Lucifer's Hammer: A Novel

Thought I'd give this a try as a huge fan of The Stand. I've also read Swan Song. The plot was interesting, but the execution was pretty boring. The character interaction was poor, there were few likeable characters. The descriptions of weather changes, flooding, etc were the best part of the story for me.

we had read this book a long time ago. It sticks in your mind because of it's ruthless truthfullness - people are animals when frightened. The book makes you scared for our race. this is not a hollywood soft pedal book.

The subject matter is spectacular, but somehow the authors never discover how to live up to it. Characters are pro forma, the pace is ponderously slow in many places, suspense is often dissipated rather than focused and exploited.

I've been familiar with the title of this book since it first came out in 1977 but only got around to reading it in 2012, when I read it on Kindle.

I love apocalyptic stories, but this one left me cold. The writing is bland and the characters never engaged me. I made it to the 63% mark (through the first three of the four "books" in the novel) and finally decided that I just didn't care enough to wade through another 200+ pages. When I realized that it really didn't matter to me who lived or died, I decided to quit.

The prose is serviceable and there's lots of science. It's nice to find science in science fiction. Maybe in 1977 the idea of something from outer space smashing into the Earth and ending civilization was fresh enough to carry the book, but these days, when you can turn on the TV nearly any day of the week and find a "documentary" about killer asteroids or somesuch, concept alone isn't enough. We need some of that other writerly stuff, like good prose and intriguing characters, which Lucifer's Hammer sadly lacks.

So many different people and story lines going on at the same time, it was hard to keep track of what was happening to what character.
It was a decent apocalyptic story though, especially for the time it was written.

The subject matter is spectacular, but somehow the authors never discover how to live up to it. Characters are pro forma, the pace is ponderously slow in many places, suspense is often dissipated rather than focused and exploited.

I've been familiar with the title of this book since it first came out in 1977 but only got around to reading it in 2012, when I read it on Kindle.

I love apocalyptic stories, but this one left me cold. The writing is bland and the characters never engaged me. I made it to the 63% mark (through the first three of the four "books" in the novel) and finally decided that I just didn't care enough to wade through another 200+ pages. When I realized that it really didn't matter to me who lived or died, I decided to quit.

The prose is serviceable and there's lots of science. It's nice to find science in science fiction. Maybe in 1977 the idea of something from outer space smashing into the Earth and ending civilization was fresh enough to carry the book, but these days, when you can turn on the TV nearly any day of the week and find a "documentary" about killer asteroids or somesuch, concept alone isn't enough. We need some of that other writerly stuff, like good prose and intriguing characters, which Lucifer's Hammer sadly lacks.

So many different people and story lines going on at the same time, it was hard to keep track of what was happening to what character.
It was a decent apocalyptic story though, especially for the time it was written.

I really am still desperately trying to read it, after other comments about how it was so well liked. I'm having the most difficult time getting a handle on this book. I want to put it down more than pick it up. Too much rambling. I want the meat. I don't need a 14 course dinner to enjoy a meal. I'm not just meat and potatoes. But please, let's get to the meal.

Boring. First 30% was unnecessary character development. Most action was told in past tense references even when then action got 'good'. SPOILER the last battle for the last thing they needed to protect never happens in the book. What a waste of money and time. Great premise. Could have been so much better.

Belongs along side Swans song and the Stand. A little dated, some try to claim a tad racist, I didn't find it racist, just dated and a product of its times. The females in the book are more like bit players to the male leads. Still a great book more like the classic The Earth abides.

I had trouble getting through this book, especially the first few chapters. Seems to go on and on about many subjects that did not seem pertinent to the story line. Enjoy reading apocalyptic novels, but just was not able to enjoy this one. Started to stop reading it midway, but decided to finish. It did pick up a little in the last few chapters, but it was too late for me.

.NOT AT ALL as great of a book as a lot of the reviews say ! And it is way over priced ! I've read MANY books that are ss good if not better than this one in the $ .99 & $1.99 range ! VERY MAD that I paid six dollars and change for it ! It WASN'T all that action packed and the cannibal stuff was gross !

Lucifer's Hammer covers the months surrounding a comet hitting earth and the aftermath. The story is rich with characters - too many characters actucally. I had trouble keeping track of all of them and what role they played in the story.

My largest complaint is actually more mundane, its the dated feel of the book. Lucifer's Hammer was published in the 1970s and it feels like a 1970 book with 1970s mentality. I can excuse the occasionally dated reference, but the characters and the story feel dated. I especially found the way it dealt with race to be a little old school - and not in a good way.

As far as end-of-the-world stories go, this is a okay book. It doesn't skimp on the details.

Senselessly gory, unrealistic timeline and overall WAY overrated. if you are trapped in a hurricane or something and this is around, it is worth a trun thru. But don't go out of your way to get it.

I am a fan of this genre of book, but was very disappointed in the story. It just wasn't any good. Like a flat coke. Alas Babylon is a lot better.

Lucifer's Hammer starts out exceedingly slow, then picks up about 160 pages in. The point of impact is quite climatic, and afterwards, the story plummets into obvious boredom. There are characters brought to life, but dead-ended in terrible fashion (such as the pyschotic rapist). Further, basing the entire story in the state of California seemed to limit the scope of the tale. Scientists speculate California would be the first to go in such an event......lackluster prose, too many characters, not enough fear painted into the book. Much of it seemed to upbeat, when it should actually be a tragic novel. I was entertained, but not blown away. This novel was popular, I presume, because it was one of the first of its kind. Credit to both authors, who are known to be clever writers. The price is quite low, so if you wish for a form of escapism, then take the time to read it. Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic novels are hard to write, and this one just missed the train. But again, not to sound too harsh, the book was entertaining and awe-inspiring at times.

I struggled to get half way through it but I've decided to abandon reading the remaining pages, and there are a lot of them. It is the worst novel I have ever read. Poorly written, rambles and sometimes incoherent. The funny thing is that the author said in the forward that the publisher thought it contained too many pages and requested the author to cut back. The Author replied that there was not ONE word that could be cut out. Oh do I ever disagree. I can suggest several hundred pages if he were to ask me.

This is a very boring book. Can't remember reading anything this boring! I bought the kindle version, and instead of reading a sample, I just purchased based on great ratings/reviews. What a mistake. The characters were flat and lifeless, and I felt nothing and cared nothing for them. The world they live in is described in sketchy, minimal terms, and again, I felt nothing and did not care for it. The first part of the book had pages and pages of talk of the comet, thoughts from those who discovered the commet, interviews about the comet, dicussions about who's going to maybe, perhaps, try to investigate the commet . . . blah, blah, blah. The rest of the book was no better. It did not seem at all like a story to be, just one long slog of political/social/(fill in blank) commentary. There are good ways of doing such commentary, and this is by far not even close to it. The dialogue was brutally idiotic and the relationships were unbelievable. As with other Niven books, I found the female characters to be infuriating for the most part, stilted and weak, and no, I did not find the female main characters to be a strength of any kind. Just because a writer gives a character a main role, and says they are strong, does not meant hey are. I expected a novel with a world to get immersed in, science to be enthralled in, and characters to believe in, and what I got was a choppy, disjointed, boring documentory. With the excellent reviews, I expected much, much more. This book was recommended as a terrific post apocolyptic novel, and I just love post apocolyptic stories - eat them up! If I had read the sample, I NEVER would have purchased. The beginging was representative of the whole book - slow, confusing, poorly written and dull.

I've read other books by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle like The Mote in God's Eye so I thought I was in for a real treat when I picked this one up. I couldn't have been more wrong. If I took the time I could spend an hour writing out all the things I found awful about this book but I won't because I'm afraid no one would read it and frankly I don't have that kind of time or energy and I still have a lot of respect for the authors despite this poor showing. So that said I'll limit my criticism to 5 points that come to mind first:

1) Unbelievable, Undeveloped or Out-of Place Plot Elements (WARNING: some spoilers)
I know this is Sci-Fi (which is why I read it) so you expect to have your imagination bent but it has to make sense or fit within the story. This book is riddled with tons of out of place plots that never really go anywhere and don't add to the story. For example... randomly China nukes Russia in the middle of this whole comet strikes Earth tragedy and Russia counter-strikes then the U.S. kinda gets involved but nothing more is really said and then we are just left with that. Another thing that strikes me as odd as the relationships that all of the characters have with each other. This is the "undeveloped" part. It seems disjointed. One of our main characters has his son, whom he seemingly loves, go off into the mountains on a Boy Scout trip with his neighbor before the comet strikes. After the disaster he makes a big deal trying to find him and when he does his son is this 14yo woodsman warrior commando who is second in command of this Lord of the Flies meets the Boy Scouts in the California Mountains and he sees his son for like five minutes and his son is like "sorry dude... I'm staying here... catch you later" and dad is just fine with this. Oh... I should mention his 14yo son makes this amazing transformation to Tarzan of California killing wild beasts, making tea of trees and bedding his woman-folk in about 5 days after the comet strikes. Very realistic.

2) Pacing - Did they just get bored? (more spoilers)
I read this on my ereader and I looked down at the percentage read and at 89% finished we finally reached the arc of the story. This where we finally were getting somewhere and our major characters had their problem to solve. The first 33% was a bunch of filler about all of our characters, the next 20% was accounts of where people were when the comet hit then a bunch of "on the road" stuff and finally they cram the last bits into the last 11% of the book. I think it is sufficit to say it doesn't work well and makes for terrible pacing.

3) Dated, Dated, Dated
You can write a book for its time and that is one thing but this book uses so much period slang like "honkey" and "jive", etc. that it feels really out of place. Also it relies heavily on technology of the day talking about calculators as if they are magical, color televisions (seriously - they call out color tv's multiple times), radiophones (what is that?), etc. I understand it was the 70's but I expect more from the authors, especially two who have written other great Sci-Fi novels. You have to consider how your work is going to age and use more ambiguous terms for technology so it ages well.

4) Disjointed, Jaunty Writing
I don't know what was going on with some of the writing but I would be reading a page and the sentence structure would just drive off a cliff or I'd find several words inserted in places which made no sense at all. Several times I'd find myself flipping back a page to make sure I hadn't missed something or re-reading a paragraph. No... I read it correctly. I'm not really sure what else to say about this. It is what it is. Maybe get a better editor? I guess almost 40 years later it's a little too late now.

5) Boring - How can you make the end of the world boring?
Up til' now I've spent a lot of time picking apart the writing but the last thing I'll leave you with is my thoughts on the content. It's just boring. How can you write an apocalyptic end of the world book about a comet blowing away Earth and make it boring? Well look no further because we have the answer right here. Read this book and you'll know. It's all in print. This has got to be some of the most uninspired science fiction I've read in years.

There probably isn't much left to say about Lucifer's Hammer by Niven and Pournelle that hasn't been said somewhere else. It came out in the late seventies, and I can remember as a kid seeing the cover and the word 'Lucifer' and mentally putting it on my 'must read when grown up' list. And here we are, forty years later, I've finally read it. I wish I hadn't waited so long. By now, I've interacted with countless variations of this story in movies, TV shows, and other novels - all of which came after this one, but many of which have benefited from having the hammer in the rearview mirror. Also, the time and place would have been more familiar. I can imagine my young self reading about the end of the world happening 'here' and 'now'. But reading about the end of the world hitting the 1980s from the perspective of 2017 is a decidedly less suspenseful experience. I'm also a more critical reader now than I was then. Some of the characters are flatter than I'd like, and some of the plot devices a little simple. All that said, I did have a pretty good time.

There are a couple of interesting asides I'd like to talk about that contain spoiler info, so if you haven't read and think you might, stop here.

Cannibalism plays a role in the latter part of the novel, and after thinking about it, I'm surprised it hasn't come up more in other disaster stories. Niven and Pournelle handle it very well here, and I found it excellent how they used it as not just as a form of sustenance, but a form of psychological bonding. By forcing members to partake, the group in question ensure that members cannot easily defect, as they are forever tainted. It also interested me that none of the characters ever really take the other side: cannibalism as a legitimate pragmatic food source. Perhaps a thriller of this type isn't the place tackle that heady of a topic. That said, more than an even divide between the non-cannibals who were pretty confident in its absolute wrongness and the cannibals who were pretty much portrayed as evil monsters would have been refreshing. Strange. Never thought I'd refer to a balanced view on cannibalism as being refreshing, but alas, we live in strange times.

The other aside concerns a scout troop. One of the main characters sons survives with a group of scouts in a kind of tiny satellite story. Their existence serves as a plot device earlier in the novel, as the boy's father, Harvey, has to put his immediate concerns aside and go find his son. Surprisingly, much later when they scout troop is actually found, they have their own little mini community going along quite well with a group of young girls that have been integrated in. Harvey's son not only refuses to leave, but doesn't seem at all interested in exchanging more than a handful of words with his father - though no indication of animosity between the two was ever really addressed prior to this. The only adult in the troop was Harvey's neighbor, who is now hooking up with a sixteen year old girl, even mentioning at one point how there's no one left to arrest him for statutory rape. Needless to say, this community has some interesting things going on and appears to provide all sorts of dramatic potential, but Harvey instead just accepts his sons decision to stay, and leaves, and literally never as much as mentions it again (?!!). It really is one of the strangest plot thread drops I've ever encountered. Strangely enough though, I find it kind of hauntingly effective. Harvey's son plays almost no role in the early half of the novel. He's not 'on-screen' if you will, so why should he play a role in the latter half. Whether by design or by accident, at bare minimum, an interesting choice.

In summation: I can see why fresh new copies of this book are still hanging out in first run bookstores so many years later. Lucifer's Hammer is enjoyable if dated and written well enough to keep the pages turning. It isn't a life changer but I'm glad I read it, which these days almost warrants more than the three stars I've given it.

I know this is considered a classic but I couldn't get more than a hundred pages in before I couldn't stand it any longer. I've been burned by Niven and Pournelle teamups in the past and I should have learned my lesson. I'm not a person who appreciates writing collaberations and never will be I guess.

I normally read the one star reviews, no matter the product, prior to buying from the store. This has proven useful in decision making in the past.

This time, it was for nothing more than idle curiosity in seeing what others had to say about a book I've long loved and for which I've searched.

Is this literature? No. Nor even, in my opinion, Niven and Pournelle's best work individually or collectively.

But it's a good read, and tells an interesting story.

Some of the complaints I've read about the book:

"It's dated." Of course it is! It was published in 1977!

"It's a soap opera." Look at your own lives. If love and sex don't figure into your life, you're not human. If you think those factors don't affect politics, well, Monica Lewinsky, anyone? Now just imagine a feudal state trying to retain civilization.

"It's pro-technology. All environmentalists are considered stupid!" I have a sneaking suspicion that when the lights go out, the water stops running, and the gas no longer flows from the pump, ninety nine percent of the population will feel the same way.

"They portray environmentalists as idiots." No, they portray radical environmentalists as idiots. One character dismissively says that "nuclear power makes us think we can solve problems with technology." Yes, we can. That's been the point ever since Ug and Grunt the cavemen invented the wheel.

"Women are portrayed as shallow and helpless." I'd point to both Maureen Jellison and Marie Vance as refutations of that statement. Not to mention the female Russian cosmonaut.

"The main characters are self absorbed @$$holes." If you bothered to read the book, you would find that they start out as Hollywood socialites. Which is why I find it interesting that some complain about too much character development, while others complain about not enough.

And finally: "It's racist!" Two responses. Number one, see above complaint, "It's dated." Number two, I hardly think an African American US Air Force officer, who also happens to be an an astronaut, as the lone and loudest voice in support of rebuilding civilization can be considered racist. Moreover, the friendship between Rick DeLanty and Johnny Baker, and their interplay, is an accurate and cutting indictment of race relations at the time.

I have my own complaints about the book. I didn't like the portrayal of the National Guardsmen, for one. For another, I truly didn't think Jellison's ability to throw people off their own land was believable. Frankly, range wars would have been breaking out right and left.

A few other technical details come to mind, such as the fact that if you add sugar to pemmican, it will go bad very quickly. But these things are small annoyances.

I think my biggest complaints as to bad reviews is best put this way: "It's a friggin' story!" written almost forty years ago! Jeez! If you don't like it, put it down and walk away."

You want action as regards the end of the world? Go read some of the self published tin foil hat stuff you can dowload from the store. You want a scientifically accurate and gentle treatise on how people react to the end of society as we know it? Read this.

I'm 52 and I first started reading this book in 1984. Since that time I have re-read it many times. when ever I find a friend who hasn't read it I'd buy a copy at a used paperback store and give the copy to them. Lately I have been unable to find it anywhere. Now to see that it has been re-released I will be buying 2 copies, one to loan, and one to keep. This is the best "end-of-civilization" book ever written. It should be a primer for anyone trying to write anything called "Comet" or "Impact".
Keep in mind, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of reading this book yet, there are a lot of players in the drama and it takes a while to introduce them all. So give the book time. When it takes off though make sure you don't have any plans because you won't be able to put the book down. I mean really!
Enjoy it. Read it again and again. It only gets better with time!

This book was released in 1978, and the story takes place at around that time, so the book is somewhat dated. However, it is still a science fiction classic, for it tells of a comet striking the Earth and how the human race reacts to it. You see both the best and the worst in humans beings when they come across a worldwide natural disaster, and the authors hit the nail on the head. I truly believe that this is what would actually happen should such a cataclysmic phenomon occur.
The story story when a young astronomer, Timothy Hamner, with an 'n', discovers a comet approaching Earth. At first, the chances are miniscule that it would strike, so the first 150 pages talk of the comet approaching, life in California amongst the main characters, and some American and Soviet/Russian astronauts going up in an orbiting laboratory similar to Skylab to study it.
Fast forward, the comet strikes, and all over the world, disasters are shown, including a surfer who surfs on a tidal wave resutling from one on the comets pieces. The comet split up into different pieces as they hit the Earth in different places, with disasters in each one. One part of the comet survived to soar back into space.
All coastal cities drown, and refugees from Los Angeles flee to the Sierra Nevadas. Factors guarding their own piece of land are formed, and one faction resorts to cannibalism. Technology survives, as we see people salvaging gasoline, machinery, cars and trucks, and one nuclear power plant, in which one faction wants to preservie it, another to destroy it. Two main factions absorb others, and they go to war with each other for survival.
This is all I'll say for now, but after the comet hits, the book does become a real page turner.
There are racial comments, for many of these characters are Black, with a few Hispanics, so the aurthors try to make this as real as possible. This book, I feel, is probably the best book by the Niven/Pournelle collaboration, and one of the best "end of the world" novels without the human race become extinct, rather, giving them a chance to start over while preserving their technology. A lot more happens than what I have described, but you'll find out as you read the book. It's dated, but still worth reading.

Lucifer's Hammer covers the months surrounding a comet hitting earth and the aftermath. The story is rich with characters - too many characters actucally. I had trouble keeping track of all of them and what role they played in the story.

My largest complaint is actually more mundane, its the dated feel of the book. Lucifer's Hammer was published in the 1970s and it feels like a 1970 book with 1970s mentality. I can excuse the occasionally dated reference, but the characters and the story feel dated. I especially found the way it dealt with race to be a little old school - and not in a good way.

As far as end-of-the-world stories go, this is a okay book. It doesn't skimp on the details.

Senselessly gory, unrealistic timeline and overall WAY overrated. if you are trapped in a hurricane or something and this is around, it is worth a trun thru. But don't go out of your way to get it.

I am a fan of this genre of book, but was very disappointed in the story. It just wasn't any good. Like a flat coke. Alas Babylon is a lot better.

Lucifer's Hammer starts out exceedingly slow, then picks up about 160 pages in. The point of impact is quite climatic, and afterwards, the story plummets into obvious boredom. There are characters brought to life, but dead-ended in terrible fashion (such as the pyschotic rapist). Further, basing the entire story in the state of California seemed to limit the scope of the tale. Scientists speculate California would be the first to go in such an event......lackluster prose, too many characters, not enough fear painted into the book. Much of it seemed to upbeat, when it should actually be a tragic novel. I was entertained, but not blown away. This novel was popular, I presume, because it was one of the first of its kind. Credit to both authors, who are known to be clever writers. The price is quite low, so if you wish for a form of escapism, then take the time to read it. Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic novels are hard to write, and this one just missed the train. But again, not to sound too harsh, the book was entertaining and awe-inspiring at times.

I struggled to get half way through it but I've decided to abandon reading the remaining pages, and there are a lot of them. It is the worst novel I have ever read. Poorly written, rambles and sometimes incoherent. The funny thing is that the author said in the forward that the publisher thought it contained too many pages and requested the author to cut back. The Author replied that there was not ONE word that could be cut out. Oh do I ever disagree. I can suggest several hundred pages if he were to ask me.

