Beowulf's Children (Mass Market Paperback)

by Larry Niven (Author), Jerry Pournelle (Author), Steven Barnes (Author) "What in the hell is that?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Mary Ann, Big Chaka, Old Grendel (more...)

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Tor Science Fiction (November 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812524969
• ISBN-13: 978-0812524963
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #688,668 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #21 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Barnes, Steven
  #41 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( P ) > Pournelle, Jerry
  #98 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( N ) > Niven, Larry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Michael Battaglia - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

9 of 10 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 (REAL NAME)

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:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beowulf's Children, November 20, 2001

By	Mike Moran "mikemoran5" (Savannah, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

A very large disappointment both as a sequel to "Legacy" and being written by Niven and Pournelle. The description of inheritance of aquired traits among the colonists surprised me as you can generally count on Niven and Pournelle to keep the science at least not obviously wrong. The book describes raising children from frozen ova in a manner would have resulted in a collection of sociopaths making the book totally unbelivable. Weird for the sake of weird is no substitute for a plot. In "Destiny Road" Niven wrote about contact being lost with the Avalon colony. I took that as an apology for what he knew to be an appallingly bad book.