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    Joseph 04-18-17
    Joseph 04-18-17 Member Since 2011
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    62
    7
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    Story
    "wasn't what I thought."

    I thought this book was going to be more of an existential dread kind of book. You know, nothing matters, we are in significant; in space. It was not that, that is for sure. It has a good plot, and the topics worked through are important, I just took the title a little more metaphorical than what it was. I did not particularly like the narrator. His narration style kept me in an anxious state, it was tough to sink into the story. I didn't like a few aspects of the book, and although 2 separate view points are explored it felt like one side was being described in the terms of the other and not on their own terms. That was frustrating. When the moties call themselves moties instead of some other name they gave themselves the narritave seemed a little hollow.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    Amazon Customer 04-06-17
    Amazon Customer 04-06-17 Member Since 2015
    HELPFUL VOTES
    4
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    6
    5
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    "1st contact,18th century meets 24th centuryscience"

    Somewhat tedious .Characters are two dimensional. I never developed any caring or feeling for them. Very provincial medieval 18th century kingdom society with 24th century technology. Though I listened to the whole production over numerous listenings I never felt the anticipation of picking up the story at each session. The reader did a nice job. I know this is aclassic and said to be one of the best SF novels ever. Not so in my opinion. The Rama series is much better.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    John 03-24-17
    John 03-24-17
    HELPFUL VOTES
    1
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    2
    2
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    0
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    "Classic sci-fi book"

    A great story of contact with an alien race. Tries to put things into a long term perspective.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    Evan Bennewies 02-16-17
    Evan Bennewies 02-16-17
    ratings
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    7
    7
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    Performance
    Story
    "Fantastic listen, best sci-fi listened to to-date"

    story was captivating and an interesting dialogue on human behaviour/society.
    performance was very well done, voicing very consistent for different characters, not over the top but still distinctive.
    would recommend

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    Ezekiel Espinosa 01-12-17
    Ezekiel Espinosa 01-12-17 Member Since 2016
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    116
    4
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    Story
    "One of my dad's favorites and now one of mine"

    My dad showed me this book when I was younger but I never got around to reading it. It was one of his favorite books and now I can see why. This is science fiction at its best. The imagination and detail that are in this book is mind blowing. This should be required reading.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    night owl 01-06-17
    night owl 01-06-17 Member Since 2015
    HELPFUL VOTES
    80
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    410
    114
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    1
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    "Best of Niven and Pournelle"

    Of the several books I read years ago by this duo , this one holds up the best. The story grabs you early and keeps you fascinated as the secrets of the Moties are revealed. I found the future human Empire boring, like something out of a sat movie series. Some complain about character development. I don't read sci-fi for this,and enjoyed the characters as portrayed. The narration is good. The sample sounded bad but I took a chance .So glad I did.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    Clive Byerley 12-21-16
    Clive Byerley 12-21-16 Member Since 2016
    HELPFUL VOTES
    2
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    23
    9
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    FOLLOWING
    0
    0
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    Story
    "How to Make Science Fiction Dreary!"
    This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

    Boys who are not well read in this genre aged fifteen to eighteen.


    What could Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

    Stop writing by the numbers Learn to show, not tell.


    How could the performance have been better?

    Drop the APPALLING,FAKE SCOTTISH ACCENT


    You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

    The concept was promising but this book was written by a committee - and it certainly shows.


    Any additional comments?

    Don't buy it!

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    1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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    Amazon Customer 12-11-16
    Amazon Customer 12-11-16
    ratings
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    12
    1
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    Story
    "I enjoyed this book"

    I enjoyed the overall plot and how there were bits that appeared earlier in the book that I almost forgot about but then were used as supporting details to make the world seem more real

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    Anonymous 11-30-16
    11-30-16
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    4
    4
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    Performance
    Story
    "great story typical Pournell/Niven"

    the reader uses diction so precise as to be harsh at times. His attempts at different voices come of as angry when that emotion is not appropriate to the lines.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    Mark Beasley 11-03-16
    Mark Beasley 11-03-16 Member Since 2013
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    48
    3
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    0
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    "A classic"

    Some of the terminology gives away the age of the novel (70s), but still an imaginitive story, and a well-developed alien civilization and alien view point .

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful