Title: The Flight of the Horse
Author: Larry Niven
First published September 1, 1973
212 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781857238419 (ISBN10: 1857238419)
Rating: 3.82
Overview
In the small town of Pine Hill, Texas, everyone is buzzing over the arrival of the USA men’s Olympic basketball team. Amongst the team is the famous Ben Castillo, known as the “King of the Court”, who is causing quite a stir.
When he walks into a local diner, the last thing the waitress expects is to catch his eye. But she’s not your typical city girl, and she won’t fall for his charms so easily.
With her own problems to deal with, she’s not looking to be just another conquest for Ben. Will Ben be able to convince her that he’s not like the other guys, or will she end up serving him a side of rejection along with his hash browns?
About the Author
Laurence van Cott Niven is a renowned author, best known for his novel Ringworld (Ringworld, #1) (1970), which won several awards, including the Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula. Niven’s writing primarily focuses on hard science fiction, using complex scientific concepts and theories.
He is particularly skilled in creating unique alien species that differ considerably from humans both physically and mentally.
Niven’s writing also often incorporates elements of detective fiction and adventure stories. In his fantasy series, he employs an exhaustible resource called Mana to create a non-renewable magic system.
One of Niven’s notable achievements is the creation of the Kzin, an alien species featured in a twelve-book collection series called the Man-Kzin Wars. He has collaborated with several writers since the 1970s, including Jerry Pournelle, Steven Barnes, Edward M.
Lerner, and others.
Niven attended the California Institute of Technology briefly before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics (with a minor in psychology) from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, in 1962. He pursued a year of graduate studies in mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Niven has been a full-time writer since then, residing in different Los Angeles suburbs like Chatsworth and Tarzana. He married Marilyn Joyce “Fuzzy Pink” Wisowaty, a renowned science fiction and Regency literature fan, on September 6, 1969.
Niven has received several accolades for his writing, including the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1967 and the Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 1976. He has also written scripts for various science fiction television shows, including the original Land of the Lost series and Star Trek: The Animated Series, for which he adapted his early Kzin story.
Niven even adapted one of his stories for an episode of the television series The Outer Limits in 1996. Additionally, Niven has written for the DC Comics character Green Lantern, incorporating hard science fiction concepts like universal entropy and the redshift effect into his stories, which is unusual for comic books.
Editoral Review
Larry Niven’s The Flight of the Horse is a science fiction novel first published on September 1, 1973. Niven is an American science fiction writer who has won multiple Hugo and Nebula awards for his work.
His writing is characterized by his scientific accuracy, complex world-building, and originality. The Flight of the Horse is a unique addition to the science fiction genre and tells an imaginative story filled with humor, intelligence, and adventure.
The novel follows the journey of Hanville Svetz, a time traveler who is sent back in time to capture a horse, but instead finds himself stolen by a pterodactyl, which he refers to as a “dragon.” From there, he travels through various eras and meets different prehistoric creatures, including Neanderthals, woolly mammoths, and saber-toothed tigers, all while trying to find his way back to his own time. The story is set against a backdrop of futuristic technology, such as anti-gravity machines, force fields, and transporters.
The characters in The Flight of the Horse are well-developed, particularly Hanville Svetz, who is presented as a bumbling, yet endearing, time traveler. Svetz’s humor and relatability make him a likable protagonist, and readers will find themselves rooting for him throughout his adventure.
The setting and world-building are also integral to the story, as Niven takes great care in realistically portraying the different prehistoric periods and the creatures that inhabit them. Thematically, The Flight of the Horse explores the idea of time travel, and the consequences that come with meddling in the past.
Niven delves deep into the scientific implications of time travel and the butterfly effect, as well as the philosophical implications of altering history. The novel also touches on themes of loneliness, identity, and the struggle for survival.
Critically, The Flight of the Horse excels in its storytelling and pacing. Niven’s writing is witty and engaging, and he balances humor with action and suspense.
The plot is well-structured, and the reader is constantly kept on their toes as Svetz encounters various obstacles and characters throughout his journey. However, the novel’s weakness lies in its lack of depth in terms of character development and themes.
While the characters are well-written, they lack a certain emotional depth, and the themes explored in the novel could have been further developed. Comparatively, The Flight of the Horse is similar to other works by Larry Niven, such as Ringworld and The Mote in God’s Eye, in terms of its scientific accuracy and world-building.
However, it stands out for its humor and adventurous spirit. In comparison to other time travel stories, like H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine and Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Flight of the Horse is less heavy-handed in terms of its exploration of the implications of time travel, but more light-hearted in its approach to the concept.
Overall, The Flight of the Horse is a fun and creative science fiction novel, perfect for fans of time travel stories and adventurous tales. While it may not delve deep into its themes or characters, it makes up for it in its entertaining writing and imaginative world-building.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and quick read. I give The Flight of the Horse a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