This is a very boring book. Can't remember reading anything this boring! I bought the kindle version, and instead of reading a sample, I just purchased based on great ratings/reviews. What a mistake. The characters were flat and lifeless, and I felt nothing and cared nothing for them. The world they live in is described in sketchy, minimal terms, and again, I felt nothing and did not care for it. The first part of the book had pages and pages of talk of the comet, thoughts from those who discovered the commet, interviews about the comet, dicussions about who's going to maybe, perhaps, try to investigate the commet . . . blah, blah, blah. The rest of the book was no better. It did not seem at all like a story to be, just one long slog of political/social/(fill in blank) commentary. There are good ways of doing such commentary, and this is by far not even close to it. The dialogue was brutally idiotic and the relationships were unbelievable. As with other Niven books, I found the female characters to be infuriating for the most part, stilted and weak, and no, I did not find the female main characters to be a strength of any kind. Just because a writer gives a character a main role, and says they are strong, does not meant hey are. I expected a novel with a world to get immersed in, science to be enthralled in, and characters to believe in, and what I got was a choppy, disjointed, boring documentory. With the excellent reviews, I expected much, much more. This book was recommended as a terrific post apocolyptic novel, and I just love post apocolyptic stories - eat them up! If I had read the sample, I NEVER would have purchased. The beginging was representative of the whole book - slow, confusing, poorly written and dull.

I've read other books by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle like The Mote in God's Eye so I thought I was in for a real treat when I picked this one up. I couldn't have been more wrong. If I took the time I could spend an hour writing out all the things I found awful about this book but I won't because I'm afraid no one would read it and frankly I don't have that kind of time or energy and I still have a lot of respect for the authors despite this poor showing. So that said I'll limit my criticism to 5 points that come to mind first:

1) Unbelievable, Undeveloped or Out-of Place Plot Elements (WARNING: some spoilers)
I know this is Sci-Fi (which is why I read it) so you expect to have your imagination bent but it has to make sense or fit within the story. This book is riddled with tons of out of place plots that never really go anywhere and don't add to the story. For example... randomly China nukes Russia in the middle of this whole comet strikes Earth tragedy and Russia counter-strikes then the U.S. kinda gets involved but nothing more is really said and then we are just left with that. Another thing that strikes me as odd as the relationships that all of the characters have with each other. This is the "undeveloped" part. It seems disjointed. One of our main characters has his son, whom he seemingly loves, go off into the mountains on a Boy Scout trip with his neighbor before the comet strikes. After the disaster he makes a big deal trying to find him and when he does his son is this 14yo woodsman warrior commando who is second in command of this Lord of the Flies meets the Boy Scouts in the California Mountains and he sees his son for like five minutes and his son is like "sorry dude... I'm staying here... catch you later" and dad is just fine with this. Oh... I should mention his 14yo son makes this amazing transformation to Tarzan of California killing wild beasts, making tea of trees and bedding his woman-folk in about 5 days after the comet strikes. Very realistic.

2) Pacing - Did they just get bored? (more spoilers)
I read this on my ereader and I looked down at the percentage read and at 89% finished we finally reached the arc of the story. This where we finally were getting somewhere and our major characters had their problem to solve. The first 33% was a bunch of filler about all of our characters, the next 20% was accounts of where people were when the comet hit then a bunch of "on the road" stuff and finally they cram the last bits into the last 11% of the book. I think it is sufficit to say it doesn't work well and makes for terrible pacing.

3) Dated, Dated, Dated
You can write a book for its time and that is one thing but this book uses so much period slang like "honkey" and "jive", etc. that it feels really out of place. Also it relies heavily on technology of the day talking about calculators as if they are magical, color televisions (seriously - they call out color tv's multiple times), radiophones (what is that?), etc. I understand it was the 70's but I expect more from the authors, especially two who have written other great Sci-Fi novels. You have to consider how your work is going to age and use more ambiguous terms for technology so it ages well.

4) Disjointed, Jaunty Writing
I don't know what was going on with some of the writing but I would be reading a page and the sentence structure would just drive off a cliff or I'd find several words inserted in places which made no sense at all. Several times I'd find myself flipping back a page to make sure I hadn't missed something or re-reading a paragraph. No... I read it correctly. I'm not really sure what else to say about this. It is what it is. Maybe get a better editor? I guess almost 40 years later it's a little too late now.

5) Boring - How can you make the end of the world boring?
Up til' now I've spent a lot of time picking apart the writing but the last thing I'll leave you with is my thoughts on the content. It's just boring. How can you write an apocalyptic end of the world book about a comet blowing away Earth and make it boring? Well look no further because we have the answer right here. Read this book and you'll know. It's all in print. This has got to be some of the most uninspired science fiction I've read in years.

There probably isn't much left to say about Lucifer's Hammer by Niven and Pournelle that hasn't been said somewhere else. It came out in the late seventies, and I can remember as a kid seeing the cover and the word 'Lucifer' and mentally putting it on my 'must read when grown up' list. And here we are, forty years later, I've finally read it. I wish I hadn't waited so long. By now, I've interacted with countless variations of this story in movies, TV shows, and other novels - all of which came after this one, but many of which have benefited from having the hammer in the rearview mirror. Also, the time and place would have been more familiar. I can imagine my young self reading about the end of the world happening 'here' and 'now'. But reading about the end of the world hitting the 1980s from the perspective of 2017 is a decidedly less suspenseful experience. I'm also a more critical reader now than I was then. Some of the characters are flatter than I'd like, and some of the plot devices a little simple. All that said, I did have a pretty good time.

There are a couple of interesting asides I'd like to talk about that contain spoiler info, so if you haven't read and think you might, stop here.

Cannibalism plays a role in the latter part of the novel, and after thinking about it, I'm surprised it hasn't come up more in other disaster stories. Niven and Pournelle handle it very well here, and I found it excellent how they used it as not just as a form of sustenance, but a form of psychological bonding. By forcing members to partake, the group in question ensure that members cannot easily defect, as they are forever tainted. It also interested me that none of the characters ever really take the other side: cannibalism as a legitimate pragmatic food source. Perhaps a thriller of this type isn't the place tackle that heady of a topic. That said, more than an even divide between the non-cannibals who were pretty confident in its absolute wrongness and the cannibals who were pretty much portrayed as evil monsters would have been refreshing. Strange. Never thought I'd refer to a balanced view on cannibalism as being refreshing, but alas, we live in strange times.

The other aside concerns a scout troop. One of the main characters sons survives with a group of scouts in a kind of tiny satellite story. Their existence serves as a plot device earlier in the novel, as the boy's father, Harvey, has to put his immediate concerns aside and go find his son. Surprisingly, much later when they scout troop is actually found, they have their own little mini community going along quite well with a group of young girls that have been integrated in. Harvey's son not only refuses to leave, but doesn't seem at all interested in exchanging more than a handful of words with his father - though no indication of animosity between the two was ever really addressed prior to this. The only adult in the troop was Harvey's neighbor, who is now hooking up with a sixteen year old girl, even mentioning at one point how there's no one left to arrest him for statutory rape. Needless to say, this community has some interesting things going on and appears to provide all sorts of dramatic potential, but Harvey instead just accepts his sons decision to stay, and leaves, and literally never as much as mentions it again (?!!). It really is one of the strangest plot thread drops I've ever encountered. Strangely enough though, I find it kind of hauntingly effective. Harvey's son plays almost no role in the early half of the novel. He's not 'on-screen' if you will, so why should he play a role in the latter half. Whether by design or by accident, at bare minimum, an interesting choice.

In summation: I can see why fresh new copies of this book are still hanging out in first run bookstores so many years later. Lucifer's Hammer is enjoyable if dated and written well enough to keep the pages turning. It isn't a life changer but I'm glad I read it, which these days almost warrants more than the three stars I've given it.

I know this is considered a classic but I couldn't get more than a hundred pages in before I couldn't stand it any longer. I've been burned by Niven and Pournelle teamups in the past and I should have learned my lesson. I'm not a person who appreciates writing collaberations and never will be I guess.

I normally read the one star reviews, no matter the product, prior to buying from the store. This has proven useful in decision making in the past.

This time, it was for nothing more than idle curiosity in seeing what others had to say about a book I've long loved and for which I've searched.

Is this literature? No. Nor even, in my opinion, Niven and Pournelle's best work individually or collectively.

But it's a good read, and tells an interesting story.

Some of the complaints I've read about the book:

"It's dated." Of course it is! It was published in 1977!

"It's a soap opera." Look at your own lives. If love and sex don't figure into your life, you're not human. If you think those factors don't affect politics, well, Monica Lewinsky, anyone? Now just imagine a feudal state trying to retain civilization.

"It's pro-technology. All environmentalists are considered stupid!" I have a sneaking suspicion that when the lights go out, the water stops running, and the gas no longer flows from the pump, ninety nine percent of the population will feel the same way.

"They portray environmentalists as idiots." No, they portray radical environmentalists as idiots. One character dismissively says that "nuclear power makes us think we can solve problems with technology." Yes, we can. That's been the point ever since Ug and Grunt the cavemen invented the wheel.

"Women are portrayed as shallow and helpless." I'd point to both Maureen Jellison and Marie Vance as refutations of that statement. Not to mention the female Russian cosmonaut.

"The main characters are self absorbed @$$holes." If you bothered to read the book, you would find that they start out as Hollywood socialites. Which is why I find it interesting that some complain about too much character development, while others complain about not enough.

And finally: "It's racist!" Two responses. Number one, see above complaint, "It's dated." Number two, I hardly think an African American US Air Force officer, who also happens to be an an astronaut, as the lone and loudest voice in support of rebuilding civilization can be considered racist. Moreover, the friendship between Rick DeLanty and Johnny Baker, and their interplay, is an accurate and cutting indictment of race relations at the time.

I have my own complaints about the book. I didn't like the portrayal of the National Guardsmen, for one. For another, I truly didn't think Jellison's ability to throw people off their own land was believable. Frankly, range wars would have been breaking out right and left.

A few other technical details come to mind, such as the fact that if you add sugar to pemmican, it will go bad very quickly. But these things are small annoyances.

I think my biggest complaints as to bad reviews is best put this way: "It's a friggin' story!" written almost forty years ago! Jeez! If you don't like it, put it down and walk away."

You want action as regards the end of the world? Go read some of the self published tin foil hat stuff you can dowload from the store. You want a scientifically accurate and gentle treatise on how people react to the end of society as we know it? Read this.

When I saw this on a used bookstore shelf, I recalled I hadn’t read it since the seventies. Something about a comet hitting Earth and the struggles of the survivors in California trying to save civilization. Feeling the need for a hard dose of pure science fiction and inspired by the recent news of the European Space Agency’s spacecraft landing on a passing comet, I bought a copy to reread and was surprised how timely it was.
We travel along with a myriad of folks, the senator who sends up an Apollo capsule to observe the comet close up, the astronaut who comes out of retirement to fly it, the funny little man who discovers the comet, the scientist who insists it has a million to one chance of hitting the Earth, the documentary filmmaker who films it all, the hippie mailman who refuses to give up his route after the comet hits, and many other people who allow us to see the world (and society) through their eyes.
After Lucifer’s Hammer hits, Earth is pretty well decimated. Millions are dead in Europe, Asia, and coastal America from tidal waves. Russia, realizing a new Ice Age is coming for the survivors, nukes China. China nukes Russia. Volcanoes erupt from the shift of mantle plates, the polar caps melt, and it rains for months. There’s no power, no food, and plenty of carcasses for the fish to eat when the waters do finally recede.
It’s a dog eat dog world, or, in some cases, a man eat man world. Two factions have established themselves as rulers in the post-apocalypse – the senator’s Stronghold on a mountaintop, where most of the good guys we’ve met up manage to congregate (even the astronauts!), and the Angel’s Army, an odd combination of religious zealots and a group of US Army soldiers who have had to resort to cannibalism to survive.
When the Angel’s Army discovers a working nuclear power station nearby, they go insane. To them it is the last symbol of man’s ignorance of God’s wrath and must be destroyed. The Stronghold, struggling to feed too many people and trying to defend themselves from desperate survivors, must decide if the power station is worth saving at the possible loss of Stronghold.
There’s a battle at the reactor, and an even bigger one at Stronghold, but a dying scientist shows them how to make mustard gas and enables them to save Stronghold. But at what cost? Are they going back to their warlike ways? Are their children doomed to be illiterate rat catchers and pig herders?
The characters are plentiful and interesting, some of them brilliantly so. The women stand solidly in the background, observing and silently running things. The lady cosmonaut, the under-utilized office manager, the senator’s daughter, and the ten-year old who lives on her horse all contribute to the reweaving of society. The senator’s daughter is the real power behind the throne, and she juggles three lovers (the astronaut, the filmmaker, and a no-neck farmer next door) to ensure the security of Stronghold.
A lot of the science and sociology is surprisingly timely: asteroid mining, Y2K, conspiracy theories, race and gender relations. Don’t think the entire lengthy novel is science – although there’s a hefty chuck of that. People periodically drag each other into tents to deal with their death compulsions in a very physical way. Relationships come and go as each person struggles to do what they have to in order to survive.
There are good guys doing bad things and bad guys doing good things. The world view gets skewed when the world itself seems to be upside down. Unlike George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones where each character has their own tale, Niven and Pournelle use the characters – good and bad – to tell the story of Lucifer’s Hammer from start to finish.
Lucifer’s Hammer – fiction or prophecy? (Close-up of tumbling rock; insert Jaws music here.)

This book was released in 1978, and the story takes place at around that time, so the book is somewhat dated. However, it is still a science fiction classic, for it tells of a comet striking the Earth and how the human race reacts to it. You see both the best and the worst in humans beings when they come across a worldwide natural disaster, and the authors hit the nail on the head. I truly believe that this is what would actually happen should such a cataclysmic phenomon occur.
The story story when a young astronomer, Timothy Hamner, with an 'n', discovers a comet approaching Earth. At first, the chances are miniscule that it would strike, so the first 150 pages talk of the comet approaching, life in California amongst the main characters, and some American and Soviet/Russian astronauts going up in an orbiting laboratory similar to Skylab to study it.
Fast forward, the comet strikes, and all over the world, disasters are shown, including a surfer who surfs on a tidal wave resutling from one on the comets pieces. The comet split up into different pieces as they hit the Earth in different places, with disasters in each one. One part of the comet survived to soar back into space.
All coastal cities drown, and refugees from Los Angeles flee to the Sierra Nevadas. Factors guarding their own piece of land are formed, and one faction resorts to cannibalism. Technology survives, as we see people salvaging gasoline, machinery, cars and trucks, and one nuclear power plant, in which one faction wants to preservie it, another to destroy it. Two main factions absorb others, and they go to war with each other for survival.
This is all I'll say for now, but after the comet hits, the book does become a real page turner.
There are racial comments, for many of these characters are Black, with a few Hispanics, so the aurthors try to make this as real as possible. This book, I feel, is probably the best book by the Niven/Pournelle collaboration, and one of the best "end of the world" novels without the human race become extinct, rather, giving them a chance to start over while preserving their technology. A lot more happens than what I have described, but you'll find out as you read the book. It's dated, but still worth reading.

This is one of the best books written for a real idea of a potential for a catastrophic event aftermath. Another good one is Alas Babylon by Pat Frank.

This was eerily a foretelling of the way the comet/meteor Shoemaker-Levy broke up and hit Jupiter. The book is about a meteor, also given a hyphenated name, hitting earth in multiple locations, just like the Jupiter event, but mostly how it affected California. They did their research & it is sound for the information & technology they had access to at the time. Since then, of course, a lot more information has come available, so some of the places they mention aren't as 'safe' as the book thought, but it has no bearing on the story and how it unfolds in the long run.

How people reacted at first and over the long term are psychologically the most likely and what you or I would have to prepare for if such an event - or even a well placed atomic event - should happen. With a comet/meteor of that size, at least you'd have the benefit of some time to prepare...

An outstanding read!

I don't want to go over the plot - others have done so and done well. I'm just writing this to underscore that Niven and Pournelle are one of those writing teams that just work. I like both of their individual writing styles, and have enjoyed many of their solo novels, but when they work together they wind up with novels that are so much better - which is a sign of a good team.

If you like this novel, I seriously recommend just going through their backlist. It's all brilliant and well-written. Inventive hard science fiction that still tells a good story with realistic characters in it.

The Mote in God's Eye
Footfall
The Dream Park series
Legacy of Heorot

I could go on, but just browse around on the store and you'll find their stuff.

They've also worked with others such as Steven Barnes, with novels like Fallen Angels. Great stuff, definitely worth reading.

A classic and outstanding masterpiece of the ultimate post-apocalyptic event. As the comet heads near the Earth, the many and completely different characters prepare for an amazing view. But what if the calculations are wrong? What if this massive comet actually hits Earth somewhere? Anywhere? And can anyone realistically know what to expect if it doesn't miss.

A wonderfully thorough and detailed book with incredible suspense and heart-wrenching events. I'm so very glad to have finally read this book that so many others recommended to me. I sincerely recommend it too!

It's been several years since I read Lucifer's Hammer, and it's a book I think about regularly. It's a classic novel, and even though it was written a fair time ago, it still stands the test of time. I'm a child of the 80's, and this book just speaks to me. That period of time had so much going for it. It had an intangible spark to it, where you really did think anything was possible. We were building the space shuttle. From there, we were going to the stars. Well...that didn't happen, but books like Lucifer's Hammer, and many of the Niven and Pournelle novels captured that quality, that hopefulness, in a bottle. Yeah, I know, this is a book about the Apocalypse, in essence, yet it fills me with hope and nostalgia for a time much better than one we currently live in.

If you're a fan of scifi, this is a great book. If are a fan of scifi and were born in the 70's or 80's...you simply owe it to yourself to read this book.

I first read this book when it first came out and I have re-read it many times since then. Even though at the time it was very much in real time, it is a bit out of date for this day and age. But, the book is still awesome!

A bunch of "what ifs" fill your head as you read this book as it does get you thinking. People of importance no longer matter as the ones with life skills are the ones who will rebuild after a catastrophe. Very interesting concept to think about. Also, the storing of necessary books in a safe place was something that an every day person would not think of. I will now.....

Even though the book was written in 1977 it still is a very good read. Just keep in mind that it is not in the here and now and something like this could very possibly happen.

When bored millionaire Tim Hamner discovers a new comet, he's excited to finally accomplish something without the help of his family. Harvey Randall, who's producing a TV documentary about the comet, expects his show to be wildly popular. And the American and Russian astronauts who are chosen to study the comet are proud to be chosen for such an important international mission.

All the experts said there was no way the Hamner comet would hit the Earth. But there are always plenty of people who are ready to panic -- the type who start hoarding guns, ammo, and canned food. Then there are the types who are ready to prey on the panicky folks -- doomsday cults declaring it's the end of the world, or burglars waiting for the rich people to flee their expensive homes. When the comet does hit the earth, all those weirdos and the normal folks who are left must figure out how to survive on a destroyed planet. Faced with the stress of just trying to stay alive, will they become selfish and greedy, or will they work together to try to recreate their lost civilization?

Lucifer's Hammer is an exciting post-apocalyptic story first published in 1977. It takes a while for the comet to hit as Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle introduce us to a large cast of characters -- Tim Hamner and his girlfriend who doesn't want to marry him because she has career ambitions; Harvey Randall and his dumb wife who prepared for the end of the world by stocking her freezer and packing nail polish; a senator and his beautiful daughter; a sociopath who's stalking a young woman; a man who runs a nuclear power plant; two Russian astronauts and two American astronauts. And there are others. Though none of these characters are particularly interesting or likable, Niven and Pournelle do a good job showing us how the possibility that the world is ending affects each of them in different ways.

Once the comet finally hit, I was riveted. The action never let up. Natural disasters, the threat of world war, the fast decay of civilization -- it all seemed so frighteningly possible. The catastrophe affected characters differently, seeming to strip off all the "civilization" they pad themselves with -- the way they want to be perceived by others -- and revealing the essence of who they really are. In Niven and Pournelle's version of the end of the world as we know it, most humans immediately become selfish and cruel, unwilling to share food or shelter, and ready to kill those who may have something they want. Perhaps I have too much faith in humanity, but I had a hard time believing that we'd so quickly stop grieving and so quickly start turning on each other. Maybe I'm just naïve, but I'd like to think that, for most of us, such a huge tragedy would bring out empathetic cooperation rather than egocentric competition.

The authors do, however, make a good case for situational ethics, especially when dealing with such issues as biological warfare and slavery. As one character puts it, "A civilization has the ethics it can afford." Even if I found it hard to believe, it did make me think about how our ethical standards might depend on the condition of our society, and it made me appreciate the society I live in.

Written by two middle-aged white men in the 1970's Lucifer's Hammer has some distasteful depictions of women and blacks. I suspect that the authors would say "but one of our astronauts is a woman and another is a black man!" and indeed they were probably the two most admirable characters in the book, but that wasn't quite enough to make up for the ugly bits, especially the gang of black "brothers" who were the villains of the story.

I listened to Brilliance Audio's version which is almost 25 hours long and is read by Marc Vietor who was excellent, as he always is. Though I have some complaints, the basic truth is that I was caught up in the exciting story and would recommend this audio version of Lucifer's Hammer to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic disaster stories.

The gigantic comet had slammed into Earth, forging earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale, tidal waves thousands of feet high. Cities were turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam. It was the beginning of a new Ice Age and the end of civilization. But for the terrified men and women chance had saved, it was also the dawn of a new struggle for survival-a struggle more dangerous and challenging than any they had ever known....

