Fleet of Worlds (Fleet of Worlds series Book 1)

Competently written and good science here and there, but a relatively unimaginative plot and the characters are one-dimensional. I can't help but contrast the Puppeteers and their civilization with Ian Banks' Culture, which is far more engaging. No one, of course, can match Banks' scintillating prose, so that comparison is perhaps unfair. All in all, moderately entertaining.

I've often enjoyed Niven's solo work, particularly the Ringworld novels, but not his collaborations. (No, not even with Pournelle--blech!) I thought that, being more or less directly tied to Ringworld, this one might be enjoyable. Nope, at least as far as I was able to determine. I couldn't get myself to read past page 8. The writing is grammatical but amateurish, clunky, and just plain unpleasant to read. It looks like Niven plotted this out and then gave it to Lerner to write up. For really dedicated fans, I'm sure that the content is more important than the delivery, but to me the pain isn't worth the (potential) gain. I'm returning the book.

An entertaining book from Larry Niven and his latest co-author, Edward Lerner. This is Niven's best book in a while. Niven is consistently imaginative but has never been a particularly good writer. The quality of prose and character development in this book is considerably better than almost all of Niven's recent books, a feature probably attributable to Lerner's competence. Fleet of Worlds is a good adventure story set in Niven's Known Space future history, continuing Niven's theme of the manipulation of human history by the Puppeteer species. The stage is set for a sequel.

I usually only like Larry Niven solo. However, this book is so awesome! There is no reason anyone should not read this book, unless of course you don't like good plotting, writing and high adventure! But, I know you do so read it!

Can't Niven find a competent young pulp writer to rent his brand? Lerner even manages to make Puppeters boring. (Apparently they live in big condo complexes, go to shopping malls and excrete on the floor.)

Niven at his best was a nice pulp writer. Short, sharp sentences; minimum of introspection; lots of action; lots of ideas; bright cartoon hues.

Lerner delivers none of that.

Great book! Too short though! I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Larry Niven is still adding to the Known Space books. Even if he is partnering with other authors I'm just glad he hasn't left us! Thanks Larry!

It would be a treat if we were to ever get some stories about the Ring Builders. Everyone cross their fingers!