The pak are a species of highly xenophobic humanoids originating from a system near the galactic core. Brennan was a belter, the product of a fiercely independent, somewhat anarchic society living in, on, and around an outer asteroid belt. A classic novel of known space phssthpok the pak had been traveling for most of his thirtytwo thousand years. They are closely related to other hominid species in the galaxy, including humans and the morlocks of wunderland. It also was the start of the known space literary universe. Protector known space series by larry niven nook book. In the book protector, brennan takes roy on a voyage to intercept the pak scouts and lead them away from sol.
I am reasonably comfortable with larry niven s known space universe, however i have just finished rereading protector for the umpteenth time and i am somewhat disturbed by the apparent incompatibility with other known space stories. His known space story the soft weapon was adapted as a script for the animated star trek series, featuring spock in the puppeteer role. Larry niven s novel protector is good, solid, science fiction like they dont write anymore. Protector is yet one more in the superlative known space collection of books by larry niven that were written last century. Ringworld was an important 1970 scifi novel by larry niven. Pak protector, a form of alien life in larry nivens known space universe protector, an alias of nohvarr in marvel comics alexis the protector, in the avengers a. Larry niven s career, already dynamic and creative, exploded in new directions after protector. May 05, 2004 protector was first published in 1973, and is a part of nivens ongoing known space series, one of the foremost continuing visions of the future by an sf author. Hes a protector, the supposed third stage of humanity. Sep 26, 2016 the pak are from larry niven s protector and ringworld books. Larry niven is the new york times bestselling author of such classic science fiction novels as ringworld and destinys road. Phssthpok the pak had been traveling for most of his thirtytwo thousand years.
Protector was larry niven s fourth fulllength novel in the known space universe, and the last known space work written before the series decline in the mid1970s. By the time ringworld takes place, known space denizens whip around the galaxy in fasterthanlight hypderdrives and traipse across planets through. Niven expertly details how the human life cycle is related to the pak, and how a necessary part of the pak diet serves as humanitys lastditch weapon against any wouldbe conqueror. Protector is essentially two separate, related novellas, published together.
The character tunesmith appears in the 2004 one, ringworlds children. Protector is a hard, hard scifi novel by larry niven it introduces one of the most important but rarely seen races in the known space series. Fans today still debate the existence of nivens alien races in the star trek universe. Larry nivens novel protector is good, solid, science fiction like they dont write anymore. Larry niven s novel, ringworld, is the winner of the 1970 hugo award for best novel, the 1970 nebula award for best novel, and the 1972 ditmars, an australian award for best international science fiction. In the first part he comes up with the story adult which describes an alien race known as the pak who are the ancestors of the human race. Protectors represent the final stage of maturation for the pak and other hominids which follow the same maturing process. Protector by larry niven book 3 in the known space scifi series 1973. The protector form is achieved when a breeder stage hominid consumes the virus present in treeoflife. Phssthpok the pak had been travelling for most of his 32,000 years his mission, to save, develop, and protect the group of pak breeders sent out into space some 2 12 million years before brennan was a belter, the product of a fiercely independent, somewhat anarchic society living in, on, and around an outer asteroid belt. It has all the qualities that make those books so special.
Throughout the five to ten year voyage brennan teaches and trains roy how to handle the ship and the weapons, how to fight pak vessles, and how to fight a pak in hand to hand combat. Sequel to the multiaward winning original, ringworld, and the ringworld engineers. It depicts mans first contacts with extraterrestrials about two and four centuries hence. The pak are from larry nivens protector and ringworld books. A hollowed out asteroid containing 72 protectors and a breeders leaves the pak home world heading for the galactic arms. Larry niven introduced us to the pak in his short story the adults, which appeared in the june, 1967 issue of galaxy magazine. Protector was larry nivens fourth fulllength novel in the known space universe, and the last known space work written before the series decline in the mid1970s.
