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Known Space is the fictional setting of several science fiction novels and short stories written by author Larry Niven. It is the name given by humans to an area near the Earth which is explored and settled in the future. This Known Space reaches out approximately 60 light years in all directions from the Earth. These stories span approximately one thousand years of future history, from the first human explorations of our solar system to the colonization of dozens of nearby systems (and with some references to the far distant past).
Overview Races In the process of exploring space, humankind encounters several intelligent alien species, including the following: Also figuring in some stories were intelligent cetaceans and various offshoots of Homo sapiens lineage. Most life in Known Space shared similar biochemistries, since they evolved from the Thrintun practice of seeding barren worlds with food yeast. Locations One aspect of the Known Space universe is that most of the planets colonized by humans are suboptimal for Homo sapiens. Some planets were measured and declared habitable by relatively simple robot probes which were then followed by sleeper ships containing human colonizers who had to make the best of a bad situation. 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, molecular monofilaments, Dyson Spheres, transporter booths (used only on planetary surfaces), the lifespan-extending drug boosterspice, and the tasp which is capable of stimulating the pleasure centers of the brain from a distance. The impact of inventions and technology on society is a recurring theme in Niven's work. For example, addiction to electric brain stimulation resulting in Wireheads, or the effects of the invention of teleportation (not often addressed in the Known Space canon). 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. ARM The ARM are the armed forces of the United Nations. ARM used to be an acronym for the Amalgamation of Regional Militia, though this is not a term in current usage by the time of the Known Space novels. Their basic function is to enforce a number of laws to the effect of ensuring the long-term survival of the human race, specifically control of population growth and weapons of mass destruction. In short, the ARM hunts down women who refuse birth control and supresses all new technologies. This makes them incredibly unpopular despite an ongoing campaign of propaganda-when asked, they will make claims of suppressing inventions that would destroy the world economy, force the legalization of murder, annhiliate planets, etc. Of course, these claims, by their very nature, can never be proven. Early in their existence they were able to put on a friendly face by directing a portion of their efforts to policing organlegging, but they were forced to abandon this when artificial organs were developed despite their anti-tech laws (see A Gift From Earth). However, they are able to maintain control through their monopoly on many advanced technologies that they have suppressed and developed themselves. Among the many technologies they control and outlaw are all trained forms of armed and unarmed combat, as well as chemical and electronic mind control (collectively known as psychistry). Agents of the ARM are commonly known as Schizes, due to the artificially induced state of paranoid schizophrenia they are kept in to enhance their usefulness as law enforcment officials in a society that keeps most of its populace docile and naive through the aforementioned science of psychistry (see Madness Has Its Place). Their jurisdiction is limited to the Earth–Moon system; other human colonies have their own militia. Nevertheless, in many Known Space stories, ARM agents operate or exert influence in other human star systems (see In the Hall of the Mountain King, Procrustes, and Neutron Star). These interventions begin following the Man-Kzin Wars and the introduction of hyperdrive, presumably as part of a general re-integration of human societies. Niven invented the organization as a literary tool to ensure that he could write multiple stories in in the same universe by ensuring that his technologically advanced society did not become unrecognizable. Unfortunately, he seems to have shot himself in the foot, as he can no longer write stories in this universe. Good stories require conflict, and the ARM, as of the early 31st century, has made Known Space so safe and staid that conflict is all but impossible to find (see Safe at Any Speed). 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. There are also a number of short stories that are very similar to Known Space stories in style and technology, but which are not a part of the Known Space Universe. ("Bordered in Black" and "Wait it out" are examples.) 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, as said above, good stories require conflict, and the ARM, as of the early 31st century, has made Known Space so safe and staid that conflict is all but impossible to find. (see Safe at Any Speed). 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: (Note that most stories appeared in more than one collection, though only one each is listed here.) Man-Kzin Wars ‡ Additional Notes: Playground Niven has described his fiction as "playground equipment", encouraging fans to speculate and extrapolate on the events described. Debates have been made, for example, on who built the Ringworld (Pak Protectors and the Outsiders being the traditional favorites, but see Ringworld's Children for a possibly definitive answer), and what happened to the Tnuctipun. Niven was also reported to have said that "known space should be seen as a posible future history told by people that may or may not have all their facts right." A rough draft of a "final" Known Space story titled "Down in Flames" is in circulation, which includes a controversial revelation about the Tnuctipun. However, the publication of Ringworld appears to make this draft obsolete. Note: The writing of "Down in Flames" was a result of a conversation between Norman Spinrad and Niven in 1968 but at the time of its first publication (1977) Some of the items within were made void by Niven's writings in the time in between | ||||||||
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