The World of Ptaavs product reviews

This is an older book, and has been reprinted many times, which goes to show that classics can never die, only get too dog-eared. Because of that, you are bound to be able to grab a copy at your friendly local second-hand bookseller. And you should be able to get it for a very reasonable price, making this a great value for money addition to your collection of masterpieces from one of the leading lights of the old school of Sci-Fi.

In true Niven style, the world he builds in your mind is self-consistant, making you believe anything possible, as long as it is on the page in front of you. The talent Niven has for telling an unbelieveable story in a highly credible way means that despite some fantastic leaps of faith, this is high on the Level of Realism scale.

Re-readable? Of course! If you like it, you'll read it again and again over the years. Nuf said.

However, low on the Lose Track of Time scale, as it is all to easy to put down. Though gripping and highly detailed, this was not one of my big favourites from his library of literary wonders. Any of his Ringworld books (a possible raw-source for the HALO games methinks) leaves this one for dead. But still a great read in and of itself.

overall, yes, so good, I actually bought 2 copies so I could give one to a literary-challenged friend of mine.