Customer Reviews

The Patchwork Girl

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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 :^)

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.