About this title: Light years from Earth, 200 men and women come to Tau Ceti Four and establish an agricultural colony on an island of gentle breezes and crystal rivers. But their new home holds a lethal secret--and soon the colonists are waging a bloody war against a terrifying enemy.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780671649289ISBN:0671649280
Description: Very Good. Describes a book that doesn't look quite brand new. May show some small signs of wear or minor spine creasing. Our ultimate goal is to provide you with a satisfying customer experience. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, New York
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780671640941ISBN:0671640941
Description: Near Fine with Very Good-Near Fine DJ, DJ has faded water stain on back cover & Light creasing, book is in excellent condition, like new! First Edition First Printing. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Pocket Books
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780671649289ISBN:0671649280
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Cover and binding worn, otherwise book is tight and in good condition. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Pocket
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780671649289ISBN:0671649280
Description: Acceptable. Overall below average used book. May have highlighting, underlining, notes, price sticker on cover, or be an ex-library book. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date Published: 1987
Description: Very Good. Slight cover wear with minor scuffing to edges. NO dustjacket. GoodwillnyBooks is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service. You may return new items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Sphere
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780722164075ISBN:0722164076
Description: Very Good. Minor shelf wear with shift to spine and faint creases on spine. Slight age toning. Previous owners name inside. GoodwillnyBooks is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service. You may return new items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Pocket Books
Date Published: 1988
ISBN-13:9780671649289ISBN:0671649280
Description: Grade: C. Catalog: Science Fiction General Synopsis: 383 pages. A novel of visionary terror and adventure! Light years from Earth, the pinnacle of mankind's' genius is reached: two hundred men and women... read more
Edition: BOMC/BCE
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: simon schuster
Date Published: 1985
Description: A wonderful copy with some minor edgewear to the cover. Dust Jacket may have chips and close tears. -BOMC/BCE, Hard Cover, Very Good / Good. read more
"This book was sensational. Beowulf meets Aliens. Characters and story were wonderful - which I expect from any book that Larry Niven is involved with. The team of Niven/Pournelle/Barnes (Creators of Dream Park). It was a retelling of Beowulf in the setting of an interstellar colony. The science was brilliant and handled in such a way as not to overwhelm the reader or bore them to death - incorporated into the story and revealed in baby steps to allow the reader a full understanding of the alien biology as the story unfolded - much like a well-crafted mystery. The action was very exciting and at times, very brutal. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates well thought out Sci/Fi and solid story structure. It also serves as a cautionary tale for monkeying with ecosystems - a less we've never truly learned here on earth."
"This is quite an amazing book. The science, sociology, psychology - all of it! - is extremely well-thought out. And the pacing is rather incredible. Niven has quite a knack for moving things along quick enough for most of the book, and then really stepping things up a couple of notches for the huge climax. Great fun!
Humanity has finally decided to reach out to the stars and attempt to colonize a new planet. But being so far away, they've gotta freeze the people so they'll make it there at a decently young age. The first difficulty the colonists have to deal with is that some of them were affected by the freezing. But that is minor compared with what is awaiting them on Avalon, their new land. What seems a perfect place, at first, turns into a nightmare - complete with monsters!
There is almost a horror feel to the book, due to the violence and how incredibly horrific the "grendels" are. But it is definitely science fiction, through and through. Niven, Pournelle, and Barnes have done an excellent job crafting the science and technology of the people, as well as creating very intriguing and convincing characters.
This is the first of three books set in the Heorot universe. Beowulf's Children is a sequel to this. It actually takes place when the children born in this book get old enough to begin claiming the planet for themselves. If you enjoy this book, definitely get your hands on Beowulf's Children. There is also another book, Destiny's Road, which also takes place in the same universe, mentioning events from the first two, but which is not really a sequel or continuation of their storyline (at least the way I understand it).
There is a lot of violence in the book, but really no sexual material at all. There is a little inuendo or inference to sexual situations, but nothing specific and definitely nothing explicit.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. It would probably not be appropriate for younger readers due to the violence as well as the much relaxed sexual mores of the settlement."
"Got this for a dollar at the JCCC used book sale, and it was a dollar well spent for a relatively quick and entertaining read.
The first half was definitely far more interesting than the last, which consisted mostly of detailed battle scenes. Yawn. The characters were pretty flat and uninteresting, and I will agree with others here that it was kind of sexist and the resolution seemed a bit TOO easy... That said, it provided a lot of good food for thought and I really appreciated the scenes written from the monster's point of view.
I don't think I'll ever feel the need to reread this one though... Perhaps it was a bit unfair to read this immediately after Orson Scott Card's Ender and Bean series. I'm sorry, but Cadmann Weyland's tortured-outsider-military-genius just can't compete with that of Ender Wiggin or Julian Delphiki!"
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