The pak also appear in several of niven s later novels, notably those set in the ringworld. Phssthpok the pak had been traveling for most of his thirtytwo thousand. I am reasonably comfortable with larry nivens known space universe, however i have just finished rereading protector for the umpteenth time and i am somewhat disturbed by the apparent incompatibility with other known space stories. Pak breeders and pak protectors are two forms of fictional life in larry niven s known space universe. This is my attempt at making a pak protector with spore. Oldest date of pak records of spaceflight in the library protector. His mission was to save, develop, and protect the group of pak breeders sent out into space some two and a half million years before. See also the novels protector, destroyer of worlds, and betrayer of worlds. Protector phssthpok the pak had been traveling for most of his thirtytwo thousand years. Heinleins future history series, the known space novels and stories follow the. The pak first appeared in the adults, which appeared in galaxy in 1967. Pak breeders and pak protectors are two developmental stages of fictional life in larry niven s known space universe.
Sep 26, 2016 the pak are from larry nivens protector and ringworld books. It introduces one of the most important but rarely seen races in the known space series. Niven introduces some fascinating concepts, at the core of which is an intriguing alien species, originating in the galactic core, with ancient ties to humanity making first contact after millions of years. Larry nivens novel, ringworld, is the winner of the 1970 hugo award for best novel, the 1970 nebula award for best novel, and the 1972 ditmars, an australian award for best international science fiction. Walls 1,000 miles high at each rim will let in the sun and prevent much air from escaping.
Free download or read online protector pdf epub known space series book. Contentsshow the pak species increased radiation levels at the core caused severe mutations that destabilized the pak evolutionary process. Protector is a hard, hard scifi novel by larry niven. Protector was first published in 1973, and is a part of nivens ongoing known space series, one of the foremost continuing visions of the future by an sf author. Heinleins future history series, the known space novels and stories follow the expansion of humans into the galaxy. Fans today still debate the existence of niven s alien races in the star trek universe. Protector known space series by larry niven, paperback. 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 sciencefiction magazines. His previous collection, nspace was lauded by the houston post as outstanding. Reading the larry niven books in order involves, however, picking up his fleet of worlds, heorot. One reason i find protector superior to many of the stories that come later in the known space chronology is that larry niven is at his best when working with believable science and technology.
We learn all about what it meaks to be a pak and a protector, and they really are a fascinating invention. The first edition of the novel was published in 1973, and was written by larry niven. A protector is described as afighting machine, with armorlike skin, superhuman strength and superhuman intelligence. Phssthpok the pak had been traveling for most of his 32,000 years his mission, to save, develop, and protect the group of pak breeders sent out into space so. Pak breeders and pak protectors are two developmental stages of fictional life in larry nivens known space universe. In the latest adventures of the big ring, louis wus attentions are needed once more, as protectors are fighting among themselves, vampires are on the move, and it begins to look. In the latest adventures of the big ring, louis wus attentions are needed once more, as protectors are fighting among themselves, vampires are on the move, and it begins to look as if the ringworld itself needs a protector all its own. The work fleshes out a species called the pak, originally introduced in a 1967. Protector is a tale of how human beings came about, a story made apparent by the arrival of an outsider in human space. The main characters of this science fiction, fiction story are luke garner, jack brennan. In protector roy truesdale seeks out brennan and they leave sol for home with the pak scouts close behind. Protector by larry niven 1987, paperback for sale online ebay. Protector is a 1973 science fiction novel by american writer larry niven, set in his known space universe. Though it seems like the concept of the pak protector was an interesting thought experiment that niven decided to create a whole story about, the idea is interesting and works very.
The pak also appear in several of nivens later novels, notably those set in the ringworld. This is a classic larry niven book that will be satisfying to anyone who has read any of the ringworld series, or just to newbies coming to niven for the first time. Protector by larry niven, 9780345353122, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The belt worlds had been tracking the pak ship for days brennan figured to meet that. Phssthpok is a protector in an unusual situation most of his breeder descendants have been killed by a nuclear explosion, and the rest rendered sterile. First introduced in larry nivens known space novel protector, was the fate of the brennan monster, earths first human protector, ever revealed in the ringworld book series. Larry niven is a wellknown american scifi author who has been writing for the last 50 or so years and is best known for his ringworld sciencefiction series which has received several awards, including the hugo, locus, ditmar, and nebula awards. Digitized and converted to pdf 22 dec 2017, new version number v1.