Larry Niven - 2009 Interview (Part 1 of 2)

Pete Bullock, of TransmissionsFromBeyond.com, and myself interviewed science fiction master author Larry Niven at Shevacon in 2009.

Niven discuss how he got started in science fiction, his writing methods, and collaborations.

In part 2, he speculates on some difficult questions about the future of science fiction.

This interview was shot with two cameras, which is why the angles and sound quality change. Conditions were less than ideal, but it ain't bad.

Visit www.transmissionsfrombeyond.com for more interviews and podcasts of great SF. Visit www.davidbartell.com for more SF stuff, including this interview in another format. There are also pictures from Shevacon 2009, including Mr. Niven, and Jeremy Bullock, who played Boba Fett in Star Wars.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• larry
• niven
• shevacon
• wyrdnet
• transmissions
• from
• beyond
• pete
• bullock
• david
• bartell
• sfwa
• science
• fiction
• ringworld
• interview
• celebrity

[TheForwardGaze]

I love the premise and plots of the Ringworld stories, but some of the elements of the societies (worlds) he created I didn't buy into and found a bit annoying.

[WyrdNet]

@TheForwardGaze - What societal elements annoyed you?

[TheForwardGaze]

@WyrdNet The usual: Ringworld is set 500-600 years in the future, with "transfer booths" that can transport people instantly around the earth, as well as faster than light space travel. Yet they also have telephones, money, colleges, kindergartens, government corruption, tennis courts, marriage, bridge and poker, naturally occuring psychic powers, fights to the death for public entertainment, technology with dials, and the prediction of a world pop. of 18 million by the mid 21st century, etc.

[WyrdNet]

@TheForwardGaze - yeah, it's interesting how SF writers (including me) extrapolate some things and not others. But worlds in which everything is extrapolated become so bizarre, it is hard to track the character motives. A good writer can pull it off - otherwise this sort of shorthand suffices. Personally, I think government corruption and poker will be around for a long time...

[Khultan]

I'm waiting for that Ringworld movie. If Hollywood won't do it, then let the Europeans or Japanese do it, preferably Madhouse Studios.

[IGNsucks]

"didnt have that much of the gift?"............buddy you came up with one of the most amazing intricate universes in sci fi history.

[Felhaven]

I have read everything this man has written, and own a healthy chunk of it too. Hands down the best Science Fiction author writting right now.

[organizedatheism]

One of the most amazing sci-fi authors known to man...

[SvenTviking]

Larry Niven and Iain M. Banks. Nobody compares to these two.

[w13rdguy]

Superbly?  YES!

[gocatty]

love the known space universe niven rules

[TheForwardGaze]

@sheffguy29 Yeah, my mistake. I meant 18 billion.

[sheffguy29]

@TheForwardGaze bro dint u mean that the prediction of a world population by the mid 21st century was to be 18 billion cos u put 18 million theres like near 7 billion ppl rite now : )

[TheForwardGaze]

@WyrdNet You're right. It's also why I think good SF only works in print and not in movies or tv.