Ringworld's Children

I for one happen to like the reading by Whitener. One should read at least "Ringworld" and "Protector" before reading this book as this one is based on both of these works. Great read, one that you don't want to stop until it is finish and then you want more.

This is book 4 in the Ringworld Series. I enjoyed Ringworld and thought this was the sequel, but quickly became lost when starting to listen to it. I did some research and found that the 2nd book is called "The Ringworld Engineers", and the 3rd is called "The Ringworld Throne". Unfortunately, these do not seem to be available on Audible. Not sure how to rate it since my issue is with Audible and not the book - so going with 3 stars.

This book brought me back to the original excitement I felt when I first read Ringworld and Engineers. Much better than Throne or other titles. I agree with the other review about the narration. I often found myself thinking that the narrator had no comprehension whatsoever of the material he was reading. Every sentence seems to be read in an earnest fearful tone of voice that is totally out of context with the material he?s reading. I found it especially irksome that he choose to use a voice that resembled Goofy or Cletus the Slake Jawed Yokel for the Kzinti Accolite. He defiantly wasn't "getting it"
Still... It's great book. Glad I listened.

Ringworlds Children is as enticing as Ringworld, and I've been a fan of Ringworld since it's original release in the 70's. I won't spoil the ending for anyone here but it was excellent, you won't be disappointed. I have heard better narrations though and would buy this audio book again if a better narration was made. Still, it's great sci-fi.

Mispronounced words, ridiculous voicing of characters. Narration is just plain terrible. Acolyte sounds like a silly version of the cowardly lion. Really detracted from what would otherwise be a good addition to the series.

I was extremely annoyed by the change in narrators. The difference in pronunciation and ridiculous voices for the main characters was a constant letdown and distraction throughout the book.

Great story. Very well written.

Tom Parker or Paul Michael Garcia did an excellent job on their narration throughout the series.

Its better than most of the other ringworld books as it ties up many of the old storylines and is takes ringworld out of just a book about the ring to a book about the ringworld and how it is changing the world of know space.

Great book.

PS> I think the voice used for the Kzinti was really off key. Kzinti do not sound like ellmer Fudd.

Ringworld (also available at Audible) is fantastic Sci Fi. The sequel to it, Ringworld Engineers is also good (not available at Audible), but beyond that, there is just a lot of the same stuff. Bad Protectors killing each other over--and over--and over. Still, the narrator was decent and the story was pretty good if you love the Ringworld.

Thoroughly enjoyable despite the narrator, Barret Whitener. Mr. Whitener has a highly annoying habit of reading phrases with an unwarranted ascending intonation. It adds an effect reminiscent of moaning and howling. Fortunately, thanks to the book's content, I was able to ignore it. Presently, as we are offered no choice of narrators, we should be happy to hear this book as offered. Sequel is implied. I look forward towards Audible providing us with other Niven books. (Even if they are read by Whitener.)

Larry Niven's Ringworld saga/extended thought experiment comes to a conclusion.

In the foreword, the author reveals that he never really intended for Ringworld to be more than a one-off story and interesting thought experiment. However, it captured the imagination, and so he returned for 3 more novels, adding the concept of Pak Protectors, another thought-experiment-turned-saga from his Known Space universe for novels 2 through 4.

We're at the final chapter, and there is now a burgeoning "fringe" war among the species of Known Space (mostly Humans and Kzinti) while the protector Tunesmith, Louis and their companions try to keep the Ringworld safe from invaders. The story is a pretty good windup to the saga...although it is now getting somewhat long in the tooth, and it is good that this is the last one.

However, I find the narrator pretty irritating. He makes Tunesmith sound like an overly cheery salesman (rather than a ghoul-turned-wizard) and Acolyte sound like a mentally subnormal child rather than an (adolescent) 7-foot tall feline predator. Especially a come-down after listening to the excellent narration of the previous book in the cycle, The Ringworld Throne.