Rainbow Mars

by Larry Niven

Book Overview

Five-time Hugo Award winner Larry Niven weaves time and fantasy to create an utterly unique novel of a time traveler who must retrieve the life forms extinct in his current existence. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312867778
• ISBN13: 9780312867775
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Straight from Svetz report.

Rainbow Mars is a exciting book about a team of three people who go back in time to save aliens on a dieing Mars. I recommend this book to the more mature reader. Even if there is no swearing in it there is some sexual conduct. I also recommend this book to anyone who likes a good absorbing fantasy book. It also includes short stories by Larry Niven,who is one of the main characters named Svetz. Other than that it's a cool book about your wildest dreams.

Larry's finest since Ringworld

If, like me, you've followed Niven's career with interest, enthused over his early works like Protector and Ringworld, then lost interest in his later collaborations of the 80's and 90's, then this book is for you. When "Destiny's Road" appeared a couple of years ago it was his first non-collaboration in years, and I expected great things - but was disappointed by an unsatisfying plot and an irritatingly choppy writing style. I therefore hesitated over buying Rainbow Mars. I needn't have worried. It's a glorious return to style, standing a mile apart from all the other Mars books on the market just now. Other readers have called the book confusing: not so. The central character has appeared before in Niven's earlier work (eg. The Flight of the Horse) where the concept of the Extension Cage is introduced. Niven frequently refers back to episodes from his previous books, and if the reader is unfamiliar then confusion is inevitable; maybe that's the problem. (Incidentally, in the UK the book didn't include reprints of these old stories). However, for those of us who have already been thrilled by Niven's take on the concept of time travel, Rainbow Mars represents his finest creation since Ringworld (seriously!). When it comes to creating alien life forms in vivid, realistic detail, Niven is visionary, and the central alien in this book is no exception. With Asimov dead and Arthur C. Clarke coasting into retirement (did you read 3001? Ugh!), isn't it time Niven inherited the title "Grand Master of Science Fiction"?

Niven's Back on his Bounce Again!

After a few dubious alliances (and I don't count Jerry Pournelle in that class), and a Ringworld story that was just one too many, Larry Niven is back in sparkling form with Rainbow Mars. Slightly disappointing is the inclusion of 5 earlier Svetz stories, those of us who have them will enjoy having a quality copy, but you're paying extra for something many fans have already.Svetz's Time Machine is exactly not that. The Time Machine projects Svetz into fantasy worlds of the past; so naturally when he goes to Mars, he finds the best of the "little green men" and "Flash Gordon" style of Martians.Well written, and a pleasure to read - I expect to read it again and again.

wow, what a GREAT book

this book is truly unique, a work only Niven could come up with

A Time-Travel Romp

Nobody does clever like Niven does -- he sets limitations on his technologies and then explores the boundaries right at those limits. This new story combines his fantasy time travel with chemical rocketry to get us to a Mars that teems with old friends.