Larry Niven:
Science Fiction Technology and Ideas
Larry Niven was born in California in 1938; he earned a BA in mathematics from Washburn University, Kansas. His first sf story The Coldest Place was published in 1964. He has won four short-fiction Hugos; he won both the Hugo and Nebula award in 1971 for Ringworld. He is also known for his Tales of Known Space.

Niven is a frequent collaborator; see his other contributions under Niven w/J. Pournelle, Niven w/EM Lerner, Niven w/S. Barnes, Niven w/Pournell, Flynn and Niven w/GC Johnson.

Invention/Technology Source Work (Publication Date)

Airmaker - breathe it
A device that creates a specific breathable mix directly from the atmosphere.

Ringworld (1970)

Architectural Coral - build to any shape
A structure grown to a specific shape using small coral-like organisms.

A Gift From Earth (1968)

Artificially Grown Organs
Human organs suitable for transplantation, grown outside the body.

A Gift From Earth (1968)

Autodoc - automated medical device
An automated physician, a fully autonomous surgical robot.

World of Ptavvs (1965)

Bat Wings - enable personal flight
The dream of human-powered winged flight becomes a reality - in low gravity, of course.

Limits (1985)

Belter
A person who was born and raised in the asteroid belt around Sol.

The Warriors (1966)

Beta Beam Satellite

Limits (1985)

Big Push - miles long slingshot
A linear accelerator built on a long track; a mass driver.

Limits (1985)

Biological Package Probe - automaton Johnny Appleseed

A World Out of Time (1976)

Boob Cube - 3D TV is no better
Device for showing three-dimensional news broadcasts.

The Best of all Possible Wars (1998)

Boosterspice - anti geriatric drug
A substance that extends human life almost indefinitely.

Ringworld Engineers (1980)

Bubble Car - does it come in moiré?
Self-steering, hovering, this is the car of the future.

A World Out of Time (1976)

Bubbleworld
A rigid space station that is shaped like a cylinder, rotated to achieve centripetal gravity.

At the Bottom of a Hole (1966)

Bussard Ramjet - hydrogen ramscoop
Propulsion method that scoops hydrogen atoms from space via electromagnetic fields.

A World Out of Time (1976)

Chirpsithra Supercomputer - build your own
An alien race thoughtfully provides mankind with blueprints for the most intelligent computer ever made.

Niven's Laws (1984)

Confinement Asteroid
A place where asteroid miner's babies stay to experience some needed gravity.

At the Bottom of a Hole (1966)

Copseyes - a surveillance drone
A small floating "eye-in-the-sky" surveillance drone used by police in an extensive park.

Cloak of Anarchy (1972)

Crash Balloons
Inflatable bags that would both cushion and hold a flycycle driver in the event of a crash.

Ringworld (1970)

Crash Web
A simple mechanical linkage to activate a crash field.

Crashlander (1994)

Deep-Radar
Device to image within large objects, even within mountains.

Ringworld Engineers (1980)

Next Last


(Records 1 to 20 of 106)

(Press the Refresh button on your browser if you see a generic ad)

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions and technology of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find
new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New on Site

Automaton Steam Surgeon
( 3/16/2024)

Ship That Swims Under Water (Submarine)
( 3/16/2024)

Rocketrix
( 3/10/2024)

Bladder Birds
( 3/10/2024)

Metallic Fingers
( 3/9/2024)

Solar-Powered Electric Runabout
( 3/4/2024)

Exfection
( 3/4/2024)

Radar
( 3/2/2024)

Appetizer
( 3/1/2024)

Food Pellets
( 2/24/2024)

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.