Larry Niven has written over 50 books.
It's hard to work out what order in which to read them.
Maybe in the order they were written?
I think starting by reading stories set in his "Known Space" universe is a good way to go.
There are about 9 novels and 35 short stories set in this universe.
They span about 1000 years in the future and cover a small portion of the Milky way.
They begin with the first human explorations of the solar system, to humanity's expansion into other near systems.
You can probably divide this time span into 4 periods:
This post covers The Early Exploration (Pre 2000 AD) period and the Slower-Than-Light (2000 to 2350AD) period. The years 2351 to 2650 are covered here
The Early Exploration stories cover the first human explorations and colonizations of the Solar System (Pre 2000AD).
The Slower-Than-Light stories cover later exploration and colonization of the solar system.
The time period is about 350 years (2000 to 2350AD). It's often called the Belter Period.
Belt refers to the asteroid belt of Earth's solar system, Sol system. Citizens are named Belters.
Earth is ruled by the UN (United Nations).
The Belter period features slower-than-light travel with fusion-powered and Bussard ramjet ships.
What struck me about Niven's world building was how close his vision is to that portrayed in the Sci Fi series, "The Expanse".
This time is composed mainly of Niven's Belter stories, the Gil "The Arm" Hamilton mysteries, and the novels World Of Ptaavs, A Gift From Earth and Protector.
It features faster-than-light ships using "hyperdrive".
It is composed of many stories featuring Beowulf Shaeffer and Louis Wu, among others.
Niven later joined the last two periods into a single universe in the short story "A Relic of the Empire" (If, December 1966). Then in the 1980's he started writing stories of the Man-Kzin Wars. The first volume was published in 1988. This filled in the 300 year gap (between 2350 to 2651).
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Early Exploration period
The first-published work in the Known Space series, was also Niven's first
published piece.
December 1964 issue of If magazine.***
It is set on the dark side of the planet Mercury approximately 1976 AD.
***
Becalmed In Hell***
first appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction in July 1965.
This story is also included in Niven's collections "All the Myriad Ways"
Eric is the "Brain" of the first ship to explore Venus. Howie is his
human crew member. When a fault develops, forcing the ship down onto the
hostile Venusian surface, Howie must figure out the problem with Eric,
be it mechanical or psychological.
* **
[1989 AD] Wait It Out
This story is included in Niven's collections "All the Myriad Ways"
This is the story of the first manned flight to Pluto
1996 C.E.] Eye Of An Octopus
Galaxy, February 1966
Covers the Martian Explorations.
This covers the first human expedition to Mars
The all male crew digs up a grave & finds evidence of local intelligent life.
Slower-Than-Light Period
Larry Niven's "How the Heroes Die"
This is the story of the second manned mission to Mars
and how it all went wrong.
First published: Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1966.
The Jigsaw Man (short story)
Set around 2099 AD
first published in Harlan Ellison's anthology Dangerous Visions, *
and is included in Niven's collections All the Myriad Ways and Tales of Known Space
In the future serious criminals are forced to donate their organs to repay society.
World of Ptavvs
Set around 2106 AD
This was Niven's first published novel.
Published 1966 (Ballantine Books) ***
Published 1966 (Ballantine Books) ***
It's based on a 1965 magazine story of the same name.
"A much shorter version of "World of Ptavvs" first appeared in Worlds of Tomorrow, March 1965 by Galaxy Publishing Corp."
A major element of the story was the Cold War existing between Earth and the "Belters",
This is the 1965 Magazine version
At the Bottom of a Hole
First published: Galaxy Science Fiction, December 1966.
Set 20-30 April, 2112 AD
Human explorers to Mars are killed by locals.
This is a fast paced action story.
It is the third in a series by Niven about the first Martian explorations.
This is not an independent story; it assumes you have read the previous ones - "How the Heroes Die"
and "Eye of an Octopus"
Lots of Belter references
Intent to Deceive aka "The Deceivers",
About 2113 AD
First published: Galaxy Magazine, April 1968.
***
Death By Ecstasy (The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton or Flatlander)
2123 AD
It is the first of five Gil Hamilton detective stories, and provides most of the backstory for the character.
It first appeared in the January 1969 edition of Galaxy under the title The Organleggers.
*
The Defenseless Dead (The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton or Flatlander)
2124-2125 AD
It is the second of five Gil Hamilton detective stories.
It was published in 1973 in the Roger Elwood anthology Ten Tomorrows.
Phssthpok
2125 AD
Read the Protector
Novel by Larry Niven
ARM & Other Short Stories
2126 AD
Gil “The Arm” Hamilton was one of the top operatives of ARM, the elite
UN police force. His intuition was unfailingly accurate; his detective
skills second to none; and his psychic powers—esper sense and
telekinesis—were awesome.
The Patchwork Girl (Flatlander)
2126 AD
it is the fourth of five Gil Hamilton
detective stories and the first to be published as a stand-alone novel
in 1980.
It was later included in the Gil Hamilton anthology Flatlander.
The Woman in Del Rey Crater (Flatlander)
2127 AD
Cloak of Anarchy.
First published in Analog SF, March 1972.
A Gift From Earth
2325 - 2343 AD
Interlude, Vandervecken & Protector
2341 to 2361 AD
Protector was a 1973 science fiction novel
Ethics of Madness
2326-2390 C.E. approx
Worlds of If, April1967
The Warriors - Worlds of If Feb 1966
2360 AD
***
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In alphabetical Order, The stories & novels set in the Known Universe are:
- The Adults (short story)
- ARM (short story)
- At The Bottom Of A Hole (short story)
- At The Core (short story)
- Becalmed In Hell (short story)
- The Borderland Of Sol (short story)
- Choosing Names (short story)
- Cloak Of Anarchy (short story)
- The Coldest Place (short story)
- The Deceivers (short story)
- The Defenseless Dead (short story)
- The Ethics Of Madness (short story)
- Eye Of An Octopus (short story)
- Flatlander (short story)
- Fleet Of Worlds (novel, written in collaboration with Edward M. Lerner)
- Juggler Of Worlds (novel, written in collaboration with Edward M. Lerner)
- Destroyer Of Worlds (novel, written in collaboration with Edward M. Lerner)
- Betrayer Of Worlds (novel, written in collaboration with Edward M. Lerner)
- Fate Of Worlds (novel, written in collaboration with Edward M. Lerner)
- Fly-By-Night (short story)
- Ghost (short story)
- A Gift From Earth (novel)
- Grendel (short story)
- The Handicapped (short story)
- How The Heroes Die (short story)
- The Hunting Park (short story)
- The Jigsaw Man (short story)
- Madness Has Its Place (short story)
- N-Space (anthology)
- Neutron Star (short story)
- The Organleggers (short story)
- The Patchwork Girl (novel)
- Procrustes (short story)
- Protector (novel)
- A Relic Of The Empire (short story)
- Ring World (novel)
- The Ringworld Engineers (novel)
- The Ringworld Throne (novel)
- Ringworld's Children (novel)
- Safe At Any Speed (short story)
- Slowboat Cargo (short story)
- There Is A Tide (short story)
- The Soft Weapon (short story, adapted into an episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series)
- Wait It Out (short story)
- The Warriors (short story, introduced the Kzin)
- The Woman In Del Rey Crater (short story)
- World Of Ptavvs (novel)
Do let me know is there are any mistakes, errors or omissions.
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