I heard a lot of good things about this book and decided to pick it up as an introduction into Niven and as a fan of apocalyptic literature. The first part of the book made me nervous as it seemed to drag and drag. I understand that Niven wanted to establish all his characters first but if you look at the pace of time from the beginning and middle and end of the book it'd be like riding a roller coaster that comes to a sudden stop. On the opposite end of the spectrum towards the later half of the book there are sections that were probably edited out. If they weren't then Niven decides to skip key events to try and keep his page numbers down more. I found myself having to go back in the book to make sure I didn't skip a section or put my bookmark in a wrong place.

The pacing is not done well for my taste and I felt that there were too many characters. If the book had been a mini-series I could see a need for so many, but Niven seems to choose a bit too many to focus on. That bad part about that is that not all the characters end up mattering a whole lot or the focus is drastically shifted away from them.

Those are the negatives. The positives is that Niven handles the subject matter well. He includes enough science to make it interesting (it is "science" fiction after all) and the facts learned are mostly learned as the characters learn about them. This helps you feel more immersed in the story. You get to see how the characters react to the facts as you do and see who you identify with more or come at it with a new perspective - very fun.

For the most part, the people act like real people and I believe this is most evident in how the characters react when the end of the world does come. There is no super-macho-hero who is able to escape danger because the author writes it that way. There is no sly-smooth-spy who's able to take a bullet like it's nothing and get the girl. All the plot elements, including sex, society, and culture are dealt with in the sphere of the story and it is very believable.

The second half of the book is definitely my favorite and if you can muscle through until Hammer Fall, then you will have yourself a very good book. It could have probably worked a little better as a mini-series but it was a good read nonetheless. Final Grade - B+

Timothy Hamner was the heir to a vast fortune but his real passion was amateur astronomy. He couldn't have been more pleased and proud when he actually discovered a new comet in the night sky, somewhere out around the orbit of Neptune. The experts said that the Hamner comet would pass a safe distance from Earth and the odds of it coming near were millions-to-one. Suddenly everyone was talking about the new comet and Hamner was even invited to appear on the Johnny Carson show. During the interview, Johnny jokingly referred to the comet as "the Hammer." The name stuck but no one had any idea how appropriate that name would be.

Over the next few weeks the Hammer drew nearer and the experts kept revising their estimates, raising the odds of an Earth strike to thousands-to-one, then to hundreds-to-one, until the impact seemed inevitable. Tension began to rise as people did what they could to prepare for impact: stocking up on food and water, moving to higher ground if they had the means. And, of course, there are always those who seek profit in circumstances such as these. Religious cults formed and outdoor suppliers raked in the cash selling "survival packages." But there's only so much you can do to prepare for something like this, and no one had any idea what kinds of changes this particular comet would bring.

Larry Niven covers a lot of ground in Lucifer's Hammer. Geologically, the earth undergoes some severe changes, not only in the strike zones, but all around the world with tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanos going off. Politically, some countries see this as the perfect opportunity to finish off an adversary once and for all, and some old adversaries find themselves allies in the new world structure. Socially, Niven shows us how individual people are affected in their relationships with others and in their own thinking. Niven even touches briefly on the theological. Here's one of my favorite passages from the audiobook; a conversation between two of the characters:

"This vast universe wasn't created for nothing, and it WAS created."
"Did the Hammer just happen?"
"I don't believe so."
"Then why?"
Varley shook his head. "I don't know. Perhaps to shock a Washington socialite enough to make her take a strong look at her life. Maybe only that. For you."
"That's crazy, you don't believe that."
"I believe it has a purpose, but that purpose will be different for each of us."

Lucifer's Hammer is my first Larry Niven book but I think I'll be reading more from him soon. It's clear to me that he put a lot of thought into this novel, deftly exploring all the repercussions of a large comet striking the earth. His ideas were convincing; I think this is a very possible scenario if a comet ever does strike our planet. Most of the action takes place in California, which received a direct strike. Niven's descriptions of the big day and how the characters reacted were striking and stirring: first the impacts, then the aftermath of storms and unceasing rain.

I can't really say that narrator Marc Vietor impressed me that much. He's an adequate reader but nothing special. He differentiated the character voices reasonably well, but he often didn't follow the author's cues regarding how a character was supposed to speak or what kind of accent they had. Vietor is a trained actor, having graduated from the Drama Division of Julliard and Yale College. He is active on stage and also in the audiobook world.

Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven

In my quest for all things apocalyptic my Google searches gave me a few lists of best Apocalypse books of all times -- LUCIFER'S HAMMER was 9 times out of 10 on those lists. While I can't say that this would be on my top ten list, the book was quite epic, though it's length did a number on me.

First published in 1977, LUCIFER'S HAMMER is the story of a comet and the almost total destruction of Earth. The novel covers a broad range of characters, their lives before "Hammer Fall" and then subsequently after. The beginning parts of the novel is a coverage of the discovery of the comet by millionaire Tim Hamner and the coverage of the comet by documentary filmmaker Harvey Randall. The general population is of an opinion that the comet will not hit the Earth and that they will just be treated to a glorious show, much like Hailey's comet. Yet, as the comet nears Earth astronomer's start revising "impact" ratios and million to one odds start turning into one hundred to one. As these ratios are reduced the general population is not prepared when the comet does strike and it is mass hysteria when it hits. Earthquakes, tidal waves and even nuclear explosions riddle the Earth and the survivors are left with little. A new world emerges from the destruction but it is not one for the weak.

Definitely an epic apocalypse tale, LUCIFER'S HAMMER covers all the bases for an end-of-world novel, there is murder, mayhem, sex, stealing, cannibalism and rape. LUCIFER'S HAMMER does not paint a pretty or hopeful picture. Survivor's band together to use one another, not to lend helping hands. This is another one that is not for the feint of heart. Everything is clearly described, not embellished or romantically portrayed. The one fault of this book I found was that it was just so very long. The comet doesn't hit until nearly the middle of the book and by then you are rather fed up with these spoiled and pampered people that you just want the comet to hit and hopefully knock some sense into them. Which of course it does. What I did find was remarkable was the intense explanation of events that would happen after the comet hit which is congruent with Niven's usual style of scientifically explaining things. Though when you do get into these broad reaching and expansive science fiction novels you tend to lose contact with your characters, so I didn't really connect with any of them, yet much like an omnipotent narrator you sort of feel an overall pity for these creatures. Sort of like if you were reading a historical account, instead of a novel. Harvey Randall and Tim Hammner did stand out a bit, but I found they weren't that likable of characters so I wasn't as emotional with their journeys.

Out of all of them I thought the astronauts were the best narrative, but their decision to land in California was off track a bit. Moved the plot along - but of all the destinations? I also found the 70s setting very interesting, it's fun to read novels of this era, just to see how far we have come in just 30 years.

Overall a great and entertaining read. If you are interested in apocalypse type scenarios you should give this a try.

Recommendations
Adults only there are a lot of mature topics touched upon, sex, rape, violence, murder...you name it. Recommended for fans of science fiction, Larry Niven fans should enjoy and if you liked books like The Stand by Stephen King.

I read this novel when I was 14, a few decades ago.

My mother handed me the novel and said I should read the first hundred pages. It's a big read and I read the entire book in under 2 days with small periods of sleep thrown in - it was that addicting.

Of all the right-wing inspired novels of EOTWAWKI (end of the world as we know it); this one is by miles, the best. The characters, the events and the varying results of catastrophe for different folks is unthinkable. The little "wisdom" blurbs between chapers make it more thrilling to discover what the next page may bring.

Recommend reading 100%

This is a remarkable post-apocalyptic novel written in 1977 by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It certainly challenges the 1957 novel, On the Beach by Nevil Shute. The only difference is that Earth is destroyed by a comet in this book, not by a nuclear war as in Shute's book. Although Niven does have Russia and China exchanging warheads after the comet hits Earth. The other disparity is that mankind attempts a rebound of civilization versus the suicidal ending of On the Beach. Anyhow, this was a very enjoyable novel that precedes all the current " end of the world " disaster books and movies. Which novel is better is a matter of conjecture.

Once again Niven has a Dramatis personae in his book, which means..." Hello to numerous characters"! Wow! How about at least ten main characters and dozens of side characters, all fully developed. It means you, as the reader, will really care what happens to these people; good, or bad. That is a talent of Niven's that I've noticed in his other novels. The only flaw is with his Dr. Charles Sharps character,the Science and Project Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratories. After the Hammer falls, he disappears from the story and never returns.I wonder if that was done on purpose, or a faux pas.

The story starts with Tim Hamner, a amateur astronomer, along with a similar sighting from a youngster named Brown, discovers a comet heading towards Earth. The odds of this Hamner- Brown Comet hitting Earth are millions to one. Harvey Randall, a Documentary Producer for NBS television decides to do a TV series on this event. The comet's name gets changed to Lucifer's Hammer by Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. The U.S. and Russia send four astronauts in orbit to study the comet. The U.S. Senator Arthur Jellison, the man behind the space program, retreats to his California ranch. As the comet rounds the Sun, and approaches Earth, the unthinkable happens... it calves, changes course and strikes Earth in many places!

The rest of the novel deals with the catastrophic events that happen after the strike, man's reaction, and ultimately man's survival. There is so much happening that you really have to read this great book yourself. All of the human elements pertaining to survival are completely believable. And kudos to Larry Niven for keeping the technical stuff out of the book and just tell the story. I don't remember what man's attitude was when the Kohoutek Comet passed Earth in 1973, but one would hope it will not be as cavalier as Lucifer's Hammer was, if another stray comet approaches Earth.

I read this book as part of my ongoing effort to read all the "classic" survival/end-of-the-world fiction I can find. It IS a long book, and slow to start, but it fully deals with all the characters and storylines and eventually you understand why all the characters are there. It wasn't meant to have a main lead character because the story is focused on a broader picture of human nature as it might expose itself in the midst of societal collapse.

It's a fictional primer in the myriad of challenges humans would face if some event caused our "system" to completely go down. It made me think. I do recommend it. It's action-packed from start to finish.

*Spoilers ahead*
I didn't find Lucifer's Hammer to be racist. The cannibal gang seemed to be composed of more white people than black people once Armitage got his people involved, and as the cannibal gang gets more extreme, the book seems to imply that the fanatical Armitage is more the one keeping the cannibalism going than the black leaders. There's never a mention or a hint that black people engage in the cannibalism ritual more than white people, or that they enjoy it more or anything like that. Again, I think Niven portrays the white Armitage as the truly evil one, assembling a cult based on cannibalistic rituals and killing anyone who won't partake. But that's just my take.

Niven and Pournelle wrote a fantastic dystopia that kept you turning the pages. This one has to be one of my favorite books ever! Even though it took awhile to really kick into the full action I enjoyed it from cover to cover. I really enjoyed reading about the end of the world due to a comet strike. I've been reading various dystopia lately and each one gives a very similar outcome, but this one leaves you with how much man will sacrifice to save what is thought to be the last electric plant on earth.

This book goes into great detail on how one would continue in a world that has become savage and without law. They go beyond why some turn quickly to cannibalism, and others enjoy the benefits of effective organization and write a story that could be a how to guide to life after a disaster. One thing I thought was smart is the fact that one man buried books wrapped in several layers of plastic, and they proved vital to rebuilding. Can you imagine trying to rebuild a society that has been ruined. Very few of us know how much of our technology works, only how to use it. This book makes me want to preserve a couple of "how things work" books.

The action throughout is enough to keep you turning the pages, but what make this one so great is how it ends.

LUCIFER'S HAMMER, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, is a thoughtful, thought-provoking end-of-the-world disaster novel. It is billed as a science fiction novel, and, to date, I have always considered it to be science fiction - after all, this thrilling novel intricately describes the days leading up to and following the impact of a comet on the surface of the Earth. However, after further ruminations, I realize that this book is more of an apocalypse, action-suspense novel, which happens to contain hard, factual science. The science here is not the basis of the story, but rather the setting for this inspiring book.

In LUCIFER'S HAMMER, a new comet has been discovered. It is big, it will be visible from Earth, and it will be spectacular. There is much excitement about this discovery, but as it comes closer and closer, the chances continue to increase that it will actually hit our planet. Of course, the worst happens, and because the comet has calved (split into many pieces), the Earth is not impacted once, but multiple times. Monstrous tidal waves, immeasurable earthquakes, extremely flooding, uncountable hurricanes, violent volcanoes, a drop in world temperature, and more rain than imaginable follow suit, killing billions and destroying civilization. There is no electricity, no food, no clean water, no gasoline - no safety. The remaining humans barely survive and live in abject terror, some turning to violence, murder, cult-like religious fervor, and even cannibalism. The very act of living becomes nothing more than pure, simple survival. But what is the price of that survival? Is mere survival enough? Or can civilization be saved?

I have read LUCIFER'S HAMMER a number of times; it is one of my favorites, and it is always a very exciting read. My heart pounds, full of tension, worry, and fear, and the need to keep reading, keep turning the pages. This is a very "atmospheric" book, meaning, everything feels very real and very possible as you read. Several times, I have had to look out the window to be sure I could still see the sun, and that the world was not trapped in unending rain. At the same time, my brain is also very involved in the story, as the science is valid, the plot is plausible, and the outcome very, very possible. This book makes you believe that this could happen, in both your mind and your soul. IMHO, Niven and Pournelle have written a frighteningly realistic vision of what could happen in the event of a world-wide cataclysm. Heinlein was right - the Earth IS too fragile a basket to keep all of humanity in. We NEED to get to the stars. It may be the only way to keep the human race alive for the long haul.

Science fiction or disaster thriller, LUCIFER'S HAMMER is a smart, engrossing novel. It provides endless food for thought, and leaves you feeling, perhaps, a little less secure about this fragile planet we live on. Which just proves what really good writing can do. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I'd like to start the review repeating what many reviewers have already stated: The first couple hundred pages or so is quite boring at times and tedious developing characters. This alone almost made me not finish the book. I powered through and just as I almost dropped the book entirely; I suddenly became interested enough probably around page number 270.

Others have pointed out that the time this book was written makes it outdated. That really only held true of vehicle models for me and was not that big of a turn off in the least.

Some of the characters really did not do it for me and the writers, at times; seemed to jump around a lot going back and forth in story lines with all of them. Some of the characters I could care less about. I developed a strong liking for Harvey Randall for some reason, even though he was portrayed (IMO) as kind of guiltless. I could identify with his struggles. Other characters stood as well.

It was a little strange in the direction used for some of the characters. But I do think they understand that things would be chaotic like they portrayed and much of people's ethics and morals would go out of the window during a disaster.

A few people seemed put off by the racial tone in the novel. It did not bother me and certainly was not a problem. Here is a clue: Racism exists! In 1977 it was probably more open than it is now since everything is so PC now. There are people that point that the authors must be racist because of this. Only the writers know for sure.

There were times reading this book I drifted and when things went bad it was in a weak fashion instead of explosive nature. The book seemed to drudge on at times and other times I was really wanting to see what would happen next.

Finally, I was not quite satisfied with the ending. For me it was kind of a let down. If the book would have not wasted so much with too many characters and there was a little more human feel to them, I would have given this book 5 stars. So it does get a solid 4 stars because there were a lot of things I did enjoy about this book.
One thing is for sure, the book will not please everyone.

We've heard it all before: a killer comet is on the way and the Earth is doomed. A scenario with dozens of variations in books and movies, and we are still a sucker for them. While the book starts off rather tediously with prolonged introductions to all major, many minor, and a hanful of incidental characters, stick with it and you won't be disappointed.

The comet, called "the Hammer"(a pun on the discovering astronomer's name, "Hamner"), is the catalyst that gets this story going, because it is really a story of survival, and one of the better post-apocolyptic stories I've yet encountered. Once the comet is prepared to strike, the action gets rolling and never stops. Our various heroes and heroines struggle against the odds to escape flooding coastlines, battle through unspeakable conditions, and make their ways to shelter. In a location of soldity and relative safety, scores of survivors, over a period of perhaps a year or so, learn that all civilization is based on food, shelter, and safety. They form a new government that is in fact the oldest kind, and eke out a successful community. The survivors must deal with treacherous weather, the horrors around them, death, and even madmen and cannibals before it is all over, leaving them a contented, flourishing community not unlike pre-Roman Europe.

Along the way, you find characters, as always, to like or dislike. (My personal favorite being Harry the intrepid Mailman). If I could find any real faults with this epic book, I would first say that it is much too short. Just as the story was really going from exciting and fascinating to something you wanted to read more about, it ended. What a TV series this might have made - and still could make.

"Hamner-Brown", the comet, sped toward Earth and was supposed to pass by as close as 1000 Kilometers. Instead it hit the Earth in pieces blowing the Richter scale right off the graph. It was a disaster of Biblical proportions. The people who survived the impact did so because they had the instinct to live. With all manufacturing at a sudden halt, no electricity, no communication, no gasoline, etc, those with guns are the ones with power. Those with power are both good and evil. With a new ice-age coming on, the people need more than just hope and faith to live. They need works!

This is the best book I've read in a while. The only criticism I have is as much for myself as it is for the book. I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters because they were so many and somewhat complex. Niven and Pournelle considered lots of things I wouldn't have thought of that would occur in a massive disaster. It made me want to update my food storage, and hone my archery skills. It also gave me pause to consider what I think is worth fighting for... my family?... my freedom?... my friends?... electricity?... a can of soup? How do I want to live, and how to I want to die?

All in all a fantastic book!

Mostly I am here to pay respects to Jerry, whom I just discovered passed away a couple weeks ago. This book is a must read for the Sci-Fi fan AND the prepper community. I first read it as a young teen in the late 70s and I make a point of going back to it every few years. It's amazing what insight into human psychology these two 'space cadets' have. Definitely a classic that should be on your shelf or in your Kindle.

I first read this book in 1986, and I'm glad to see it still in print, because I want to re-visit it some 16 years later. It is a true classic-not just your run of the mill sci-fi or fiction. This book has an element of realism to it and is absolutely one of the finest pieces of writing in its genre that I have come across.
I first learned of it when reading some material from the "survivalist movement"...people who continuously prepare for a societal breakdown. _Lucifer's Hammer_ was highly recommended as one of the most realistic novels available which would illustrate and drive home the realities of a potential worldwide disaster which would uproot life on the planet. I found it to be true; the authors did their homework. It was fun to think about during the Y2k scare/hoax!
In a moment, all rights to private property are gone. What was "yours" one hour ago, now belongs to the first and strongest band of warlords who stake it. I will never forget the band of suburban Boy Scouts who were in the mountains on a camp-out, and their transformation within days from boys to men; roving warriors under the leadership of their scoutmaster.
In later years, "Deep Impact" came to the theatres, and seemed to pick up in the spirit of "Lucifer's Hammer", in exploring the "impact" of a worldwide disaster.
LH is a modern classic. I can't wait to read it again. I still get goose-bumps when I think about those chapter introductions in the beginning giving a graphic description of the "maelstrom" heading toward earth.

Every summer I put on my reading list a book that I read back in my college days. I first encountered Lucifer's Hammer in 1981 and the second time around I found it just a engaging as I remember from all those years ago.

First off, if you are the overly sensitive political correct type, you'll probably find something on these pages to express mock outrage. Too bad, for you'll miss a great story. There are a number of stereotypical characters here, pretty much every main character exhibits outrageous behavior somewhere during this tale.

And why not? It's The End OF The World and people are grappling with new realities. In Lucifer's Hammer, it is human storytelling of how they adapt that sets this book apart and makes it one of the great disaster novels of all time.

Others have commented that the first 100 pages or so are slow. I believe this is a function of comparison....that the later part of the book is so griping that it makes the first part appear slow. However, on it's own I found the introduction of the characters and the build up to Hammerfall to be interesting as people wake up to the crisis they could face.

For all their later prodigious output, Niven and Pournelle were never able craft such an engaging tale as Lucifers Hammer.

My second read of the book twenty five years later reminded me again of the quality of both the story and the writing. It leaves one wondering what would really happen after a major natural disaster, large act of terrorism or even an major attack by another nation.

The rapid decline of law and order and civil behavior is not stuff of racial bias but rather documented (thankfully on a much smaller scale) in the riots in LA, near breakdown of civil order after earthquakes in both Northern and Southern California and the events of Katrina.

Twenty five years of history only made the story more believable. If written today it might well be inner city Hispanics banding together. Regardless of race we have become a society where an overwhelming percentage of people are not intellectually or physically prepared to deal with a world even temporarily without Starbucks and 7-11.

As others have noted the story starts slow, like building the foundation of a building it only seems that nothing is happening. The foundation serves the rest of the story well and early patience is well rewarded.

The struggles, the characters and the reemergence of civil structure adds depth to the story.

Highly recommended.

