A Darker Geometry: A Man-Kzin Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Martin & benford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1996

Fans of the Man-Kzin Wars series are offered hard-science explanations to mysteries of Known Space that reveal why the Kzin species conquered the interstellar empire, the origins of the Pak and Jotoki races, and more.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Baen (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671877402
• ISBN-13: 978-0671877408
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,646,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not recommended by Known Space fan, August 6, 2005

By 

W. B. Dowler (Edmonton, AB CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Darker Geometry: A Man-Kzin Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read all works in Known Space save that which is not yet available in paperback. This is one of the few titles that was a disappointment. As others have mentioned, it does get off to a good start. Things get a little bit odd, though, and I found myself pushing myself through to get to the ending. The ending was the biggest let down.

Before I talk about why the ending was such a let down, I should mention something about this work. Most of this novel already appears as a part of "Man Kzin Wars VII." The last portion of the novel is the only portion that appears only in this printing, and it contradicts some of what is known about Niven's Known Space. Even with that contradiction, the ending doesn't serve as a satisfying way to end this particular story, which means those who aren't familiar with the Known Space world will probably be less disappointed with it than those that are.

My advice to Known Space fans is to pick up "Man Kzin Wars VII" instead of this. You'll get two other stories, and the best parts of "A Darker Geometry" without the worst parts. If you aren't already familiar with Known Space, get the "Ringworld" novels, "Protector," "Three Books of Known Space," or some other work written by Niven himself that serves as a better introduction to a complex universe.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fills in Gaps at the Expense of Story, August 13, 2005

By 

John A Lee III "jal3" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Darker Geometry: A Man-Kzin Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

This book promised to answer a lot of questions left hanging in Larry Niven's "Know Space" universe. On this score, it delivers. We learn more about the enigmatic Outsiders and their motivations, we learn more about the Pak and about the Puppeteers. We even learn a bit of explanation for the existence of the Ringworld. All of these make the book worthwhile. I just wish that the story which containted these snippets of information had been more enjoyable.

The story concerns two people from Earth on a suicide mission headed for Wunderland to fight the Kzin. Along the way, they are abducted by Outsiders and used as pawns for the purposes of the outsiders who are themselves just pawns for other beings. It is in the telling of this story that much background for Known Space is filled in. The problem is that the story starts out well and then just gets more and more abstruse. While incorporating cosmological physics the story degenerates to metaphysics. Part of this is due to the nature of cosmology itself. It is a weird science. Much of it, though, is just because the story is entirely too strange to be enjoyed, at least by me.

Still, I did enjoy having the gaps filled in. It was not a wasted day.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I liked it despite its divergence from pure Known Space, May 12, 2010

By 

Stephen T. Crye (Earth) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Darker Geometry: A Man-Kzin Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a slightly different universe than pure Known Space. I happen to like Benford, despite his slightly unpolished style compared to Niven, or compared to some of the other authors that contributed to Man-Kzin wars. (In particular, Mathew Joseph Harrington really nails it - check out "Peace" and "War and Peace" for the best Man-Kzin action to date - ties together Pak, Outsiders and more. HIGHLY recommended).

That having been said, I liked this book even more than the segment that appeared in the Man-Kzin series. If you have experience with Benford and can tolerate his foibles, get this book. If you are a known-space purist, just read the section that appeared in Man-Kzin Wars VII. Both are great, and the imagery of the earth ship fighting the three Kzin craft with a system-long directed spear of fusion flame is compelling.