I read this book a little over a decade ago and I think it's telling that I remember every dope-ass detail of the worldbuilding in this story and literally *nothing* about the characters or plot. Niven was ridiculously good at exactly one thing. -R
@thegoodmudkip3652
3 жыл бұрын
Wasn't expecting to see you here. Love your mythology videos! Could you please cover some stories from the Railway Series some time? I'd love to see that. Stay legendary!
@markchapman6800
3 жыл бұрын
And was only good at that until 1990 or so.
@jameswilson8433
3 жыл бұрын
Hey, Red! Personally I prefer the Beowulf Schaeffer stories when it comes to Niven, although I am fond of A Goat in Maud's Eye. You could probably have some fun with Dream Park, Niven having fun with comparative mythos and gaming.
@femmedracula6857
3 жыл бұрын
Kind of reminds me of Arthur C. Clarke
@mr.tuxedocat5389
3 жыл бұрын
hey... maybe... just maaaaaayyyybbbbeeee... you could maybeeeeee... mayyybbbeeee... maybe... mmmmmmmmmm... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... yyyyyyyyyyyyy... bbbbbbbbbbbbbb... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... talk about some Niven and stuffs... oooooooorrrreeeeee... MAYBE!!! percy jackson... or maybe none of those things because this is you own life and you control it :) (Yes I Think I'm Funny)
@booksandtropes
3 жыл бұрын
"I'm not going to reveal exactly what it is because I know a lot of people ignore the spoiler warning even though they intend to read the book"..... no need to call me out like that haha
@konstantinkh
3 жыл бұрын
This is most definitely a case where if this video made you curious about the book, you absolutely should read it. So while this might have been excessive caution about spoilers in many other cases, I think it was the right call in this particular case. And also, go read the book.
@l0velyon384
3 жыл бұрын
SAAAAAAAAAME
@wendychavez5348
3 жыл бұрын
I never worry about spoilers alerts because to me the journey is more important than the destination. Even if the spoilers are one interpretation of the journey, it's my interpretation that matters so no amount of information is going to spoil it.
@tarod3
3 жыл бұрын
A billion years ago they were human like and also the only animals on the ring. Now the ring has obligate carnivores. Read to see if any cows evolved from people.
@clouddd8053
3 жыл бұрын
We like when you talk about books you love as well!
@alyssaagnew4147
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I think we can all understand that. Much as it's nice to rant and rave at something that deserves it, you also need to talk about things you genuinely love. Does wonders for both your physical and mental health.
@eldrago19
3 жыл бұрын
I like it more than when you talk about books you don't love, personally.
@lida7529
3 жыл бұрын
@@eldrago19 Same for me.
@TheDisplacerBeast
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah!
@tgs9929
3 жыл бұрын
Ditto its nice to have some positivity along with with comedy of the criticism
@tinahawley320
3 жыл бұрын
Dominic: *gushing about worldbuilding* Me: *absolutely fascinated with the glittery fabulousness of his nails to the point of distraction*
@milosz111
3 жыл бұрын
Hell yeah, those nails rock!
@Yarblocosifilitico
3 жыл бұрын
my Cyberpunk experience in a nutshell x)
@Falcon-doing-doodles
3 жыл бұрын
Oh thank goodness, I thought it was just me
@SmitzPNK
3 жыл бұрын
Damn it why'd you have to point out his nails now im fixated on them
@meg2831
3 жыл бұрын
I kept just following his hands with my eyes
@xenasBS
3 жыл бұрын
"I know people ignore the spoiler warning even though they plan to read the book." Don't call me out like that
@eshowoman
3 жыл бұрын
I feel seen and I don’t like it!
@miralyse.3846
3 жыл бұрын
To be honest I like spoilers. Even if I'm going to read or watch the story. I'm not a big fan of surprises or bad endings so I like to know in advance what I'm getting. If the story is bad, a surpise end is not going to rescue it - and if the story is good I will enjoy it in any case.
@DiceFTW273
3 жыл бұрын
I worked with someone who was like that. Dude would ask me to spoil DBS, which would hype him up making him want to watch it. I could never understand but always told him.
@BlueMerStudios
3 жыл бұрын
Dom, at this point you shouldn't have to apologize for liking swords. They're very cool! And I will not ever be disappointed if you show off your entire collection in a video someday
@atiredfloridian777
3 жыл бұрын
I'd be down for that.
@anthonyparker2674
3 жыл бұрын
I disagree that the monofilament blade of time would go through titanium like hot butter.
@emilyrln
3 жыл бұрын
@@anthonyparker2674 lol wording. "As if the titanium were hot butter."
@anthonyparker2674
3 жыл бұрын
@@emilyrln meh, pretty sure that like is acceptable for a direct comparison. Since I feel this going off on a grammar tangent moving forward I will go ahead and kill the bit; it would feel like moving an empty handle around and not remotely like cutting anything. It was a semantics point of argument made in an attempt at humor.
@emilyrln
3 жыл бұрын
@@anthonyparker2674 ahh, I see. Alas, the poor bit. It had a good life. 😂
@VforVendettas
3 жыл бұрын
This isn't really related, but I miss libraries.
@Strawberry92fs
3 жыл бұрын
omfg I haven't even thought about libraries in ages, but as someone who prefers reading physical books, the ability to just go and rent a book for free, and be able to keep re-renting it until you're done with it instead of having to blind buy books and hope you'll like them after just glancing through it in the bookstore, is an outstandingly amazing feature of society. when the plague is over I need to figure out where the big library in my town actually is. I know there is one, probably downtown, but the local one is tiny and kinda shitty.
@MarquisdeL3
3 жыл бұрын
Same! I've got a whole list of books that I want to check out, but don't want to buy. But instead I've been rereading books I already own.
@curiousworld7912
3 жыл бұрын
I was a librarian for many years, and I can't imagine a better job. I wonder how many people can say they wake up thinking 'Oh, goodie! I get to go to work today!'