I first read Larry Niven's and Jerry Pournelle's apocalyptic novel "Lucifer's Hammer" when it was released in 1977. Raised on the popular disaster movies from this period (which undoubtedly inspired this book), I remembered thinking this epic novel would make a fantastic movie. I had the good fortune of re-reading this book again recently after many years and was pleasantly surprised, if not haunted, by how accurately the end of the world was portrayed. History, in many ways, has eeriely mirrored "Lucifer's Hammer." From the Rodney King/LA riots to David Koresh to the 911 terrorist bombings, Niven and Pournelle have done an extraordinary job in creating an account of what just might happen if modern society was confronted with a complete end-of-the-world scenario. This book, while dated in many ways, has withstood the test of time.
A comet is discovered and as it comes closer to earth, it becomes apparent it may strike our planet. An American/Russian joint expedition is quickly sent into space so the comet can be studied as it passes. The first third of "Lucifer's Hammer" introduces 20-plus protagonists, developing their characters prior to the disaster. All of these characters have similar traits in that they cannot imagine the comet will hit the earth, but they make rudimentary preparations just in case. When the comet does indeed hit the earth in multiple places, causing gigantic tidal waves, earthquakes and destruction, "Lucifer's Hammer" follows these characters' lives as they attempt to survive in a society without law enforcement, without electricity, without adequate food. Some of the most exciting passages deals with the comet strike, witnessed from multiple angles though most memorably from the joint American/Russian spacecraft. The stunned astronauts shockingly view the disaster, the growing cloud cover, the tidal waves and a nuclear war which erupts between China and Russia.
As pandemonium strikes, these characters do whatever they can to survive. Cars are stolen, people are shot, and everyone scrambles for high ground as the tidal waves and rain drown everything in sight. The final third of the book deals with the pockets of civilization that slowly form. Small strongholds are built, roving groups resort to cannibalism, everyone looking for safety and food. Like castles in the Middle Ages, these groups form warrior-like bonds, with leaders forced to make tough decisions, fighting off stragglers and armies.
Much of the criticism of "Lucifer's Hammer" has dealt with its portrayal of black people, most notably that of Alim Nassor. A former Black Panther and a full-time thief, he gathers his friends together after the comet strike, adorned in a full-length mink coat, spouting ghetto slang and doing whatever he can to survive. He bonds with a band of cannibals, eventually led by a Jim Jones-like quack. They begin sweeping the countryside, raiding, looting and murdering. Granted, it's a bit uncomfortable reading these passages, as society has not only become a huge race war, but a class war. The stronghold they eventually lay siege to is made up almost entirely of caucasin residents, educated, wealthy and determined to survive.
When attempting to understand human culture, all one has to do is view a normal high school cafeteria. The pockets are abundantly clear as people bond by class, by status, by culture and by race. If earth was faced with the kind of disaster so realistically portrayed in "Lucifer's Hammer," undoubtedly pockets of survivors would form in such a fashion. When there is no food, people will begin to kill for it. The groups they bond with would be people of similar race, similar class and similar status. In today's politically-correct society, it is uncomfortable reading a book like "Lucifer's Hammer." But there is not a doubt in my mind the wars which take place in this book would indeed happen.
A scary, fascinating work, "Lucifer's Hammer" has remained in print for many years because of its uncomfortable realism. It is not a perfect work, with stilted dialogue and a few too many characters introduced and in many ways forgotten, but it is one of the finest of the apocalyptic genre.

Wealthy amateur astronomer Tim Hamner discovers a new comet, which he dubbs Hamner-Brown. Discovery of the comet spawns a television series about comets, which, combined with the exhortations of an evangelist, fuel global fears about a comet strike. However, JPL calculates an orbit that has it passing near, but missing Earth. A Californian senator seizes the opportunity for publicity to loudly support a joint manned American/Russian spaceflight to study the comet, nicknamed "The Hammer" by the media.

JPL's scientists are shocked to learn that outgassing from the comet has misled their instruments, and "The Hammer" is, after all, on a collision course with Earth. The comet breaks into smaller pieces as it enters the atmosphere, and several worldwide strikes trigger massive tidal waves, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Devastation reigns all over the planet. Following the strike, survivors must endure weeks of rain that causes worldwide flooding, overwhelming dams and levees everywhere. Survivors must also endure cannabalistic zealots that have banded together under the aforementioned evangelist and a heavily armed militia that is fighting for world domination.

Great reading from beginning to end - good luck getting a good night's sleep until you've finished it.

When you read this awesome end-of-the-world thriller, you will wonder about how accurate(or farfetched) the movies DEEP IMPACT and ARMAGEDDON(and a few lesser chronic efforts like METEORITES) were. One scientific fact(or rather, speculation) that both movies missed was that if a comet impacted in the ocean as happens in the book, it will rain for months. And the disasters that follow the impact are impressively portrayed here! When a comet is spotted nearing Earth's orbit, the scientists have only a short time to warn the world. Mankind naturally misunderstands. Timothy Hammer is the astronomer who spots the Hammer comet first and its - trajectory, Consequently, NASA launches a spacelab into orbit called the Hammerlab. Post-impact - the combined US-Soviet Hammerlab mission is stranded in space(remember this was written in 1978), survivors form into groups and a feudal system takes precedence in California. The world's geography is affected severely - small snippets tell of the devastation wreaked. I won't say anymore, but that why oh why didn't Hollywood film this book instead of making the other two(plus) movies? This is way more accurate(or rather, best speculative) in its portrayal of man under threat of the end of the world. If you enjoy this, also check out Niven and Pournelle's FOOTFALL.

Apopcalyptic-fiction books seem to take on a familiar pattern. Threat to Earth emerges, four to six people come out of the woodwork to deal with it somehow, some of them have sex with each other or someone else. The disaster strikes, and a boatload of people die. Some of the four-to-six lead characters are involved in picking up the pieces. The National Guard is co-opted by savages and ends up imposing some sort of martial law or military regime. And so on.
All this is found in "Lucifer's Hammer." But while the formula is trite and hackneyed in other works, Niven and Pournelle make it work. They breathe life into their characters that's sadly lacking elsewhere. One feels the tension and anguish surely experienced by the characters -- and indeed by the rest of the world -- as the comet draws nearer and nearer, subjecting humanity to sure doom.
The authors even manage to inject some humor into a deadly serious topic -- for instance, letting some stoned California surfers ride their last wave, the biggest one in history, formed by the collision of part of the comet with the Pacific Ocean.
This book's sheer scope, and the magnitude of the disaster imparted, can be overwhelming at times. I first read it at the beach one summer; I still recall lying on the sand, watching the tide come in and washing the sand from my feet, thinking "it just doesn't matter ... we humans don't matter; we're so insignificantly powerless against something like that."
This, perhaps, is the most important part of "Lucifer's Hammer" -- gaining an understanding about how vulnerable humanity is to a mass disaster. As Robert Heinlein wrote, "The Earth is just too small and fragile a basket for the human race to keep all its eggs in." Ironically, and not surprisingly, the authors reproduce this quote in the book's frontispiece.
Yes, the book is dated. It didn't age well with the passing of the years; one can't help but envision the characters wearing polyester leisure suits with big pointy collars and driving huge Cadillac Eldorados which get 10 miles to the gallon. But that's mostly irrelevant. Imagine a 1970s-era human race being destroyed if you need to.
The point is that "Lucifer's Hammer" provides the most gripping portrait yet of what a mass calamity would do to the planet -- but it also shows how man can endure almost any tragedy.

Very well written, full of suspense.

This book is one of the best in the apocalyptic genre, along with John Cristopher's No Blade of Grass, which dealt with a world destroyed by a grass disease which killed grains as well as grass and left a world in starvation. It mainly dealt with the reactions of people to the disaster, which included the failure of law and order.

Another fine one was Alas Babylon, by Pat Frank, which dealt with the reactions of the people in a small Florida town following a destructive atomic war.

And of course, there was On the Beach by Nevil Shute, which also dealt with a post atomic war world and an American submarine crew stranded in Australia, where the physical effects of the radiation in the northern hemisphere was delayed by coriolis force.

In this book, the world-destroying catastrophe was a huge comet which struck the earth, resulting in total destruction of much of the world through tsunamis, earthquakes, torrential salt rains, and the resulting loss of millions of lives and of all government, national state and local, and hence of all governmental controls and functions. Impotent police, firemen, and elected functionaries; everything and everyone whose function was to maintain order are gone or reduced to non-entities.

Money is worthless, food and other essentials like clothes and gasoline are scarce and generally go to the strongest or the best armed. Cannibalism takes over in many places. There is no electric power, and candlelight replaces it for lighting.

The book deals with the lives, before and after, of several people, from a country mailman to a U.S. senator, and of course the astronomers, astronauts and others who were intimately involved as well as vignettes of secondary characters as the story develops.

The character development is excellent, and the book absolutely captured me. It is no wonder that it sold over a million copies.

Joseph Pierre

This book deserves 10 Stars. The characters are realistic, believeable, credible, and if my one- line summary was meant to read like a sensational tabloid headline, good. I grabbed your attention. Lucifer's Hammer is about a comet that's on a collision course with Earth. What happens in the ensuing three days, shows the best and worst of us. There's Johnny, an astronaut who's carrying on an affair with more than one woman, (very 70s. This was, after all, written before AIDS.) One of whom is Maureen--the daughter of a U.S. Senator from California. There are also a host of supporting characters. The main character, Tim Hamner, is an amateur astronomer who co- discovered the Hamner-Brown Comet. Remember four years ago when the Shoemaker-Levy Comet slammed into Jupiter? What if it had slammed into Earth instead? Don't think it can't happen, America. An asteroid with a diameter of 6 miles slammed into Earth 65 million years ago and made the dinosaurs extinct. The question is: Are we next? Maybe we are. Ninety years ago, what might have been a comet, slammed into Siberia near the town of Tunguska.

Have to join the group of voices here stating that this is an excellent "end-of-the-world" tale. The characters are fairly well developed and the action is well paced. I especially liked the chapter of "snapshots" of what happened when the comet hit and the italized asides throughout the book that described geographical and political results of the impact. These details are what draws one into the story and helps you visualize the magnitude and scope of such a disaster. (While not profound, I first read this book when I was in high school and one of the images that had stuck in my mind for over 20 years was that of Gil trying to ride out the tidal wave that hit Los Angeles.) In fact it was that tease of a memory that made me look in the bookstores for Lucifer's Hammer so I could re-read it again. I would have rated the book 5 stars exept for the last 3 pages. It really feels like after building up to a climax that Niven and Pournelle had never really agreed on who was going to write the conclusion.....and the book ends quite abruptly with a really unsatisfactory summary. I would have preferred that they added an additional 50 pages to flesh out was what discussed in these 3 pages (......maybe some year a sequel?) All in all, despite my personal complaint about the ending, a good read that I would highly recommend.

Before there were all those 1990s disaster movies, there was Lucifer's Hammer. I don't know if this novel pioneered the subgenre of epic novels with massively large casts of characters and plots that were bigger than any one character, but Lucifer's Hammer does it better than any I've read or seen.

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle are the ultimate sci-fi tag-team. Niven handles the science, Pournelle handles the realistic characters, and the result is greater than the sum of its parts. Lucifer's Hammer is positively brimming with realistic people and situations; if you showed me videos of Earth's actual reaction to a comet impact, I'd probably believe Lucifer's Hammer instead. Assisting in this sense of realism are two things - the uncompromising harshness of the plot, and the compromised personalities of each and every one of the characters. There are no pure good guys here, and no pure bad guys, and no one catches a break. The story is brutal, unforgiving, and terrifying - a tale of normal everyday men and women pushed to the absolute limit.

My one quibble with the book is its annoying late-70s Reaganite politics. The part where an engineer dismisses ozone depletion with a wave of his hand looks a bit ludicrous in light of more recent events. And it's a bit tiring to hear how much hippies are wimps and nuclear power is Teh Awesome. But this is a minor thing. All in all, if you read one disaster novel in your life, read Lucifer's Hammer.

I picked up "Lucifer's Hammer" after being told it is considered one of the big names in post-apocalyptic fiction. This book was on a list that included "Alas, Babylon" and "The Road", two books I thoroughly enjoyed. This book is about a comet that collides with earth, causing widespread destruction and the demise of modern human civilization. While it has elements that make for an interesting read, overall this book was largely boring and suffered from being marketed wrong.

Based on the product description from the store, it would appear that this book is several hundred pages that detail the appearance of the comet, its eventual impact, and the aftermath. This is partially true, but each section does not get an equal share of the book. The comet strikes at nearly halfway through, leaving the first several hundred pages being left to excessive description of society following the comet's first appearance in space. When it does strike, things get interesting for about a hundred pages, as the authors do a good job telling the reader the global destruction caused by the comet (e.g. most of the U.S. is under water, Russia fires nukes at China to overthrow their government and get to the "warmer climate, etc.) The aftermath, however, lacks any pronounced storyline. Like I said, I feel that this book was marketed wrong, as the the store description makes it sound like detail is given heavily to the survivors "fighting to survive in a new world". More or less, the only story is the survivors attempting to prove themselves worthy to get into a fortified ranch and then fighting against one group of cannibals. This becomes a very dry read, especially when the authors provide several dozen characters to follow and elaborate on each storyline. Honestly, after about the 5th character, I was tired of hearing how so-in-so made their way across the barren landscape.

In short, this book is okay, but not great. I don't know why so many people consider it one of the best post-apocalyptic fiction stories out there, as I feel better ones are available (see Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"). For someone intent on reading this work, I would recommend visiting the library or buying it used.

Plot Kernel - In California, a massive comet is discovered by a wealthy amateur astronomer. A TV news documentary, sponsored by the man who discovered the comet, is made of the discovery. Although the comet will pass near the Earth it does not seem that it will strike; but there are doubts. For some people, this event portends the end of the world. As the comet approaches, we follow the documentary maker, the amateur astronomer, an influential Senator, the women in their lives, and others, including a U.S./Russian team sent to the space station to retrieve data from the oncoming comet. As the comet nears, it splits and impacts the planet with devastating effect, creating earthquakes and tsunamis in California, and equivalent havoc worldwide. Those people that can, head for high ground. Civilization has collapsed. The social constraints and protections of law are gone.

Note: The science fiction writers, Niven and Pournelle, are not interested in the gritty details of day to day survival in a post-apocalyptic, non-technological world, and are more concerned with setting up the disaster, showing some of the terrestrial and social effects, and then positioning their main characters so that as the novel works towards its resolution they can begin to recover the world they've lost; and for them, the means to that end is electricity. "We can rebuild a civilization if we have electricity." (p 528)

This novel is often mentioned as one of the best books in the genre of end-of-the-world fiction. This is not, however, a story of hardcore survivalists, prepared and equipped years ahead for disaster, and triumphing in the aftermath. It is a story about everyone else. What is portrayed in the book is the panic and confusion during the collapse of civilization, the rapid descent into distrust and selfish barbarism that follows, the tribalism that can arise, and the difficulties in finding and keeping food, shelter and water. What we see through the struggles of the characters is the importance during extreme civil disorder to be wary and to protect and defend ourselves from the unrestrained desires, compulsions and needs of others.

This is a monstrous, massive novel about what happens when a comet slams into the earth. About 17 years ago I was saying to someone that I thought Stephen King's THE STAND was the best end-of-the-world book I'd ever read and then was recommended LUCIFER'S HAMMER. They weren't kidding. This book has some of the most jaw-droppingly awesome descriptions of worldwide destruction ever committed to paper. After watching the Boxing Day Tsunami wipe out 250,000 people and after witnessing the Drowning of New Orleans it is impossible to read this book without thinking of those recent disasters.

LUCIFER'S HAMMER is filled with memorable characters and an epic scale of destruction and struggle. It ranks among the top 3 epic post-apocalyptic novels alongside THE STAND and SWAN SONG. It has everything; its like the Mother of ALL Disaster stories wrapped around a war/adventure/struggle for survival tale with an army of cannibals as the last major villains. How can you beat that? Unlike THE STAND and SWAN SONG there are no fantastical elements to LUCIFER'S HAMMER, just dirty, savage fighting for the scarcest of resources.

Smog, Pong, PoseidenAdventure/ToweringInferno/Earthquake/Jaws, Johnny Carson, Oldsmobile Toronado, CB Radio, Ralph Nader, Star Trek reruns, post-Vietnam, gas lines, pull-tabs on beer cans...

This is a Disaster Story told from a pre-Internet mindset. If you want to know what the mid-70's mindset was, then read the first half of this book... maybe not for the story (which is outdated), but for the perspective on the 70's. It was the last days before the Microprocessor really began changing the cultural landscape at an exponential pace... in a few years there would bloom in rapid succession SpaceInvaders/PacMan, Apple II, "The IBM PC Clone", cheap air travel for the masses, and "The Internet". Tri-Network TELEVISION still ruled the roost, and Carter hadn't yet destroyed the USA's military and pride, as well as Iran's Shah, and run inflation up to 21% (all setting the stage for the USA to be proud of an Olympic HOCKEY team, and for Reagan to get in, free the hostages, and then destroy the USSR). It was the last days of a "certain naivete"... CANNON was off the air - DALLAS was debuting... Chrysler and the rest of Detroit were now producing nothing but garbage... for better or worse, "Muscle Cars" and the "Kawasaki Triple" were finished, and all cars would get FuelInjection/CatalyticConverters - and LA smog would start vastly improving... Saturday Night Fever and this book mark the boundary between two eras.

The intertwining story, which contains loads of deeply-explored characters, is written in mature Heinlein form, and reminds me a lot of STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND from the early 60's (with a little bit less sex and violence thank goodness).

I don't really consider this book "SciFi", as there is not much effort to "predict the future"... save for the fact that the authors play around a bit with what "might have been" if the lingering Apollo/Space Shuttle controversy of the time had been allowed to become a competition. I found the earlier parts of the book to be so out of date, that it was best read like it was an "Alternate History" novel. But, once you get to the second half of the book, the disaster hits, and mankind is thrown back to the stoneage (with pockets of technology and history surviving), the book becomes something totally different, and the 2nd part is really a classic.

One other thing that strikes me is that in today's era of runaway political correctness, this book would never be able to be published in its current form. OJ Simpsonesque characters simply "aren't guilty" in today's world, and inner-city gangland antics can't be written about - only "sung about" by the self-same "gangsters" - in that sense, this book offers a refreshing insight into reality and escape from today's madenning PC disreality. While the 70's were naive in certain technological and political senses, they were more REAL than today's PC run amok.

A long time ago (1964 in fact) Brian Aldiss began an introduction to an anthology with the sentence: "The images are what attract me in science fiction, even more than the surprises and the ideas and the crazy plots." That sentence has apparently stuck in my brain for over 40 years, because it came romping back into my mind as I read "Lucifer's Hammer".

There is so much wrong with this book. For a start, there are far too many characters - the "Dramatis Personae" lists 46, and there must be at least another 46 minor characters not mentioned. The writing is often uninspired, and the first third of the book is little more than waffle and soap opera.

But I believe it is worth wading through all this for the magnificent images of the comet splitting into fragments and smashing the Earth, seen both from space and from the ground: the fireballs shooting down from the sky, the glowing craters of the land strikes and the huge holes bored through the seas, the vaporisation of millions of tons of ocean, the tectonic shuddering of the battered planet in response to the assault, the sudden creation of new waterways, the unremitting warm salt rain, and the efforts - mostly futile but occasionally successful - of the tiny inhabitants to escape the titanic forces raging around them. I don't know how accurate the predictions are, but I suspect they are about as good as we are likely to get. I have read a few books about the end, or near-end, of the world, but none of them brings it to life as this one does.

And the second half of the book, although it too contains quite a bit of soap opera and cliche, raises some important questions about what our priorities could and should be if we ever experience such a catastrophe - not that I agree with all the answers Niven and Pournelle offer; but they do at least deal with important issues that perhaps should concern all of us, at least for the time it takes to read a book.

This would have been the mother of all nineteen-seventies disaster movies. Starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Richard Roundtree! Well, it's too bad they didn't make that movie. But this is a ripping end of the world, what comes after yarn.

Now, there's a number of review on here ripping this novel for the allegedly right-wing views, sexism, racism etc. I'm not going to tell you this thing is properly politically correct, or sensitive to the sensibilities of the twenty-teens, but...

But neither is it some misogynistic, race hatred filled screed. If you've any sort of open mind, and are otherwise interested in the subject matter and authors it's an excellent book.

I did really like this book. I actually listened to the audible version, for whatever that's worth. Pros: Great character development, very good apocalypse scenario. Cons: 70s culture in all its glory. Its a little distracting when one of the characters refer to the Police as "the fuzz" and women's roles were quite disappointing. But when you read a book that's 30+ years old it will have some parts that don't age well. I kept its age in mind while reading it and felt ok about it. A very good read if you like the genre.

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have their own style of writing and it seems most people either love it or hate it. If you've ever read one of their several books you know what I mean. They're adult books, sexual liaisons, extramarital affairs are rampant throughout. They also write for the time that the novel was written in. They'll write about the Pep Boys store on the corner, actual street layouts in LA, DC, etc, what is in fashion in clothing, food, style, etc for that season. You can almost see the cheese fondue on the table, the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace, and the faux brick wall covering. For that reason the setting in their books are more appreciable when read when published and give it a dated feel when read years or even decades later. However, this should not put you off from reading them and that's most true for Lucifer's Hammer published in 1977. This book is the best account I've seen written or movie viewed of the scenario of effects of a large asteroid/meteor/comet striking the earth. And this includes the movie Deep Impact, which had a nice visual of a tidal wave knocking over the buildings in New York City. However, unlike that movies' rip-off ending which only showed the US Capitol being rebuilt in the aftermath because they ran out of money or something, the book goes into considerable detail of the future events afterwards. And what a bleak future it is. It is a terrifying account of the effects and it is made all the more significant, that unlike alien contact which who knows when it will occur, a significant sized asteroid has struck the earth and could possibly again.

