Links: Tom Easton's Review / Show Article /

Larry Niven's lastest Known Worlds novel is fun, fast, and full of the remarkable aliens his fans have loved for years. Niven has always been known for his wonderfully freakishly alien aliens, and Destroyer of Worlds gives readers the opportunity to intimately know a new bizarre alien race. For readers new to Niven's Known Worlds series, I suggest starting at Fleet of Worlds, the first book in this three volume mini series, and you can go from there. And if you've ever read Niven's classic SF novel Ringworld, it's not deja vu, this is a prequel series.

From back of book: Worlds closer to the galactic core than Known Space are--or were--home to intelligent species. Some learned of the core explosion in time to flee. Destroyer of Worlds opens in 2670, ten years after Juggler of Worlds closes, with refugee species fleeing in an armada of ramscoops in the direction of the Fleet of Worlds. The onrushing aliens are recognized as a threat; they have left in their trail a host of desolated worlds: some raided for supplies, some attacked to eliminate competition, and some for pure xenophobia.

Only the Puppeteers have the resources to confront this threat--but the Puppeteers are philosophical cowards...they don't confront anyone. They need sepoys to investigate the situation and take action for them. The source of they sepoys? Their newly independent former slave world, New Terra.

(Source: Tor Books)