The Mote in God's Eye

Paperback

English language

Published April 3, 1981 by Pocket.

ISBN:
9780671434038

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (1 review)

Science fiction classic about the rise, fall and subsequent rise of a civilization where the peak catastrophe is known as the "crazy eddy point". Introduces the concept of frictionless toilets that don't have any water in them but I suspect the authors didn't think it all the way through - I don't recall a negative air pressure that would keep odours in their rightfull place. Nevertheless a fascinating read. I haven't read this for donkeys years which is why I'm searching for an e-copy.

19 editions

Review of 'Mote in Gods Eye' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I have looked for and wanted to read this book ever since reading about it in an introduction to one of Niven's short story books. He mentioned it as one of his favorite books he'd written, which seemed to me to be a pretty good endorsement. So when I was once again scanning the shelves as I was browsing a bookstore, I was excited to see it - one battered old copy - sitting up there on the Powell's shelf. I snatched it, and soon thereafter read it on a trip to the east coast.

As expected, the book was excellent. A wonderful collaboration between [a:Jerry Pournelle|39099|Jerry Pournelle|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1216417671p2/39099.jpg] and [a:Larry Niven|12534|Larry Niven|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1182720933p2/12534.jpg], it is everything good sci-fi should be: clever, suspenseful, insightful. The moties serve as both a foil for ourselves, and a backdrop to test what we as a society will do in extreme situations. It's also full of …

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