@jeniel93
3 жыл бұрын
Its not the same thing, but a lot of libraries partner with online library organizations (hoopla, kanopy, etc). Been using them more since the pandemic began and it's helped a ton!
@marcusalm7350
3 жыл бұрын
Considering the video is on ringworld... I don't really miss libraries right now for some reason.
@FlorenceFox
3 жыл бұрын
Honestly, I wish everyone would stop focusing so much on negativity. I can't be the only one who wants to hear people talking about good things that they actually like more, can I?
@dirtydeeds4free553
3 жыл бұрын
Yes i agree. But usually negative responses are more common than positive. Granted criticism is good, but negativity is usually bad.
@SarifaXionic
3 жыл бұрын
That’s called toxic positivity. Things can’t be all good all the time. Life doesn’t work like that it has negative with the good and when you ignore the negative you become a walking bomb of it.
@NoArtisticLimitation
3 жыл бұрын
Tbh, I just like his videos, doesn’t matter if he likes or hates the content he’s talking about. That said, I really do appreciate how much he goes through to get videos out.
@Insane-Howl-Cowl
3 жыл бұрын
I completely agree. So many channels just complain about the hobby they love that I start to wonder "what DO you like about the hobby?" It's fine to offer critiques, but only if it comes from a place of being better or admitting faults in something we enjoy.
@patriciaschonrock2929
3 жыл бұрын
After everything in 2020 I’ve notice I’ve stopped watching a lot of KZitemrs who tend to be more negative I’m just tired of it,
@scottmartin5990
3 жыл бұрын
Niven's weaknesses with plots applies only to his novels, though often mitigated by co-authors. His true strength is in short stories, where he's a master of tight plotting. This also applies to his characterization--he's great at swiftly introducing fascinating characters, but not so hot at sustaining and developing them for an entire novel. I highly recommend all of his short story collections, many of which are set in Known Space.
@CL-go2ji
Жыл бұрын
I never realy conciously noticed this ... but it´s true!
@rainykaty7875
3 жыл бұрын
I know I'm way late to the party but had to point this out. Ages ago I read a Niven collection that contained some autobiographical info. He told how a book critic pointed out that "Ringworld" could be boiled down to "The Wizard of Oz" in space. Niven's kneejerk response was that the critic was an idiot, but after a good night's sleep awoke and realized "Yep, I sure did rewrite that!" Louis Wu is Dorothy, the "regular" guy just trying to get home Nessus is the Cowardly Lion, finding courage in his journey Speaker is the Scarecrow, discovering his intelligence Teela is the Tinman, her luck has left her heartless, but she does gain something akin to empathy Halrloprillallar(spelling?) is the Wizard in her floating, magic city Dorothy et al are menaced by a field of poppies - Louis and his crew are menaced by a field of sunflowers. I can't remember all the other parallels that Niven pointed out but there were several.
@frostfire6579
3 жыл бұрын
I like when you talk about books you like, you seem so much more energized
@ApequH
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, totally!
@rusted_ursa
3 жыл бұрын
+++
@Salotl
3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely same!
@Technodreamer
3 жыл бұрын
Hell yes on this. More positivity, please!
@tayani2695
3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely!
@AWriterWandering
3 жыл бұрын
"Niven's was a better world builder than writer" I'd argue this to be the case for Gene Roddenberry and George Lucas as well.
@stargirl7646
3 жыл бұрын
Honestly, even dear old Tolkien heh
@Amanda-C.
3 жыл бұрын
Lucas wasn't a particularly good world-builder, either. There's three kinds of "good" world building -- either vast and rich mythology and history, like Tolkien or Sanderson; or intricate and well-defined science or sufficiently analyzed magic, like Niven or, again, Sanderson; or unique and enriching societies and cultures, like LeGuin or certain works of Lois McMaster Bujold. Star wars was great, but... the history and government are insane and clearly made up as he went, and the in-world mythology non-existent; the magic system is very soft and runs on Rule of Cool rather than internal consistency; and the culture is just standard American pop space fantasy. Star Wars started something that turned out to be incredible, but it wasn't (originally) its world-building that did it.
@Painocus
3 жыл бұрын
@@Amanda-C.: To be fair Star Wars is like "standard American pop space fantasy" mostly because "standard American pop space fantasy" is like Star Wars. Apart from to some extent Dune and some of Jack Kirby's stuff Star Wars was pretty different from what American sci-fi was like when it came out, and more in line with French trends if anything.
@dabwiso784
3 жыл бұрын
Disagree on Lucas. Lucas was an amazing filmmaker.
@lunarmagpie619
3 жыл бұрын
Lucas was good at evocative vignettes and not much else
@jbftcmof
3 жыл бұрын
"I know suffering sells better than enthusiasm.." Outrage is also acceptable.
@joelnotsure2871
3 жыл бұрын
There’s a very strong supply of negativity right now, we’re in no danger of a shortage. I can do with more enthusiasm myself. Having said that, Dom, I find the fingernails distracting.
@lersayilify
3 жыл бұрын
@AND ANDREY ISN'T HERE I mean common, how am I supposed to pay attention to the subject at hand when he's waving such marvelously colorful things around?!
@cebeez
3 жыл бұрын
"Genetic Luck" reminded of that episode of Red Dwarf where they find positive viruses. "Sexual magnetism is a virus?!"
@angriface1603
3 жыл бұрын
You just convinced me to give Red Dwarf another shot
@schiz0phren1c
3 жыл бұрын
@Cee Bee "Sexual magnetism is a virus?!" *"Well get me to Hospital Buddy!,I'm a terminal case!!"*
@nacmegfeegle2310
2 жыл бұрын
I love red dwarf
@z-beeblebrox
3 жыл бұрын
"Imagine a furry but scary instead of extremely sexy" *Goes on to describe the sexiest possible furry*
@PhoebusApollo360
3 жыл бұрын
Dom likes softboys, what can be say?