After reading the obliteration of large parts of the planet and accounts of the aftermath you will want to stock up on water, canned goods, make plans in-case-of-emergency. Which is a good idea anyway if living in earthquake prone areas or really anywhere. NASA satellite data of the Boxers Day 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami showed open sea waves traveling from the epicenter at jet aircraft speeds, that's 600 mph or 1000 km/hr! And that tsunami would be trivial compared to what would have after a large asteroid strike in the ocean. With the surface of the earth 70% water, an ocean strike has a significant possibility of occurring. People practically cringe and duck under the table at the mere mention of nuclear power (no doubt fueled by the news media), but several years ago the news mentioned a tsunami was heading towards Southern California and people flocked to the beach to see it. At least that attitude should have changed and will change more after reading this novel. Another powerful aspect about the book is that when finally civilization has a chance to be maintained, when apocalyptic groups/gangs have been neutralized, there's one last powerful, dark-ages, threat to civilization mob/gang/group remaining. And instead of what was done about the Soviet Union/Russia after the defeat of Germany in World War II: `oh everyone is tired of war, look at this happy sailor tipping and kissing this girl on the streets of Paris that's on the cover of Life magazine, oh maybe we can just ignore them, oh so what about what they're doing/torturing/killing to people, it's not us', civilization in the book recognizes the threat, realize that albeit how tired they are this is their last, best chance to do something about it, pull themselves up by the bootstraps, and confronts it. That's a subtly that can be easily missed, but a powerful one for those that know some world history about WWII and it's aftermath. For these reasons Lucifer's Hammer is well worth reading.

Of all the book dealing with "THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT" These guys have hit upon the formula that give hope a say in the mix. Robert R. McCammon's " SWAN SONG " (an antecedent work) Draws upon "LUCIFERS HAMMER" and the King Work " THE STAND" heavily. But first there was this. I love McCammon's book, and King's; but the best , first groundwork was laid in the chapter and verse of " LUCIFERS HAMMER." The development of character is complete...brilliant.. The scenario is developed with an eye towards the ultimate conclusion. There is not a word wasted nor a picture left incomplete. As I read works of literature I often wonder who the writer knew or met and admired (or not) to draw his characters upon. More so here than most. The Science may not be flawless, there are gaps in rudimentary cosmology and physics- but fiction, science or otherwise - requires of the reader a "suspension of disbelief". This is a worthwhile read if only to see where the "Apocolypse Genre" began. I would much rather read "LUCIFER'S HAMMER" than watch "THE STAND" on television...shudder..... I had rather read "LUCIFER'S HAMMER" than read "THE STAND". And the hell of it is I like "THE STAND". I hope you will read this book and the other book(s) mentioned herein,. not because one leads to the other... but because they DON'T.

After getting off to a slow start, the character's grab you and you can't wait to get back to each one in turn. Even 30+ years after its writing and with all the technological changes, the book is still timely. In fact, the post-apocalyptic issues may even be worse now that we have lost even more basic skills. What is very interesting to note as you read along is how you can tie bits and pieces to Armageddon, Deep Impact, and other movies of this genre. Not as succinct as Earth Abides, but it covers a much broader breadth and scope.

Looking for a rousing post-apocalyptic yarn (I'm a sucker for that end of the world fiction jazz), I stumbled across various reviews of Lucifer's Hammer here on good ol' the store. A majority recommended it so why not give it a shot?

Like most who have reviewed Lucifer's Hammer, the first quarter of the book drags slightly. I attribute it to the fact that I was just impatient and doggonit, let's see that comet hit already! But I have to say that as the comet drew closer to earth, I found myself glued to the book, waiting...anticipating. And when it hit, I wasn't disappointed. The book picks up steam after that and sends you on a rollercoaster. The highlight for me was the mailman and his little adventure. Out of all the characters and sub-plots throughout, this was the one I related to the most and "made" the book for me.

I'm not going to pretend that I'm some scholar looking for how dated the text is or the other numerous morale ambiguities that litter the story. I found myself giggling at several reviews which suggested that the authors are sexist, racist, or were other varying unflattering terms. The fact of the matter is, when civilization dies, everything that was is no more. There is no more women's lib, racial equality, or democracy. There is only the will to survive.

My complaints are few. The ending seems rushed and a major plot point was glossed over in only a few pages. I felt extremely disappointed that the authors didn't feel that certain point needed an adequate dramatic resolution. Several random characters that could have been interesting protags or antags were killed or never heard from again. In fact some of them seemed more interesting that the characters that actually lived.

All in all, a good read and I couldn't put the book down from the moment the comet actually hit.

Pressed for time, but echo some of the other reviews posted. I read this back in high school (early 70's) and I have never forgotten this book. Written by two masters of the genre, it remains one of my favorite books. Also recommend the other book they collaborated on: "The Mote in God's Eye". Few books have stayed on my favorites list for decades, as this one has. Highly recommend.

I read this book when it first came out, and loved it so much I gave it to my father to read, who was a little puzzled about what was going on. Larry Niven's view of who will live and who will die after the Big One (whatever that Big One might be) presented several ideas that had never occured to me. For instance, the big strong men die soon - the small brainy guys make it (I wonder if Larry is big strong or small brainy). While everyone is trying to save canned goods, some clever folk fill "the blue van" with black pepper and liquours, cinnamon and stockings, and the main characters dream of finding the van from then on. I learned from this what to grab when the Big One comes for real. I am haunted by two very touching images from these pages. Two characters start throwing books into Zip-lock bags, to save for the future, and have to choose what books to save. And one of the brainiest survivors has diabetes, and can't save himself.

One of the most charming aspects of this long long book when I first read it was its use of pop culture, referents to what I felt only we, the hippest of the young, knew. These referents were very current and of the moment when the book was written. Thus they are tremendously dated now. So that's too bad. But otherwise, Niven gives us plenty of specific things to do to prepare, and lets the good guys win, thus helping us feel that certainly we'll be clever enough to make it. I always find that soothing in a post-apocalyptic novel.

Given their attachment to the Reagan administration, I suppose I should not be surprised to learn that N&P are conservatives. But it was a bit disconcerting to read about the evils of hippiedom n a sci-fi work. Indeed, given the obvious fear of black gangsters and white [addicts], and the heroic actions of boy scouts and rugged individualist Senators, this book can easily be seen as a reactionary screed against the excesses of the sixties. The misogynistic clichés about how women must retreat to the kitchen when the times get really tough are expected. Still, the macho posturing is par for the course in this field, and does not mar the work over much. The story is quite entertaining, one would hardly think that the tail of a rock hitting the earth would be engaging, but N&P are nothing if not master story tellers. In the pre-apocalypse the characters drive the book, in the post apocalypse it's the story of their fates. Either way, it's an engaging page-turner. Almost any N&P work is worth the price of admission, but this one is a bargain at twice the price. They should make a mini series out of it.

Lucifer's Hammer has been compared to "The Stand" and I compare it somewhat with Robert McGammon's "Swan". I say "somewhat" as Lucifer's Hammer hasn't the Bibical conotations as the "The Stand" and "Swan". The beginning is a little slow, but good things should be taken from the start and slowly build up to the pre-splash down. The "Stronghold" is a possibility. While on vacation a few years ago we detoured through the mountains and flats of California near Portersville-great! My wife and I have read -Hammer at least six times and it gets better every time. The life situations that are presented are real-Armies of refugees, Scout camp, helping and fighting, even the mailman was as real as you are. On par with "Earth Abides" if not surpassing that great story.

First off, certain "idealistic" folk proclaim this book racist. It is not, these are the same people who call Huck Finn racist, the uninformed and confused. In fact, the books greatest hero is an african american man. Groups of people will stick together during tragedy for survival, that happens here: valley locals, farmers, scientists and yes even a group of black people. Quotas go out the window when a sandwich is worth more than you.
This book was thought out in every way you could imagine and the authors have created a very realistic scenario. The new dark age won't be pretty and here it's given to you straight , right down to the last sewage saving detail. A great book about our fragile world, the shortcomings and strengths of what we've created.
I give it a 92%, becuase the first 150 pages were slow and name ridden, and because I didn't want it to end! A fiction and sci-fi must.

Smog, Pong, PoseidenAdventure/ToweringInferno/Earthquake/Jaws, Johnny Carson, Oldsmobile Toronado, CB Radio, Ralph Nader, Star Trek reruns, post-Vietnam, gas lines, pull-tabs on beer cans...

This is a Disaster Story told from a pre-Internet mindset. If you want to know what the mid-70's mindset was, then read the first half of this book... maybe not for the story (which is outdated), but for the perspective on the 70's. It was the last days before the Microprocessor really began changing the cultural landscape at an exponential pace... in a few years there would bloom in rapid succession SpaceInvaders/PacMan, Apple II, "The IBM PC Clone", cheap air travel for the masses, and "The Internet". Tri-Network TELEVISION still ruled the roost, and Carter hadn't yet destroyed the USA's military and pride, as well as Iran's Shah, and run inflation up to 21% (all setting the stage for the USA to be proud of an Olympic HOCKEY team, and for Reagan to get in, free the hostages, and then destroy the USSR). It was the last days of a "certain naivete"... CANNON was off the air - DALLAS was debuting... Chrysler and the rest of Detroit were now producing nothing but garbage... for better or worse, "Muscle Cars" and the "Kawasaki Triple" were finished, and all cars would get FuelInjection/CatalyticConverters - and LA smog would start vastly improving... Saturday Night Fever and this book mark the boundary between two eras.

The intertwining story, which contains loads of deeply-explored characters, is written in mature Heinlein form, and reminds me a lot of STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND from the early 60's (with a little bit less sex and violence thank goodness).

I don't really consider this book "SciFi", as there is not much effort to "predict the future"... save for the fact that the authors play around a bit with what "might have been" if the lingering Apollo/Space Shuttle controversy of the time had been allowed to become a competition. I found the earlier parts of the book to be so out of date, that it was best read like it was an "Alternate History" novel. But, once you get to the second half of the book, the disaster hits, and mankind is thrown back to the stoneage (with pockets of technology and history surviving), the book becomes something totally different, and the 2nd part is really a classic.

One other thing that strikes me is that in today's era of runaway political correctness, this book would never be able to be published in its current form. OJ Simpsonesque characters simply "aren't guilty" in today's world, and inner-city gangland antics can't be written about - only "sung about" by the self-same "gangsters" - in that sense, this book offers a refreshing insight into reality and escape from today's madenning PC disreality. While the 70's were naive in certain technological and political senses, they were more REAL than today's PC run amok.

A long time ago (1964 in fact) Brian Aldiss began an introduction to an anthology with the sentence: "The images are what attract me in science fiction, even more than the surprises and the ideas and the crazy plots." That sentence has apparently stuck in my brain for over 40 years, because it came romping back into my mind as I read "Lucifer's Hammer".

There is so much wrong with this book. For a start, there are far too many characters - the "Dramatis Personae" lists 46, and there must be at least another 46 minor characters not mentioned. The writing is often uninspired, and the first third of the book is little more than waffle and soap opera.

But I believe it is worth wading through all this for the magnificent images of the comet splitting into fragments and smashing the Earth, seen both from space and from the ground: the fireballs shooting down from the sky, the glowing craters of the land strikes and the huge holes bored through the seas, the vaporisation of millions of tons of ocean, the tectonic shuddering of the battered planet in response to the assault, the sudden creation of new waterways, the unremitting warm salt rain, and the efforts - mostly futile but occasionally successful - of the tiny inhabitants to escape the titanic forces raging around them. I don't know how accurate the predictions are, but I suspect they are about as good as we are likely to get. I have read a few books about the end, or near-end, of the world, but none of them brings it to life as this one does.

And the second half of the book, although it too contains quite a bit of soap opera and cliche, raises some important questions about what our priorities could and should be if we ever experience such a catastrophe - not that I agree with all the answers Niven and Pournelle offer; but they do at least deal with important issues that perhaps should concern all of us, at least for the time it takes to read a book.

This would have been the mother of all nineteen-seventies disaster movies. Starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Richard Roundtree! Well, it's too bad they didn't make that movie. But this is a ripping end of the world, what comes after yarn.

Now, there's a number of review on here ripping this novel for the allegedly right-wing views, sexism, racism etc. I'm not going to tell you this thing is properly politically correct, or sensitive to the sensibilities of the twenty-teens, but...

But neither is it some misogynistic, race hatred filled screed. If you've any sort of open mind, and are otherwise interested in the subject matter and authors it's an excellent book.

I did really like this book. I actually listened to the audible version, for whatever that's worth. Pros: Great character development, very good apocalypse scenario. Cons: 70s culture in all its glory. Its a little distracting when one of the characters refer to the Police as "the fuzz" and women's roles were quite disappointing. But when you read a book that's 30+ years old it will have some parts that don't age well. I kept its age in mind while reading it and felt ok about it. A very good read if you like the genre.

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have their own style of writing and it seems most people either love it or hate it. If you've ever read one of their several books you know what I mean. They're adult books, sexual liaisons, extramarital affairs are rampant throughout. They also write for the time that the novel was written in. They'll write about the Pep Boys store on the corner, actual street layouts in LA, DC, etc, what is in fashion in clothing, food, style, etc for that season. You can almost see the cheese fondue on the table, the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace, and the faux brick wall covering. For that reason the setting in their books are more appreciable when read when published and give it a dated feel when read years or even decades later. However, this should not put you off from reading them and that's most true for Lucifer's Hammer published in 1977. This book is the best account I've seen written or movie viewed of the scenario of effects of a large asteroid/meteor/comet striking the earth. And this includes the movie Deep Impact, which had a nice visual of a tidal wave knocking over the buildings in New York City. However, unlike that movies' rip-off ending which only showed the US Capitol being rebuilt in the aftermath because they ran out of money or something, the book goes into considerable detail of the future events afterwards. And what a bleak future it is. It is a terrifying account of the effects and it is made all the more significant, that unlike alien contact which who knows when it will occur, a significant sized asteroid has struck the earth and could possibly again.

After reading the obliteration of large parts of the planet and accounts of the aftermath you will want to stock up on water, canned goods, make plans in-case-of-emergency. Which is a good idea anyway if living in earthquake prone areas or really anywhere. NASA satellite data of the Boxers Day 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami showed open sea waves traveling from the epicenter at jet aircraft speeds, that's 600 mph or 1000 km/hr! And that tsunami would be trivial compared to what would have after a large asteroid strike in the ocean. With the surface of the earth 70% water, an ocean strike has a significant possibility of occurring. People practically cringe and duck under the table at the mere mention of nuclear power (no doubt fueled by the news media), but several years ago the news mentioned a tsunami was heading towards Southern California and people flocked to the beach to see it. At least that attitude should have changed and will change more after reading this novel. Another powerful aspect about the book is that when finally civilization has a chance to be maintained, when apocalyptic groups/gangs have been neutralized, there's one last powerful, dark-ages, threat to civilization mob/gang/group remaining. And instead of what was done about the Soviet Union/Russia after the defeat of Germany in World War II: `oh everyone is tired of war, look at this happy sailor tipping and kissing this girl on the streets of Paris that's on the cover of Life magazine, oh maybe we can just ignore them, oh so what about what they're doing/torturing/killing to people, it's not us', civilization in the book recognizes the threat, realize that albeit how tired they are this is their last, best chance to do something about it, pull themselves up by the bootstraps, and confronts it. That's a subtly that can be easily missed, but a powerful one for those that know some world history about WWII and it's aftermath. For these reasons Lucifer's Hammer is well worth reading.

Of all the book dealing with "THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT" These guys have hit upon the formula that give hope a say in the mix. Robert R. McCammon's " SWAN SONG " (an antecedent work) Draws upon "LUCIFERS HAMMER" and the King Work " THE STAND" heavily. But first there was this. I love McCammon's book, and King's; but the best , first groundwork was laid in the chapter and verse of " LUCIFERS HAMMER." The development of character is complete...brilliant.. The scenario is developed with an eye towards the ultimate conclusion. There is not a word wasted nor a picture left incomplete. As I read works of literature I often wonder who the writer knew or met and admired (or not) to draw his characters upon. More so here than most. The Science may not be flawless, there are gaps in rudimentary cosmology and physics- but fiction, science or otherwise - requires of the reader a "suspension of disbelief". This is a worthwhile read if only to see where the "Apocolypse Genre" began. I would much rather read "LUCIFER'S HAMMER" than watch "THE STAND" on television...shudder..... I had rather read "LUCIFER'S HAMMER" than read "THE STAND". And the hell of it is I like "THE STAND". I hope you will read this book and the other book(s) mentioned herein,. not because one leads to the other... but because they DON'T.

After getting off to a slow start, the character's grab you and you can't wait to get back to each one in turn. Even 30+ years after its writing and with all the technological changes, the book is still timely. In fact, the post-apocalyptic issues may even be worse now that we have lost even more basic skills. What is very interesting to note as you read along is how you can tie bits and pieces to Armageddon, Deep Impact, and other movies of this genre. Not as succinct as Earth Abides, but it covers a much broader breadth and scope.

Looking for a rousing post-apocalyptic yarn (I'm a sucker for that end of the world fiction jazz), I stumbled across various reviews of Lucifer's Hammer here on good ol' the store. A majority recommended it so why not give it a shot?

Like most who have reviewed Lucifer's Hammer, the first quarter of the book drags slightly. I attribute it to the fact that I was just impatient and doggonit, let's see that comet hit already! But I have to say that as the comet drew closer to earth, I found myself glued to the book, waiting...anticipating. And when it hit, I wasn't disappointed. The book picks up steam after that and sends you on a rollercoaster. The highlight for me was the mailman and his little adventure. Out of all the characters and sub-plots throughout, this was the one I related to the most and "made" the book for me.

I'm not going to pretend that I'm some scholar looking for how dated the text is or the other numerous morale ambiguities that litter the story. I found myself giggling at several reviews which suggested that the authors are sexist, racist, or were other varying unflattering terms. The fact of the matter is, when civilization dies, everything that was is no more. There is no more women's lib, racial equality, or democracy. There is only the will to survive.

My complaints are few. The ending seems rushed and a major plot point was glossed over in only a few pages. I felt extremely disappointed that the authors didn't feel that certain point needed an adequate dramatic resolution. Several random characters that could have been interesting protags or antags were killed or never heard from again. In fact some of them seemed more interesting that the characters that actually lived.

All in all, a good read and I couldn't put the book down from the moment the comet actually hit.

Pressed for time, but echo some of the other reviews posted. I read this back in high school (early 70's) and I have never forgotten this book. Written by two masters of the genre, it remains one of my favorite books. Also recommend the other book they collaborated on: "The Mote in God's Eye". Few books have stayed on my favorites list for decades, as this one has. Highly recommend.

I read this book when it first came out, and loved it so much I gave it to my father to read, who was a little puzzled about what was going on. Larry Niven's view of who will live and who will die after the Big One (whatever that Big One might be) presented several ideas that had never occured to me. For instance, the big strong men die soon - the small brainy guys make it (I wonder if Larry is big strong or small brainy). While everyone is trying to save canned goods, some clever folk fill "the blue van" with black pepper and liquours, cinnamon and stockings, and the main characters dream of finding the van from then on. I learned from this what to grab when the Big One comes for real. I am haunted by two very touching images from these pages. Two characters start throwing books into Zip-lock bags, to save for the future, and have to choose what books to save. And one of the brainiest survivors has diabetes, and can't save himself.

One of the most charming aspects of this long long book when I first read it was its use of pop culture, referents to what I felt only we, the hippest of the young, knew. These referents were very current and of the moment when the book was written. Thus they are tremendously dated now. So that's too bad. But otherwise, Niven gives us plenty of specific things to do to prepare, and lets the good guys win, thus helping us feel that certainly we'll be clever enough to make it. I always find that soothing in a post-apocalyptic novel.

Given their attachment to the Reagan administration, I suppose I should not be surprised to learn that N&P are conservatives. But it was a bit disconcerting to read about the evils of hippiedom n a sci-fi work. Indeed, given the obvious fear of black gangsters and white [addicts], and the heroic actions of boy scouts and rugged individualist Senators, this book can easily be seen as a reactionary screed against the excesses of the sixties. The misogynistic clichés about how women must retreat to the kitchen when the times get really tough are expected. Still, the macho posturing is par for the course in this field, and does not mar the work over much. The story is quite entertaining, one would hardly think that the tail of a rock hitting the earth would be engaging, but N&P are nothing if not master story tellers. In the pre-apocalypse the characters drive the book, in the post apocalypse it's the story of their fates. Either way, it's an engaging page-turner. Almost any N&P work is worth the price of admission, but this one is a bargain at twice the price. They should make a mini series out of it.

