A Conversation for The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven - PR Version

Peer Review: A87869588 - The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven

Post 1

Gnomon - time to move on

Entry: The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven - A87869588
Author: Gnomon - time to move on - U151503

I wrote this years ago, but it seems to be complete other than needing a few links.

Is it of interest?


A87869588 - The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven

Post 2

Bluebottle

DEFINITELY!
Because of your earlier entries I've been collecting smiley - book by Ian (M) Banks and coincidentally I picked up the final, missing 'Culture' novel from my collection from the CRY charity shop yesterday (Care and Relief for the Young – it is the only charity shop I know that runs a loyalty card scheme in their shops. This seems odd as I thought the idea was to raise money for charity, but apparently by using the loyalty cards each time you purchase something it makes it easier for them to claim gift aid.)

So keep writing these entries 'cos some of us read them, and then read the stuff you've written about too, and in order to read what you've written about we spend money in charity shops dedicated to helping people and curing diseases and in a small way the whole smiley - earth becomes a slightly better place.

I'll read the entry now, I read 'Ringworld' after reading your previous entry, you know…

<BB<


A87869588 - The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven

Post 3

SashaQ - happysad

Thanks Gnomon smiley - biggrin Yes indeed it is of interest, as I see it will link in well with several Entries in the Edited Guide smiley - ok

I had a few questions on first readthrough:

The header is the name of a world, and then the next line is the novel/publication that the world featured in, is that right?

"The puppeteers are a civilised alien race who are the most cautious in the galaxy." - is the galaxy the Milky Way?

"Niven mis-spells this as Kemplerer." - It is a misspelling by Niven and not a publishing typo?

I can't visualise the forces on the spinning cosmic macaroni. The strains are small because the tube is kilometres in diameter? The axis is the line through the centre of the circular cross-section of the tube? How does the axis relate to the tangled mass?

Who invented the Smoke Ring?

smiley - ok


A87869588 - The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven

Post 4

Tavaron da Quirm - Arts Editor

A good Entry. smiley - smiley I agree that there are still lots of links to add.

Like Sasha I also have problems to imagine how the Macaroni work.


A87869588 - The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven

Post 5

Gnomon - time to move on

Some good questions there.

"The header is the name of a world, and then the next line is the novel/publication that the world featured in, is that right? " - right. I could change it to "- first featured in " followed by the name of the publication to make it clearer, and also make it clear that "Plateau" is the name given to the planet.

"The puppeteers are a civilised alien race who are the most cautious in the galaxy." - is the galaxy the Milky Way?
- Yes, the galaxy is the Milky Way. I don't think you need to specify, when you say "the galaxy", just as you don't have to say "Earth's moon" every time you talk about "the moon". Incidentally, the word "galaxy" is Greek and means "milky way".

"Niven mis-spells this as Kemplerer." - It is a misspelling by Niven and not a publishing typo?
- I suppose it could be the publishers rather than the author. I should reword this to just refer to it as a misspelling without saying who did it.

"I can't visualise the forces on the spinning cosmic macaroni. The strains are small because the tube is kilometres in diameter? The axis is the line through the centre of the circular cross-section of the tube? How does the axis relate to the tangled mass? "

I'll have to think about how to reword this to make it clearer. I find it difficult to describe three dimensional objects so that others can visualise them.

Who invented the Smoke Ring? - don't know. I did see the name somewhere but forgot to record it. Now I'll have to do a bit of hunting to see if I can find it again.


A87869588 - The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven

Post 6

Tavaron da Quirm - Arts Editor

About the macaroni... I can imagine what they look like (I think) but not how they move. If that makes things any more easy for you.


A87869588 - The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven

Post 7

Gnomon - time to move on

I've been reading up on the macaroni idea myself and see that I've got it slightly wrong. I'll rewrite it.

I've also discovered that Niven did invent the Smoke Ring, but needed help with the details so he got his friend, physicist and fellow science fiction writer Robert L Forward to help.

(Forward, by the way, is responsible for one of the worst s.f. books I've read, 'Dragon's Egg').


A87869588 - The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven

Post 8

Gnomon - time to move on

I've added a few links and have addressed all the points made.

I've rewritten the description of Cosmic Macaroni, but it still might not make much sense.


Congratulations - Your Entry has been Recommended for the Edited Guide!

Post 9

h2g2 auto-messages

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!


Congratulations - Your Entry has been Recommended for the Edited Guide!

Post 10

Tavaron da Quirm - Arts Editor

Congratulations! smiley - bubbly


Congratulations - Your Entry has been Recommended for the Edited Guide!

Post 11

Gnomon - time to move on

smiley - redwine Thanks!


Congratulations - Your Entry has been Recommended for the Edited Guide!

Post 12

SashaQ - happysad

Congratulations! smiley - redwine

Yes, the cosmic macaroni is clear now, about the macaroni cylinders rotating rather than the whole tangled mass smiley - ok


Key: Complain about this post

More Conversations for The Strange Worlds of Larry Niven - PR Version

Write an Entry

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

Write an entry
Read more