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Inconstant Moon
Stan and Leslie watch as the moon becomes impossibly bright; then the sky lights up and seems on fire. Has the sun gone nova and these are their last few hours alive? As Los Angeles drowns in storms and people move from shock to terror, Stan and Leslie face their own mortality, as Stan seeks to understand what has happened.
Written with intelligence and humor, Larry Niven's Hugo Award-winning short story became an "Outer Limits" episode. "Inconstant Moon" invites you to ask yourself, "How would you spend your last night on Earth?"
"Inconstant Moon" appears in the Niven collection ALL THE MYRIAD WAYS (available as an e-book) and the British collection INCONSTANT MOON.
Author of the celebrated RINGWORLD novels, Larry Niven is co-author of such bestsellers as LUCIFER'S HAMMER and THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE. "Great storytelling is still alive in science fiction because of Larry Niven." - Orson Scott Card, author of ENDER'S GAME.
"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, author of THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
"His tales have grit, authenticity, colorful characters and pulse-pounding narrative drive. Niven is a true master!"
- Frederik Pohl
"Larry Niven is one of the giants of modern science fiction."
- Mike Resnick
"Our premier hard SF writer."
- The Baltimore Sun
"Niven ... lifts the reader far from the conventional world -- and does it with dash."
- The Los Angeles Times
"Niven...juggles huge concepts of time and space that no one else can lift."
- Charles Sheffield
"In creating a geologic world and in the interactions between humans and aliens, Niven is superb."
- Boston Sunday Globe
"One of the genre's most prolific and accessible talents."
- Library Journal
about the author:
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. www.larryniven.net
Written with intelligence and humor, Larry Niven's Hugo Award-winning short story became an "Outer Limits" episode. "Inconstant Moon" invites you to ask yourself, "How would you spend your last night on Earth?"
"Inconstant Moon" appears in the Niven collection ALL THE MYRIAD WAYS (available as an e-book) and the British collection INCONSTANT MOON.
Author of the celebrated RINGWORLD novels, Larry Niven is co-author of such bestsellers as LUCIFER'S HAMMER and THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE. "Great storytelling is still alive in science fiction because of Larry Niven." - Orson Scott Card, author of ENDER'S GAME.
"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, author of THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
"His tales have grit, authenticity, colorful characters and pulse-pounding narrative drive. Niven is a true master!"
- Frederik Pohl
"Larry Niven is one of the giants of modern science fiction."
- Mike Resnick
"Our premier hard SF writer."
- The Baltimore Sun
"Niven ... lifts the reader far from the conventional world -- and does it with dash."
- The Los Angeles Times
"Niven...juggles huge concepts of time and space that no one else can lift."
- Charles Sheffield
"In creating a geologic world and in the interactions between humans and aliens, Niven is superb."
- Boston Sunday Globe
"One of the genre's most prolific and accessible talents."
- Library Journal
about the author:
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. www.larryniven.net
40 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2012
18 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Larry Niven
687 books3,301 followersLaurence van Cott Niven's best known work is Ringworld (Ringworld, #1) (1970), which received the Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics. The creation of thoroughly worked-out alien species, which are very different from humans both physically and mentally, is recognized as one of Niven's main strengths.
Niven also often includes elements of detective fiction and adventure stories. His fantasy includes The Magic Goes Away series, which utilizes an exhaustible resource, called Mana, to make the magic a non-renewable resource.
Niven created an alien species, the Kzin, which were featured in a series of twelve collection books, the Man-Kzin Wars. He co-authored a number of novels with Jerry Pournelle. In fact, much of his writing since the 1970s has been in collaboration, particularly with Pournelle, Steven Barnes, Brenda Cooper, or Edward M. Lerner.
He briefly attended the California Institute of Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics (with a minor in psychology) from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, in 1962. He did a year of graduate work in mathematics at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has since lived in Los Angeles suburbs, including Chatsworth and Tarzana, as a full-time writer. He married Marilyn Joyce "Fuzzy Pink" Wisowaty, herself a well-known science fiction and Regency literature fan, on September 6, 1969.
Niven won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story for Neutron Star in 1967. In 1972, for Inconstant Moon, and in 1975 for The Hole Man. In 1976, he won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette for The Borderland of Sol.
Niven has written scripts for various science fiction television shows, including the original Land of the Lost series and Star Trek: The Animated Series, for which he adapted his early Kzin story The Soft Weapon. He adapted his story Inconstant Moon for an episode of the television series The Outer Limits in 1996.
He has also written for the DC Comics character Green Lantern including in his stories hard science fiction concepts such as universal entropy and the redshift effect, which are unusual in comic books.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larryn...
