The Mote in God's Eye

[Shellhead]

After many years, I finally re-read this classic science-fiction tale of first contact with an alien race. Writers Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have worked well together on several books, and this is one of their best collaborations. It isn't perfect, the last section of the book seemed anti-climactic when I read this the first time, since the reader already knows more than the characters do. This time around, I did enjoy the way the two groups are racing to figure out each other's mysteries before making an important decision. Otherwise, it is a great story, with some good characters, a great plot, and some excellent ideas. It might just be the best first contact story ever told.

[scratchie]

Interesting. I just re-read this for the first time in (at least) 20 years over the summer. It is highly enjoyable, and very creative, but as an adult, I found some truly rank sexism that was hard to swallow (same with Lucifer's Hammer). I don't remember the specifics now, but it had to do with the way they treated the only female character in the book.

Also, I was disappointed with the ending. Maybe I'm just an inveterate pacifist, but I found the "We'll kill you if you ever leave your solar system" solution to the Motie problem to be (a) offensive and (b) highly likely to backfire when dealing with such a technologically advanced race. If the Moties ever DO figure out a way to get out, they'd be perfectly justified in declaring war on humanity, and could probably wipe us out in about twenty minutes.

Still, up until then, it was a pretty good read.

[Gordon Smith]

Yes, this was an excellent read back in the day. I gotta revisit it someday.

[Shellhead]

There is a sequel, The Gripping Hand, which came out just a few years ago. I read it, but it didn't make as lasting an impression as the original.