Lucifer's Hammer has been compared to "The Stand" and I compare it somewhat with Robert McGammon's "Swan". I say "somewhat" as Lucifer's Hammer hasn't the Bibical conotations as the "The Stand" and "Swan". The beginning is a little slow, but good things should be taken from the start and slowly build up to the pre-splash down. The "Stronghold" is a possibility. While on vacation a few years ago we detoured through the mountains and flats of California near Portersville-great! My wife and I have read -Hammer at least six times and it gets better every time. The life situations that are presented are real-Armies of refugees, Scout camp, helping and fighting, even the mailman was as real as you are. On par with "Earth Abides" if not surpassing that great story.

First off, certain "idealistic" folk proclaim this book racist. It is not, these are the same people who call Huck Finn racist, the uninformed and confused. In fact, the books greatest hero is an african american man. Groups of people will stick together during tragedy for survival, that happens here: valley locals, farmers, scientists and yes even a group of black people. Quotas go out the window when a sandwich is worth more than you.
This book was thought out in every way you could imagine and the authors have created a very realistic scenario. The new dark age won't be pretty and here it's given to you straight , right down to the last sewage saving detail. A great book about our fragile world, the shortcomings and strengths of what we've created.
I give it a 92%, becuase the first 150 pages were slow and name ridden, and because I didn't want it to end! A fiction and sci-fi must.

Larry Niven hit the nail on the head, with his story of the gargantuan comet that throws Earth, and society into chaos. The story development (including the character introductions and the unfolding set-up to the novel) was the perfect length, without throwing the comet into the story too early. The authors' depictions of the post- apocalyptic gangs which came to be were stunning, and brutally real, without any cowardly censorship, or gentle twists. Overall, the struggle to survive was effective as a steady clincher, but too often, I found the "non- stop action and suspense" lacking, when, at times, too many pages were devoted to boring descriptions and interpretations. However, these instances were far and few- between, and overall, this novel was an interesting look at what human nature can be reduced to, in the most horrible of circumstances.

Stephen King's 'The Stand' was virus, Robert R. McCammon's 'Swan Song' was nuclear, Thomas Disch's 'The Genocides' was alien plant growth, Walter J. Williams 'The Rift' was earthquake; and 'Lucifer's Hammer' is annihilation by comet. Each of these books are 'must have's' for fans of Apocalypse Fiction.

The major protagonist is Tim Hamner, a rich-boy with nothing to do but indulge his fascination with the stars. Hamner, along with a young boy named Gavin Brown from Iowa, discover a comet heading towards earth. The comet, Hamner-Brown, soon becomes known as The Hammer, as scientists plot its course closer and closer to Earth's orbit.

Hamner makes acquaintance with Harvey Randall, a news reporter who wants to make a documentary series on the comet. Joining with them is Dr. Charles Sharps from the Jet Propulsion Laboratories, Senator Arthur Jellison and his daughter Maureen, Dr. Dan Forrester, an astronomy Phd and computer programmer, a team of astronauts, and a dedicated postal worker named Harry Newcombe.

The story centers around Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley, after pieces of the "calved" comet hit all across the world, causing first earthquakes and then a massive tidal wave to hit the Los Angeles basin. Senators, rich men, thieves and killers are suddenly made equal in the wake of Mother Nature. Rich and poor take on a whole new meaning in a society that suddenly has different values and different needs.

Senator Jellison owns a ranch in the foothills of the Sierras, and along with his neighbor George Christopher begins to form an aftermath society bent on survival at all costs.

The good points of 'Lucifer's Hammer' are the characters, the topography staying fairly true to form, the realism of many of the needs and behaviors of an abandoned society (especially the herding behavior) and the many points of view from all the different types of survivors.

The bad points would be some flat spots in the prose, some outdated notions (since the book was written in 1977) and too many circumstantial meetings.

All in all, this is a great book, and again, a must have for any fans of Apocalypse Fiction. Enjoy!

One of my favorite books of all time. The first part is admittedly pretty boring, dealing almost entirely with explaining the California social scene. But after Hot-Fudge Sunday, which falls on a Tuesday, the book becomes an absolute thrill to read. I can see how Luddites or misanthropes would be turned off by the authors' humanist ideologies, but for everyone else the book is absolutely amazing and I absolutely recommend it.

I'd seen this book mentioned many many times in multiple literature message boards on the internet and finally got around to reading it. I had expected it to be much better than it actually was, but all in all it just kind of blended in with the usual stack of random paperbacks I pick up regularly from the used book stores.

As mentioned many MANY times here, it starts off very slowly and introduces so many characters that they have a character list in the beginning to help keep track of them all. I had worried that I'd flounder through the book being unable to keep track of who's who, but when the action starts this becomes a little bit easier.

The race issue served a strangely prominent role and I can see why people here have been calling racism on this book. One black man is a racist political leader who also robs liquor stores and murders people before anyone even knows the comet is coming. He has to put his foot down to keep his crew of black burglars from immediately consuming drugs that they find. The other main black character keeps being put in circumstances that remind everyone that he is The First Black Man in Space. To be honest with you, I was only a toddler in the 70's and I get the feeling that this book may just be portraying the racial tones of the era during which it was written, but they are strangely out of place for someone just reading the book in 2010.

My other issue is with the title itself. I feel like it was only called Lucifer's Hammer because that title was slightly inflammatory. The phrase itself was only used once in the entire book - "Hammerfall" would have been much more appropriate in my opinion.

It was worth a read, but it's not a book that I'll be keeping around in case I want to read it again. Used Book Store, here I come again.

After seeing the movie "Deep Impact" on TV recently, I decided to re-read an old favourite: "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. And while "Deep Impact" was certainly a better effort than the simultaneously released "Armageddon", "Lucifer's Hammer" was so much better again.
The book describes the discovery of a new meteorite by a millionaire astronomer, Timothy Hamner. Its orbit is calculated to bring it very close to Earth and speculation starts that it might actually hit. The authors vividly describe two sets of events with a very different timescale: the gradual changing of the meteorite's orbit over a period of millions of years, and the very rapid change in human society from almost universal indifference to total obsession with this particular meteorite.
A joint US-USSR Spacelab mission is launched (the book is from 1978) to monitor and record the passing of the meteorite. When the meteorite hits Earth in a series of strikes ranging from the Mediterranean to the eastern Pacific, the crew is left stranded in space.
The book gives a brilliant and well-founded description of events following the meteor strikes: the giant tsunamis, the earth quakes and volcano eruptions, the mud rain, the onset of an Ice Age. It describes even better man's reaction to these events, told through a multitude of short tales. The story of a young surfer who decided to ride a tsunami created a picture that I found indelible.
The book then focuses on a number of survivors in California, gradually coalescing into three main groups: a community in a valley trying to re-establish an agricultural society; a band of society's outcasts led by a preacher who urges the destruction of all things technical; and the construction and operation personnel of a nuclear reactor that has withstood the strike impacts. The authors are very good in their portrayal of the initial panic and "everyone for themselves" mentality, followed by a need to restore some form of order in a world that has changed beyond imagining. Amongst all of this there are snippets of information on what is happening around the globe, showing the fragility of our civilisation to an event of this nature. And somewhere in all of that, the crew of Spacelab makes it back to Earth.
The book starts slowly because it introduces such a large number of characters who later are woven together in a quite intricate plot. The book falls into the category of "natural disaster science fiction", but is much better than the average offering in this genre, not because it so well represents the technical issues about a meteor strike, but because it meets the definition of good literature: it tells us a little bit more about ourselves. Niven and Pournelle have collaborated on a number of good books ("The mote in God's eye" is recommended as a sample of well thought-out classic SF), but in my opinion this is their best.
I found myself wondering why Hollywood had not used this book instead of the "Deep Impact" script. I suppose that like "Lord of the Ring" it would need a highly motivated director and producer to bring this to the screen, and compressing it into the usual three hours or less could be quite difficult. But it could be sooo good, if done well.

An end of world book can be a struggle because inevidably the main character becomes the disaster itself (in this case the comet) and the supporting characters are literally everyone else. This book is no exception. There are LOTS of supporting characters. So many in fact that it is amazing any of them find any development time at all. The tension does indeed mount as the book goes on but the first 100 pages are quite painful to read relieved only with the excellent technical explanation of comets. The few pages preceeding the disaster and following the disaster are the best moments in the book. The utter chaos and death toll are compelling and frightening and the use of weather for dramatic tension really draws you right into the book. Niven really knows how to exploit the situations at hand. It's as good as it gets. The last half of the book is really an examination comparing enlightenment (John Lockman and others) thinking to religious thinking. Frankly both sides don't show too many admirable traits but frankly the religious side is presented in the harshest light possible. The author also argues, through his characters, that civilization as we know it where relative safetly and stablity is taken for granted, has been achieved through technology and NOT religion which the author argues brings more chaos than it solves. However your point of view I'm sure the author hopes that through this book you'll think about those issues.

My largest complaint is the use of too many characters. There is just not enough time to really develop them leaving too many feeling very one dimensional and therefore uninteresting. The other is the pace. This is mainly due to so many characters that in an effort to cover them all it can seem like an endless exercise in getting to know the over 40 characters, many of which simply supply the body count.

Overall, it made me think about things and that alone makes it worth reading. Just don't expect to be finished with it in less than a week.

I finally got turned onto Larry Niven a couple of years ago with Ringworld. Since then, the staff at the local library has started rolling their eyes when I step up to the checkout desk.
Lucifer's Hammer is definitely the best of the lot so far. Niven and Pournelle have put together a fantastic mix of science and speculation, building the book to a conclusion that truly brough tears to my eyes. The optimism throughout the story is astounding--despite everything, there is an undercurrent of hope that I like to think would be present in such a situation. Definitely an amazing read, and far and away the best disaster-related story I've seen.

Niven and Pournell team up again to write a contemporary work that is less
science fiction than it is disaster novel. The world is struck by a comet,
and that is when the real fun begins. People either join the barbarians or
the forces to rebuild civilization. Memorable characters in a great
setting, and in my opinion the best of the many large object hits the Earth
novels out there. It made the best seller list, but would be a great book
even if it didn't. Well worth a look.

A very good 'end of the world' novel. In this case the cause is a comet which hits the earth, causing massive tsunamis, earthquakes, and huuricanes. The comet also will change the earth's climate, causing a new ice-age.

The book concentrates on a number of disparate individuals from southern California, before and after the disaster. Fortunately pockets of order do survive, but will they be able survive roving gangs, and the coming winter? Much of the compelling storytelling comes from examining how different people cope when civilization collapses and anarchy rules. Depressing reading when one realises how fragile our modern world is and how easily humanity can descend back into barbarism.

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have combined to create a real winner. For once, the blasted thing hits! How many tales have we read about close calls, altered calls, mistaken calls, meteors that broke apart, that barely hit, etc. No, this is a real winner - both the rock and the book.
The first 40% or so of the book is pre-hit with a long buildup in excitement and all the requisite "it won't ever hit" bull. We know, of course, that is does and when it happens, things are never the same. The criminal element has a field day but the good people of Earth join forces and fight back. All of God's chillin are involved - Americans, Russians, whites, blacks, cops, farmers. All united against the New Brotherhood, a band of religious nuts who think God wants folks to live like cavemen. The Brotherhood boys are caricatures who scream just the sort of things people who don't go to church think people of that ilk scream. In the end the good guys plan to win the power plant while out in space another asteroid is beginning its long path.

The first book I read by these authors and the best so far. It kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time. It protrays an unusual view on how society would run if a major disaster occured. While reading, I found myself gripping the book so tight my knuckles began to ache. It was exciting and suspenseful all the way through. You're put into the story and feel the urgency of certain situations. I'd recommend this book to anyone with a taste for adventure and suspense. I'm now addicted to the books that Niven and Pournelle write together. I almost guarentee that you will be to when you read this book

I first read this 30+ years ago, still think of it as one of the best apocalypse stories I have ever read, and I have read a LOT! Well written, and writing this makes me feels it is about time to read it again.

I just finished "Lucifer's Hammer," and, well, I'm impressed! Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have done a wonderful job in weaving a tale of excitement, fear, devastation, fear, desperation, and hope. This is 5-star sci-fi all the way!
If all you read is the first 100 pages, however, you probably won't agree with that. You see, the first part of the book is a bit slow in getting moving, but that's because the authors introduce a whole string of characters that interact with one another as the story and the action unfolds. And once the action starts, it doesn't stop. In fact, it makes you want to store some food, some water, some other things...and get ready for what COULD happen.
As I started reading this book I thought to myself, this book has many similarities with the movie "Deep Impact." Was I ever wrong with that assumption! This book goes way beyond "Deep Impact." It goes beyond it in that this book is not so much about events surrounding a comet-earth collision as it is about the aftermath, and how people do or do not cope with that kind of calamity.
Imagine this...world-wide cataclysmic events wipe out the major governments on the planet -- national, state, and local governments collapse, and people are left to fend for themselves. What will they do for food, shelter, personal safety, information, etc.? It's a whole new ballgame out there! The kinds of challenges described in the book bring out the best in some people, the worst in others, and trapped in the middle of everything that's happening are the characters you'll come to know quite well.
The characters are, for the most part, believable, the plot development is rivetting, and the conclusion is satisfying.
Do good guys always finish first? Do they even survive? Read "Lucifer's Hammer" and find out -- if you dare...
The authors really did their homework on this one.
5+ stars all the way for feasible, believable sci-fi.
Good luck out there...
Alan Holyoak

The heart of the story is great: global catastrophe caused by meteor strikes. Unfortunately the story takes a long time to build, as well as introduces far too many characters via uninteresting short stories which makes them very forgettable. Flipping back through after finishing, I remembered there's a guide at the beginning putting names to "roles" that would have come in helpful more than a few times throughout just to keep them all straight.

Some of the stories are gripping and draw you in to the story, others feel dull and do little other than increase the page count. All in all a decent read if you don't mind having to sift through to find the great parts.

Yep, this book is actually a thoughtful (and scientifically researched) examination of what "the end of the world" might cause. There were some extraneous characters and the ruminations of the survivors sometimes ran a bit long (as does the book--640 pages), but overall this was a very engaging read. I'm not quite sure why some reviewers thought the depiction of cannibalism in this book was so graphic or so disturbing. In my opinion, it was neither. Cannibalism is a real phenomenon, and the description of the "ritual" was far from horrific.

If you are a fan of hard science fiction, the novel is not that good. As in Asimov's long version of Nightfall, it should have stopped after Earth was impacted. Thereafter, the novel is good as an "End of the Word" story. Interesting social and philosophical implications.
The plot regarding defensive countermeasures is really poor. Mankind is better prepared than that to do something against an incoming asteroid or comet. If you like the hard stuff, you better read Clarke's "The Hammer of God" or Benford's "Shiva Descending"

Want a book to drag you down? This is it. An apocalypse that man is powerless to prevent. This is a story of a comet striking earth and the aftermath for humanity. It starts well in advance with the discovery of the Hamner-Brown comet. Sometimes the timing is a little suspect. I mean the government is able to throw together a mission to space that is a joint mission with the Russians in only a couple of months.

Overall, It was a great read and was exciting from start to finish. Good luck to the human race.

I read this back in '77 in paperback and only recently acquired a Hardcover copy. Movies and TV shows from 'Armageddon','Deep Impact', 'The Postman' and TV's latest 'Jericho' all tip their hat to this novel written 30 years ago!

Larry Niven is known for 'mining out the entire vein' of ideas and implications of his subject matter. Teamed with Dr. Pournelle it is even more comprehensive. A comet is discovered and as it approaches people as myriad and diverse ranging from: Street thugs, Astronauts hoping for a ride/slot on the next Mission, A Banker who is dreading overages he cannot explain to his Bank, to a Mailman who in view of the End of the World far beyond his Oath decides 'It's optional. I think I'll deliver the mail.'

It is a long and rich read that starts slow but must do so to weave all these stories and people together. In one scene a JPL 'Rocket Scientist' spends the first day after the comet strikes saving and protecting hundreds of books he knows will be needed to rebuild. I challenge the reader to not speculate on what they would save as he forges out amongst a Post-Comet world with a copy of 'How Things Work Vol II' as proof of his worth IF he can find a haven of saftey.

It will make you look at your Kitchen food supply and gas tank and wonder..'How long could I survive?' and 'What is going to kill me?' Tetanus from a rusty nail or cannibals when the food is gone? It spans the planet and it all works.

Being from 1977 some parts will seem dated such as: 'One thing after Hammer strike was Womens' LIB ended in milliseconds' till you recall the IRS agent on TV's 'Jericho' realize the uselessness of her job and just how far away that Mocha-Latte from Starbucks is!

Read it and you'll know the screenwriters of the works cited above have already!

None better!

This book tells the tale of how events might unfold after a catastrophic comet impact takes place. While saddled with some standard clichees of the genre (such as two-dimensional characters), it does contain a fascinating view of what life on Earth might be like after such an event. Originally published in 1977, much of the technological trappings are dated, but it's still a well-written page turner of a story.
Some of the discussion of race in this book is definitely pre-PC, and left me a bit taken aback, but overall it's a worthwhile read for fans of sci-fi genre fiction.

This book deserves its place with Stephen King's "The Stand" and Robert R. McCammon's "Swan Song" as one of the best pieces of end-of-the-world fiction released in the last quarter century. Authors Niven and Pournelle develop some interesting and sympathetic characters and them pit them against an earth shattering disaster. The scenes of the comet striking the earth are worth the price alone. If the movie "Armageddon" had had one-tenth of the imagination shown here, it would have been one great film indeed.

I loved this book the first time I read it, thought it had real importance. Now, not so much.
It isn't the ideas or the plot, those are acceptable. The writing is just not good enough and I have been a fan of Niven and Pournelle from the first I read them.
I'm afraid to re-read any of their other SF, perhaps better to leave my youthful past pleasure as it was. Maybe like seeing an old flame and they are fat and ugly.

After watching Deep Impact and Armageddon I was throughly disappointed with how Hollywood portrayed what would happen if doomsday was approaching. I recently read "Lucifer's Hammer" and I will have to say that this is one of the best books i've read in years. The characters are believable and you get the impression that you are actually there with them. The novel rivals Stephen King's "The Stand" and the "Left Behind" series of books that portray the end of the world. I highly recommend this novel.

The big Hollywood movies based on objects hitting the Earth are not nearly as well thought out as this book. LH gives good treatment to the thought processes of people both before and after the impact, and gives a realistic depiction of what people would probably do in the days following this disaster. LH does hard science and soft science equally well and ties all the storylines together at the end in a tidy fashion. I have been aware of this book for years, but did not buy it because movie treatment of this topic had been so weak. I finally picked the book up after the store adjusted my recommendations based on my purchase of "I am Legend," another book better than any movie using it as a base. I give LH the maximum rating because it doesn't pull punches when it comes to the tough choices people would have to make in the scenarios set forth.

Long before I read "Lucifer's Hammer", I watched the made-for-TV movie "A Fire in the Sky", which starred Richard Crenna as an astronomer who correctly warns people that a small comet will destroy Phoenix, Arizona, and the theatrical release "Meteor", starring Sean Connery as a scientist drawn back into the fold at NASA to help stop a huge chunk of a shattered asteroid from hitting Earth.

The subject matter of "Lucifer's Hammer" - fragments of a comet striking Earth and throwing civilization into chaos - is indeed compelling. But the execution of the story itself lacks. The story was actually dated when I first read it back in 1992, and the political and racial elements of the story are even more dated now. But what kills "Lucifer's Hammer" is that the 600-plus pages are simply a slog to get through. Misogyny and racism are actually side issues here, but they're issues nonetheless. Just trying to get through all the character development, who likes who and who hates who is enough to require endurance training.

This book really did inspire me to write a novel of my own about a cosmic-impact disaster. And in writing it, I realize the issues that authors like John Baxter ("The Hermes Fall"), Arthur C. Clarke ("The Hammer of God") and the team of Niven and Pournelle ran into - it's hard to write a good novel about something that very few people have ever experienced first-hand. Whereas both "Warday" and "Alas, Babylon" have concrete experience of the effects of nuclear war behind them and are outstanding in their own right, "Lucifer's Hammer" and novels of its ilk are inherently handicapped because to my knowledge, there's no one alive now who has even seen an actual cosmic strike. Even knowing that, though, a book half the length with fewer characters could've told this story more effectively. As it is, I'd recommend "Lucifer's Hammer" only to those who are serious fans of the cosmic-impact subgenre, and only then to those who cannot actually write something better.

I read this 15 years or so ago. I love the "End of the world" genre, but many books (like The Stand) focus more on the characters and gloss over the practical aspects ("where are we going to get water? power? food? How will we defend ourselves). This book does the best job on the practical details of how the survivors survive. Everything from how (some) people prepare to who they and others build a post-apocalypse survival.

One of the classics in the "doomsday" genre and should not be overlooked or underestimated. Little slow out of the gate, much like S. King, setting up the plot, story lines, and characters but once you get passed that you are hooked. Much like the EMP genre, this "doom from space" novel brings to life characters fighting to survive in a post-event world where not much works immediately afterwards, chaos reigns, some good go bad, the bad are even worse, but civilized and determined survivors find the will to fight fight fight their way to rebuilding civilization. Page turner and well written account of doom, chaos, the ugly (very) and good side of humanity! Highly Recommended!!!