@DreadBirate
3 жыл бұрын
@@PhoebusApollo360 I have to agree with him there
@stainlesssteelfox1
3 жыл бұрын
Kzin are awesome, but not the sexy. Kilrathi are basically second rate Kzin knock-offs. Caitians are my pick for sexy cat people.
@horseenthusiast1250
2 жыл бұрын
@@stainlesssteelfox1 I haven't read the book yet but I looked up some covers and the Kzin definitely *look* sexy. I agree about Caitians though, they're very cute cat people lol
@TygerTigerable
2 жыл бұрын
Some furries may tag out but the monster fuckers tag in
@r.babylon2885
3 жыл бұрын
"Ignore the spoiler warning even though they intend to read the book"... Oh, you got me.
@gazingatsaturn
3 жыл бұрын
@Hot Rod nah some people just dont care for spoilers even if they intend to read the book
@AlbinoAxolotl1993
3 жыл бұрын
The story is 50 years old anyway.
@sanityisrelative
3 жыл бұрын
@Hot Rod where did they say they were complaining about the spoilers? I personally might read the book, though hard sci-fi isn't really my thing, but I much prefer watching the video than turning it off on the off chance that I might one day actually read the book.
@EnvoyOfTheBlackAbyss
3 жыл бұрын
To be fair, I have SO many books on my TBR list, I’ll probably forget the plot by the time I get around to this book.
@MsDeepAndDark
3 жыл бұрын
@@EnvoyOfTheBlackAbyss same) paused the video at spoiler warning, waited a month, then caved in and enjoyed the rest of the video, which was rather spoiler-light in my opinion
@IAmTheUltimateRuler
3 жыл бұрын
this sounds like the kind of thing that my adhd brain would get sucked down a wikipedia hole about but never get around to actually reading
@UNSCPILOT
3 жыл бұрын
I recommend the audiobook, audiobooks in general really, you can listen to the book while doing basically anything else and still enjoy it, it's great
@thevirtualtraveler
3 жыл бұрын
You should read it, it's really good
@PhoebusApollo360
3 жыл бұрын
@@UNSCPILOT I don't recommend doing this as the book requires an extremely high level of engagement, especially if you want the sequel to be easily connected.
@keah
3 жыл бұрын
Nice haircut Dom. I dig it.
@Dominic-Noble
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you ^^
@pisacenere
3 жыл бұрын
The hair are cool the nails are a tad too much
@PriyaPans
3 жыл бұрын
@@pisacenere nah. I think Barbie pink would be too much. Edit: that's because I'm not a very pink person.
@candidshadowcollections6670
3 жыл бұрын
@@pisacenere my biggest complaint is that they are distracting, because he keeps moving and doesn't give us a good look!
@thewingedporpoise
3 жыл бұрын
@@Dominic-Noble like an Arthurian knight
@themercer4972
3 жыл бұрын
As an amateur writer I can identify a lot with Niven, I love world building but I struggle with character and plot. Most readers want a story about interesting people who do interesting stuff, the setting is secondary. "A setting with great detail is valuable but alone will never sell." Iv been told.
@aleistererikalupano7386
3 жыл бұрын
I love a good balance of.both...
@orbismworldbuilding8428
2 жыл бұрын
I completely and entirely disagree, it is all up to the reader and their prefferences, aswell as how it is executed. Make a story built around the setting then. Make a simple story and character who may travel through said world and just embrace the nearly episodic nature of these visitations. You could also just do a third person or narrator perspective and just write it like that, afterall All Tommorows succeeded pretty well despite having no characters and very simple worldbuilding yet it is a beautiful piece of fiction. So, here's some ways: Have a neutral, observer/traveler character and just use plot as a way to get this character into these places to observe them. You can write this in first, second, or third person but personally first person and second person work better for me. You can have a limited, or omniscient narrator, a historical narrative or a mythological lore telling etc. While it won't be for everyone, it can still be great. And yes, you can make it emotional aswell. A good example of this is All Tommorows, though in that story most things are left to the reader's mind. There's also the option of writing it as documents from the world itself. Here's my examples: Mystery Flesh Pit National Park, The Silmirillion (that book made by Tolkein) You can also do a narration where a hypothetical author is speculating or imagining about this setting, perhaps even reading about it from some material. They key is to write it for the worldbuilding, or neutral between the worldbuilding and characters/plot like tolkein did.
@CL-go2ji
Жыл бұрын
Maybe you need a co-author with the reverse strengths & weaknesses?
@jasonGamesMaster
4 ай бұрын
I mean, it worked for Larry Niven, Arthur C Clarke, and JRR Tolkien, you'll probably be fine, lol. Mostly joking about Tolkien, as the HOBBITS have rather interesting and nuanced characters (in the books, the movies are exercises in character assassination, imho) but the rest just kinda go along. Also, Clarke and Tolkien are my favorite authors, period, lol.
@TimeturnerJ
3 жыл бұрын
I think the infamous KZitem algorithm screwed you over on this one. I didn't even know this video existed until I saw your poll. It's a shame too, because this is yet another really great video! ❤️
@kokosan09
3 жыл бұрын
same happened to me
@YsabelGamache
3 жыл бұрын
Oh Dom, anything you want to do, I’ll watch, because somehow I feel like you could make reading the phone book interesting
@WaspandUnicorn
3 жыл бұрын
Yes! If he decided to read the dictionary I'd be here for it.
@maladypond
3 жыл бұрын
@@WaspandUnicorn As someone who collects dictionaries, I am now shivering with antici . . . . . . pation!
@jimcalhoun361
3 жыл бұрын
@@maladypond Completely off topic. Is The Rocky Horror still at the midnight movies? You haven't lived until you go at least once.
@YsabelGamache
3 жыл бұрын
@@jimcalhoun361 It is an experience, but find the right community to go see it with, it will greatly influence your experience watching.
@YsabelGamache
3 жыл бұрын
An lower your inhibitions if you do. Please do.
@kevinedie4119
3 жыл бұрын
More books that you loved growing up? Does this mean we'll be getting some of the late great Sir Terry Prachett books?
