Ringworld by Larry Niven

Why I read this book?

This was the July official pick the Sword and Laser Bookclub.

What's the book about?

The book tells us the story of an unlikely group selected to go far in the unknown space and study a new world, if you want, that has been built by some other entity. The known space, threaten by a wave that will reduce everything to nothing and this just might be the perfect option to save several life forms.  

What was the thing I liked the most? 

It would have to be the world construction. The author was consistent with the language and environment construction in itself. 

What about the main character?

Louis Wu is a 200 year old guy, kept alive and young thanks to a plant derivate that the human species found years ago and that apparently almost everyone uses. He has lived a lot and through the years has developed a liking for being alone and far away traveling. He is supposed to be a smart and full of knowledge person, but it didn't read that way to me; he read mostly like someone full of himself.

Final thoughts

I didn't like the book...I didn't like a lot of things of the book. Teela Brown, the only main female character is portrayed as an airhead, ridiculous way of thinking, no logic at all...ugh! just frustrating. Louis, as I mentioned, is just full of himself and doesn't really bring much to the picture to be honest with you. I read someone's review saying that it was funny...really? I didn't see it, but maybe is just me. Also it was so slow!!!! I'm not a diehard Sci-Fi fan, but I expected some more action. During the first 100 pages of the book (about 30% of the book) they not even talk about Ringworld at all, is just the recruiting of the team that might be going on an expedition, but will they?. 

That said, I can see how this is a very influential book; as I said, the author is very creative with his world construction and even with language construction. I believe that probably, because this book makes part of a series, it works as just an introduction to the world. Unfortunately it did not make me want to continue the series.