I just finished "Lucifer's Hammer," and, well, I'm impressed! Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have done a wonderful job in weaving a tale of excitement, fear, devastation, fear, desperation, and hope. This is 5-star sci-fi all the way!
If all you read is the first 100 pages, however, you probably won't agree with that. You see, the first part of the book is a bit slow in getting moving, but that's because the authors introduce a whole string of characters that interact with one another as the story and the action unfolds. And once the action starts, it doesn't stop. In fact, it makes you want to store some food, some water, some other things...and get ready for what COULD happen.
As I started reading this book I thought to myself, this book has many similarities with the movie "Deep Impact." Was I ever wrong with that assumption! This book goes way beyond "Deep Impact." It goes beyond it in that this book is not so much about events surrounding a comet-earth collision as it is about the aftermath, and how people do or do not cope with that kind of calamity.
Imagine this...world-wide cataclysmic events wipe out the major governments on the planet -- national, state, and local governments collapse, and people are left to fend for themselves. What will they do for food, shelter, personal safety, information, etc.? It's a whole new ballgame out there! The kinds of challenges described in the book bring out the best in some people, the worst in others, and trapped in the middle of everything that's happening are the characters you'll come to know quite well.
The characters are, for the most part, believable, the plot development is rivetting, and the conclusion is satisfying.
Do good guys always finish first? Do they even survive? Read "Lucifer's Hammer" and find out -- if you dare...
The authors really did their homework on this one.
5+ stars all the way for feasible, believable sci-fi.
Good luck out there...
Alan Holyoak

The heart of the story is great: global catastrophe caused by meteor strikes. Unfortunately the story takes a long time to build, as well as introduces far too many characters via uninteresting short stories which makes them very forgettable. Flipping back through after finishing, I remembered there's a guide at the beginning putting names to "roles" that would have come in helpful more than a few times throughout just to keep them all straight.

Some of the stories are gripping and draw you in to the story, others feel dull and do little other than increase the page count. All in all a decent read if you don't mind having to sift through to find the great parts.

Yep, this book is actually a thoughtful (and scientifically researched) examination of what "the end of the world" might cause. There were some extraneous characters and the ruminations of the survivors sometimes ran a bit long (as does the book--640 pages), but overall this was a very engaging read. I'm not quite sure why some reviewers thought the depiction of cannibalism in this book was so graphic or so disturbing. In my opinion, it was neither. Cannibalism is a real phenomenon, and the description of the "ritual" was far from horrific.

If you are a fan of hard science fiction, the novel is not that good. As in Asimov's long version of Nightfall, it should have stopped after Earth was impacted. Thereafter, the novel is good as an "End of the Word" story. Interesting social and philosophical implications.
The plot regarding defensive countermeasures is really poor. Mankind is better prepared than that to do something against an incoming asteroid or comet. If you like the hard stuff, you better read Clarke's "The Hammer of God" or Benford's "Shiva Descending"

Want a book to drag you down? This is it. An apocalypse that man is powerless to prevent. This is a story of a comet striking earth and the aftermath for humanity. It starts well in advance with the discovery of the Hamner-Brown comet. Sometimes the timing is a little suspect. I mean the government is able to throw together a mission to space that is a joint mission with the Russians in only a couple of months.

Overall, It was a great read and was exciting from start to finish. Good luck to the human race.

I have terribly mixed feelings about Lucifer's Hammer. On the one hand, it is a pretty good book, especially by 1990s SF standards. On the other hand, it was the first big, thick, mainstream, third-person, subplotted SF novel to really make an impact in the market. So to speak. (The Mote in God's Eye was more of a conventional SF novel.) With this book, Niven and Pournelle single-handedly (or would that be "four-handedly") fused the suspense and SF genres and, well, kind of made SF what it is today. Which, in my opinion, is less than what it was 20 years ago.

I read this back in '77 in paperback and only recently acquired a Hardcover copy. Movies and TV shows from 'Armageddon','Deep Impact', 'The Postman' and TV's latest 'Jericho' all tip their hat to this novel written 30 years ago!

Larry Niven is known for 'mining out the entire vein' of ideas and implications of his subject matter. Teamed with Dr. Pournelle it is even more comprehensive. A comet is discovered and as it approaches people as myriad and diverse ranging from: Street thugs, Astronauts hoping for a ride/slot on the next Mission, A Banker who is dreading overages he cannot explain to his Bank, to a Mailman who in view of the End of the World far beyond his Oath decides 'It's optional. I think I'll deliver the mail.'

It is a long and rich read that starts slow but must do so to weave all these stories and people together. In one scene a JPL 'Rocket Scientist' spends the first day after the comet strikes saving and protecting hundreds of books he knows will be needed to rebuild. I challenge the reader to not speculate on what they would save as he forges out amongst a Post-Comet world with a copy of 'How Things Work Vol II' as proof of his worth IF he can find a haven of saftey.

It will make you look at your Kitchen food supply and gas tank and wonder..'How long could I survive?' and 'What is going to kill me?' Tetanus from a rusty nail or cannibals when the food is gone? It spans the planet and it all works.

Being from 1977 some parts will seem dated such as: 'One thing after Hammer strike was Womens' LIB ended in milliseconds' till you recall the IRS agent on TV's 'Jericho' realize the uselessness of her job and just how far away that Mocha-Latte from Starbucks is!

Read it and you'll know the screenwriters of the works cited above have already!

None better!

This book tells the tale of how events might unfold after a catastrophic comet impact takes place. While saddled with some standard clichees of the genre (such as two-dimensional characters), it does contain a fascinating view of what life on Earth might be like after such an event. Originally published in 1977, much of the technological trappings are dated, but it's still a well-written page turner of a story.
Some of the discussion of race in this book is definitely pre-PC, and left me a bit taken aback, but overall it's a worthwhile read for fans of sci-fi genre fiction.

This book deserves its place with Stephen King's "The Stand" and Robert R. McCammon's "Swan Song" as one of the best pieces of end-of-the-world fiction released in the last quarter century. Authors Niven and Pournelle develop some interesting and sympathetic characters and them pit them against an earth shattering disaster. The scenes of the comet striking the earth are worth the price alone. If the movie "Armageddon" had had one-tenth of the imagination shown here, it would have been one great film indeed.

I loved this book the first time I read it, thought it had real importance. Now, not so much.
It isn't the ideas or the plot, those are acceptable. The writing is just not good enough and I have been a fan of Niven and Pournelle from the first I read them.
I'm afraid to re-read any of their other SF, perhaps better to leave my youthful past pleasure as it was. Maybe like seeing an old flame and they are fat and ugly.

After watching Deep Impact and Armageddon I was throughly disappointed with how Hollywood portrayed what would happen if doomsday was approaching. I recently read "Lucifer's Hammer" and I will have to say that this is one of the best books i've read in years. The characters are believable and you get the impression that you are actually there with them. The novel rivals Stephen King's "The Stand" and the "Left Behind" series of books that portray the end of the world. I highly recommend this novel.

The big Hollywood movies based on objects hitting the Earth are not nearly as well thought out as this book. LH gives good treatment to the thought processes of people both before and after the impact, and gives a realistic depiction of what people would probably do in the days following this disaster. LH does hard science and soft science equally well and ties all the storylines together at the end in a tidy fashion. I have been aware of this book for years, but did not buy it because movie treatment of this topic had been so weak. I finally picked the book up after the store adjusted my recommendations based on my purchase of "I am Legend," another book better than any movie using it as a base. I give LH the maximum rating because it doesn't pull punches when it comes to the tough choices people would have to make in the scenarios set forth.

Long before I read "Lucifer's Hammer", I watched the made-for-TV movie "A Fire in the Sky", which starred Richard Crenna as an astronomer who correctly warns people that a small comet will destroy Phoenix, Arizona, and the theatrical release "Meteor", starring Sean Connery as a scientist drawn back into the fold at NASA to help stop a huge chunk of a shattered asteroid from hitting Earth.

The subject matter of "Lucifer's Hammer" - fragments of a comet striking Earth and throwing civilization into chaos - is indeed compelling. But the execution of the story itself lacks. The story was actually dated when I first read it back in 1992, and the political and racial elements of the story are even more dated now. But what kills "Lucifer's Hammer" is that the 600-plus pages are simply a slog to get through. Misogyny and racism are actually side issues here, but they're issues nonetheless. Just trying to get through all the character development, who likes who and who hates who is enough to require endurance training.

This book really did inspire me to write a novel of my own about a cosmic-impact disaster. And in writing it, I realize the issues that authors like John Baxter ("The Hermes Fall"), Arthur C. Clarke ("The Hammer of God") and the team of Niven and Pournelle ran into - it's hard to write a good novel about something that very few people have ever experienced first-hand. Whereas both "Warday" and "Alas, Babylon" have concrete experience of the effects of nuclear war behind them and are outstanding in their own right, "Lucifer's Hammer" and novels of its ilk are inherently handicapped because to my knowledge, there's no one alive now who has even seen an actual cosmic strike. Even knowing that, though, a book half the length with fewer characters could've told this story more effectively. As it is, I'd recommend "Lucifer's Hammer" only to those who are serious fans of the cosmic-impact subgenre, and only then to those who cannot actually write something better.

I read this 15 years or so ago. I love the "End of the world" genre, but many books (like The Stand) focus more on the characters and gloss over the practical aspects ("where are we going to get water? power? food? How will we defend ourselves). This book does the best job on the practical details of how the survivors survive. Everything from how (some) people prepare to who they and others build a post-apocalypse survival.

One of the classics in the "doomsday" genre and should not be overlooked or underestimated. Little slow out of the gate, much like S. King, setting up the plot, story lines, and characters but once you get passed that you are hooked. Much like the EMP genre, this "doom from space" novel brings to life characters fighting to survive in a post-event world where not much works immediately afterwards, chaos reigns, some good go bad, the bad are even worse, but civilized and determined survivors find the will to fight fight fight their way to rebuilding civilization. Page turner and well written account of doom, chaos, the ugly (very) and good side of humanity! Highly Recommended!!!

I think this was an excellent look at a post-apocalyptic world. I can see influence here for many works that came later, including The Postman. Dated technology but it does not change the story much and it has aged remarkably well, which is the hallmark of great SciFi. I think the female characters are not very well developed, as I saw also in their other team-ups, but it is a minor issue and SciFi from this era was more idea driven than character driven.

This has to be one of the 4 or 5 best books I have ever read. I am a weather hobbyist, and I found the comet's meteorological impact very plausible. The word pictures were also brilliant, especially the sky on the night before impact, and the weather changes soon after. The image of "two shadows, one moving" is one of my alltime most memorable. But this book is so much more than just good sci-fi! The character depiction is very good, and the fears and even hopes of impact for the various individuals, are the beating heart of this story. One superb instance of this is the scout leader about to face serious legal difficulties, so he plans to "accidentally" fall to his death while leading the scouts on a mountain trail; the comet could literally give him a new lease on life. Another great study is the interaction of the American and Soviet astronauts on a joint mission in space, and the fears and suspicions they hold toward each others' nations. I don't want to spoil the experience for new readers, so I had better stop even though there is so much more. If a person has a decent imagination, he or she will find this story's images will outdazzle the special effects of any movie.

This book is "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" and "The Postman" all rolled into one, written years before any of the others. I was surprised that "The Postman" didn't list Lucifer's Hammer as the novel it was based upon. However, LH is so much more that any of the movies. Social commentary about the dregs of our society turns some liberal stomachs but rings true. Gripping page-turner that will challenge your ability to read a BIG book in one sitting, but you will WANT to.

There are many end of the world books, often using a well-aimed comet or asteroid to do the job (even authors such as Dennis Wheatley have written books of this genre). This is by far the best of the offerings that I have encountered. It has authentic detail and a very realistic scenario for the use of the technology then available (alte '70s or very early '80s).
The characters are believable, the plot plausible and the novel really stands the test of time. What I like is the development and the realism... this is what an impact would really be like. Perhaps it should be required reading for some world leaders before it's too late.
The most curious aspect of all is the way that reality caught up with the book. The discovery of Comet Hamner-Brown bears some astonishing similarities with the discovery (and discoverers) of Comet Hale-Bopp - a fact which amuses Alan Hale and Tom Bopp!

I have been a fan of Larry Niven for a long time this is one of his best efforts. I had to buy a new copy as the last one was lost during Hurricane Sandy. I bought the book in 1978 and along the way I have devoured every word three times. Because of this book I was able to survive the worst hurricane in New York's history. It allowed me to understand, how to survive. The people in this book could be you or me trying to stay alive It makes it hard to put the book down. The personalities involved keep you enthralled as they try to make it to a safe place to live. It's how they die and how the survive each day since hammerfall that makes the book so good.

This book's style follows the formula of those 70's cast-of-thousands disaster movies. If you can handle that, you'll enjoy this book just fine.

You know you're in for a long read when the authors introduce the character list, which takes up two pages. And it's an interesting list that can't be fully relied upon. Many characters are introduced and disappear before we ever get to know them. Other characters not mentioned in the list arrive late in the story and become major personalities. In the end, there were so many I simply couldn't keep many of them straight.

While following the path of a comet is interesting and it certainly takes some time to set up numerous characters and their repsective lives, still it's more than 200 pages until comet impact, which is what the book's really about. That's a long time to wait for action. That said, once things get rolling it's an interesting story. Yes, there's a hint of racism but no more than was generally prevalent in the mid-70's; yes, there's a certain tone that implies only men are supposed to be heroes, but the view of women in the story merely reflects the views of society back then.

I found it hard to get too emotionally invested in too many of the characters only because there were simply so many. And while the interludes following the comet's lonely journey toward destruction were interesting, I found it difficult at times to follow what are clearly astronomical descriptions, with which I was unfamiliar.

Lucifer's Hammer is an entertaining read, but it's a long one. It offers some nice storylines and characters, but none drew me in so deeply that I felt as though I cared too much by the end.

If apocalyptic fiction is your thing and you haven't done so already, check out Swan Song. It's a terrific read with memorable characters and great story.

This book is one of my all-time favorites. I have read it so many times that I have destroyed 2 copies and am now purchasing my third! I have always thought it would make an excellent movie....much better than any other comet or asteroid-hitting-the-earth movie that anybody else has ever made! The way it is written could easily translate into a screenplay....but I would rather see it as a TV mini-series so that they would not have to leave out or change any of it. Movie-makers have a tendancy to do that with large novels. Like the way that they mutilated Battlefield Earth!!!!! Steven Kings "The Stand" came out rather well in the TV version, split into three episodes. So if any script writers or movie directors are reading this....take a hint! This would be FANTASTIC if it is done properly. And there is room in the cast of characters for a great list of stars to take part! If I was a screenwriter I would do it up just for fun and send it in to TBS or TNT....
I seriously recommend this novel! It is totally believable as an "end of world" type story...lots of action, intrique and adventure, horror, space, romance, hard choices and even a little humor ....The human spirit comes shining through in the aftermath in both good and bad ways. It is a struggle for survival....will it be all for one or one for all or every man for himself? Will some of civilization survive or will the remnants of mankind sink into the depths of the darkest of dark ages? The Comet impact is only the beginning of this thriller!
A MUST-READ!

I love books and movies about the end of the world, I don't know why but I do. "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle tell about a comet heading for earth. The authors give us characters from every different social group and how the diaster effect them. The books is dated in some parts the reader is easiler able to over look this. The only reason that it didn't get five stars from me is the ending could have been a little stronger. But overall still a great book.

This book is by far one of my favorite books that I've ever read. I have read many reviews that complain about the "slow" start to the book. Personally I found that the pace in the first third of the book was perfect. To many books that I've read start out with a bang and never let up. This book refreshingly develops the characters and situations surronding them to an extent that few other books do. By the time that "Hot Fudge Tuesdae" (the impact of a massive comet) arives, the authors have developed the characters to such an extent that their reactions to the events caused by HammerFall illustrate the changes in the way people must now live much more effectively than if the characters hadn't been developed to such a degree.
I'm not going to give the ending away, but it is also one of the top endings of any book I've read. It's not a cookie cutter ending that leaves nothing left to ponder. Instead it leaves the reader with much to think about even after they have finished the book.
I would strongly recomend this book to anyone who enjoys doomsday or classic sci-fi novels, as well as those who haven't been much exposed to these genres. After you finish reading it, you'll want to start at the begining and read it again (as I did).

This book is nothing sort of "Brilliant"! The book has been sitting on my bookshelf for over 10 years and my husband has been urging me to read it! I am so glad I finally got to read this tale! Sure it's dated, it refers to the "Apollo Space craft" and "home computers" are considered a novelty and the way people's hair styles and dress are described it's definitely from the '70. But no one can argue that the THEMES in this novel are what make this book a classic! At first I wasn't sure because the authors take a lot of time to establish the characters and relationships. It doesn't just jump in to the action. You aren't going to be reading the book version of the movie "Armageddon" (thank goodness!). But, the pay off of really knowing the characters is sooo worth it! I actually found myself catching my breath during some of the narration! This book really had me thinking for weeks after reading!!!! If you've been putting off getting this book DON'T!

It took me a good while to kick-start this book. I started it and went very slowly. There were a lot of characters and the story was not very clear. I almost gave up on it...

The nice surprise came in Chapter 2. All the events described when and after the comet falls were fully absorbing. This book is great entertaining. Its a little outdated (written in the 70s) but it does not matter. Just be patient and "ride" the first couple of hundred pages.

There have been so many reviews accusing this book of being racist that I guess I'll have to address that issue before I can even talk about my opinion of the book. What a lot of people don't seem to realize these days is that there's a differnce between portraying racism (e.g. in a novel) and actually supporting racism. In my opinion Niven and Pournelle weren't trying to stereotype blacks or make any kind of political statement, they were simply depicting something that could likely take place. It's not all that far fetched to believe that an inner city LA gang of African-Americans would band together after an apocalypse and might hook up with a radical fanaticist army promising them power, plenty to eat, and no racial barriers. And they weren't the only ones doing this. As I remember, they weren't even the ones who started the cannibalism. That was an army platoon mainly composed of white guys who did that, and forced everyone else to come on board or else starve or be killed. As I see it Niven and Pournelle gave a fairly accurate depiction of race relations as they stood in 1970. If I thought they were deliberately targeting one group or another and trying to negatively stereotype them, I could just as easily complain that this book is biased against Christians since it displayed the leader of the cannibals as an insane preacher. But I don't complain because I know they weren't trying to take potshots at Christianity, they were merely portraying what could happen, same as they were portraying what could happen to an inner city gang after the end of the world.
That being said. I do think that this book was one of the best end of the world stories I have read yet. It is riveting and you won't be able to put it down after the Hammer actually falls. In these kinds of stories I always like best the parts about what kind of society would develop after the apocalypse, and I thought this portrayal was very accurate. The cannibalism (far from being a racist device against blacks) is probably an accurate picture of what some people will be forced to when all the food is wiped out. And the new feudal system which quickly develops is almost certainly the way things would have to be structured for survival and protection, in the early days at least.
I would give one warning. The book is not at all interesting until about 100 to 150 pages into it. It moves very, very slowly at first as the authors introduce each of numerous character in depth. You will probably need to use the character list in the front of the book just to keep everyone straight at first. I almost gave up on the book at first, but trust me, every character is important and will figure into the story at some later point. This can be a clue to the plot if, when you're being introduced to a character in the beginning, you think about how they might figure in later. At any rate, the action greatly picks up and doesn't let up from the moment the comet hits till the end of the book.
If you're a fan of apocalyptic fiction this is a must read. It's a classic in the genre on the same level as "On the Beach" or "A Canticle for Liebowitz".

Take yourself on a time warp back to the days of Apollo-Soyuz and enjoy this epic tale of what might happen if a shattered comet hit Earth with the mother of all shotgun blasts. For a movie to be made from it now, they would have to switch to Shuttle-Mir and leave out the parts about unknown technology relating to women Cosmonauts. The Astro/Cosmo-nauts would also have the choice of returning either in the shuttle or soyuz. Everything else could stay the same.

This book had a lot going for it. Niven and Pournelle, with m,uch scientific experience, have created a very realistic story. Calling it sc-fi would almost be a stretch, since it could really happen. The characters were very complex and memorable. The aftermath of it all, however, seems to be smaller in scope when compared with the destruction area of the book. When this aftermath begins, the books does begin to drag later on. After 640 pages, though, I was glad I read it

This book, this story, is a gift. It has so many strengths from concept, to character development, to execution. I have read it numerous times since its publication and it never seems dated. The characters internal and external struggles were finely honed.

I will admit this book, as much as any I have read, has given me a bit more of a survivalist mentality and a desire to be more autonomous, independent, versatile, and knowledgeable. I don't imagine those are bad things!

If civilization collapsed today, what would it mean to the average Joe? Just how dependent are we on technology, public services, industry, modern medicine, and commerce? These questions are all vividly addressed in entertaining, horrifying, and memorable events, while offering hope.

Fine details of the book come back pleasurably even several years after my last reading, like the return of an old friend.

Thanks again, Larry and Jerry. Five stars.

The Postman (Bantam Classics), by David Brin, is almost Lucifer's Hammer's equal. Far richer and better than the movie.

I have had the book since it was published. My copy is well-thumbed and growing quite mangy with age and reading. I don't know how many times I have read it ,but it must be at least 6.