@dart5340
3 жыл бұрын
Dom's cat wrote a book?
@hannahlarge5738
3 жыл бұрын
@@dart5340 "the unadulterated cat"
@darklordofsword
3 жыл бұрын
@@dart5340 PLEASE!!!!!
@lucasmaas
3 жыл бұрын
+
@PrincessNinja007
3 жыл бұрын
There's 3 live action movies, 2 animated movies, and a radio show, I wanna see Lost in Adaptation
@michelleg2743
3 жыл бұрын
It's okay to talk about books that you're passionate about. I've picked up the Earthsea book because of how passionate you talked about it. So I can't wait to see more reviews like this the future.
@aceofspades9503
3 жыл бұрын
A bit about the plotline- it very much reminded me of a Pen and Paper RPG, like dungeons and dragons. Not in that it was using those tropes, but in that the characters almost always behaved like a group of Player Characters, and the storyline itself seemed to flow almost like an RPG campaign. So basically the characters were constantly over equipped, more than willing to behave like jerks who know there are no consequences to their actions, and smugly assume that any situation they get in is set up for them to 'win' at. The point where Seeker and Prin join the group feels like the GM had two more people want to join the game and he needed to hamfist in their weird characters. The conclusion at the end of the novel felt like the point where the GM had given up on the campaign and just wanted to slap an ending on it so that they could move on to something else. I found this to be more unintentionally humorous than anything else and still very much enjoyed the book.
@timwebber9277
3 жыл бұрын
And interestingly, Ringworld was adapted into a pen-and-paper RPG :) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringworld_(role-playing_game)
@orbismworldbuilding8428
2 жыл бұрын
@@timwebber9277 Ok that is awsome
@70briareos
2 жыл бұрын
Holy shit :O . I just realized that! You're absolutely right!
@AquaLantern
3 жыл бұрын
I personally really like these videos, especially the ones about Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. We could call it “Story Time with Dom” :)
@TooFatTooFurious
3 жыл бұрын
As a person who is very much afraid of sun exploding someday in the future and destroying all life as we know it, I find the idea of running away from an explosion 20k years in advance a very relatable trait.
@sandralovesmusic15
3 жыл бұрын
It is a pretty big challenge to deal with. Makes sense to give yourself a lot of time to deal with it.
@alanpennie8013
3 жыл бұрын
@@sandralovesmusic15 Definitely sensible to think long term. I've always admired that in the Martians from Quatermas and The Pit. Sadly they were also psychic Nazis.
@nicmobile
3 жыл бұрын
i was immediately hyped to hear you talk about cool sci-fi. watching a ton of negative videos burns our watchers too. keep these videos coming.
@Tha-Za
3 жыл бұрын
Bold of you to assume that furries will not find the kzinti extremely sexy.
@darklordofsword
3 жыл бұрын
I mean... they might not after more of their culture.... like that they bred their females into subservience with the exception of a random fluke.... or that they were initially SO aggressive that the wars between them and humans were actually engineered by the Puppeteers as a means of forced, rapid eugenics, killing off a majority of the most dangerous and belligerent in several generations leaving only those capable of restraint *at all*.
@TooFatTooFurious
3 жыл бұрын
@@darklordofsword some Omegaverse fans will sure be into all of that
@darklordofsword
3 жыл бұрын
@@TooFatTooFurious ew.
@aubreyackermann8432
3 жыл бұрын
@@darklordofsword" I cAn FiX hIm"
@darklordofsword
3 жыл бұрын
@@aubreyackermann8432 please no. It hurts.
@roselover411
3 жыл бұрын
"I get to monetize your cuteness in the bloopers now." Yeaaaaaaaaaaah you know why we watch all the way to the end XD
@erzadmin5804
3 жыл бұрын
Puppeteers: All Edges are rounded in the living spaces and the entire Sun-System gets flewn out of danger :) So Coooool
@BeastGuardian
3 жыл бұрын
I love them so much!
@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115
3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad that you are putting your mental health before our enjoyment of your KZitem videos, Dominic. Besides I think that you're funny whatever the subject of the video of the day. Your videos help to relieve my pain and that is enough for me. 😁🥰😁🥰
@tgs9929
3 жыл бұрын
Which will likely lead to better videos since Dom won't be burned out.
@StonedHunter
3 жыл бұрын
I love hearing people talking about the stuff they're into and know a lot about. I'm all for more videos of you getting to focus on topics like this.
@zubzerrolastname6599
3 жыл бұрын
Snowman?
@StonedHunter
3 жыл бұрын
@@zubzerrolastname6599 My pfp? Yup that's her.
@thereseboegel8296
3 жыл бұрын
This video needs way more likes. Also, is it bad that when you were explaining the time suspention field the first thought I had was "wow that would make a really good refrigerator" ?
@stargirl7646
3 жыл бұрын
HA! You’re right! “Oh dear, my bananas are going bad!” *ZZZIP*
@Devtrek
3 жыл бұрын
One of my favorite scenes in Daniel Suarez's Influx was when a character takes some people to his high tech hideout and starts preparing a meal with mega-future tech. The application of advanced technology to everyday life is an interesting part of sci-fi.
@kramermariav
3 жыл бұрын
I thought that immediately
@midnight8341
3 жыл бұрын
@@Devtrek there was a scene in Peter F. Hamiltons Dreaming Void saga, where a few protagonists are stranded on a space ship that's really, really badly damaged and their food synthesizer isn't working properly (one of them says that their orange juice tastes kinda fishy) and their solution is that the woman gets to eat all the pre-packaged meals and really nice wines and everything the former crew brought with them, while the two men have to eat whatever the synthesizer makes, because they have biononics (organic nano machines) which they use to modify their smell and taste receptors so the food gets at least somewhat enjoyable, but she has none, so she eats lasagne and chocolate truffels and everything xD I found it funny how they're using weapon-grade nanotechnology just so that their food doesn't suck.
