description Ringworld Overview
'Ringworld' is a 1970 science fiction novel by Larry Niven that won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. The story follows an expedition of human and alien explorers, including Nessus the Pierson's Puppeteer and Speaker-to-Animals the Kzin, who investigate a massive artificial ring-shaped megastructure orbiting a distant star. Niven explores hard science fiction concepts related to the physics and engineering required to maintain such a massive construct. The book is a foundational text of the subgenre of hard science fiction and is highly regarded by fans of classic megastructure concepts.
help Ringworld FAQ
How large is the Ringworld in Larry Niven's novel?
The structure is roughly the diameter of Earth's orbit and forms a continuous band around its star. Its inner surface provides millions of times Earth's habitable area and uses rotating walls to create day-and-night cycles.
Who travels to the Ringworld?
The expedition consists of human Louis Wu, the Kzin warrior Speaker-to-Animals, the Puppeteer Nessus and the unusually lucky human Teela Brown. Their ship crashes after the Ringworld's defenses disable it.
What book comes after Ringworld?
The direct sequel is The Ringworld Engineers, published in 1980. Larry Niven later continued the sequence with The Ringworld Throne and Ringworld's Children.
Did Ringworld win both the Hugo and Nebula awards?
Yes, it won the Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1971 Hugo Award for Best Novel. It also received the Locus Award, making it one of the defining hard-science-fiction novels of its period.
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