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Title: Read the others before you try this one!
Review: Larry starts this sequel as if it really was chapter 3 as opposed to being Book 3. He doesn't waste one line on pre-history: who is Louis Wu? Who is the Hindmost? Why do we care? He doesn't give us a chance to remember all of the characters, why they're there, what roles they play or enough background to get a footing for a long time. He throws Machine People, Grass Giant and Red People names at us like we're supposed to remember 5-syllable science fiction names just like that! Couple that with a story that doesn't really begin until after page 225, and you have to be a real Niven nut (which I am!) to want to finish it.Typical of Niven lacking a solid, satisfying ending; we really deserved a neat wrapped package and we didn't get one.Even though I rabidly await each new Niven title, I must say that I'm underwhelmed on this one. I'd rather get some more great new Gil (the ARM) Hamilton stories!!! How about a series of stories about the Outsiders?Mark
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