Known Space
Known Space is the fictional setting of many of Larry Niven's science fiction stories. In general terms it is the name given by humans to the collection of stars and planets near the Earth, out to some 60 light years, which have been explored and settled in the books set in it. The Known Space stories span approximately a thousand years of history, from the first human explorations of our solar system to the colonization of dozens of nearby systems (and with references to events some billion years ago).
Overview
Races
In the process of exploring space, humankind encounters several intelligent alien species,
including the following. The Kzinti, belligerent giant cat-like aliens with whom the humans fight several brutal wars – mostly offstage until the release of the Man-Kzin Wars short-story collections, largely by other authors. Pierson's Puppeteers, a technologically advanced race of three-legged, two-headed creatures descended from herd animals, and noted for their cowardice. The Outsiders, fragile low-temperature aliens that cruise deep space and trade information, introducing FTL travel to humans. They have a mysterious connection with the starseeds. The Pak, interstellar relatives of humanity whose life-cycle evidences the purpose of human old age. The Kdatlyno, a species enslaved by the Kzinti until humans freed them. Kdatlyno "see" by way of sonar and create sculptures intended to be "seen" by Kdatlyno, felt by humans and licked by Puppeteers. The Thrintun, a long-extinct species which ruled the galaxy through telepathic mind control. The Grogs, sessile furry cones, which can control animals telepathically. The Grogs turn out to be the mutated survivors of the Thrintun species. The Tnuctipun, used by the Thrintun as genetic engineers. The Bandersnatchi, colossal sluglike creatures, originally created by the Tnuctipun to be grown as a food source by the Thrintun; The Trinocs, named for their three eyes; they also have three fingers, a triangular mouth etc. The Martians, recently extinct, except on the "Map of Mars" on the Ringworld. The Jotoki, sentient octopus-shaped beings formed by the joining of the lobes of five non-sentient eel-like life forms into a single brain. Former rulers of an interstellar empire, they used Kzinti as body guards, but the Kzinti rebelled and used the Jotoki technology to create their own empire. They Who Pass, entities from an other-dimensional universe who view the universe through cosmic strings but are unable to enter; non-canon.
Also figuring in some stories are intelligent cetaceans and various offshoots of Homo sapiens lineage.
Locations
An amusing and interesting aspect of the Known Space universe is that most of the planets colonized by humans are suboptimal for Homo sapiens. The planets were measured and declared habitable by "dumb" robot probes who were then followed by sleeper ships who had to make the best of a bad situation. Down is the home world of the Grogs (see above), notable for the bussard ramjet that remains in orbit to destroy the Grog population should they take threatening action against humanity.Fafnir is a former Kzin colony covered almost entirely in water captured by humans during the Man-Kzin Wars. The Fleet of Worlds are the five small planetoids that are home to the Puppeteers (see above), presently being moved through deep space to avoid destruction as the wave of energy from an explosion of the galactic core sweeps towards the outer reaches of the galaxy. Home was one of Earth's most distant colonies, decimated by war with the Pak, but re-colonized in later centuries. Jinx, orbiting Sirius, is a massive moon of a gas giant, stretched by tidal forces into an egg shape, with gravity near the limits of human habitability. The poles lie in vacuum, the equatorial regions are Venus-like (and inhabited by the Bandersnatchi); the zones between have atmosphere breathable by humans. Jinx's poles become a major in vacuo manufacturing area. Kobold was an artificial world created by Jack Brennan, a human Protector. Composed of a small sphere in the center ringed by a larger torus. Gravity generators facilitate movement between the two sections and are used in games and art. Plateau in the Tau Ceti system is Venus-like, with a plateau half the size of California rising high enough into the dense atmosphere to be habitable. Ringworld, an artificial planet-like structure, formed in the shape of a giant ring orbiting its sun. Sheathclaws a planet colonized by humans aboard Angel's Pencil and Kzinti telepaths. Warhead was an uninhabitable Mars-like world being used as a military outpost by the Kzinti, until it was hit with an experimental weapon which tore a long, kilometers-deep, but narrow hole into the crust. Most of the planet's atmosphere fell into this artificial canyon, resulting in a breathable environment. The planet was then renamed Canyon, for the crater, and settled by humans in a huge city running up the crater wall. We Made It orbiting Procyon, got its name because the first colony ship crash-landed. The planet's axis is pointed along the plane of the ecliptic, creating ferocious winds during half of the planet's year, forcing the people to live underground. Wunderland is an inhabitable planet circling Alpha Centauri, and was one of the earliest colonies in Known Space's human history. Asteroid belts are usually extensively colonized in Known Space, as well. Sol's is known as the Belt, while Alpha Centauri's is known as the Serpent Swarm.
Technology The series also features a number of "gee whiz" inventions which figure as plot devices.
Stories earlier in the timeline feature technology such as Bussard ramjets, and explore how organ transplantation technology enables the new crime of Organlegging, while later stories feature hyperdrive, invulnerable starship hulls, stasis fields, transporter booths (used only on planetary surfaces), the lifespan-extending drug boosterspice, and the tasp which is capable of stimulating the pleasure centerss of the brain from a distance. The milieu can be viewed as representing the climax of the pre-cyberpunk era of science fiction, as the cyberpunk themes of information technology and competition of various sub-governmental groups do not figure in the stories.
Stories in Known Space
Unlike many fictional universes, the component tales of known space were largely released as short stories or serials in various science fiction anthology magazines. These stories were generally subsequently released in one or more collection volumes. To add some further confusion, some of the shorter novels were also later re-released as part of collections. Due to the large number of stories, it is particularly difficult for a completionist fan of the series to have read the entire span of the work. After the mid-1970s, Larry Niven began to write significantly less Known Space stories. In his note that accompanies "Man-Kzin Wars", he indicates that it had become more and more difficult to be inspired to write in the universe as it had grown too difficult. At that point, he opened up the series to works by other authors. In the Known Space stories Niven had created a number of technological devices (GP hull, stasis field, Ringworld material) which, combined with the 'Teela Brown' gene, made it very difficult to construct engaging stories beyond a certain date - the combination of factors made it tricky to produce any kind of creditable threat/problem without complex contrivances. Niven demonstrated this, to his own satisfaction, with Safe at Any Speed. Stories by Niven himself
† Additional Notes:"World of Ptavvs" was expanded and republished as a novel in 1968."The Adults" was expanded and republished as "Protector" in 1973."Slowboat Cargo" was expanded and republished as "A Gift From Earth" in 1968."The Deceivers" was subsequently renamed "Intent to Deceive""The Organleggers" was subsequently renamed "Death by Ecstasy" (Note that most stories appeared in more than one collection, though only one each is listed here.)
Man-Kzin Wars
Some fans consider these stories to be non-canonical.
Playground
Niven has described his fiction as "playground equipment", encouraging fans to speculate and extrapolate on the events described. Debates continue, for example, on who built the Ringworld (Pak Protectors and the Outsiders being front-runners), and what happened to the Tnuctipun. A rough draft of a "final" Known Space story titled "Down in flames" [1] is in circulation, which includes a controvercial revelation about the Tnuctipun.
External links Encyclopedia of Known Space Timeline of the Known Space universe: Warning: spoilers.
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