The Legacy of Heorot

Great read!

I read this one years ago, asked audible.com staff to consider recording it, they did. Hearing it was even better than reading it. The characters and theme are developed with great care.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Damn Great Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, I read this few years ago, and listening to it performed brings an entirely different element to it.

What did you like best about this story?

I love colonization books, and this one is one of the best thought out plots/story I think I have seen.

What about Tom Weiner’s performance did you like?

Awesome!!!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

something to do with grendels and their speed I am sure

Any additional comments?

nope

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Still my all time favorite

If you could sum up The Legacy of Heorot in three words, what would they be?

Hold your breath

Any additional comments?

I first read this book back in 87 when it first came out, and it was my favorite book. I have read some great books since, but I still think this is my #1. I remember reading it, and it being a "can't put down page turner", until the big climax. Then I realized I was only 1/3 through the book. Again, the next big climax, and I was 2/3 through the book.I have always been a Niven fan, but not so much with Pournelle, and when Barnes joins in, I usually don't like the books much at all (Saturn Rising, no thanks), but in this book, they absolutely nailed it.I especially like the way the story gives voice to the thoughts of the Grendel. I almost made a spoiler there. I better stop now, before I let something slip.Just get this book, you'll love it!

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Outstanding! Magical!

When Niven, Pournelle and Barnes get together to write a novel well it's pure chemistry. It's magical, because I can read these stories over and over and never tire of them! The Legacy of Hearot , the children of Beowulf, Footfall, all the Ringworld stored, and takes of known Space. Niven is a master story teller but Barnes and Pournelle really complaint him.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good story, hard to understand sometimes

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book. While under 30 years old, you can still tell the difference in societal norms. Cigarette smoking being glamorous, women in mostly subservient roles to men. But still a very good story. Because of the deepness of the narrator's voice it was sometimes hard to understand, but overall a very enjoyable listening experience.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, the narrator did a very good job.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Ok story

Didn't find this particularly impressive given the authors are well known. Likely will not listen to rest of series.

I also wasn't overly thrilled with the narrators choice of character voices.

Maybe this just doesn't work as an audio book.

Difficult to follow in this format. Not the kind of story I expected.

An excellent story brought to life.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story really came to life. The mood and tempo matched the story quite well. The action scenes were appropriately suspenseful and the book ended much sooner than I would have liked.

What did you like best about this story?

This story is a well crafted tale of survival that read like a movie plot. I will re-visit this book very soon.

What does Tom Weiner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He effectively read the voices true to the authors wishes. If the character had a lisp, he read with a lisp. I would most likely just plow right through without any care or consideration for that detail.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

On a one way mission to a world light years away, it was man or monster; only one would survive.

Any additional comments?

This book will not disappoint.

A great sci-fi yarn

This book is energizing, intelligently written, and fun to listen to—a truly great sci-fi yarn.
I've been a fan of Larry Niven since his early tales of Beowulf Shaeffer—yet freely acknowledge that when he collaborates with other writers, his plots become more concise, and his characters become more nuanced and interesting. This book is a case in point. With these three authors working together, one could expect great action, great plot, and great entertainment—and "The Legacy of Heorot" delivers.
Although at first I wasn't sold on Tom Weiner's narration, it quickly grew on me. Any time I find myself more focused on the story than the narrator—that's a good thing, and Mr. Weiner brings the story across with coherent characterizations that blur the boundary between performance and mere narration—with positive results.
Next up for me, "Beowulf's Children."

More disappointing that Beowulf's Children!

I read Legacy of Heorot when it first came out and I loved it! Through the years it has become my absolute favorite novel. I think I’ve read it six times at least. I’ve bought numerous copies to give as gifts, and recommended it to many of my friends. In fact, I’ve always hoped it would become a trilogy of movies – it’s laid out perfectly for that.
When Beowulf’s Children came out, I jumped on it immediately, but it was a huge let-down. No spoilers, but I hated the way the characters that I had come to know and love were treated, and one basic premise simply sucked.
This book really needed a team of narrators to do it justice and Tom Weiner was just not up to the job. Nothing against him, I’ve loved what he did with other Larry Niven books, but he simply didn’t have enough different voices to do the job on this ensemble cast of characters. His version of Carlos, one of my favorite characters, went all over the map, and he went from sounding like an Australian trying to fake a Spanish accent, to a whining inner-city Yankee reading a bus schedule.
The story is still excellent and worth your time, but I would encourage you to actually read rather than deal with this narration. It’s really no surprise to me that there have been so many bad reviews of this great book. The narration simply ruins the story.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful