Tales Of Known Space by Larry Niven
We continue to find interesting (I think) parallels between these two future history collections.
(vii) Tales was published to follow four novels (World Of Ptavvs, Protector, A Gift From Earth and Ringworld) and one collection (Neutron Star) whereas the Earth Book was published to follow two collections (Trader To The Stars and The Trouble Twisters) and three novels (Satan's World, Mirkheim and The People Of The Wind).
(viii) The Earth Book is a companion volume to The People Of The Wind because that novel provides the background material for the Earth Book's introduction and interstitial passages whereas Tales is a companion volume to the later published The Long ARM Of Gil Hamilton. The (then) three Hamilton stories were too long to fit into Tales so they had to be published separately.
(ix) Nicholas van Rijn appears in the first four Technic History volumes and again in the Earth Book. The three members of van Rijn's first trade pioneer crew appear in the second, third and fourth Technic History volumes and again in the Earth Book. Christopher Holm appears in The People Of The Wind and is a co-author of the Earth Book. Lucas Garner appears in the first two Known Space novels and again in Tales. Beowulf Shaeffer appears in Neutron Star and again in Tales. Louis Wu appears in Ringworld and again in Tales. The Earth Book and Tales each cover more than one period and also feature familiar characters from their different periods.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I know I have most of Larry Niven's Known Space stories. I should hunt them up and find out exactly which of those stories I have or don't have.
I was disappointed by Niven's later works, alas. They seemed so LIFELESS compared to the vigor, strength, and interest of his earlier stories. It brings up the question of WHAT makes an author's works so interesting readers will keep turning the pages? And how do some writers seem to lose that special, magical quality?
I am glad that did not happen with Poul Anderson! Even in his later years he wrote stories I thought fascinating, interesting, and page turning. Such as his four HARVEST OF STARS books. True, as can happen to any writer, Anderson wrote a few stories I thought were weak, such as "Tyranny," but these were the exceptions, not the rule.
Ad astra! Sean
Ad astra! Sean
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