Ringworld

The gods do not protect fools. Fools are protected by more capable fools.

Humans," said the puppeteer, "should not be allowed to run loose. You will surely harm yourselves.

Exercise is wonderful," said Louis. "I could sit and watch it all day.

The perversity of the Universe tends towards a maximum

For two hundred and fifty years the kzinti had not attacked human space. They had nothing to attack with. For two hundred and fifty years men had not attacked the kzinti worlds; and no kzin could understand it. Men confused them terribly.

Long ago, Louis Wu had stood at the void edge of Mount Lookitthat. The Long Fall River, on that world, ends in the tallest waterfall in known space. Louis's eyes had followed it down as far as they could penetrate the void mist. The featureless white of the void itself had grasped at his mind, and Louis Wu, half hypnotized, had sworn to live forever. How else could he see all there was to see? Now he reaffirmed that decision.

Louis suggested that the ship be called 'Lying Bastard'. For their own reasons, Teela and Speaker agreed. For his own reason, Nessus did not object.

The puppeteer unrolled completely. 'Did I hear you call me cute?

Music had played suddenly through the cabin, complex and lovely, rich in minor tones, like the sad call of a sex-maddened computer. Nessus whistled.

On a world built to ordered specification, there was no logical reason for such a mountain to exist. Yet every world should have at least one unclimbable mountain.

Gradually he was learning the size, the scale of the Ringworld. It was unpleasant, like all learning processes. He

But you've never even been as far as the Moon.

Nessus sprawled bonelessly in his couch. He looked ridiculously, ludicrously comfortable.

The gods do not protect fools. Fools are protected by more capable fools. She'd

Heat is produced as a waste product of civilization." "I

Fear is the brother of hate. One

Remember the Finagle Laws. The perversity of the universe tends toward a maximum. The universe is hostile." "But

If you can heat some bourbon, I can drink it," said the kzin. "If you cannot heat it, I can still drink it." "Nessus?