Customer Reviews

All the Myriad Ways

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This collection contains some of the best science fiction short stories ever written. It includes "Inconstant Moon", a story about the sun flaring up and people on the night side knowing about it due to the brightness of the moon. Since they have knowledge of astronomy, the main characters are simply waiting for the dawn of a new day and the end of the world. This was my favorite story in the collection.
A close second was "Man of Steel" a discussion of the difficulties inherent in Superman from Krypton cross breeding with a human female. The material on the physical difficulties of sex and gestation are factual and entertaining. Niven also demonstrates his scientific knowledge in the stories "Exercise in Speculation: The Theory and Practice of Teleportation" and "The Theory and Practice of Time Travel." As he so clearly demonstrates, the practical difficulties of doing either one are extremely formidable.
I read this book for the first time approximately 20 years ago and enjoyed it just as much this time. If I am fortunate, I will read it again in another 20 years.

Larry Niven's best short stories in one collection. Very hard to find b/c of its popularity. Stories are based on scientific facts and theories, as in "The Theory and Practice of Teleportation", and are often humorous, as in "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex," discussing how Superman's sperm would tear apart Lois Lane. Niven has wonderful ability to take scientific fact or theory and exploit the absurd aspects of it, while still presenting a intellectually stimulating story or essay. The title short story is my favorite short or long story ever, exploring the possibility of alternate unverses, in which every choice that could ever have been made, was made all possible ways.

The nonfiction essays, as exercises in informed speculation, are well-done. But my favorite parts of this classic are the two main stories: "All The Myriad Ways," and "Inconstant Moon." The latter story is better than "Titanic." I've got an old 1975 copy of this, complete with cheezy 70's computer fonts on the cover.. boy am I glad my dad bought so many books before I was born! It's well worth seeking out a copy of this one... it will not disappoint.

Short storys, the best of which deal with the extinction of manna, the energy source of magic which doom creatures whose metabolisim is based on mana. Mermaids revert to dolphins, dinosaur bones are what is left of dragons...

I read All the Myriad Ways 20 years ago. It was the first science fiction book I ever read. Thousands of books later I still vividly remember the short stories I read here. If you like Larry Niven don't miss this book.

A wildly varying collection from 3 excellent pieces like All the Myriad Ways and Inconstant Moon to the Unfinished Story rubbish.

A couple of essays to be found here too.

All the Myriad Ways : All the Myriad Ways [SS] - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : Passerby - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : For a Foggy Night - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : Wait It Out - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : The Jigsaw Man - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : Not Long Before the End - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : Unfinished Story No 1 - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : Unfinished Story No 2 - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : Man of Steel'Woman of Kleenex - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : Inconstant Moon - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : What Can You Say About Chocolate Covered Manhole Covers? - Larry Niven
All the Myriad Ways : Becalmed in Hell - Larry Niven

Murder maybe multiverse.

4.5 out of 5

A specially adapted ramscoop ship pilot gets in trouble in space, when he sees a large golden alien humanoid. He finds himself rescued and transported 12 light years instantaneously back to Earth.

A couple of essays to be found here, too.

3.5 out of 5

Vaguely lost.

3 out of 5

Corpsicle decision.

3 out of 5

Organlegging escape.

4 out of 5

Once upon a time a swordsman battled a sorcerer. As was fairly de rigeur, really.

To paraphrase Guru Bob, 'a good big barbarian with weapon will always beat a good little sorcerer when the magic goes away.'

4.5 out of 5

Maxwell the Demon can do an energy thing.

3 out of 5

Unknown why this is here.

1 out of 5

While not a story as such, Niven satirically pontificates on the damage super spoof would to a human mortal woman, and the possibilities of super surrogacy.

Wonder if Superboy had Element Lad make him some special material condoms on his trips to the 30th century?

3.5 out of 5

Really lunary weather we're having.

4.5 out of 5

Strange party alien trip.

3 out of 5

Ship brain Venus trip.

2.5 out of 5

Well , what can i say , we all know that 99% of anything Niven touch becomes pure gold.

And not by mistake either. He's as talented as the devil , and knows it. buy this book to taste a bit of his humor as well , find out why superman can't have sex with human weman or read a fascinating article about teleportation. there's some fantasy in there to in "What good is a glass dagger". Overall , a wonderfull book , writen lightly by one of the best writers the world has known.