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The Mote in God's Eye

By: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
Narrated by: L J Ganser
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Publisher's summary

Writing separately, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle are responsible for a number of science fiction classics, such as the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Ringworld, Debt of Honor, and The Integral Trees. Together they have written the critically acclaimed best-sellers Inferno, Footfall, and The Legacy of Heorot, among others.

The Mote In God's Eye is their acknowledged masterpiece, an epic novel of mankind's first encounter with alien life that transcends the genre. No lesser an authority than Robert A. Heinlein called it "possibly the finest science fiction novel I have ever read".

©1991 Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

  • All-Time Best Science Fiction Novels (Locus Magazine)

What listeners say about The Mote in God's Eye

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,277
  • 4 Stars
    2,739
  • 3 Stars
    1,298
  • 2 Stars
    373
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Performance
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  • 3 Stars
    790
  • 2 Stars
    194
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    2,779
  • 4 Stars
    1,860
  • 3 Stars
    923
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    128

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator -fail

Great story...very difficult to stay focused with the reader. Reminds me of a boring college professor trying to read War of the Worlds to the class.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favourite novels

What made the experience of listening to The Mote in God's Eye the most enjoyable?

A great story, with rich descriptive language and a great storyline.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Mote in God's Eye?

The midshipmen's journey on Mote Prime

What three words best describe L J Ganser’s performance?

Mediocre at best. Inconsistencies in characters voices, some major mispronounciations ( e.g. "murkeson's" eye instead of murchison's eye), shocking attempt at a Scottish accent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning and captivating

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Probably one of the best sci-fi books ever listen to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sally, reminds me of my wife.

Which character – as performed by L J Ganser – was your favorite?

Irish sailor.... Can't remember his name

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good SciFi story

It was hard to get into at first because the narrator seemed noisy. Maybe it was because the last book I listened to had a really good narrator, but this narrator took a lot of getting used to. The story was good, though, and I can recommend this audiobook.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well paced, fascinating story.

What made the experience of listening to The Mote in God's Eye the most enjoyable?

L J Gansers performance was excellent. I read the book many years ago, taking it in audio form was really a nice embellishment to a great story. I listen at work, so at times I needed to tune out for a few minutes to focus. This was never a problem at all.

What about L J Ganser’s performance did you like?

Each character had a unique voice, they all seemed to fit very well.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

one of the best scifi books of all time

This book was great when I read it in high school, and now 18 plus years later its still just as good . The narration was perfect the ideas played vocally just as well as mentally.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent book

A stellar sci-fi novel. The author treats us to an incredible tale of first contact, with aliens similar enough to relate to, yet alien enough to have one on the edge of their seat throughout.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great

One of the best science fiction novels I’ve read
Great in all aspects in all areas

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Missing depth

What did you like best about The Mote in God's Eye? What did you like least?

First encounter with intelligent aliens aught to be a thrilling, intense and astonishing, and after reading this book I am a little disappointed. The plot isn't too bad, but the characters and dialogue could be more engaging.

this book is worth reading because of the plots and secretive nature of humans.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting aspect of the story is the aliens themselves and how the humans treat them; what they try to keep away from them, and what they chose to share.

Politics and, surprisingly enough, the action scenes where not very interesting.

Which scene was your favorite?

The first encounter with a live alien.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes, probably.

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