@markchapman6800
3 жыл бұрын
There is indeed a bit in Niven's non-Known Space novel _A World Out Of Time_ (which is also very good, and is rather better plotted than _Ringworld_ ) where a character is using a stasis field to store cooked food at the original temperature, not only fresh but piping hot!
@marissach
3 жыл бұрын
I'm a librarian. It's part of my job to recommend books. But the best thing is talking with other people about our favorite books. So please do talk about all the books what led to your love of reading.
@euansmith3699
3 жыл бұрын
What a handsome cat Sir Terry is. Great closing song again.
@grassblade2063
3 жыл бұрын
Dominic: * talking about a massively fascinating piece of worldbuilding that I find cool and interesting * My ADHD brain on magpie mode: him nails shoiny,,,,, bling bling
@carson2403
3 жыл бұрын
Why would you do that to me? I can't pay attention to anything else anymore. What is he saying? Shiny shiny sporkle.
@chandrawagner4061
3 жыл бұрын
Oh my god saaamme! Just commented that I love them and they're so shiny lol
@otenis2008
3 жыл бұрын
"One Of The Best Science Fiction Universes Ever Written" Oh, no! "It's just a shame about the plot." Oh, yes!
@eosbeneder977
3 жыл бұрын
Nivens plot is meh, but the shared universe is great, I especialy enjoied "Cathouse" and its sequel "Neanderthal". Dont't know how one would go about finding those books these days (I personally steal them from my dad), but deffenitly give them a try, if you don't like one, there sure is a different one you will enjoy.
@francesconicoletti2547
3 жыл бұрын
@@eosbeneder977 there are three pages of Niven on Kindle Books, obviously not all of them are Known Space.
@alanpennie8013
3 жыл бұрын
@@francesconicoletti2547 He wrote other interesting stuff, about The Warlock's World, and Gil The Arm.
@francesconicoletti2547
3 жыл бұрын
@@alanpennie8013 Gil the Arm is known space. One of the things I like about Niven is that his reasonably consistent world building stretches over hundreds of years in the same universe. Most authors world building cannot outlast one protagonist or one story arc or one royal family.
@alanpennie8013
3 жыл бұрын
@@francesconicoletti2547 That is impressive.
@joedumas3362
3 жыл бұрын
Niven also help change the Green Lantern from a guy with a magic ring to an alien police force.
@robinchesterfield42
3 жыл бұрын
Actually from what I heard they're more like the "Lensmen" by E. E. Doc Smith...and having read those I can kinda believe it. A Lensman wears a brilliantly sparkling bracelet on their wrist that gives them basically psionic powers, and anybody who's not worthy to use one dies if they even touch it, and the group includes a wide mix of different alien species. Apparently the similarity between that and the sci-fi version Green Lanterns was an accident, but after this was pointed out the comic book authors went and named a character "Arisia" after the main non-Earth planet (the one that's basically the equivalent of Oa) from the Lensmen series anyway. :) (And then, speaking of the one with the _magic_ ring, there's also the fact that using a Lens for too long can make it so your kids are born with powers, like Alan Scott's kids were...) Would I recommend these books? Well, the writing style is kinda clunky and over the top sometimes. But it does have properly _alien_ aliens, weird and interesting worlds and GOD DAMN ENTIRE PLANETS being slung around as part of an intergalactic war, so...
@CestKevvie
3 жыл бұрын
I really, REALLY love listening to you talk about something you’re truly passionate about. PLEASE do more books like this!
@artmanxp
3 жыл бұрын
"Imagine a furry but scary instand of extremely sexy" dom clearly only scemed the surface level of FA and DA
@morningstarcollective4671
3 жыл бұрын
Or he only notices what he's into~
@alexiane250
3 жыл бұрын
those dont have to be conflicting things
@888fluffy
3 жыл бұрын
Please do a series on your favourite books. I'm always looking for recommendations, and i don't wanna just read classics or whatever's in the current pop culture.
@tgs9929
3 жыл бұрын
Same, plus always nice to hear what others are liking I might not have heard of.
@RobTenken
3 жыл бұрын
To be honest, *I* was starting to get burnt out on the non-stop suffering and negativity from this channel. I found this refreshing.
@danielvasquez7951
3 жыл бұрын
"I Know a lot of people ignore the spoiler warning even though they intend to read the book".... I feel expose
@rowanlavellan9755
3 жыл бұрын
He saw us D:
@JHNielson4851
3 жыл бұрын
I love Larry Niven's 'Tales of Known Space' series. "Neutron Star" was one of my favs. I found it funny that the Puppeteers were fleeing the universe by taking their whole solar system with them.
@Ferretic
3 жыл бұрын
As a considerable fan of Known Space, please do more of them. I would appreciate seeing you do further examination of Known Space in general and the Ringworld in particular. You could open a whole new niche of videos exploring the world building of Known Space
@JamesTobiasStewart
2 жыл бұрын
Seconded.
@skadime
3 жыл бұрын
Dominic: I'm not gonna reveal the last twist because I know there are people ignoring the spoiler warning even if they intent to read the book... Me: Is this a personal attack or something????
@stargirl7646
3 жыл бұрын
*raises hand guiltily*
@CatHasOpinions734
3 жыл бұрын
Also me! I don't feel bad though, I usually enjoy stories more the second time, so spoilers are a kind of short cut to that second, better experience.
@somik-i3x
3 жыл бұрын
*Look nerviously at my bible of Earthsea *
@emilyrln
3 жыл бұрын
@@CatHasOpinions734 the only times I low-key regret being 'spoiled' is for mysteries because I wish I knew whether I'd have figured it out. Otherwise, I don't care at all. I read and rewatch everything I like.
@CatHasOpinions734
3 жыл бұрын
@@emilyrln Good point! I recently watched Knives Out and that's definitely one you want to watch unspoiled the first time.
@maladypond
3 жыл бұрын
"You've gotten yourself the ultimate sword ... able to cut through titanium like warm butter! ... I really like swords, okay." As do I. I may or may not have replayed that part once or twice.
