‘The Hole Man’ by Larry Niven

So we have a novum (a quantum black hole), an abandoned alien civilisation (which eradicates the need to explain the novum) and the most well-worn way of exploiting the novum’s dramatic potential (ie a murder). Niven isn’t particularly interested in drama though; he tells us the conclusion up front, leaving the story to limp on supported only by its characters and the novum itself, neither of which are particularly compelling. ‘The Hole Man’ won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1975.

Quality: **
Hardness: ***

‘Ssoroghod’s People’ by Larry Niven

An alien walks into a bar… Apparently this is part of Niven’s Draco Tavern series and it is possible that being familiar with other stories in the series enriches the reading experience. Coming to it cold it is just another club story.

Quality: **
Shiftiness: **