Bowl of Heaven
In this first collaboration by science fiction masters Larry Niven (Ringworld) and Gregory Benford (Timescape), the limits of wonder are redrawn once again as a human expedition to another star system is jeopardized by an encounter with an astonishingly immense artifact in interstellar space: a...
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In this first collaboration by science fiction masters Larry Niven (Ringworld) and Gregory Benford (Timescape), the limits of wonder are redrawn once again as a human expedition to another star system is jeopardized by an encounter with an astonishingly immense artifact in interstellar space: a bowl-shaped structure half-englobing a star, with a habitable area equivalent to many millions of Earths…and it’s on a direct path heading for the same system as the human ship. A landing party is sent to investigate the Bowl, but when the explorers are separated—one group captured by the gigantic structure’s alien inhabitants, the other pursued across its strange and dangerous landscape—the mystery of the Bowl’s origins and purpose propel the human voyagers toward discoveries that will transform their understanding of their place in the universe.
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Format: hardcover
ISBN:
9780765328410 (0765328410)
ASIN: 765328410
Publish date: October 16th 2012
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages no: 416
Edition language: English
Synopsis: A spaceship on a centuries long journey to establish a colony on a far off planet encounters a vast, flat bowl structure hugging a star as it is propelled through space. A landing party investigates and is immediately split with some being captured by the bowl's inhabitants and the others ...
An interesting premise but not one that delivered on it. I struggled to finish this one as it just did not keep my interest. On the fence on whether to read the follow up to this which is actually the second half of the story...
Scenario: There's a strange megastructure artifact in space, and some curious folk want to take a look-see. The premise, quite a well-traveled science fiction road, recalls favorites such as the ring of Larry Niven's [b:Rendezvous With Rama|112537|Rendezvous With Rama (Rama, #1)|Arthur C. Clarke|ht...
I have not read either of these authors' independent work, so I cannot make any comparisons in that regard. I liked this book well enough to probably be suckered into waiting for the next in the series. However, I didn't buy this one (Go SPL!) and I won't buy the next one either because while I enjo...