Fate of Worlds

By: Larry Niven, Edward M. Lerner

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

The explosive finale to the Ringworld and the Fleet of Worlds series...

For decades, the spacefaring species of known space have battled over the largest artifact - and grandest prize - in the galaxy: the all-but-limitless resources and technology of the Ringworld. Now, without warning, the Ringworld has vanished, leaving behind three rival war fleets.

If the fallen civilization of the Ringworld can no longer be despoiled of its secrets, the puppeteers will be forced to surrender theirs - everyone knows that they are cowards. But the crises converging upon the trillion puppeteers of the Fleet of Worlds go far beyond even the onrushing armadas.

Adventurer Louis Wu and the exiled puppeteer known only as Hindmost, marooned together for more than a decade, escaped from the Ringworld before it disappeared. And throughout those years, as he studied Ringworld technology, Hindmost has plotted to reclaim his power.

One way or another, the fabled puppeteer race may have come to the end of its days.

Larry Niven is the multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Ringworld series, as well as many other science fiction masterpieces. His Footfall, coauthored with Jerry Pournelle, was a New York Times best seller. He lives in Chatsworth, California.

Edward M. Lerner has degrees in physics and computer science, a background that kept him mostly out of trouble until he began writing science fiction full time. His books include Probe, Moonstruck, and the collection Creative Destruction. He lives in Virginia with his wife, Ruth.

©2012 Larry Niven and Edward M. Lerner (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A new Known Space book, particularly one with new information about Puppeteers and their doings behind the scenes of human history, needs recommending within the science fiction community about as much as a new Harry Potter novel does, well, anywhere. But Niven and Lerner have produced a novel that can stand on its own as well as part of the Known Space franchise." ( Locus)

"Exceptional freshness and suspense.… Full of startling revelations about human and puppeteer politics." ( Booklist)

A fitting end to a great story from 42 years ago

This is the end of the story that started with Ringworld written in 1970, then some prequels were written that are pretty good and a must read if you are getting into these books so start there if you haven't read Ringworld years ago.

There isn't much to say about these reviews of books that are latter in a series other to say that its good or bad because if you have read the past books and liked them then its safe to say if other reviews say its good you don't have to know much more that that - well this is a great book, its the last one but there could be many more of them if the Authors want to write more of them.

This is a great book so if you liked the others then you will like this one.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Not - really - a RingWorld book.

This book, while set in the Ringworld universe, has very little Ringworld in it. None of the actual story takes place on Ringworld, it is only mentioned as background and side-story for what I'll call "The Flight of the Puppeteers".

Tom Weiner gives an even, consistent performance.

Nothing sticks out in my mind regarding this story. Basically, if you are a Ringworld fan, you need to listen to (or read) this story just for completions sake.

It's definitely listenable and mildly entertaining, but I sit here a month or so later and can't really recall much about what happened.

I really expected more from Niven / Lerner.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Many loose ends now secure and no sharp corners.

Larry Niven told me that if I read "Fleet of Worlds" and "Fate of Worlds" all my questions about Puppeteers would be answered - and then he changed the subject. That made me laugh so and I came up with another question about something else and he answered that one. This was about 6 years ago. I didn't much care for "Ringworld's Children," and "Fleet of Worlds" was awkward. Niven and Lerner wrap up many of the Tales of Known Space here, take a couple of subtle pokes at society along the way, and there is pretty much all the Puppeteer Action you could want. I finally got my answers, they just had to travel at sub-light speed to get to me or something... (About the same length of time New Horizons is taking to get to Pluto/Charon.) It was worth the wait. I have to give the book a 5 star rating for story because Mr. Niven gave us an ending to a story that unfolded along a road with many forks. I had forgotten about some of the characters and knowing what happened to them, "In the end" was satisfying. Niven cares about his fans, and this book shows it. It is also less awkward then the last collaborations I have read. This book flows very nicely and is full of action and surprises. Again, thank you Larry for giving us a conclusion.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

terrible!

I struggled to finish. can not imagine trying to read this! terrible reading as well.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good conclusion to the Ringworld stories

Where does Fate of Worlds rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very good job of winding up the Ringworld stories, including the back stories and side stories introduced throughout the books. Not as awe inspiring as the original Ringworld stories but that's to be expected in this mode of answering the questions rather than trying to raise more.

Real shame about the narration - I know Americans can mangle names (including my own, although funnily enough in exactly the opposite way to this instance) but someone really should have told Tom how to say the main protagonist's name… Other than that glaring inconsistency with the other audible versions of the series he did a fair job (although Hindmost for some reason has a movie trailer style deep voice somewhat incongruous with the character in my, and every other narrator's, view).

Overall, if you like the other Ringworld books then this is a must read/hear.

What other book might you compare Fate of Worlds to and why?

All the Ringworld stories

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Tom Weiner?

Barrett Whitener, he did a great job on Ringworld's Children. And got the name of the main character right...

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No profound feeling of loss or elation one feels at the end of a truly excellent book but rather a sense of conclusion and satisfaction that goes with it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent finish!!

Excellent finish to one of the best sci-fi series ever. Read ringworld 40 yrs ago and just learned of sequel stories. The final story concluded the tale very well.. Thank you Mr. Niven

Glorious, Epic, Awesome, Surprising & Enthralling!

I was very impressed with this story. I couldn't predict what would happen next, and I was constantly wanting to know what would happen next. This was some good hard core sci-fi and a must read if you like Ringworld and the Known Universe.

voices<br />

the narrator did not give the voices their proper tones and it made the listening much more difficult

A nice ending

A good read bringing the ring world and after of world stories to a close. AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Good book, skip books 3 and 4. Great new narrator

This final book of the series is worth getting. Books 3 and 4 can be skipped. This story stands essentially alone and diverges greatly from the series. The ringworld itself disappears in the very beginning making this a non-Ringworld based book. It centers on war and politics - quite good. The narrator change breathes new life into the book series.

Disappointing

Disappointing as it sewellel too much on a complex past, and it was sometimes a difficult listen with the spiralling reflective conversations
I skipped a lot towards the end as I lost interest

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

only 2 hours, I don't know if I can continue

What would have made Fate of Worlds better?

Unsure how to review this adaptation as I have only endured two hours. I am contemplating in stopping as the main narration is so dull it is sending me to sleep. As a result, I can not follow the story.

How could the performance have been better?

Tom Weiner voice for the main narration is too monotonous. Each time the narrator performs narrative dialog I lose concentration. Character performance is fine, but sometimes too close to the main narrative voice.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful