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Title: Niven writes posthumanism!
Review: A lot of people are saying that this is aclassic of the Known Space series. That is true, but there are other reasons to read this novel. Niven deals with concepts here that aren't really picked up by other authors until the cyberpunk explosion in the 80's, that is, what it means to be human and what's the next step?Protector is about humanity, posthumanity, and the difference between the two. Niven shows the cost of a greater intelligence and strength, especially how the enhanced human is, simply, no longer human.In a way, Protector stands with Niven's assorted earlier Known Space works, especially Flatlander and A Gift From Earth, in that it not only is an enjoyable work of hard science fiction, but that it also leaves plenty of food for thought.
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