@jasonudall8614
3 жыл бұрын
Swords are very dangerous when the other guy has a tasp
@ShadowWingTronix
3 жыл бұрын
Now we just have to wait for Shadiversity to discuss whether or not it would make a good sword in actual use.
@streamer9923
3 жыл бұрын
Sir Dominic noble: explaining genetic luck me: so genetic plot armor
@Carewolf
3 жыл бұрын
and plot contrivances. A character hat if you will, made entirely of lampshades
@KamiRecca
3 жыл бұрын
well, yes and no i would say. Yes, if you do not mind living without a status quo. Because as its described in the book, your luck will pull you away from your world to the other side of the galaxy just to find the love of your life. Sounds nice, right? But same said luck will strand you there, alone and away from friends, family and other loved ones. It will ruin your career, it will hijack your choises in life. But sure, it will keep you safe. You. Not anyone around you.
@rmsgrey
3 жыл бұрын
@@KamiRecca Well, you and anyone you care about. But developing the ability to care about other people is a lot easier through (shared) hardships, so the lucky bastard tends to be a bit of a narcissist too.
@KamiRecca
3 жыл бұрын
@@rmsgrey well, im not sure Tiela Browns luck would care if you wanted people safe, if their deaths or dispair would keep Tiela safe.
@rmsgrey
3 жыл бұрын
@@KamiRecca Teela Brown's luck may not care about me and mine, but it does care about whether or not she's happy, so nothing tragic is going to happen to her close friends so long as she'd miss them if they weren't around any more...
@PartigradeCannon
3 жыл бұрын
Technically, the pop science fiction version of the Dyson Sphere is the "Dyson Shell" (which Dyson himself described as ludicrous), while Dyson's original vision of the Dyson Sphere has lately picked up the moniker "Dyson Swarm", since it was supposed to be whatever flavour of frak-huge number of solar collectors, habitation stations and what have you orbiting the star.
@emilyrln
3 жыл бұрын
Man, I haven't read Ringworld since high school! Good times. Doesn't the book start with Louis celebrating his birthday in every time zone?
@br3b3rry
3 жыл бұрын
I came here because the two headed puppet person from the thumbnail looked adorable. I stand by my statement 🤣
@Viridigitus-y6c
3 жыл бұрын
I love Larry Niven's worldbuilding so, so much but you can definitely tell the era in which his books were written.
@eosbeneder977
3 жыл бұрын
That stuff should deffenitly be rebootet as a modern tv show. There's just so much material, so manny possibilities....
@Viridigitus-y6c
3 жыл бұрын
@@eosbeneder977 Even some of the other books. I'd love to see a modern take on The Mote in Gods Eye for instance.
@eosbeneder977
3 жыл бұрын
@@Viridigitus-y6c I'm sorry, I read the books in german when I was twelve, I don't know the english titles, but yes, I wasn't referring to Ringworld alone but the entire known space. Ther is just SO MUCH MATERIAL, and NOONE IS USING IT!!! I would love to watch something known space related that isn't that one bad star trek the animated series episode....
@Viridigitus-y6c
3 жыл бұрын
@@eosbeneder977 it's okay, the one I referred to isn't actually part of the Known Space series but I agree, so little has been done with it and with so many book series getting adapted these days this one should be one of them
@eosbeneder977
3 жыл бұрын
@@Viridigitus-y6c Right? Has no one with a connection to the industry read any of it? Why? How?
@bepisthescienceman4202
3 жыл бұрын
The main characters sound like a joke dnd group
@francesconicoletti2547
3 жыл бұрын
Ringworld has a role playing game.
@BeastGuardian
3 жыл бұрын
Joke groups can make for super interesting campaigns too if you have the right players.
@francesconicoletti2547
3 жыл бұрын
@@richmcgee434 I had a look on Amazon, most of the older Known Space is out of print. Not something I would have expected. Maybe Niven just sells the latest & greatest and lets the rest wither. Bringing the old playing game back into print, adding some man kizin war supplements seems easy money.
@alanpennie8013
3 жыл бұрын
@@francesconicoletti2547 I'm not surprised. Niven is an author who has fallen into oblivion. It was nice to see Star Trek: Lower Decks reference the Kzinti.
@alexiane250
3 жыл бұрын
dm: how much luck did you give them? player: yes
@Dallimar
3 жыл бұрын
This was an awesome video. It was so fun to see you excited for something you clearly enjoyed, and to have you share it with us all.
@zerozeroren
3 жыл бұрын
Loving the nails! Also, I'm not big on sci-fi, but this one did catch my interest, thank you!
@AlexGilmour
3 жыл бұрын
I’m slightly surprised at the lack of a mention of Strata, Sir Terry Pratchett’s loving sendup of Ringworld where he first made use of a Discworld in his writing.
@adorabell4253
3 жыл бұрын
I was wondering why no one was mentioning it.
@alanpennie8013
3 жыл бұрын
@@adorabell4253 It has been mentioned a couple of times above But it's not very well known. And understandably so.
@rachaelbao
3 жыл бұрын
And Fry’s full name, huh, and sneaking in Worf and Ka D’argo, and sneaking in another TNG reference. Well done.
@berylredburrow__8810
3 жыл бұрын
"If furries were scary instead of extremely sexy." Leaned something new about you today.
@tarod3
3 жыл бұрын
He kind of outed himself reviewing how to tame your dragon
@funkie1221
3 жыл бұрын
I heard "Fairy" and was like "wait, are fairies sexy"?
@weldonwin
3 жыл бұрын
@@funkie1221 They can be, depends on how you draw them. Tinkerbell was certainly drawn with a killer figure and a very skimpy dress
@hunterhunter1986
3 жыл бұрын
@@weldonwin bro, what
@weldonwin
3 жыл бұрын
@@hunterhunter1986 Seriously, look at how she's drawn in the original Disney movie of Peter Pan. Tinkerbell is drawn with a perfect hourglass figure and a very short, skimpy dress, now you tell me the animators at Disney weren't channelling some Pin-Up Girl energy there
@VTimmoni
3 жыл бұрын
Side Note: While it's a different genre of hard science fiction The Saints doulogy by Jacqueline Carey is another great read and one of my personal favorites.