Niven also often includes elements of detective fiction and adventure stories. His fantasy includes The Magic Goes Away series, which utilizes an exhaustible resource, called Mana, to make the magic a non-renewable resource.
Niven created an alien species, the Kzin, which were featured in a series of twelve collection books, the Man-Kzin Wars. He co-authored a number of novels with Jerry Pournelle. In fact, much of his writing since the 1970s has been in collaboration, particularly with Pournelle, Steven Barnes, Brenda Cooper, or Edward M. Lerner.
He briefly attended the California Institute of Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics (with a minor in psychology) from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, in 1962. He did a year of graduate work in mathematics at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has since lived in Los Angeles suburbs, including Chatsworth and Tarzana, as a full-time writer. He married Marilyn Joyce "Fuzzy Pink" Wisowaty, herself a well-known science fiction and Regency literature fan, on September 6, 1969.
Niven won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story for Neutron Star in 1967. In 1972, for Inconstant Moon, and in 1975 for The Hole Man. In 1976, he won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette for The Borderland of Sol.
Niven has written scripts for various science fiction television shows, including the original Land of the Lost series and Star Trek: The Animated Series, for which he adapted his early Kzin story The Soft Weapon. He adapted his story Inconstant Moon for an episode of the television series The Outer Limits in 1996.
He has also written for the DC Comics character Green Lantern including in his stories hard science fiction concepts such as universal entropy and the redshift effect, which are unusual in comic books.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/larryn...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 2, 2021
An incredible, impossibly bright moon lights up the night. What is happening? And what would you do? A well written story that follows the narrators alternating but believable moods.
December 26, 2021
Fantastic short story about a possible catastrophe...
October 1, 2021
I didn’t think that Larry Niven could write a genuine love story, but he pulled it off here and in terribly dire circumstances. The moon is unusually beautifully bright—so much so that a man calls his girlfriend in the middle of the night to make certain she’s watching it. Then he realizes what such a bright moon must mean. Moonlight, after all, is a reflection of sunlight, and he guesses that a solar flare is responsible and hypothesizes that it is probably at this moment scorching the other side of the earth. That means, that when dawn comes, he and his girlfriend will likely die. So he answers that popular hypothetical question about what would you do if you found out you had one day (or night in this case) to live. He goes to his girlfriend and after they make love, takes her out on the town to try and create the best last few hours humanly possible. As the night goes on however, and his girlfriend also realizes what is happening, their joy becomes desperation as they try to figure out how to survive what is coming. This is a remarkably touching tale about two humans facing the end of the earth.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
January 23, 2020
It's a short story, not a book. And it was entertaining, but ultimately forgettable. What would you do with your significant other if you knew the world was going to end in a few hours? Have sex, of course. And they do, right away. Only... I wonder if I would be able to get it up. Knowing I was about to die, for reals--I think it more likely that I'd be shitting my pants.
I will say this, though... their relationship is believable. There is a bit of friction between them; they aren't clinging desperately to each other.
So after the sex, what would you do? They choose to spend their remaining time in believable ways, and the conversations between them are believable. But the scientific premise is wrong. And, I never felt the sense of foreboding, of impending doom, that the story should have generated. So--it's okay. Not great.
I will say this, though... their relationship is believable. There is a bit of friction between them; they aren't clinging desperately to each other.
So after the sex, what would you do? They choose to spend their remaining time in believable ways, and the conversations between them are believable. But the scientific premise is wrong. And, I never felt the sense of foreboding, of impending doom, that the story should have generated. So--it's okay. Not great.
December 23, 2020
It was a little difficult to follow at first but I caught on fairly quickly. (It was made into an Outer Limits" episode and won the Hugo Award.)
The story: A writer named Stan notices that the moonlight has increased dramatically and believes that this is due to the Sun going supernova. He calls up his "sometimes" girlfriend, Leslie, and they spend their last night together doing the things they want to do while they wait for the Earth to turn toward the Sun and destroy them all.
Any problems with the story? It seems improbable that our Sun would go supernova. It is not large enough. However, this objection was discussed in the story.
Any modesty issues? Maybe a little. Stan makes love to Leslie. It is not described in detail. In fact it is not described much at all.
I might read this story again.
The story: A writer named Stan notices that the moonlight has increased dramatically and believes that this is due to the Sun going supernova. He calls up his "sometimes" girlfriend, Leslie, and they spend their last night together doing the things they want to do while they wait for the Earth to turn toward the Sun and destroy them all.
Any problems with the story? It seems improbable that our Sun would go supernova. It is not large enough. However, this objection was discussed in the story.
Any modesty issues? Maybe a little. Stan makes love to Leslie. It is not described in detail. In fact it is not described much at all.
I might read this story again.
