Heorot Books

Light years from Earth, on Tau Ceti Four, two hundred colonists have created a thriving community, not realizing that they have upset a delicate ecological balance and have unleashed an unbelievable nightmare

Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Steven Barnes: t his powerhouse trio of science fiction greats unites to further explore the island paradise of Camelot from their classic novel, Legacy of Herorot . A new generation is growing up on the island paradise of Camelot, ignorant of the Great Grendel Wars fought when their parents and grandparents first arrived on Earth. Setting out for the mainland, this group of young rebels feels ready to fight any grendels that get in their way. On Avalon, however, there are monsters which dwarf the ones their parents fought, and as the group will soon learn, monsters also dwell in the human heart.

The oldest children of the settlers on Avalon (see THE LEGACY OF HEOROT, called "Outstanding" by Tom Clancy) are now in their late teens and want independence from their parents and guardians. They especially don't want parents around for an initiation ceremony, held on Black Ship Island, for the younger children just reaching their teens. But when previously unknown creatures make their deadly appearance, things go horribly wrong … A novella set before the events that unfold in BEOWULF'S CHILDREN. on THE LEGACY OF HEOROT: “Outstanding! … The best ever, by the best in the field … the ultimate combination of imagination and realism.” - Tom Clancy, author of THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER and RED STORM RISING on THE LEGACY OF HEOROT: “THE LEGACY OF HEOROT is well written, action-packed and tension filled … makes ALIENS look like a Disney nature film." - The Washington Post on THE LEGACY OF HEOROT: “Spine-tingling ecological tale of terror … A story as relentless as the Great White Shark of JAWS.” - Locus Magazine on BEOWULF'S CHILDREN: "Few writers have a finer pedigree than those here … As one might suspect BEOWULF'S CHILDREN is seamless … absorbing, substantial … masterful novel." - Los Angeles Times on BEOWULF'S CHILDREN: "Panoramic SF adventure at its best." - Library Journal LARRY NIVEN: Born April 30, 1938 in Los Angeles, California. Attended California Institute of Technology; flunked out after discovering a book store jammed with used science fiction magazines. Graduated Washburn University, Kansas, June 1962: BA in Mathematics with a Minor in Psychology, and later received an honorary doctorate in Letters from Washburn. Interests: Science fiction conventions, role playing games, AAAS meetings and other gatherings of people at the cutting edges of science. Comics. Filk singing. Yoga and other approaches to longevity. Moving mankind into space by any means, but particularly by making space endeavors attractive to commercial interests. Several times we’ve hosted The Citizens Advisory Council for a National Space Policy. I grew up with dogs. I live with a cat, and borrow dogs to hike with. I have passing acquaintance with raccoons and ferrets. Associating with nonhumans has certainly gained me insight into alien intelligences. JERRY POURNELLE: Jerry Pournelle is the author of the popular Janissaries and CoDominium series and co-author with Larry Niven of several bestselling science fiction novels, including INFERNO, FOOTFALL, LUCIFER'S HAMMER, OATH OF FEALTY, THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE, THE GRIPPING HAND, THE BURNING CITY, BURNING TOWER and ESCAPE FROM HELL. Dr. Pournelle has advanced degrees in engineering, political science, statistics and psychology. As an aerospace Systems Analyst he participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. Following a brief tour in academia he was the Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Los Angeles. He was the Science Editor for Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine, and is a past president of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He has written columns on political and technology issues for decades, in addition to his career as a fiction writer. His columns for Byte magazine have been an internet staple for many years. Dr. Pournelle has been involved in the development of government policy on space enterprises and defense, and he is active on several committees for the advancement of science and space exploration. He was Chairman of the Reagan "kitchen cabinet" Citizen's Advisory Committee on National Space Policy, and frequently participates in conferences on the future of technology. STEVEN BARNES: Steven Barnes has published twenty-three novels and over three million words of science fiction and fantasy. He has been nominated for Hugo, Nebula, and Cable Ace awards. His television work includes Twilight Zone, Stargate and Andromeda; his “A Stitch In Time” episode of The Outer Limits won the Emmy Award.

