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Niven's Characters [message #115599] Wed, 18 September 2013 18:10 Go to next message
mwm is currently offline  mwm
Messages: 111
Registered: May 2013
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Senior Member
Message-ID: <716@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 9-Feb-85 20:34:29 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbtopaz.716
Posted: Sat Feb  9 20:34:29 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Feb-85 05:19:43 EST
References: <551@topaz.ARPA>
Reply-To: mwm@ucbtopaz.UUCP (Praiser of Bob)
Organization: Missionaria Phonibalonica
Lines: 12
Summary: 

>Overall, I enjoyed it, but there was a lack of characterization; it seems to
>me that this is a general problem with Niven's more recent work.  Niven's
>most memorable characters, to me, are still Gil Hamilton and Louis Wu.

What? Bewulf Shaeffer - hero of "Neutron Star" (a.k.a "There is a Tide")
(which you mentioned), first man to know that the center of the Galaxy has
exploded, one of the only two men to have visited an anti-matter solar
system (and collect on the failure of a GP hull!), one of the few humans to
be featured in a kdatlyno touch-sculpture, and father of Louis Wu doesn't
make the list?

	  

		
		
		
Re: Niven's Characters [message #115654 is a reply to message #115599] Wed, 18 September 2013 18:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jsc is currently offline  jsc
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Message-ID: <4772@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 13-Feb-85 01:01:53 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.4772
Posted: Wed Feb 13 01:01:53 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Feb-85 07:44:05 EST
References: <551@topaz.ARPA> <716@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA> <120@uwvax.UUCP>
Organization: Berzerkely
Lines: 24

> > Beowulf Shaeffer ... father of Louis Wu ...
> 
> Well, not biological father.  But say, if Bey was the "father" of Louis
> (as I had always presumed), there is a passage that confuses me.  In
> the beginning of Ringworld they spend a great deal of time discussing
> the Long Shot, and its previous flight.  It seems strange to me that
> Louis didn't know it was his own father that had made that flight (I
> think his name is even mentioned somewhere, but I couldn't find it).

Remember, Beowulf was not permitted to have children by earth law
(because he was an albino). I guess he was never able to tell Louis...

> 
> Also, we know how Louis ends his life (more or less), but what ultimately
> becomes of Beowulf Shaeffer?  He is by far my favorite Niven character,
> and I feel somewhat cheated not knowing what happens to him.

You never know, niven may be planning more stories... I sure hope so...


-- 
					James Steven Carrington
					jsc@berkeley.arpa
					ucbvax!jsc
Re: Niven's Characters [message #115683 is a reply to message #115599] Wed, 18 September 2013 18:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
derek is currently offline  derek
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Message-ID: <120@uwvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Feb-85 06:17:14 EST
Article-I.D.: uwvax.120
Posted: Mon Feb 11 06:17:14 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Feb-85 02:56:01 EST
References: <551@topaz.ARPA> <716@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA>
Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept
Lines: 20

> Beowulf Shaeffer ... father of Louis Wu ...

Well, not biological father.  But say, if Bey was the "father" of Louis
(as I had always presumed), there is a passage that confuses me.  In
the beginning of Ringworld they spend a great deal of time discussing
the Long Shot, and its previous flight.  It seems strange to me that
Louis didn't know it was his own father that had made that flight (I
think his name is even mentioned somewhere, but I couldn't find it).

Also, we know how Louis ends his life (more or less), but what ultimately
becomes of Beowulf Shaeffer?  He is by far my favorite Niven character,
and I feel somewhat cheated not knowing what happens to him.

derek


-- 
Derek Zahn @ wisconsin
...!{allegra,heurikon,ihnp4,seismo,sfwin,ucbvax,uwm-evax}!uwvax!derek
derek@wisc-rsch.arpa
Re: Niven's Characters [message #117408 is a reply to message #115599] Mon, 23 September 2013 18:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
student is currently offline  student
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Message-ID: <263@nmtvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Feb-85 12:27:06 EST
Article-I.D.: nmtvax.263
Posted: Mon Feb 11 12:27:06 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Feb-85 04:41:02 EST
References: <551@topaz.ARPA> <>
Reply-To: student@nmtvax.UUCP (Greg Hennessy)
Organization: New Mexico Tech, Socorro
Lines: 13
Summary: 

In article <551@topaz> mwm@ucbtopaz.UUCP (Praiser of Bob) writes:

>What? Bewulf Shaeffer - hero of "Neutron Star" (a.k.a "There is a Tide")
>...
>...                                      , and father of Louis Wu doesn't
>make the list?

Carlos Wu was the biological father of Louis Wu with Sharrol Janse
the mother. Bewulf was the foster father.

Sincerely;
Greg Hennessy
..ucbvax!unmvax!nmtvax!student
Re: Niven's Characters [message #117423 is a reply to message #115599] Mon, 23 September 2013 18:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mwm is currently offline  mwm
Messages: 111
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Message-ID: <723@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 13-Feb-85 18:42:50 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbtopaz.723
Posted: Wed Feb 13 18:42:50 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Feb-85 06:01:26 EST
References: <551@topaz.ARPA> <716@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA> <120@uwvax.UUCP> <4772@ucbvax.ARPA>
Reply-To: mwm@ucbtopaz.UUCP (Praiser of Bob)
Organization: Missionaria Phonibalonica
Lines: 33
Summary: 

>> > Beowulf Shaeffer ... father of Louis Wu ...
>> Well, not biological father.

