F R E Q U E N T L Y   A S K E D   Q U E S T I O N S

              FAQ:  alt.books.larry_niven

                    aka the PAQ 

            (Perpetually Asked Questions)

                    Version 0.1
                   
                 Under Construction

         Target Release Date:  August 1, 1996

           (-: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * :-)

I.  Purpose of alt.books.larry_niven:

The purpose of this newsgroup is to discuss the works of Larry Niven.  


II.  Niven Biography:

Larry Niven was born in 1938 in Los Angeles. In 1956, he entered the California
Institute of Technology, only to flunk out a year and a half later after
discovering a bookstore jammed with used science-fiction magazines. He graduated
with a B.A. in mathematics (minor in psychology) from Washburn University,
Kansas, in 1962, and completed one year of graduate work before he dropped out to
write. Among his accomplishments is the Known Space series of books and stories,
considered to be one of the best science fiction series ever. His first published
story, "The Coldest Place," appeared in the December 1964 issue of "Worlds of
If." He won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1966 for "Neutron Star," and
in 1974 for "The Hole of Man." The 1975 Hugo Award for Best Novelette was given
to "The Borderland of Sol." His novel Ringworld won the 1970 Hugo Award for Best
Novel, the 1970 Nebula Award for Best Novel, and the 1972 Ditmar, and Australian
award for Best International Science Fiction. He lives in California.

III.  Niven's Writings



IV.  Niven's Universes

-Known Space

-State Universe(s)

-Grendel Universe

-Magic Universe

-Others...

Nonfiction - Larger than worlds

Niven's Collaborators

Miscellaneous Questions:

Are the Man-Kzin Wars considered "canon" (i.e. an "official" part of Known
Space").

This issue has been thrashed about on Usenet many times.  Some hold the view that
the MKW books are not an "official" part of Known Space because Niven didn't
write them.  I say phooey on this.  Niven has iron editorial control over all of
Known space, including the MKW books. Knowing what I know about Niven, I don't
believe anything about Known space he didn't approve of would be allowed in
print.  Unless Larry Niven has specifically disavowed all or a part of the
Man-Kzin series, they I say they are official.  Indeed there are some elements of
"The Ringworld Throne" that indicate that some of the events of MKW may affect
Ringworld-4 (and I do think there will be a fourth.

The only argument I've heard against the books not being cannon is the trivial
fact that Niven didn't actually write them.



Niven Web Sites The Nivenverse:
http://www.databaun.com/~databaun/niven/index.html