THE LONG-AWAITED CONCLUSION OF THE HEOROT SERIES FROM GENRE LEGENDS LARRY NIVEN, JERRY POURNELLE, AND STEVEN BARNES Avalon was thriving. The cold sleep colonists from Earth had settled on a verdant, livable world. The fast and cunning predators humans named "grendels" were under control, and the mainland outposts well established. Avalon's new mainland hydroelectric power station was nearly complete, and when on-line would compensate for the nuclear power systems lost in the Grendel Wars. Humans would have power, and with power came the ability to make all the necessities for life. They would survive. They would not survive as a spacefaring people. What they were losing faster than they knew was the ability to get to space. But unbeknownst to the planet-bound humans, something was moving out there in the stars, decelerating at a rate impossible for a natural object. And its destination was Avalon. The most probable origin was Earth's Solar System. This is a novel of first contact—between the human Starborn and the self-named Godsons who followed on, between the first generation of Avalon born humans and their descendants, and between humans and the almost ineffably alien species native to their new world.... About Starborn & Godsons : “. . . this work thoughtfully builds on the vision of the future . . . to the thrilling climax. This excellent series finale sticks the landing.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review) ". . . gritty, realistic, and exciting storytelling from authors who matched Michael Crichton back in the day for page-turning suspense."— Booklist (starred review) “. . . a classic Pournelle story. Each group, Earthborn, Starborn, and Godsons have secrets they are keeping from the others, sometime deliberately, at other times inadvertently. Each group is blinded to some extent, by their biases and beliefs. Each has something the other groups need, but does not realize it. . . . a tale of the strengths and weaknesses of human societies.”— Galveston County Daily News About prequel The Legacy of Heorot: "Page-turning action and suspense, good characterization and convincing setting . . . may be the best thing any of those authors has written.”— The Denver Post “Outstanding! …The best ever, by the best in the field . . . the ultimate combination of imagination and realism.”—Tom Clancy “Well written, action-packed, and tension filled … makes Aliens look like a Disney nature film."— The Washington Post “Spine-tingling ecological tale of terror.”— Locus About prequel Beowulf's Children : "Few writers have a finer pedigree than those here . . . As one might suspect, Beowulf's Children is seamless . . . absorbing, substantial . . . masterful novel."— Los Angeles Times "Panoramic SF adventure at its best."— Library Journal About Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle: "Possibly the greatest science fiction novel I have ever read."—Robert A. Heinlein on The Mote in God's Eye About Larry Niven: “Larry Niven’s Ringworld remains one of the all-time classic travelogues of science fiction — a new and amazing world and fantastic companions.”—Greg Bear "Our premier hard SF writer.”— The Baltimore Sun "The scope of Larry Niven's work is so vast that only a writer of supreme talent could disguise the fact as well as he can."—Tom Clancy "Niven is a true master."—Frederik Pohl About Jerry Pournelle: "Jerry Pournelle is one of science fiction's greatest storytellers."—Poul Anderson "Jerry Pournelle's trademark is first-rate action against well-realized backgrounds of hard science and hardball politics."—David Drake "Rousing. . . . The Best of the Genre"— The New York Times "On the cover . . . is the claim 'No. 1 Adventure Novel of the Year.' And well it might be."— Milwaukee Journal on Janissaries About Steven Barnes: “Brilliant, surprising, and devastating.”—David Mack “Sharp, observant and scary.”—Greg Bear "Profound and exhilarating."—Maurice Broaddus, author of The Knights of Breton Court “Barnes gives us characters that are vividly real people, conceived with insight and portrayed with compassion and rare skill?and then he stokes the suspense up to levels that will make the reader miss sleep and be late for work.”—Tim Powers “[Barnes] combines imagination, anthropology and beautiful storytelling as he takes readers to the foot of the Great Mountain, today known as Mount Kilimanjaro.”— Durham Triangle Tribune on Great Sky Woman