N-Space

On an L.A. talk show Arthur C. Clarke was once asked to name his favorite writer. His answer was "Larry Niven." Countless others agree. The Baltimore Sun and Kirkus Reviews have both dubbed Niven "the premier writer of hard SF," and Gregory Benford has hailed him as "the paradigm of SF personality of the last several decade." Now Larry Niven presents us with his undisputed masterwork. N-Space contains, very simply, the best SF of his career--marvelous fiction, a wealth of anecdotes and gossip, plus Niven's own special brand of wit and excitement. Contents: 1 • Introduction: The Maker of Worlds • (1990) • essay by Tom Clancy 3 • On Niven • (1992) • essay by Frederik Pohl and Steven Barnes and David Brin and John Hertz and Wendy All and Gregory Benford 15 • Dramatis Personae • (1990) • essay by Larry Niven 25 • Foreword: Playgrounds for the Mind • (1990) • essay by Larry Niven 31 • From World of Ptavvs (excerpt) • (1990) • shortfiction by Larry Niven 36 • Bordered in Black • (1966) • shortstory by Larry Niven 56 • Convergent Series • (1967) • shortstory by Larry Niven (variant of The Long Night) 62 • All the Myriad Ways • [Time Travel - Parallel Universe] • (1968) • shortstory by Larry Niven 73 • From A Gift From Earth (Excerpt) • (1990) • shortfiction by Larry Niven 90 • The Meddler • (1968) • novelette by Larry Niven 112 • Passerby • [State] • (1969) • shortstory by Larry Niven 126 • Down in Flames • (1969) • essay by Larry Niven 139 • From Ringworld (Excerpt) • (1990) • shortfiction by Larry Niven 148 • The Fourth Profession • (1971) • novelette by Larry Niven 195 • "Shall We Indulge in Rishathra?" • (1978) • shortfiction by Larry Niven 195 • "Shall We Indulge in Rishathra?" • (1978) • interior artwork by William Rotsler 199 • Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex • (1969) • essay by Larry Niven 208 • Inconstant Moon • (1971) • novelette by Larry Niven 234 • What Can You Say About Chocolate Covered Manhole Covers? • (1971) • shortstory by Larry Niven 245 • Cloak of Anarchy • [Known Space] • (1972) • shortstory by Larry Niven 269 • From Protector (excerpt) • (1990) • shortfiction by Larry Niven 279 • The Hole Man • (1974) • shortstory by Larry Niven 293 • Night on Mispec Moor • [State] • (1974) • shortstory by Larry Niven 305 • Flare Time • (1978) • novella by Larry Niven 347 • The Locusts • (1979) • novelette by Larry Niven and Steven Barnes 389 • From The Mote in God's Eye (excerpt) • (1990) • shortfiction by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle 394 • Building the Mote in God's Eye • [A Step Farther Out] • (1976) • essay by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle 420 • Brenda • (1988) • novella by Larry Niven 465 • The Return of William Proxmire • (1989) • shortstory by Larry Niven 475 • The Tale of the Jinni and the Sisters • (1988) • shortstory by Larry Niven 491 • Madness Has Its Place • [Man-Kzin Wars] • (1990) • novelette by Larry Niven 519 • Niven's Laws (1990 version) • (1990) • essay by Larry Niven 528 • The Kiteman • [Integral Trees] • (1990) • novelette by Larry Niven 571 • The Alien in Our Minds • (1987) • essay by Larry Niven 580 • Space • (1990) • essay by Larry Niven 597 • Bibliography of Larry Niven • (1990) • essay by uncredited