Beowulf's Children [Hardcover]

Larry Niven (Author), Jerry Pournelle (Author), Steven Barnes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995

In the sequel to the best-selling The Legacy of Heorot the coauthors of Footfall pit the descendants of the immortal warrior, Beowulf, against monsters that dwarf the fearsome Grendel. 100,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This sequel to the authors' bestselling The Legacy of Heorot (1987), in which "Earth Born" colonists vanquished an alien life-form known as the Grendels (hence the title here), starts slowly. The colonists' children (the "Star Born") spend too much of the first half of the novel discussing the "brain damage" the older generation has suffered as a result of the long trip to the planet. Meanwhile, the whiff of social Darwinism that blows through the book is enhanced when Aaron Tragon, the only "Star Born" who both gestated in an artificial womb and never bonded with any of the families on the planet, leads a movement to colonize Avalon's mainland. Aaron becomes increasingly vicious?a matter blamed primarily on his lack of a familial bond?after his calculated cruelties lead to his being given exactly the authorization he desires. Ultimately, the colonists end up less with success in the present than with hope for the future, with much of that hope deriving from the novel's improbable denouement. The authors create several unusual indigenous life-forms that make the mainland a fascinating place, and in-jokes designed to please SF fans are scattered throughout the narrative. Even Niven/Pournelle/Barnes loyalists, however, will find the one-dimensional characterizations here (especially of the women), as well as the increasingly absurd actions of the humans, disappointing. The bloom that lured many readers to the original is long off the paper rose of this book.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

For two decades, the colonists of the planet Avalon hid from the carnivorous monsters of the main continent by securing themselves within their island fortress of Camelot. Now their children, the Star Born, have one goal: to conquer the mainland for themselves and for their colony's future in the stars. This fast-paced, complex sequel to The Legacy of Heorot (S. & S., 1987) blends the talents of three top-notch sf raconteurs. Strongly defined characters and intriguing, speculative science make this novel an example of panoramic sf adventure at its best. A good choice as a stand-alone story or in combination with its predecessor. For most sf collections.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 382 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312855222
• ISBN-13: 978-0312855222
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,223,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fitting sequel, September 9, 2001

By 

Michael Battaglia - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beowulf's Children (Mass Market Paperback)

The trio of authors involved in this have to be commended for not basically rewriting the first book with different characters, which I think is what a lot of people expected/hoped for considering the hostile reviews this (and "The Gripping Hand" another sequel in the same vein) have garnered. Of course they can't capture the magic of the first book because that was all about the shock of the new . . . but they gamely try here and almost succeed. If you haven't figured it out yet, reading this book is absolutely useless without first having at least a passing knowledge of the Legacy of Heorot, this expands the story twenty years beyond the end of that book (one of the problems is that there was no pressing need for a sequel, the first book wrapped itself up fairly well and neatly) and follows new and old characters as a new generation grows up on the planet of Avalon and gets ready to grab the torch and settle the planet. The Grendel Wars of twenty years ago are long forgotten and the generation gap is in full force here with the "Earthborn" and "Starborn" undergoing quite a bit of friction with each other. This book is highly entertaining and you'll find yourself devouring large chunks of it in a sitting, it's not a weighty philosophical book, mostly adventure with a bunch of science thrown in to dazzle the readers. Part of the problem is it tries to be everything at once and winds up being gigantic without really satisfying any of those parts. It's a scientific exploration of Avalon, delving into the flora and fauna with typical Niven zeal, and I have to admit his ideas are dazzling, the place feels both alien and familiar at the same time. But it's also a vague attempt at social commentary, with the more conversation adults warring with the far more liberal values of their children . . . however there's also a big focus on sex for no apparent reason. They handle the large cast well and while it's hard to get a feel for the newer group, a lot of the older characters are deepened by this treatment, especially Cadmann, who while being the hero was very one note at times. Lastly it's a tense adventure thriller but the tension never really develops until the end and while it is rewarding, you spend a lot of time wondering where this is all eventually going. The resolution is a tad fuzzy, especially when it comes to motivations but those are all just quibbles. The book may not win any awards but it's well crafted and enjoyable for all its bulk and a welcome revisiting of a fascinating planet. Those wanting to go beyond The Legacy may want to look here but don't expect a carbon copy.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Different than the first, but still very good!, November 30, 2000

By 

Harvey H. Meeker (Shelton, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beowulf's Children (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked up The Legacy of Heorot the predecessor to this book a few months ago and read it thinking that it was a standalone piece. While browsing for books I found this sequel and grabbed it up having enjoyed the first book. Obviously, if you haven't read the first book go check out the reviews for it before reading any further.

The second book picks up about twenty years give or take after the events of the first. The next generation has grown into their own and are faced with the fact that their parents are much too cautious in exploring their adopted homeworld. Their parents, the characters from the first book, have built up their own system for making decisions. This takes into consideration their experiences with Grendals in the first book and the fact that most to varying degree were affected by their trip to the planet in hibernation. In the words of their children they have ice on their minds.

The new generation of children includes some that were embryos brought from earth born from artificial wombs. These children were raised among the colonists without a strict mother and father. The standout among these now grown bottle babies is Aaron Tragon. His leadership of the new generation is what sends them out to explore the unknown main continent.

Cadmann Weyland and the original group of colonists struggle to deal with the differing attitudes of this new generation which leads to conflict. The hostile nature of the planet itself comes into play as well giving this book a tense edge as after having seen the events of the first book the reader is left wondering what other dangers lurk on the main continent. When those dangers come to the fore they make for exciting and fascinating moments.

Overall the book is well thought out and a very good continuation of the previous storyline. Niven always seems to do his best work partnered with others, Pournelle and Barnes being the two that he has worked with the most. This book is no exception to this, although the focus on the hedonism of the younger generation doesn't seem to have much of a point and doesn't really go anywhere except to possibly outline the cultural differences between the Earthborn and Starborn. Other than that the book is tight and well crafted. I actually found it to be better than the first one overall.

The book's central conflict is resolved well, but there seems to be room for another sequel. Hopefully we will see that soon.

I'd probably give the book 4.5 stars as the original would get 4 and this one is slightly better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beowulf's Children lacks the punch of Legacy of Heorot, March 22, 2000

By 

Jason Moll - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beowulf's Children (Mass Market Paperback)

The sequel to Legacy of Heorot(LOH), takes you back to Avalon 25 years after the Grendel Wars. The community is split between the orginal settlers and the "Star Born". This rift is evident during the novel, and only gets larger. The colonists finally take a step to settle the mainland, in which they meet a deadly new "Avalon Surprise". Unfortunately, this book lacks the raw intensity and power of LOH. The book plays more on social structures and issues. On the positive side, the book does create an intersting new threat found on Avalon, and makes you wonder if there will be a sequel.