Fallen Angels by Niven, Pournelle, and Flynn

[Carolyn Hill]

So, if you’re like me, sitting there feeling bitter and nostalgic about the fact that humans aren’t yet living on the moon or Mars or mining the asteroids, what do you do if you’re not a rocket scientist or wealthy enough to pay your way into space?

One thing I do is read (and reread) Fallen Angels by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Michael Flynn.

In Fallen Angels, the United States has turned its back on technology, a new ice age is engulfing much of North America, and science fiction fans risk losing their jobs and undergoing brain-altering reeducation. When a scoop-ship from the exiled orbiting space habitat is shot out of the sky over North Dakota, the few remaining science fiction fans rescue the two fallen astronauts, hiding them from the government and plotting to send them back into space.

The characterizations of the fans make the book a true delight for anyone who’s attended a SF convention: all the fanac, filking, and fen fun are rended in loving detail. (In fact, some of the characters’ names belong to real people.) The constant persecution of the fans by the government gives the characters a chance to express the anger and sorrow I share about the current state of the U.S. space program—a cathartic venting of spleen at the officials who drained NASA of vigor. And the fans’ ingenious plans make me cheer.

If you’re blue about not being out in the black, pick up a copy of Fallen Angels. It might make you smile.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

This book sounds like a lot of fun. I don't know about Pournelle and Flynn, but I've spotted Larry Niven at enough local conventions to figure he knows the setting and the people who inhabit it very well indeed.

(Is there someone in the book who is as passionate about NASA as you-know-who?)

 

[chrispenycate]

Throw another log on the fire. Ice can't kill you, since ice is a crystal, and crystals preserve. etc, Yes, fun, but hardly one of their more profound books; and I've heard that they were auctioning off roles in the book to fen, for charity (No, I wot not what charity)
Still, I've been to exactly one con in my life, so can't say how accurately they captured the fan mentality.

 

[Hawkshaw_245]

Probably, the worst-case scenario for a SF author would be having aliens make contact with us in a major, public way.

A 10-mile-wide mother ship full of cute, friendly grays hovers over NYC, and broadcasts multi-spectrum broadband greetings to all Earth's people.

No invasion, no probing, no cattle mutilation. They just pop out and say 'What's up, guys?"

Because the mother ship is actually the intergalactic version of the Queen Mary. We've just made contact with a bunch of tourists who just want to hang with us.

What a let down!!!!!

 

[Carolyn Hill]

Hawkshaw, I don't understand your post. It hasn't anything to do with Fallen Angels . . .

Teresa, yep, there are people in the book who speak about NASA in a manner very similar to Paul's rants!

 

[Dave]

That's a relief, I've not read this and Hawkshaw's post rather put me off.

 

[chrispenycate]

I just went down to the Baen site and downloaded the electronic version (not being able to find my paperback copy, and it being one of the E-books they're giving away for free)
The first chapter seems to have more in it than I remember from my dead tree version. It could, of course, be my memory, but has anyone done the comparison?

 

[yngvi]

I liked this one (and I'm mentioned in it!)

 

[Ice fyre]

I think I read this one ages ago, a good book, read a few short stories like it. Think I will look it out again.

 

[ChrisBfla]

This is a great book. I really loved it and as an amature astronomer with a pretty decent science background, I think the who global warming theory is full of holes. Not that waring is happening, just not that it is related to human activity.

Chris

 

[Roadkiller]

As already pointed out, this is available down at the Baen free library, so it's definetly worth the price

 

[Omphalos]

I love Niven, and I love even more Niven and Pournelle, but this book I could not stand. Thinly veiled pandering is all it was, with a highly improbably enemy regime and some downright silly chase scenes.

 

[Roadkiller]

One of the few Niven books I haven't read. I've downloaded the Baen electronic version and I'll give it a go.

Niven freely acknowledges it's a tribute to the fans. that's why it never appealed to me, I know nothing about organized fandom.

 

[Connavar]

I love Niven, and I love even more Niven and Pournelle, but this book I could not stand. Thinly veiled pandering is all it was, with a highly improbably enemy regime and some downright silly chase scenes.

Did they do Military sf books together ?

I have seen Pournelle books that sound like the type and Niven wiki page saying he did some good military sf one that was even compared in quality to Starship Troopers. Can you mention any of those books?

I wondering since i wanted to try Niven and why not Pournelle too, i havent read any good military sf since ST.

OT yes but i wanted to ask here instead making a new thread.

 

[Roadkiller]

Niven doesn't do military fiction very well. He's only had a couple of stories and they've been set in Known Space during the Man-Kzin wars. Part of the reason he opened up the MKW to other writers was that he knew there was more to say there but he wasn't the guy to do it.

Pournelle does military fiction very well. There are a long list of his stories based on solid military events and most are set in his Codominium universe.

For 'crossover' read the Niven/Pournelle novel The Mote in Gods's Eye and its' sequel. Both are set in Pournelle's Codominium although very late in the time frame.

 

[Connavar]

Niven doesn't do military fiction very well. He's only had a couple of stories and they've been set in Known Space during the Man-Kzin wars. Part of the reason he opened up the MKW to other writers was that he knew there was more to say there but he wasn't the guy to do it.

Pournelle does military fiction very well. There are a long list of his stories based on solid military events and most are set in his Codominium universe.

For 'crossover' read the Niven/Pournelle novel The Mote in Gods's Eye and its' sequel. Both are set in Pournelle's Codominium although very late in the time frame.

3 Codominium books are a place to read good Pournelle military sf ?


Speaking about The Man-Kzin wars, is that a short stories series, is that the reason they mention Niven and military sf ?

Im thinking about starting there with both authors and the The Mote in God's Eye.

 

[Pyan]

Speaking about The Man-Kzin wars, is that a short stories series, is that the reason they mention Niven and military sf ?

The Man-Kzin Wars books are a shared-universe series based on the species from Known Space, Conn - very few of the stories in the apparently endless series are by Niven or Pournelle. I found them - well, erratic in quality would probably be a trifle generous...

 

[Connavar]

The Man-Kzin Wars books are a shared-universe series based on the species from Known Space, Conn - very few of the stories in the apparently endless series are by Niven or Pournelle. I found them - well, erratic in quality would probably be a trifle generous...

Many of the first stories are by Niven according to fantasticfiction.

What about them ? I see only two Known Space books in his bilblio other that huge short stories series many has written.

What do you recommend of Niven except Riverworld stories ?

I want good read to see if he is something for me. Pournelle has simpler bilbiography to see what to read,where to start.

I wondered about his military sf cause i read his early stories was that kind.

 

[Rothgar]

Conn, I'd agree with Roadkiller. Definitely check out The Mote in God's Eye. You should like it. It's the military story type you are looking for and from what I understand Heinlein apparently even gave Niven and Pournelle advice when they were writing the book. Then if you like it read the sequel The Gripping Hand.

Just downloaded Fallen Angels from Baen.

 

[Pyan]

Many of the first stories are by Niven according to fantasticfiction.

Four out of forty-two, to date - hardly "many"...

What about them ? I see only two Known Space books in his bilblio other that huge short stories series many has written.

List: Known Space: The Future Worlds of Larry Niven

What do you recommend of Niven except Riverworld stories ?

If you mean Ringworld, (Riverworld is Phil Farmer), I'd start with those - then try Oath of Fealty, the Dream Park series, the Smoke Ring series, and the Heorot books - all well-thumbed on my bookshelf. But there's not that much military SF I can think of, except maybe Footfall and the Mote books..

Oh amd if you can find it, read The Flying Sorcerers - one of the funniest SFF novels I know...