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Larry Niven

6 series 55 books in order 5 standalone books

Laurence van Cott Niven, known as Larry Niven, is an American science fiction writer born in Los Angeles in 1938. His best-known work is Ringworld (1970), winner of Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. He was named the 2015 recipient of the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award by the Science Fiction Writers of America. His work is primarily hard science fiction featuring big science concepts and theoretical physics, often blended with detective fiction and adventure. His fantasy series The Magic Goes Away treats magic as a non-renewable resource.

Born
1938
Known for
Ringworld series, CoDominium, Known Space, The State

Series by Larry Niven

Ringworld series

4 books in order · 1970–2004 · Publication order

  1. Cover of Ringworld

    Ringworld

    1970 · Larry Niven

    Ringworld is a 1970 science fiction novel by Larry Niven set in his Known Space universe. The story follows Louis Wu and his companions as they…

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  2. The Ringworld Engineers

    1979 · Larry Niven

    The Ringworld Engineers is a 1979 science fiction novel by American writer Larry Niven. It is the first sequel to Niven's Ringworld and was nominated…

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  3. Cover of The Ringworld throne

    The Ringworld throne

    1996 · Larry Niven

    The 1996 novel by Larry Niven returns to the Ringworld, an immense artificial habitat created by an advanced civilization. The story brings together…

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  4. Cover of Ringworld's Children

    Ringworld's Children

    2004 · Larry Niven

    A 2004 novel by Larry Niven. Explorer Louise Wu becomes enmeshed in interplanetary and interspecies intrigue on the Ringworld, a vast engineered…

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CoDominium

5 books in order · 1973–1993

  1. Cover of King David's spaceship

    King David's spaceship

    1973 · Jerry Pournelle

    A 1973 sci-fi novel follows a Renaissance general who races to uncover space flight secrets from a forgotten library protected by barbarians. The…

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  2. Cover of The Mote in God's Eye

    The Mote in God's Eye

    1974 · Larry Niven

    A 1974 science-fiction novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle depicting the rise, fall, and subsequent rise of a civilization whose peak…

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  3. Cover of High Justice

    High Justice

    1977 · Jerry Pournelle

    A collection of seven interrelated tales about humanity's expansion to space stations, the moon, Mars, asteroids, and beyond. Stories range from…

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  4. Cover of Exiles to glory

    Exiles to glory

    1978 · Jerry Pournelle

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  5. Cover of The gripping hand

    The gripping hand

    1993 · Larry Niven

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Known Space

9 books in order · 1966–1980

  1. Cover of World of Ptavvs

    World of Ptavvs

    1966 · Larry Niven

    World of Ptavvs is a science fiction novel by Larry Niven, first published in 1966 and set in his Known Space universe. It originated as a novella…

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  2. Cover of Neutron Star

    Neutron Star

    1966 · Larry Niven

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  3. Cover of A Gift from Earth

    A Gift from Earth

    1968 · Larry Niven

    The world called Mount Lookitthat, shrouded in lethal mists, was never meant for humans, but colonization could not be reversed, and settlers…

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  4. Cover of All the Myriad Ways

    All the Myriad Ways

    1971 · Larry Niven

    This is a collection of fourteen short stories and essays by science fiction author Larry Niven, originally published in 1971. It includes titles…

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  5. Cover of Protector

    Protector

    1973 · Larry Niven

    Phssthpok the Pak had been traveling most of his 32,000 years on a mission to save, develop, and protect a group of Pak breeders sent into space some…

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  6. Cover of Tales of Known Space

    Tales of Known Space

    1975 · Larry Niven

    This is a science fiction collection by American writer Larry Niven, gathering thirteen short stories published between 1964 and 1975, all set in…

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  7. Cover of The long arm of Gil Hamilton
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  8. Cover of The patchwork girl

    The patchwork girl

    1980 · Larry Niven

    The Patchwork Girl is a science fiction novel by Larry Niven, part of his Known Space series. It is the fourth of five Gil Hamilton detective stories…

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  9. Cover of Red Tide

    Red Tide

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    Loosely based on Larry Niven's 1973 novella "Flash Crowd," this work continues to examine the social consequences of instantaneous teleportation, a…

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The State

3 books in order · 1976–1987

  1. Cover of A world out of time

    A world out of time

    1976 · Larry Niven

    Jaybee Corbell awoke after more than 200 years in a frozen state, known as a corpsicle, in someone else's body. He was under a sentence of immediate…

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  2. Cover of The integral trees

    The integral trees

    1984 · Larry Niven

    The Integral Trees is a 1984 science fiction novel by American writer Larry Niven. The story is set in a gas torus, a ring of gas and air that…

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  3. The Smoke Ring

    1987 · Larry Niven

    The Smoke Ring is a 1987 science fiction novel by Larry Niven. It is a sequel to The Integral Trees, another novel by Niven. The story is set in a…

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The Draco Tavern

28 books in order · 1979

  1. The Subject Is Closed

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    The Subject Is Closed is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 1 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  2. Grammar Lesson

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    Grammar Lesson is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 2 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  3. Assimilating Our Culture, That's What They're Doing!

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    Assimilating Our Culture, That's What They're Doing! is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 3 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  4. The Schumann Computer

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    The Schumann Computer is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 4 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  5. The Green Marauder

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    The Green Marauder is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 5 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  6. The Real Thing

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    The Real Thing is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 6 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  7. War Movie

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    War Movie is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 7 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  8. Limits

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    Limits is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 8 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  9. Table Manners

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    Table Manners is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 9 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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  10. One Night at the Draco Tavern

    Year unknown · Larry Niven

    One Night at the Draco Tavern is a book by Larry Niven. It is book 10 of the series The Draco Tavern.

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Show all 28 The Draco Tavern books in order →

The Magic Goes Away

4 books in order · 1978–2005

  1. Cover of The Magic Goes Away

    The Magic Goes Away

    1978 · Larry Niven

    Selfish, short-sighted magicians have exhausted the mana that once moved the world, and magic is fading. As even the most powerful spells lose their…

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  2. The Magic May Return

    1981 · Larry Niven

    The Magic May Return is a 1981 book by Larry Niven. It is book 2 of the series The Magic Goes Away.

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  3. Cover of More Magic

    More Magic

    1984 · Larry Niven

    More Magic is a 1984 book by Larry Niven. It is book 3 of the series The Magic Goes Away.

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of The Legacy of Heorot
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  2. Cover of Lucifer's Hammer
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  3. Cover of Footfall
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  4. Cover of N-Space
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  5. Cover of A Hole in Space
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Larry Niven written?

We list 55 books by Larry Niven across 6 series, published between 1966–2021 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Larry Niven's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Ringworld.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Larry Niven's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.