@mouselet
3 жыл бұрын
This is surprisingly timely as I very recently turned up Larry Niven's short story "At the Core", wherein the protagonist makes the discovery of the Core exploding ten thousand years prior. I've never read any of Niven's novels, but he's written several short stories I've thoroughly enjoyed. I don't know that I'm likely to read any of the novels at this point because I'm simply not looking for a new hard sci-fi series right now. I read a lot more fantasy, personally. Still, I do enjoy hearing people talk about books and series they've enjoyed, so I'm always happy to put your videos on.
@CrescentMond
3 жыл бұрын
Honestly though, I really liked the episode even if it wasn't critical, more of this would be great! (Also, the nail polish rocks, I bought a similar shade just last week!)
@lukemccann8930
3 жыл бұрын
I blame the Ring world books, fan novel "Cat House" and the Kzin for giving me a very confused sexual awakening as an adolescent 🤪
@emullinsstreams
3 жыл бұрын
Just fyi: love the nails!
@mightyd42
3 жыл бұрын
Automatic thumbs up for Known Space. Been reading it since the mid 80's when I was in middle school. Something that my dad and I bonded over - I have his entire collection of paperbacks, as far as I can tell every novel Niven published, and a handful of the Man-Kzin Wars collections (which were written by other authors).
@GothVampiress
3 жыл бұрын
i had an old guide to fictional extraterrestrials that i used to thumb through as a kid for the cool aliens but i never really read it (since it was in sci-fi nerd language with stats and figures and i was maybe 10, max.) it had that exact image from the thumbnail in it, and watching this feels like unlocking a part of my childhood i'd forgotten about. that alone makes me want to read the actual book, so thank you for showing the spotlight on this one, and trusting your taste i genuinely look forward to seeing these videos in the future
@liannsmith7317
3 жыл бұрын
I love when KZitemrs talk about things they love!!! It helps me know what to try out, not just what to avoid
@acoldhand
3 жыл бұрын
For a while now I've been considering claiming your top patreon reward just to request that you read/talk about a book you like for once, so you don't go insane from all the things you put yourself through for this channel. This was nice you should do it more often! Now excuse me I need to go buy some SciFi books :D (not from amazon)
@triciahutchins5407
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the trip through memory lane. I read "Ringworld" when it was new in paperback, and when I read nothing but science fiction. Actually, it wasn't just a phase, but there's been an awful lot of excellent adult fantasy out since then. Makes me wonder, though... how do you like Arthur C. Clarke?
@katlynnlamere3283
3 жыл бұрын
I am loving this softer tone in your voice. It does make your videos feel much more calming and it's easier to watch/listen too. Especially since if you get really excited about something, it's much more obvious. It makes for a very mellow and enjoyable watching experience. I wish more youtubers would speak more softly here and there
@AssassinofHighgarden
3 жыл бұрын
My dude, my guy, I LOVE hearing folks gush about favorite books! I'm not personally into sci-fi, but this was *fascinating* to listen to and, needless to say, I'm very intrigued! Keep being wonderful~
@DaisyXMachina
3 жыл бұрын
I'm a big Ringworld fan (though I haven't read it in ages). If you like the puppeteers, the Fleet of Worlds series is pretty intriguing. Really didn't realize you were a hard scifi fan. Maybe next I'll see you review Frederik Pohl's Gateway!
@fuzzythoughts8020
3 жыл бұрын
I prefer hearing about good books, I might actually want to read them/buy an audiobook
@ApequH
3 жыл бұрын
It's such a nice way to get recommendations
@bobmathis-friedman6742
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Mr. Noble...Niven is my all-time favorite author!
@IcarusRuthven
3 жыл бұрын
The "luck as a genetic trait" feature reminds me of a character in Iain M. Banks' "The Culture" novels. The Culture builds Minds - fantastically powerful AIs - which inexplicably are occasionally matched by individuals with extremely accurate intuition, who often end up working for what amounts to their military intelligence office. It was an odd thing to read, although to be fair the tech is so advanced that it becomes soft sci-fi almost by default.
@Black-Swan-007
3 жыл бұрын
I love your kitties! Seeing you happy about something you're reviewing is refreshing and I dig it! Keep it up!
@Gauldame
3 жыл бұрын
"one of the best sci fi universes ever written" Finger raise meme... *Pause* I mean, bold move but not necessarily wrong....
@sydnamon5986
3 жыл бұрын
And here we have the fusion of three memes
@spurguvitunhuora9119
3 жыл бұрын
This just makes me really want to hear Doms take on Stephen Baxters Exultant and Cixin Lius Deaths End.
@eosbeneder977
3 жыл бұрын
Oh thank you, some ringworld representation, that stuff is incredibly rare. Please feel free to make as many videos about known space as you like and be asured that I will watch them all. On that note, any idea on why there is so little content on it? Has no producer ever even heared of it? As you say, the worlduilding is incredible, having a TV-series based on it would be so wonderful....
@cthulhupthagn5771
3 жыл бұрын
These days, its probably because of Halo popularizing the concept. I'm sure that it being a shared universe with many authors also makes licensing a challenge.
@eosbeneder977
3 жыл бұрын
@@cthulhupthagn5771 yeah, probably
@uraalice
3 жыл бұрын
The passion you have for this series and genre was really obvious and super pleasant to watch! I'm excited to see you cover things you enjoy like this in the future
@alexandriawhite2585
3 жыл бұрын
Please keep covering books you love. Your passion and expertise shine in these videos. Please don't let anxiety get you down. Keep at it Dom!
@feanaro2712
3 жыл бұрын
Pausing at the spoiler mark. You've definitely piqued my interest, I've just bought the Ringworld audiobook and I will finish this video once I've listened to it.
