THE RINGWORLD ENGINEERS

While more imaginative vocal characterizations and some additional dramatic flair might have enhanced this production, Connor O'Brien's uncluttered reading of Niven's second Ringworld novel allows the story's mind-boggling concepts to shine. When such concepts include a species that needn't build spaceships because it can simply move its entire solar system wherever it wants to go, one can see the wisdom of essentially letting the book speak for itself. O'Brien supplies serviceable voices for Niven's adventurers. Just as Stanley Kubrick wisely used straightforward direction to emphasize the ideas in the film 2001, O'Brien successfully uses an unadorned approach to do the same for this novel of exploration and cosmic mystery. J.P.M. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 99]