The Mote in God's Eye

By: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle

Narrated by: L J Ganser

Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins

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)

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.

Great Story

Love Pournelle, this is a fantastic story and reading. i look forward to more in the series. this was my first audio book.

There is Something about the Narrator's Voice....

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The story is a classic of SF, but I would not recommend this audio book. There is something about the narrator, his voice and/or style, that just grates. Be sure to listen to the sample before you buy, and imagine it for 20 hours. I can't quite put my finger on what is so annoying about his presentation, but for me, it's there.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Roderick Blaine is the story's protagonist, and while he is certainly engaging, the most enjoyable character for me Kevin Renner, for his wit and approach to problems.

Was The Mote in God's Eye worth the listening time?

If you can put up with the narrator, the story is great. I've read the book several times. I listen to the book in short doses.

classic good read

as always, great teamwork between two great authors. well read, no distraction. any of their collaborations is well worth the read.

I liked the Story but overall it just draged.

It was a good story line but, it just seemed to drag on and on.

The narrator was disappointing

The title just about sums my review up. I got this book because it was one of my favorite SF novels many, many years ago and I’m pleased to report that it remains so. And it may be, that after listening to really good narrators I have become spoiled. And I don’t want to put anyone off getting this book as the narration isn’t bad, it’s just not as good as it could have been.

Meet another species

The most detailed and believable story of humans meeting another species. A true work of art in writing.

a good book. an horrible interpretation.

I loved this book when I read it many years ago, and I still love the story. I had to give up listening and start reading on kindle after a few hours though, since the narrator was simply destroying the book with a farcical interpretation and voices utterly ridiculous.

A classic and the best alien species ever

I have read this book many times. The paperback is almost falling apart. The Audible version is very enjoyable and a marvelous way to experience the novel again.

Some aspects of the novel seem a little trite these days and there are some derivative bits and pieces. This said, the novel moves along at a great pace and is genuinely exciting. The Moties are a great invention and the whole species is well thought out. I won't say too much.

Overall, a very fun and entertaining novel.

engaging

A few out dated ideas made me chuckle and roll my eyes a bit but besides that, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. For an older book I was happy to have found a unique story.