Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Ballantine Books (New York, 1973). 1st edition, 1st printing. 218 pages. $1.25.
Description
Cavanaugh is a former member of Delta Force who now works as a protector for those rich enough to afford him and his team. A brilliant scientist named Prescott hires Cavanaugh to protect him from a powerful drug lord who, he says, is seeking the highly addictive drug he has invented. But after Cavanaugh trains the scientist in escape and evasion, the unthinkable occurs: Cavanaugh's team is viscously attacked and entirely wiped out--and Prescott seems to be in collusion with the attackers. Now Cavanaugh must fight against his own tactics and anticipate his enemy's every move, while suffering the consequences of the real secret Prescott is hiding: a unique weapon that induces fear.
User reviews
LibraryThing member andyx
For those that know 'Ringworld', we learned in 'Ringworld Engineers' that the Ringworld was built by Pak Protectors, and that Pak are tough, super-intelligent and dedicated to protecting their species, whatever it takes. In 'Protector' we learn more about the Pak and their links with humanity, and
Even if you haven't read any of the 'Ringworld' books, I'd rate this as an enjoyable read. The relationship between the Pak and humankind is a shockingly plausible bit of science fiction (I won't spoil it by revealing too much) and the story, which takes place across a timespan of several decades, romps along without getting bogged down in background detail. If you are able to get hold of this book and you enjoy SF, I'd thoroughly recommend it.
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how one human - the prospector Jack Brennan - became a protector to our species and our planet...Even if you haven't read any of the 'Ringworld' books, I'd rate this as an enjoyable read. The relationship between the Pak and humankind is a shockingly plausible bit of science fiction (I won't spoil it by revealing too much) and the story, which takes place across a timespan of several decades, romps along without getting bogged down in background detail. If you are able to get hold of this book and you enjoy SF, I'd thoroughly recommend it.
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LibraryThing member tole_lege
Purest Niven - for gentle, escapist literature with a sci/fi bent, this is very good indeed. It won't tax the mind but it will engage it.
LibraryThing member wweisser
A quick read, interesting ideas.
LibraryThing member wifilibrarian
This is my first entry in the Ringworld universe, and I did find it enjoyable. I borrowed it as an audiobook from the library so that's why I chose to begin the series here. I have read other Niven books, and it definitely felt like this was one of his. An alien race whose contact with earth could
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have dire consequences for the planet and the human race, not because of the aliens' personal desire for destruction or annihilation of another race, but more because their biology and physiology has shaped their psychology so much their desire is genetic programmed. The book's climax is almost like a chess game, with little action but much manoeuvring between the main character's and their foe. Show Less
LibraryThing member berlanoux
One of the most important and best of Niven's works.
LibraryThing member BruceCoulson
Possibly the best of the Known Space series; certainly one of the more intriguing, as it deals not only with the future, but the origin of homo sapiens and how they fit into the universe.
LibraryThing member helver
Man's first contact with an alien life form turns out to be a lone Protector on a search and rescue mission - seeking out a lost colony from the Pak system. Instead of finding the Pak, he finds Jack Brennan - a miner from the belt. Brennan is everything a belter should be - brave, resourceful,
I enjoyed this book. I think the separations between the sections were rough and it felt like there was a whole heck of a lot of relevant information that was left to be backfilled in future sections. I thought the transition between breeder and protector was interesting. The depth with which the protectors play their games and make their plans is pretty incredible and the subtlety with which Brennan plays his games is just as nuanced. Probably a little overdone, but we're talking about superman, here...
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smart, daring... but he's got nothing when compared to the Protector. I enjoyed this book. I think the separations between the sections were rough and it felt like there was a whole heck of a lot of relevant information that was left to be backfilled in future sections. I thought the transition between breeder and protector was interesting. The depth with which the protectors play their games and make their plans is pretty incredible and the subtlety with which Brennan plays his games is just as nuanced. Probably a little overdone, but we're talking about superman, here...
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LibraryThing member scodenton
Well, I'm now a fan of Larry Niven. Off to read a second one now, perhaps Ringworld - sounds similar to Consider Phlebas to me...
LibraryThing member antao
(Original Review, 1980-07-29)
Some apparent anomalies in Niven's "Protector".
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
In "Protector" Roy Truesdale seeks out Brennan and they leave Sol for Home with the Pak scouts close behind. Brennan infects Truesdale with the modified Tree-of-Life virus just before they get there. After they arrive there, the virus spreads to all members of Home. The net result is that you have a planet full of childless protectors. Many years later ("Known Space" time) I believe We Made It buys the hyperspace shunt from the Outsiders.
How come I have never seen reference to Home being wiped out by plague (that would be a likely story for the protectors to send to Earth) or reference to protectors on Home (I have not read "Ringworld Engineers" yet and I understand that protectors have something to do with Ringworld). With the advent of the hyperspace shunt, someone should have visited Home.
Sometimes I read so fast that I miss things. If so, could someone please cite examples to get me back on track.
[2018 EDIT: This review was written at the time as I was running my own personal BBS server. Much of the language of this and other reviews written in 1980 reflect a very particular kind of language: what I call now in retrospect a “BBS language”.]
Some apparent anomalies in Niven's "Protector".
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
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Space" stories.In "Protector" Roy Truesdale seeks out Brennan and they leave Sol for Home with the Pak scouts close behind. Brennan infects Truesdale with the modified Tree-of-Life virus just before they get there. After they arrive there, the virus spreads to all members of Home. The net result is that you have a planet full of childless protectors. Many years later ("Known Space" time) I believe We Made It buys the hyperspace shunt from the Outsiders.
How come I have never seen reference to Home being wiped out by plague (that would be a likely story for the protectors to send to Earth) or reference to protectors on Home (I have not read "Ringworld Engineers" yet and I understand that protectors have something to do with Ringworld). With the advent of the hyperspace shunt, someone should have visited Home.
Sometimes I read so fast that I miss things. If so, could someone please cite examples to get me back on track.
[2018 EDIT: This review was written at the time as I was running my own personal BBS server. Much of the language of this and other reviews written in 1980 reflect a very particular kind of language: what I call now in retrospect a “BBS language”.]
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LibraryThing member SirCrash
bit bleak but great world building.
LibraryThing member Cataloger623
Larry Niven is an excellent story teller . This is one of his early works written 1974 and made into an audiobook in 2004. The story takes place in universe in which humans have settled the solar system and planets around Alpha Centauri. This is story of Brennan the Belter and Phssthpok the Pak.
The audio book gave life to the story which you would miss reading the book. The dialog is crisp and intelligent. Niven is able to cover action and themes, and development in one book which present day writers would take multiple books to cover. This was a fun story no matter which format you use. I willed more of this author's work.
people
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The Pak live near the galactic core and travel by sub-light Bussard Ram spaceships. The space science fiction stuff is really window dressing for a morality play. The big question Niven explores is what is ethical behaviors valid when the life of your planet is at stake? Is it ok to convince the enemy to attack innocents on another world to protect your world. Are you willing to kill your mentor or die to allow your student to survive at the cost of your life? Is planetary genocide an option.The audio book gave life to the story which you would miss reading the book. The dialog is crisp and intelligent. Niven is able to cover action and themes, and development in one book which present day writers would take multiple books to cover. This was a fun story no matter which format you use. I willed more of this author's work.
people
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Subjects
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 1974)
Ditmar Award (Winner — 1975)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1973-09
Physical description
218 p.; 6.8 inches
ISBN
0345234863 / 9780345234865