@flamebrindger3984
3 жыл бұрын
Did you finish it? How was it?
@feanaro2712
3 жыл бұрын
@@flamebrindger3984 Not yet - it's on a shortlist of books I'm going to read, but I haven't gotten to it just yet.
@WhaleManMan
3 жыл бұрын
Ringworld: Discworld for sci-fi nerds.
@hadrian8712
3 жыл бұрын
Id argue that hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy is the discworld of scifi
@robinchesterfield42
3 жыл бұрын
Terry Pratchett himself also wrote a sci-fi take on the Discworld idea, a year _before_ the Discworld series started. It's called "Strata" and part of the book involves going to a (somehow) alien-engineered flat world. There's even a bar on the space station called "The Broken Drum". Oh, and the world this takes place in is a surprise! alternate timeline, too...
@andresreydecastro
3 жыл бұрын
Sir Terry was actually very open about how much of an influence Ringworld was for him. Strata, the proto-Discworld sci-fi book he published before working on the Discworld proper, intended to basically be the Spaceballs to Ringworld's Star Wars.
@depreseo
3 жыл бұрын
@@andresreydecastro He was also parodying ringworld (and issac asimov) in his even earlier "dark side of the sun" which introduced us to hogswatch, soul cake friday, and the eve of small gods. :)
@alanpennie8013
3 жыл бұрын
@@andresreydecastro Good to know he was upfront about Strata being a parody. Though it's a serious story too. Or rather the germ of one.
@stoppickingurnose7852
3 жыл бұрын
I love being a viewer of this channel because it's the only time in the week that I'm called "beautiful".
@erikabailey7397
3 жыл бұрын
My dad read this to me first, and then Protector--which made this turn on its head because suddenly you knew why it was built. Lots of cool ideas, but you are right about the plot!
@FlyingShadow09
3 жыл бұрын
I love the concept of you doing a deep analysis of books you love...I love finding joy in books and seeing that joy in others as well!
@AvidCat5000
3 жыл бұрын
I've heard of this but didn't remember the author. I'm a huge fan of sci-fi, written and filmed. There's flaws in many of my favorites but the cool parts always outweigh them. I like the show Lexx, sure it's trying to be Red Dwarf but it maintains that special flavor. World building is hard and sometimes the characters become secondary.
@Here_is_Waldo
3 жыл бұрын
I liked the first season of Lexx. The second just seemed a bit mean spirited and depressing considering how it ended.
@gametestlabs4832
3 жыл бұрын
Once again, those nails. Where do you get the polish from. You know for a friend
@lellow19
3 жыл бұрын
I must know!!! They're so shiny and I want
@nope4802
3 жыл бұрын
Lol. We are all cats. I also must have shiny nails.
@MultiFortunatus
3 жыл бұрын
I liked this more than the videos about stuff you don't like.
@MelanieMcLeod17
3 жыл бұрын
Its lovely to hear you talk about books you love, your enthusiasm is infectious!
@bogeyworman6102
3 жыл бұрын
I personally get a big kick out of hearing people talk about things that excite them or bring them joy. It feels really nice and I get to learn something neat about stuff they know a lot about. Plus you've just got a great voice and presence so I like listening to your vids while I knit or paint :)
@fenixalar
3 жыл бұрын
I read Destiny's Forge before reading Dune, imagine my surprise when reading Dune years later and finding out it's pretty much exactly the same story
@JoyfulOrb
3 жыл бұрын
Dom, not to be forward, your hair looks GREAT on you today! Also, feel free to talk about Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy all you want, please!
@smof1
3 жыл бұрын
I've met Larry Niven, actually sat down and had a hot dog with him. Charming guy
@angriface1603
3 жыл бұрын
This is a book I’ve been interested in reading since I was a teen. Now that I’ve finally read it, I really had a hard time enjoying it, and feel almost guilty because it’s such a classic of sci-fi. The world building is great, but the fact that they explain every single aspect of that world completely demystifies something that should be so awe-inspiring. It was probably my mistake to expect something resembling Halo, but the strength of that universe’s world building was the fact that it knew what to explain and what to leave up to the imagination. The male characters mostly had the personalities of Wikipedia articles, except for the female characters who were Wikipedia articles that cry. Anyway, it’s good to know I wasn’t the only one who had these issues with this book. Thank you for reading my rant.
@cliffcliffcliff3557
3 жыл бұрын
Saw this review last night before bed and couldn't stop thinking about it. Downloaded the book on kindle as soon as I got up in the morning and I'm already halfway through. I've been really struggling to get back into reading this year and this was exactly the kick-start I needed! Thanks Dom!
@cliffcliffcliff3557
3 жыл бұрын
Just finished reading and wow! Thank you for sharing something you love, now I love it too! Getting ready to get the next book in the series
@elidurden2156
3 жыл бұрын
It's thing like these that makes me hold out hope that we will one day get a Culture review.
@coaster1235
3 жыл бұрын
I tried reading this book a year or two ago! I got as far as the gang getting on Ringworld making contact with the natives, but at that point I was ready to throw the book away. I very much liked the worldbuilding, and I wanted to like the story, but I found the characters and their actions so uninteresting (especially how Louis, 200 years old, was constantly horny for Teela, 20 years old) it felt like Niven was writing the characters only out of obligation.
@BDWANNEMACHER
3 жыл бұрын
I was going to say it reminds me of these weird stories I heard about the Pak. Also for some reason my mind mix it up with the uplift series as soon as you started talking about dolphins.
@robertmiller9735
3 жыл бұрын
Sounds like he mixed up Niven and Brin's dolphins, Niven's aren't genetically modified.
@CelticShae
3 жыл бұрын
I loved this!!! It feels kinda like a bit of a relief. Your level of...intensity felt like it was hitting uncomfortable territory. I appreciate your honesty and vulnerability. I'm here for this.
@SCarr8813
3 жыл бұрын
Here after seeing a poll saying you made a video I didn't see. Now I'm here and excited for interest focused videos!
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