The Patchwork Girl [Paperback]

Larry Niven (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Ace; PF edition (April 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441653154
• ISBN-13: 978-0441653157
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,464,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

LARRY NIVEN is the multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Ringworld series, along with many other science fiction masterpieces. He lives in Chatsworth, California. JERRY POURNELLE is an essayist, journalist, and science fiction author. He has advanced degrees in psychology, statistics, engineering, and political science. Together Niven and Pournelle are the authors of many New York Times bestsellers including Inferno, The Mote in God's Eye, Footfall, and Lucifer's Hammer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read - someone tried to kill a man on the moon, but who did it?, July 8, 2010

By 

David Long (Goleta, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Patchwork Girl (Paperback)

I just finished reading THE PATCHWORK GIRL, and I really enjoyed it. It's a detective mystery novel that takes place on the moon in the future. Sounds like good fun doesn't it? This book also has "... over fifty superb interior illustrations by Fernando Fernadez ...", which is an uncommon plus. This story is part of Larry Niven's canon of writings called Known Space. It comes after the story, "ARM" from the book "Flatlander" (or "The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton,") and before the story, "The Woman in Del Rey Crater;" only available in the book, "Flatlander."

I disagree with the other reviewer about there being too much gratuitous sex. I wouldn't say it's gratuitous (overly detailed or excessive); it's a minor aspect of the story. This element goes to understanding the socio-cultural aspects of the "Lunies" versus the "Flatlanders" (and "Belters"). It's also part of the lifestyle of the main character, Gil "The Arm" Hamilton.

I thought this story was well thought out. It had a tough to solve and engaging "locked room" who-dun-it. The detailed descriptions of the environment, characters, socio-cultural, and historical contexts, plus the fascinating technological/science stuff was engagingly described.

THE PATCHWORK GIRL is also included in the book, THREE BOOKS OF KNOWN SPACE. However, you don't get the illustrations in that volume. This is a classic sci-fi story. Niven has other short stories that take place on Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, Mars, Pluto, the asteroid belt, and of course other star systems. It's all good imaginative fun. Check out my Listmanias for information on all of Larry Niven's Known Space stories/books, and in which order to read them.

THE PATCHWORK GIRL is out of print, but you can get a used copy here on Amazon.

I hope you enjoy THE PATCHWORK GIRL. Let me know :^)

7 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Niven's best, November 19, 2000

By 

Barry Haworth - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Patchwork Girl (Paperback)

This book is a mystery story, set on the moon. A murder attempt is made, and a woman accused. Gil the ARM must prove her innocence before she ends up in the organ banks.

Though short, I found this story hard to credit. Though the science was well thought out (Niven's trademark), I did not think the characters acted believably. There was also too much gratuitous sex (Niven's other trademark) - the hero sleeps with the accused woman, his real girlfriend, and another woman he meets along the way.