My personal opinion is that this book is one of the superlatives of the genre. It can be slow reading, but I never had trouble reading it from cover to cover.

Those who think the book is racist would call "Robinson Crusoe" by Defoe racist and for the same reason. If a person of color is presented in an unflattering light or a position of servitude, the book is racist. This "racist" book took the characters from the times. We did not have the influx of Mexicans then that we have now. (If that is racist, I don't care) There were no barrios. Had the book been written now, I am sure the villanous gang would have included Hispanics as well as the white and black characters. These were vile people regardless of race, which was mixed.

If you spend your life looking for insult, you are going to find it. I am very, very tired of hearing the term "racist". It never once occurred to me about this book. If you think the book is "racist", I suggest you find something sanitized, like the new version of "Huckleberry Finn" to read so you do not have to wallow in your victimhood.

I found myself skipping pages because I was bored. Igot halfway through and gave up. As for people saying it's racist, I guess that's how they spoke in those days, I remember tv shows in New Zealand when I was a kid that had similar ways of talking. I must admit some things said in the book raised my eyebrows. All done though personally I didnt like it.

I read this back when it was new, no idea when but it was when I was young. It was my intro to "end of the world" fiction. This and The Stand are what I judge apocalyptic fiction on, few have ever come close. Read it and enjoy a good story.
I just went and looked up the original year of release, 1977. It still stands the test of tme. I may read it again!

Once read you may agree that this has influenced quite a few of the disaster and apocalyptic novels since its publication (The Stand, Swan Song, World Made by Hand) but without any supernatural aspects. The authors keep a large cast of characters moving with clarity and interest. Some good 1970's references like "honkies" and telegrams take one back. Overall an enjoyable and well-researched read.

While a little dated in 2009, this book remains my all time favorite end of the world book. The attention to detail is just enough to make it interesting without being "I'm so technically cool." How many people know that HP and Texas Instruments used two different operating systems in their pocket calculators? The story is well laid out and moves along. Give this book a try and "Ringworld" will be next.

I've yet to find a better story of a cataclysm for sheer suspense, realism and accuracy of vision ... (and yes, I have read "The Stand"; no contest.) This book is so well written I would recommend it as a fun survival guide, should that comet presently headed near Earth get a little too close for comfort. The characters are sharp, real, and interesting. The writing is detailed, sharp, and the incidents the authors choose to show us are unforgettable (picture a surfer riding the ultimate tidal wave, rushing into the city to bury it, up comes a building ... what a way to go!) The radical post-apocalypse bands and their cannibalistic rituals make for some of the most disturbing and chilling reading you will find.

This is sci-fi at its finest.

Like many folks out there, I got this one for a rainy day; y'know, just for emergencies when there is nothing else to do. I'd heard some good things about this one, and some bad ones too (especially from my African-American friends), so it sat aside my bed table. While recovering from a recent illness, I decided to start the book. That was on a Friday; it was another NINE days before I finished it! But that's a good thing. Though a tad on the long side (Clancy's 'The Sum of All Fears' is even longer), it was interesting nonetheless. Starting with the plush California life, this story inches along for the first 250+ pages. Then the disaster hits you . . . WHAM!!! I died, figuritively, while reading the riot scene in downtown LA. And then there was the tidal wave; let me tell you, I was doin' some praying for these folks! The scope on which this book enthralls the reader is both huge and tiny; while the international comet strikes destroy the world economy, the authors managed to keep the focus on the Californian people and their fight for survival. To see Senator Jellison emerge as such a leader was relieving (good lord, the rest of the world leaders ALL manage to die, and he is somehow filled with common sense that no one else possesses). The portrayal of black characters is ethnically offensive, but this is a book that takes place (REMEMBER!) in the 1970's. The Black Liberation Movement and similar type groups were everywhere, and to the Caucasion communities they assumed this was the life of African-Americans (THANK GOD we know better now!). Gritty, Gorey, and most of all Hauntingly REALISTIC, I highly recommend this book! It is worth the sluggish beggining, the racial offensiveness, and even cannibalism!

I remember reading this book when it was new back in the 70's. Now adays the book is somewhat dated, but still a great book to read regardless.

If you are looking for a modern version of this book, you may want to read 'Earth the New Frontier' by Adam Celaya. This is a brand new EOW (end of world) book that will truly grab you by the brain and hold on. I was just blown away by this book. My wife said that Earth the New Frontier scared her real bad. Awesome book!

I first read this novel back in the 1980s and thought it was great. Gave it another look recently and came up with a different view. Although this is a solid novel, it does have problems.

The story is fairly simple. It recounts numerous people and their efforts to survive in Southern California after the Earth is struck by a comet. Over time, the story focuses on two groups. One is a farming community that has set up a feudal system under the control of a US Senator. The other group is a cannibal army made up of army mutineers, thieves that escaped the drowning of Los Angeles and unfortunates who were captured and brought into the fold. This band is jointly lead by an army sergeant, a former black panther and a televangelist. You could imagine what occurs with these bands of survivors.

Larry Niven is a master of hard science fiction. He does not disapoint us here. His description of the comet are excellent and he describes the impact wonderfully. The portraits of the characters were also very compelling in the lead up to impact and the period just after impact as they try to survive. Two story lines I greatly greatly enojoyed were the scene with the surfers trying to ride out a tsunami and the banker fretting over embezzling money just before impact. Wonderful additions!

There are also weak points too. Niven and Pournelle like to put lots of characters into their stories. Its easy to loose track of the less important characters. Another issue I had with the novel was it fell behind the times technology wise. I also thought the authors had civilization break down waaaay too fast. As best I can tell, the cannibals start eating people about a week after impact. Dont believe it. Still, these are not the worst problems in my opinion.

The worst to me is I beleive the authors focus on the wrong groups. While the cannibals are utterly repulsive, the feudalists are not much better. I could not work up any sympathy for a group that so callously threw people out in the cold if they were deemed useless. In fact, I found my self hoping the cannibals would overrun them and eat them. The two bands I found most intriguing were the nuke plant group and the boy scouts who go wild. While the power plant people get some attention, you see nothing of the "Lord of the Flys" style scout troop. Too bad.....

You can bet that there's gonna be some fantastic science, and some really well-thought out plot, and a whole lot of exposition to explain it to everyone just a bit more than is absolutely necessary, and characters that are essentially cardboard cutouts with little signs around their necks saying, "Useless Hot Chick", "High-minded scientist," "Practical Scientist," and so forth.
Please understand that this isn't really the genre that I'm used to. I don't read hard SF very often, and to me character is a bit more important. I WAS impressed by the science in the story, but I wanted more characterization that some cliched lines about how the reporter's wife was useless and so it's okay that he slept with someone else. I'd consider it sexist, but the characterizations are soft all around. It's just that the female stereotypes are more obnoxious. It would have been nice to have a female scientist.

You'll root for the comet!

I could not finish this book that's populated with LA douche bags!

C'mon... ya have to create characters we can identify with! These guys are all snobby jerks.

Who cares what happens to them!

A good idea for a story wrapped in the most unappealing people..... too bad. I mean it could have been 1/3 shorter without all the nonsense I guess.

The comet hits the Earth, but that is only the beginning---the best part of the book is what comes after. It comes pretty close to describing what the aftermath of an earth shattering event might be. A lot is crammed in there, and you get the impression that the authors could have gone on much longer, but they had to stop it somewhere. The best part of reading the book is realizing how many things we have today that we take for granted.

Part way through this book, there's a gruesome description of the murder/mutilation of a young woman that really made me sick. I literally threw the book in the trash and haven't read another Niven/Pournelle book since. My loss, I suppose, because I really enjoyed their stories, but enough is enough.
Don't know if they ever fit into this story anything about humans having sex with aliens. That seems to crop up in a number of their collaborations. I wonder why.
Anyway, I'm not squeamish, but there's enough graphic violence on the evening news. I don't need to read it in my recreational reading. For what it's worth, I had to put down Michener's The Source for the same reason: too much violence, and victimization of women at the hands of men.

This has got to be THE end of the world story! Don't let the length turn you off, it'll be done before you are ready for it. The story is of a meteor (Deep Impact-style) that is found in outer space by a novice stargazer, and it is up in the air about whether or not it will actually collide with Earth, excuse the hideous pun. The twists in the story keep the reader guessing about the outcome of the comits path, and the distruction it will cause if it does hit our planet. Life-like outcomes of the inevitable lend the story a pleasing and horrifing reality that shocks the reader. A definite MUST READ!!

Well written, fast-paced after initial back story is set....Important to consider this as a "snapshot" of a Global event. The italic story inserts about the development of the comet gives it almost a personal-human-like profile. Although an older book, the plot is just as likely today as when originally authored. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to project themselves into a possible future of being returned to the Stone Age in a microsecond.

Long before I saw Deep Impact, I read this masterpiece by Larry Niven and Jerry Puornelle. As good as that movie was, this book was at least 10 times better!
This is one of the best end of civilization books I have ever read (better than When Worlds Collide and Earth Abides). Shows how some people will turn into savages while others will try to keep the society going. So realistic, you feel that it actually happened.

How to say it without gushing? This story is simply outstanding. The character portrayals, and development, are excellent; the societal predictions absolutely, frighteningly, believable. Better by far than "Alas, Babylon", in addition to being terrific SF this counts as the best 'end of the world' story I've ever read. I've read it so many times the original copy wore out.

The best end-of-the-world book I have ever read! This is one of those books that I re-read every few years and even though it now seems a bit dated (it was published in 1977), it still gives me goosebumps when the Hammer falls! The authors really did their homework when they researched the "what if" possibilities included in this book. After reading this book you will be heading for the nearest Army Surplus store for survival supplies!

First of all, what a title... WHAT A BOOK! The first book I can ever remember reading that made me sit down after the last page and say, "damn. What just happened here." I even got a group discussion started at work, asking others what they would do if presented with the same situation. We all agreed that what happened in the book is probably very consistent with how society would react under similar or same circumstances, which is scary. I only hope we never find out. Let's just say, I've since packed a knapsack and chosen a secluded mountain hideaway for me and my family, just in case that day ever comes.

This book rates among the best along with The Stand, Swan Song and Year Zero. Incredible characters, superb writing about a comet falling on Earth and what happens afterwards. The characters are so good, you care about everything they do. This book is worth getting. It will change the way you think about what's out there in the sky and what trully values in life.

+AH4-So far, this my favorite book written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I think the story is very clever and intense. If you think there are too many characters to keep up with, look in the very beginning--the authors write a description of each major character. The next book I'm going to read is The Mote In God's Eye (be sure to read this one too).+AH4-

Just finished reading Lucifer's Hammer and was pretty impressed. I have read The Stand & Swan Song a couple of times each and this was a nice departure from the mystical/magical aspect of those two books. There were some slow spots, but never more than a page or two. The comment about constantly having to check the character guide in the front of the book was spot on! But, most books require me to go back and reread a section to figure out the character, but with the guide, I could easily reference the character and figure out who they were just by their description. That really showed to me just how much the authors developed each character! It took me about 3 weeks to finish the book (slow bedtime reader). Now, I just need to find some more post-apocalyptic books of this caliber. Highly recommend!!!

This is a superb novel about a comet striking the earth, thereby destroying modern civilization. The physical as well as the psychological events surrounding the impact of the comet seem well-researched and accurate. This only adds to the drama of the story and the awe the reader feels as events unfold. There are a few too many characters, and parts of the ending seem contrived, but this is a must-read for science fiction lovers.

I first read this when I was in 5th or 6th grade...in the 70's. I still re-read it at least every few years and it is still my favorite end of the world book ever. While some of the plots and descriptions of the world have become outdated, they rang true at the time. When given the chance I tracked Mr. Pournelle and Mr. Niven down and got a signed copy. To this day Mr. Pournelle is my favorite all time SF author. If you haven't read his books you are missing one of the Icons of the artform.

Just finished reading Lucifer's Hammer last night. By far, one of my favorite books I have ever read. It takes a bit to get into since they spend a long time building up the characters. However, once disaster strikes, I couldn't put the book down. I would highly recommend this to any fan of the genre. I have read numerous PA books including The Stand, One Second After, and Alas, Babylon and this may very well be my favorite yet. Highly recommend!!

Niven and Pournelle have written, in my view, the best 'End of the World' story ever written. The plot, impact by comet, is utterly believable because it is so heavily based on science. It has characters which are not mere cardboard cut-outs but people whose fate you care deeply about. The story moves at a fast pace, never dull or boring. A wonderful book. One read of this and you will start storing survival rations. My copy, which I bought in 1978, is now falling to pieces. I have read it so many times that I am now having to order a new copy. If you only read one book in your life, this is the one. A must!

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Engaging characters, interesting scenario. What would YOU try to salvage? How would you survive the collapse of society? Wish this was available in hardcover - my paperback copy has been read & re-read!

I am in awe. After being away from this book for a couple of years I decided to reread it on the recommendation of a friend who is a Y2K expert. He recommends this book as a primer in what could (he believes will) happen come 1/1/00. Even though it is set in LA and the surrounding area it gives me enough background so that I could have walked the trails that the charectars did. I recommend this book to any reader of any genre to get an idea of what can/will be happening in a little over a year from now (as of this writing). I agree with another reviewer, Larry and Jerry, tell us how the new world turns out!!

This book is a masterpiece! It makes all other 'end of the world' senario books look cliche'. This book is brilliantly done, and captivating. A must for anyone who seeks benchmarks in modern literature. You will never forget this one.

Still one of the best Sci-Fi/Adventure stories around. Well written. If you're into giant rocks hitting the Earth, this is the book for you! I only wish it was longer, or a sequel was made. Gripping, read it one sitting type book.

This book starts out a little slow, but then it gets exciting. It's a little hard at first to keep track of all the characters,(the book skips between them so much), but after the comet hits, the characters are divided into 2 main groups, and it stops skipping around. I think that the authors acurately predicted the reaction of humanity before and after a cataclysmic event. The latter half of the book is absolutely riveting; I literally could not put the book down for three hours!

now i own the very first relise of this book, its all torn and shreaded. but its still the best book i've ever read. i've read this book over 7 times now and i'm keep on reading it over and over because it never gets old. now the begining is really slow and theres lots of kinda neadless stuff in it, people they show you who just die, and other who start out small and end up main people. But this book makes you think about what would you do? would you run from it if you didn'r know it was comeing? what or who would you take? the world ends in a flash, and million maybe even billions die, and even more after that. the one thing i find extreamly funny is how it ends.

Picture the movie Armageddon set in the 70's. But instead of blowing the asteroid (comet in the book) up, it hits. The desription of the devestation of southern California is obviously well thought out and described. Also the authors do a good job with what would happen to people immediately after the destruction of civilization. (grouping together, canibalism etc.) I wish more was written about what happens in other parts of the country and world though, the entire book is set in California. If you liked Swan Song by Robert McCammon (McGammon?) Or The Stand you will probably like this book.

Dated? Maybe. Racist? Nah.

Probably my second favorite Apocalyptic novel, (after The Stand). It provides a few more gray shades in a familiar palette of Good and Evil B&W. The thrills and chills still stand up though and there are some high tension pages that rival the best of the breed. A must for any fan of the genre.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are a lot of characters and it took about 100 pages to set them up...but the rest of the book is a thrillride. Very fun and interesting.

The biggest negative for me was the character names. Two major characters named Harvey and Hardy, and a minor character named Harry. Two females named Eileen and Maureen. Confusing at times.

"Lucifer's Hammer" is not only the best 'disaster' novel I've ever read, it also forced me to take a long hard look at some of the things we take for granted in our daily life. Read it - you'll be impressed.

This was one of the best books I have ever read. I enjoyed it so much that I kept the paperback version. A book has to really warrant it to gain that distinction. I reread it acouple years later and the only reason I am writting this review is because I suggested it to a friend and couldn't remember who wrote it. To remember a books title almost some 15 years after you read it the first time is something. I have only read two other author's books over again. One was Stephen Kings "The Stand" and the other was David Eddings series "The Belgarath Series" and "The Mallorean Series".

read this title when first published(1977?). Ahead of its time. Pre Alverez acceptance. Very influential in my life. These things do happen.Has not been bettered but copied (kinda) by two feature films.
Must read for people enjoying solid scientific "threat" issues-ask the dinsaurs.
Also good cold war 80's stuff on survivalism. I was one (a survivalist) and this book was almost a textbook.
I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Colfran Australia (no co-incidence)

I am very glad I read these reviews before I bought this book because I know I would have given up in about 50-60 pages. It is so tedious and so boring the author really must have had to work at it. I actually placed a marker at 200 pages so I could encourage myself that I didn't have that far to go. I am proud to say that I made it, so now I'm ready to actually enjoy the book! I probably have no business rating it yet, but I'll come back after I'm done and update the review.

Okay, I've finished the book and it's actually much better than I rated it when I began. I'll have to rewrite the review because it will not let me update the star-rating, to which I now give the book 4 stars. I just encourage you all to keep on reading past that 200-page mark, 'cause it does get fascinating, trust me and the thousands of other folks who have read and loved this book!

Just finished reading Lucifer's Hammer last night. By far, one of my favorite books I have ever read. It takes a bit to get into since they spend a long time building up the characters. However, once disaster strikes, I couldn't put the book down. I would highly recommend this to any fan of the genre. I have read numerous PA books including The Stand, One Second After, and Alas, Babylon and this may very well be my favorite yet. Highly recommend!!

Niven and Pournelle have written, in my view, the best 'End of the World' story ever written. The plot, impact by comet, is utterly believable because it is so heavily based on science. It has characters which are not mere cardboard cut-outs but people whose fate you care deeply about. The story moves at a fast pace, never dull or boring. A wonderful book. One read of this and you will start storing survival rations. My copy, which I bought in 1978, is now falling to pieces. I have read it so many times that I am now having to order a new copy. If you only read one book in your life, this is the one. A must!

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Engaging characters, interesting scenario. What would YOU try to salvage? How would you survive the collapse of society? Wish this was available in hardcover - my paperback copy has been read & re-read!

I am in awe. After being away from this book for a couple of years I decided to reread it on the recommendation of a friend who is a Y2K expert. He recommends this book as a primer in what could (he believes will) happen come 1/1/00. Even though it is set in LA and the surrounding area it gives me enough background so that I could have walked the trails that the charectars did. I recommend this book to any reader of any genre to get an idea of what can/will be happening in a little over a year from now (as of this writing). I agree with another reviewer, Larry and Jerry, tell us how the new world turns out!!

This book is a masterpiece! It makes all other 'end of the world' senario books look cliche'. This book is brilliantly done, and captivating. A must for anyone who seeks benchmarks in modern literature. You will never forget this one.

Still one of the best Sci-Fi/Adventure stories around. Well written. If you're into giant rocks hitting the Earth, this is the book for you! I only wish it was longer, or a sequel was made. Gripping, read it one sitting type book.

This book starts out a little slow, but then it gets exciting. It's a little hard at first to keep track of all the characters,(the book skips between them so much), but after the comet hits, the characters are divided into 2 main groups, and it stops skipping around. I think that the authors acurately predicted the reaction of humanity before and after a cataclysmic event. The latter half of the book is absolutely riveting; I literally could not put the book down for three hours!

now i own the very first relise of this book, its all torn and shreaded. but its still the best book i've ever read. i've read this book over 7 times now and i'm keep on reading it over and over because it never gets old. now the begining is really slow and theres lots of kinda neadless stuff in it, people they show you who just die, and other who start out small and end up main people. But this book makes you think about what would you do? would you run from it if you didn'r know it was comeing? what or who would you take? the world ends in a flash, and million maybe even billions die, and even more after that. the one thing i find extreamly funny is how it ends.

Picture the movie Armageddon set in the 70's. But instead of blowing the asteroid (comet in the book) up, it hits. The desription of the devestation of southern California is obviously well thought out and described. Also the authors do a good job with what would happen to people immediately after the destruction of civilization. (grouping together, canibalism etc.) I wish more was written about what happens in other parts of the country and world though, the entire book is set in California. If you liked Swan Song by Robert McCammon (McGammon?) Or The Stand you will probably like this book.

I'm 52 and I first started reading this book in 1984. Since that time I have re-read it many times. when ever I find a friend who hasn't read it I'd buy a copy at a used paperback store and give the copy to them. Lately I have been unable to find it anywhere. Now to see that it has been re-released I will be buying 2 copies, one to loan, and one to keep. This is the best "end-of-civilization" book ever written. It should be a primer for anyone trying to write anything called "Comet" or "Impact".
Keep in mind, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of reading this book yet, there are a lot of players in the drama and it takes a while to introduce them all. So give the book time. When it takes off though make sure you don't have any plans because you won't be able to put the book down. I mean really!
Enjoy it. Read it again and again. It only gets better with time!

Great book lots of inter related individual stories, I read this book 30yrs ago then reread it i enjoyed it even more the second time. I believe this book is a real post apocalyptic classic!!! It is a great read!

Dated? Maybe. Racist? Nah.

Probably my second favorite Apocalyptic novel, (after The Stand). It provides a few more gray shades in a familiar palette of Good and Evil B&W. The thrills and chills still stand up though and there are some high tension pages that rival the best of the breed. A must for any fan of the genre.