The Mote in God's Eye
by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
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The Mote in God's Eyeby Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle |
Probably one of the greatest "First Contact" novels written and one book that I am proud to have read about 100 times or more. The authors Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven, both writers of already famous series in there own right, collaborated on this massive 600+ page novel. Not very OA compatible, but a great read, only thing which is similar is no FTL, they use a natural why of jumping between starsystems, called Alderson Points, which seem to be natural formed wormholes. There is a lot of background involved and is very detailed.
Synopsis: Set just Months after a Revolt in New Chicago in 3017 A.D. The Empire of man detects an alien probe entering one of its outlying Colonies and sends the Ship MacArthur to investigate. The young First time captain Rob Blaine, decides to capture the Ship, which turned out to be a Light sail. What is discovered on Board this Light Ship was Dead But very alien. After examination and study, By Imperial scientists. It was decided to send a exploration Mission to the system of the Moties, Behind the Coalsack ( a Black Cloud of interstellar Dust). Comprising of two ships, The Macarthur and the Lenin, Both Battlecruisers, The MacArthur would Host the Scientists and naval Crew and the ??? was strictly used for protection.( since this Book was written and published at the height of the Cold War it drew on the concept of Security and protection). On arrival in the Motie system they are Met by a Ship with Moties, Then the First contact began. MacArthur is invited Back to the Motie homeworld and a Group of naval officers and scientists are Treated like tourists. Meanwhile on the MacArthur A battle was in progress before watchmakers (smaller versions of the Moties) who seemed to have infested the ship and the Human tourists are recalled, to return Home. The MacArthur is destroyed by the Lenin, to prevent the ship from falling into Moties hands. Second half of the Books, deals with The Returning and eventual Lies Of the moties, after 3 Motie ambassadors are escorted back to the Empire of man. What is Revealed is the Moties have to breed to survive, they Breed like rats, and after each population explosion, Civil war rages and wipes out that generation until the Next cycle. They also Breed genetically Superior warriors. It was determined that man couldn't let the Moties loose, because in a Few centuries they would over run By moties.
Of course the Book Not only involves First Contact, But is also intermix the Lives of several Key characters. Much of the Book is Influenced By the Cold war, with suspicion and Lies and deceiving tricks everywhere. The background is Interesting with Man under the Rule of the Imperial System with a King as Head of State and using Royality as Naval rank for status. Much like the British sovereignty.
There is one other book in this series, the Follow on, The Gripping Hand or The moat around Murcheson's Eye, and a short article called Motelight, which gives a story of what happened Before the motie probe ship reach man's colonies, set during the Secession wars.