Correct, but...

>> [Query as to why Louis doesn't know about the first flight of the Long
>> Shot from his father.]
>Remember, Beowulf was not permitted to have children by earth law
>(because he was an albino). I guess he was never able to tell Louis...

Bey was on his way back to Earth to see his wife & son again, and
Carlos (Louis' biological father) had left Earth. I think Louis would
have know who his father was. Chalk it up to the stasis box effect, and
let it go at that. [Sorry, but I can't resist: "Will Louis find out
who his father is? Will Bey make it back to Earth? Will Elephant get
his wish? Who will mother Carlos' next child? For the answer to these
and other questions, tune in next week to 'As Known Space Churns.'" :-]

>> Also, we know how Louis ends his life (more or less), but what ultimately
>> becomes of Beowulf Shaeffer?  He is by far my favorite Niven character,
>> and I feel somewhat cheated not knowing what happens to him.
>You never know, niven may be planning more stories... I sure hope so...

Yes, but writing about how a character drops out of things doesn't mean
Niven has to quit writing stories about the character. After all, all we
know about the 200 years of Louis Wu's life before 'Ringworld' is 'There is
a Tide' isn't it? So there's lots of Louis Wu stories still to be written.

Contrary to what I said earlier, 'There is a Tide' is *not* the same as
'Neutron Star'. Now, didn't 'Neutron Star' appear under another title,
and *what was it*?

	  

		
		
		
Re: Niven's Characters [message #117480 is a reply to message #115599] Mon, 23 September 2013 18:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
friesen is currently offline  friesen
Messages: 49
Registered: October 1985
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Message-ID: <332@psivax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Feb-85 12:50:27 EST
Article-I.D.: psivax.332
Posted: Mon Feb 18 12:50:27 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Feb-85 10:33:11 EST
References: <551@topaz.ARPA> <716@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA> <120@uwvax.UUCP> <4772@ucbvax.ARPA>
Reply-To: friesen@psivax.UUCP (Stanley friesen)
Organization: Pacesetter Systems Inc., Sylmar, CA
Lines: 19
Summary: 

In article <4772@ucbvax.ARPA> jsc@ucbvax.ARPA (James Carrington) writes:
>> 
>> Also, we know how Louis ends his life (more or less), but what ultimately
>> becomes of Beowulf Shaeffer?  He is by far my favorite Niven character,
>> and I feel somewhat cheated not knowing what happens to him.
>
>You never know, niven may be planning more stories... I sure hope so...
>
>
	No, he is not(at least presently), he has stated that he
is done with the "Tales of Known Space" universe, since it is now
too difficult to maintain consistancy over so many stories.
-- 

				Sarima (Stanley Friesen)

{trwrb|allegra|cbosgd|hplabs|ihnp4|aero!uscvax!akgua}!sdcrdcf!psivax!friesen
 or
quad1!psivax!friesen
re: Niven's characters [message #117504 is a reply to message #115599] Mon, 23 September 2013 18:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Karma:
Originally posted by: @RUTGERS.ARPA:boyajian%akov68.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
Message-ID: <697@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 19-Feb-85 06:02:47 EST
Article-I.D.: topaz.697
Posted: Tue Feb 19 06:02:47 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 21-Feb-85 05:11:29 EST
Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 19

From: boyajian%akov68.DEC@decwrl.ARPA

> From:	ucbtopaz!mwm

> Contrary to what I said earlier, 'There is a Tide' is *not* the same as
> 'Neutron Star'. Now, didn't 'Neutron Star' appear under another title,
> and *what was it*?

No, to my knowledge, "Neutron Star" has *never* appeared under any other
title.


--- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC, Maynard, MA)

UUCP:	{decvax|ihnp4|allegra|ucbvax|...}
	!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-akov68!boyajian
ARPA:	boyajian%akov68.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA

<"Bibliography is my business">
Re: Niven's Characters [message #117518 is a reply to message #115599] Mon, 23 September 2013 18:18 Go to previous message
davidl is currently offline  davidl
Messages: 66
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Message-ID: <1360@orca.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Feb-85 14:47:08 EST
Article-I.D.: orca.1360
Posted: Mon Feb 18 14:47:08 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Feb-85 01:02:07 EST
References: <551@topaz.ARPA> <716@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA> <120@uwvax.UUCP> <4772@ucbvax.ARPA> <723@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA>
Reply-To: davidl@orca.UUCP (David Levine)
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 19
Summary: 

Actually, despite the overwhelming evidence that Louis Wu is the son of Beowulf
Shaeffer (well, biologically his father must be Carlos Wu), Niven is adamant 
that Louis Wu has never even heard of Bey.  (See "Ringworld.")  I can't even
speculate why Niven decided to do it that way, but he IS the author, after
all...

I suppose that if, in Known Space, one takes the name of one's biological 
father rather than the man one's mother is married to, there must be 
thousands of Wus knocking around by the time of "Ringworld."  Carlos Wu 
had an UNLIMITED Birthright License.

Bonus trivia question:  We all know who Beowulf Shaeffer is.  What Niven 
characters had middle names Launcelot and Gilgamesh?  (Answers rot13 after 
my signature.)

David D. Levine  (...decvax!tektronix!orca!davidl)          [UUCP]
                 (orca!davidl.tektronix@csnet-relay.csnet)  [ARPA]

Answers:  Yhpnf Ynhaprybg Tneare naq Tvyoreg Tvytnzrfu Unzvygba.
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