February 23, 2023
*Read as part of the "Masterpieces The Best Science Fiction of the Twentieth" Century by Orson Scott Card*
Well, I loved this. Our sun has gone nova and the end of the world is imminent, or is it? A science focused exploration of possibly the last night on Earth from the perspective of a science writer and his sometimes girlfriend computer programmer. This story held my attention and had me riveted from beginning to end. Well done Niven!
Well, I loved this. Our sun has gone nova and the end of the world is imminent, or is it? A science focused exploration of possibly the last night on Earth from the perspective of a science writer and his sometimes girlfriend computer programmer. This story held my attention and had me riveted from beginning to end. Well done Niven!
August 21, 2021
What would you do of you knew the world would end in a few hours?
This was a cute story of a last date at the end of the world. Has all the emotions of coming to terms with the end, and I was left wanting to know how it ends.
I didn't get that satisfaction, and was disappointed by the ending, but it was a nice short story, and it is entertaining.
This was a cute story of a last date at the end of the world. Has all the emotions of coming to terms with the end, and I was left wanting to know how it ends.
I didn't get that satisfaction, and was disappointed by the ending, but it was a nice short story, and it is entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2021
A short story about the end of the world and a man's psychological adaptation to that over an evening. Interesting for the coping mechanisms as well as his reasoning from physical observations of the universe (earth, moon, stars) and their implications.
October 10, 2021
This one felt like a twilight zone episode, not surprised in the end that it was made into an outer limits episode. As a side note, the hour mark on stories seems to make all the difference in audiobook pacing.
June 17, 2025
3 stars.
Interesting to say the least, but if my boyfriend said after a spontaneous and fun night together brought on by fear of the end of times that if he had known it was his last day he’d have spent it at a topless bar drinking, the end of the world would be the least of his worries.
Interesting to say the least, but if my boyfriend said after a spontaneous and fun night together brought on by fear of the end of times that if he had known it was his last day he’d have spent it at a topless bar drinking, the end of the world would be the least of his worries.
August 4, 2020
Entertaining but too short.
July 23, 2022
Read for Advanced Studies in Science Fiction:
Fast paced, engaging, interesting premise.
Fast paced, engaging, interesting premise.
November 30, 2022
Ripped off
I thought I was getting a decent size book, not a teensy story. Not worth it at all. Find something else
I thought I was getting a decent size book, not a teensy story. Not worth it at all. Find something else
May 16, 2023
Great Short Story
A simple short story. The progression of despair in this narrative was fun and thought provoking. What would we do with the last few hours on earth.
A simple short story. The progression of despair in this narrative was fun and thought provoking. What would we do with the last few hours on earth.
March 30, 2017
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
I often wonder how many short stories are created as a result of the author starting out with a full-length novel in mind but then bailing out for one reason or another. Or maybe beginnings are so much easier and fun to write than endings.
This story is captivating to start - the moon is brighter. What does it mean? What would you do? But, being a short story, the ending arrives too soon and it's mediocre at best. Like sitting down to a beautifully set table only to be served Poptarts. Nothing against Poptarts - I just don't waste the good plates on them.
You'll never regret the hour it takes to read this but I doubt you'll cherish it either.
I often wonder how many short stories are created as a result of the author starting out with a full-length novel in mind but then bailing out for one reason or another. Or maybe beginnings are so much easier and fun to write than endings.
This story is captivating to start - the moon is brighter. What does it mean? What would you do? But, being a short story, the ending arrives too soon and it's mediocre at best. Like sitting down to a beautifully set table only to be served Poptarts. Nothing against Poptarts - I just don't waste the good plates on them.
You'll never regret the hour it takes to read this but I doubt you'll cherish it either.
February 6, 2017
A rather disappointing "short" story (and rather long for a short-story).
On the one hand the main characters seem like a couple of geniuses who keep figuring out things nobody else does from almost non-existent clues, on the other hand their "science" is very wrong (so if the sun exploded the "night side" of earth will survive till morning?! we're all just 8 minutes away from death if our sun would have "gone nova").
On the one hand the main characters seem like a couple of geniuses who keep figuring out things nobody else does from almost non-existent clues, on the other hand their "science" is very wrong (so if the sun exploded the "night side" of earth will survive till morning?! we're all just 8 minutes away from death if our sun would have "gone nova").
December 18, 2023
Enjoyed the premise of the story. The ending not so much.
However I do recommend it as it reads quickly and presents an interesting atmosphere/situation.
(short review for a short story =) )
However I do recommend it as it reads quickly and presents an interesting atmosphere/situation.
(short review for a short story =) )
July 21, 2024
One of the very very best short stories ever. The incomparable Larry Niven at his peak.
Reread Nov. 6, 2018.
Reread Nov. 6, 2018.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews