SF novels, including Ringworld, the author’s classic about a remarkable

Fun little collection of short stories that go together quite coherentley to paint a diverse, interesting little universe. Easy to pick up and put down as you finish a story or chapter here and there.

I remember reading this years ago when I was first exploring science fiction - the artwork by Peter Jones - the doorway in to Known Space even today still appeals to me. But I get ahead of myself I can tell.Okay this was part of a series of books I picked up at a carboot sale (British thing trust me) and where there was an old suitcase full of books. Well I could not resist not realising what I was letting myself in for.Anyway this is a series of interconnected stories - if you accept the connec...

I'd been in the mood to read some classic sci-fi: something distant and cynical, taking place in deep space, where there was fantastic technology and alien races and not many people to mess it all up. This was perfect. Neutron Star is a collection of short stories from Niven prefacing Ringworld and highly worthwhile if you like the latter. I'll be re-reading Ringworld soon with these stories in mind. Plus let this also be a good reminder to just read more Larry Niven. There aren't many writers s...

I've been rereading these stories for a couple of months, a few pages at a time. I always did think that Larry Niven wrote better short pieces than novels, and this reread just made me believe it more. The stories are set in the "Tales of Known Space" universe, of which Ringworld is probably the most well known example. I believe all these stories take place before Ringworld, but it's not necessary to read them before Ringworld. They're still fun. Yes, I think "The Soft Weapon" drags in the midd...

Classic sci-fi but dated in spots as well as illogical. The stories featuring Beowolf were a highlight though.

Larry Niven seems to have some fascinating ideas of the future and his alien cultures are truly unique, however I just don't vibe with his characters and plots. They are well crafted, though, creating a sense of adventures while also including a lot of mundane moments of world building and every day life.The main characters are the typical science fiction protagonists of the time with not much to endear them to me or make them stand out and the stories are often about some kind of scamming and h...

Niven sure has a wild imagination. And a really bad taste for puns, but also some really intellectual humor. His ideas are genius even to this day and age. His science-fiction is so realistic, it's disturbing at times.

An interesting set of stories. I plan on reading more of the ringworld books and this was a good introduction to the universe.

I first read this quite some years ago and was blown away by it. It stands up well to repeated re-readings.The title story - a Hugo winner - introduces us to star pilot Beowulf Shaeffer (who appears in three other stories in the book, "At the Core," "Flatlander," and "Grendel"), as well as the Puppeteers who also feature in Niven's later Ringworld series. These are the tales that introduce us to Known Space. I particularly enjoyed the Shaeffer stories for the character's voice (told first-person...

Re-reading this splendid specimen of 1970s hard SF. Neutron star is probably my favorite Larry Niven short story collection. I wanted to pick this up to re-read "the Soft Weapon" and "the Handicapped", which I guess means that I'm partial to the stories with the Thint (I also really liked World of Ptaavs). I really enjoyed the Beowulf Shaeffer stories, even though "Neutron Star" & "Flatlander" are clearly intended as vehicles for thought experiments about how a human would experience exotic spac...

[Original review, Feb 2009]For people who haven't read the book, a quick physics test. The hero agrees to put his ship on an orbit that will take it to within one mile of the surface of a neutron star. His employers assure him, correctly, that the ship's hull will stop any form of radiation. Nevertheless, it's a really stupid idea. Why?If you didn't get it, don't feel bad. Beowulf Shaeffer doesn't either, and finds out the hard way.__________________________________[Update, Jul 2014]Since postin...

Neutron Star is my favorite short story collection, with quite a few gems from Niven’s Known Space universe. Unfortunately it is out of print. Luckily though, all the Beowulf Shaeffer stories have been republished in Crashlander with the addition of two newer stories.http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=255

Neutron Star is arguably Niven's best Known Space collection, containing stories that appeared over a relatively brief span but introduced a vast array of fantastic puzzles and fabulous stories. Beowulf Schaeffer, a likable rogue who's one of Niven's best characters, appears in many of them, and planets such as Jinx, Down, and Lookitthat provide classic science fiction settings. This is hard sf at its best.

Great book of short stories, which I usually don't care for. The difference here, I believe, is that most of the stories relate in some manner or if nothing else they are all set in the same sci-fi universe. Good stuff.