Timeline Ringworld

Alexander Slanina wrote:
 > Hello folks !
 >
 > I read "Ringworld" some time ago and now bought many other books from
 > Niven, which cover the Ringworld series.
 >
 > I just wanted to know, where to find information in what order to read
 > the books.
 >
 > Best would be the order to read ALL of his books.
 >
 > I also got "Man Kzin Wars". Is it a Ringworld book too, or a separat
 > series ?
 >
 > best regards
 >
 > Alex.


Try <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.chronology.org/niven/" target="_blank">http://www.chronology.org/niven/</a>


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Drat, forgot to edit signature - I'm "none".

The Man Kzin Wars stories are (by and large) written by authors other than LN, and as
such, are not regarded by most fans as "canonical", i.e. they do not form a true part of
Known Space history. They were, however, written with Larry's permission.


"none" <none RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

 >
 >http://www.chronology.org/noframes/niven/timeline.html
 >
 >- timeline for Known Space, including the Ringworld books.
 >
 >
 >Alexander Slanina <alexander.slanina RemoveThis @tugraz.at> wrote:
 >
  >>Hello folks !
  >>
  >>I read "Ringworld" some time ago and now bought many other books from
  >>Niven, which cover the Ringworld series.
  >>
  >>I just wanted to know, where to find information in what order to read
  >>the books.
  >>
  >>Best would be the order to read ALL of his books.
  >>
  >>I also got "Man Kzin Wars". Is it a Ringworld book too, or a separat
  >>series ?
  >>
  >>best regards
  >>
  >>Alex.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Timeline Ringworld 

in article rpml31h9595o1tc08arjv3dgtf4ricc8s8 DeleteThis @4ax.com, Alexander Slanina at
alexander.slanina DeleteThis @tugraz.at wrote on 3/18/05 6:46 AM:

 > Hello folks !

Howdy!
 >
 > I read "Ringworld" some time ago and now bought many other books from
 > Niven, which cover the Ringworld series.

Cool. You have many hours of enjoyment ahead. Be warned, some Niven books
are very close to 'known space' but aren't actually in the same universe as
Ringworld.

 >
 > I just wanted to know, where to find information in what order to read
 > the books.
 >
 > Best would be the order to read ALL of his books.
 >
 > I also got "Man Kzin Wars". Is it a Ringworld book too, or a separat
 > series ?

Man-Kzin is iffy.

While it takes place *in theory* in the 'known space' (aka ringworld)
universe, it veered off into weird territory and I don't believe any of it
is considered 'official' any more. There are quotes from Larry about others
'breaking the playground equipment'


 >
 > best regards
 >
 > Alex.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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ANIM8Rfsk wrote:

 > Man-Kzin is iffy.
 >
 > While it takes place *in theory* in the 'known space' (aka ringworld)
 > universe, it veered off into weird territory and I don't believe any of it
 > is considered 'official' any more. There are quotes from Larry about others
 > 'breaking the playground equipment'

This is one of those things that has become "public knowledge" (and even
I've repeated it so I'm not innocent), but I'm not sure that it's true.
Last time I tried to verify that Niven had said that the Man-Kzin
writers "broke the playground equipment" (or words to that effect) I was
unable to find him actually stating that. Instead I was only able to
find him talking about his _desire_ for them to not break the playground
equipment:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.books.larry-niven/msg/1639f4be79894b6c" target="_blank">http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.books.larry-niven/msg/1639f4be79894b6c</a>

The Compuserve transcript mentioned is actually here (the question which
prompted the response was even asked by John D. Gwinner, and old denizen
of a.b.l-n and r.a.sf.s):

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.larryniven.org/chatlogs/transcript.html" target="_blank">http://www.larryniven.org/chatlogs/transcript.html</a>

The only other hit for Google's `"playground equipment" niven' is a Bad
Astronomy bulletin board where someone is repeating the memory of Niven
stating it, but without reference. Searching for `"darker geometry"
playground' fails to come up with anything either. _A Dark Geometry_ is
the story which allegedly prompted Niven to make this comment, so the
story goes.

Does anyone have a concrete reference to Niven actually saying this, or
is it one of those things that's just a collective delusion?

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On 3/22/2005 3:37 PM Erik Max Francis cranked up the brainbox and said:
 > Does anyone have a concrete reference to Niven actually saying this, or
 > is it one of those things that's just a collective delusion?

I don't know about the quote, but I have heard he was less than pleased at "A
Darker Geometry", and the liberties it took. That's the only story I have
heard the "breaking the playground equipment" quote directly attached to, but
I Cannot speak to it's veracity. It very well could be someone rephrasing
Niven's dissatisfaction with something, using one of his more famous quotes
about his playground.

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jesus X wrote:

 > I don't know about the quote, but I have heard he was less than pleased at "A
 > Darker Geometry", and the liberties it took. That's the only story I have
 > heard the "breaking the playground equipment" quote directly attached to, but
 > I Cannot speak to it's veracity. It very well could be someone rephrasing
 > Niven's dissatisfaction with something, using one of his more famous quotes
 > about his playground.

Right. I actually mentioned that story as being the source of the claim.

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On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:37:21 -0800, Erik Max Francis wrote:

 > Last time I tried to verify that Niven had said that the Man-Kzin
 > writers "broke the playground equipment" (or words to that effect) I was
 > unable to find him actually stating that. Instead I was only able to
 > find him talking about his _desire_ for them to not break the playground
 > equipment:
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.books.larry-niven/msg/1639f4be79894b6c</font" target="_blank">http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.books.larry-niven/msg/1639f4be...94b6c&l</a>>

Undoubtedly you remember this thread from 2002, which referenced your
thread above:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.books.larry-niven/browse_frm/thread/8b6eb9506fde9972/" target="_blank">http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.books.larry-niven/browse_frm/t...ad/8b6e</a>

It seems to me that Andy Williams's reply that day implies pretty strongly
that his statement is the origin of the rumor that Niven said it.

Of course it's not proof, but it seems to say that:
a) Andy Williams acknowledges saying it
b) Andy Williams does not know of any time when Niven said it


Particularly, when you read the originating post at
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.books.larry-niven/msg/fb32e3ae26c85f0e" target="_blank">http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.books.larry-niven/msg/fb32e3ae26c85f0e</a>

you see this at the bottom:

 > This is a quote from the Niven conference on CIS June 5, 1996.
 > They've damaged the playground equipment.

In context (especially with respect to Andy's 2002 reply), it's obvious
that "This is a quote" refers to the quoted section immediately above "This
is a quote", while "They've damaged" is Andy's personal statement. But
seeing those two lines right next to each other, taken out of context,
appears to assert that Niven said it.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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On 3/22/2005 4:34 PM Erik Max Francis cranked up the brainbox and said:
 > Right. I actually mentioned that story as being the source of the claim.

Totally missed that. Didn't see any of it for some reason. Yay for scrollbars...

--
jesus X [ Booze-fueled paragon of pointless cruelty and wanton sadism. ]
email [ jesus_x @ mozillanews.org ]
web [ <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.mozillanews.org" target="_blank">http://www.mozillanews.org</a> ]
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warning [ Don't touch that! You might mutate your fingers. ]<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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