The Legacy of Heorot

I read Legacy of Heorot when it first came out and I loved it! Through the years it has become my absolute favorite novel. I think I’ve read it six times at least. I’ve bought numerous copies to give as gifts, and recommended it to many of my friends. In fact, I’ve always hoped it would become a trilogy of movies – it’s laid out perfectly for that.
When Beowulf’s Children came out, I jumped on it immediately, but it was a huge let-down. No spoilers, but I hated the way the characters that I had come to know and love were treated, and one basic premise simply sucked.
This book really needed a team of narrators to do it justice and Tom Weiner was just not up to the job. Nothing against him, I’ve loved what he did with other Larry Niven books, but he simply didn’t have enough different voices to do the job on this ensemble cast of characters. His version of Carlos, one of my favorite characters, went all over the map, and he went from sounding like an Australian trying to fake a Spanish accent, to a whining inner-city Yankee reading a bus schedule.
The story is still excellent and worth your time, but I would encourage you to actually read rather than deal with this narration. It’s really no surprise to me that there have been so many bad reviews of this great book. The narration simply ruins the story.

I would recommend this book. While under 30 years old, you can still tell the difference in societal norms. Cigarette smoking being glamorous, women in mostly subservient roles to men. But still a very good story. Because of the deepness of the narrator's voice it was sometimes hard to understand, but overall a very enjoyable listening experience.

Yes, the narrator did a very good job.

This very well could be one of the worst things I have ever listened to. I do not know how three of the most talented science fiction writers on the planet could have come up with this. The premise is great, colonists stranded on a planet light years from earth are stalked by fierce creatures. I love creature fiction and Aliens is one of my favorite movies so I thought this could not miss. But the dialog and characters are so trite and silly; it distracts from everything else. Over and over you get speeches along the lines of, “This is our planet damn it, we rule here and no animal is going to take it away from us!” and “How could this animal exist? I have never heard of animal able to move this fast!” I wanted to scream: It is an ALIEN planet. Yes there are likely to be ALIEN life forms on the planet that you have never seen before! I know the book is more than 25 years old but the male/female relationships in the book seem to be based more on 1950s middle school fantasies than what you would expect from scientists exploring and colonizing a far away planet.

Hold your breath

I first read this book back in 87 when it first came out, and it was my favorite book. I have read some great books since, but I still think this is my #1. I remember reading it, and it being a "can't put down page turner", until the big climax. Then I realized I was only 1/3 through the book. Again, the next big climax, and I was 2/3 through the book.I have always been a Niven fan, but not so much with Pournelle, and when Barnes joins in, I usually don't like the books much at all (Saturn Rising, no thanks), but in this book, they absolutely nailed it.I especially like the way the story gives voice to the thoughts of the Grendel. I almost made a spoiler there. I better stop now, before I let something slip.Just get this book, you'll love it!

The synopsis is deceptive. The story is different than what it appears. It's an okay story but not one I would listen to twice.

Absolutely, I read this few years ago, and listening to it performed brings an entirely different element to it.

I love colonization books, and this one is one of the best thought out plots/story I think I have seen.

Awesome!!!!

something to do with grendels and their speed I am sure

nope

I read this one years ago, asked audible.com staff to consider recording it, they did. Hearing it was even better than reading it. The characters and theme are developed with great care.