Known Space: The Future Worlds of Larry Niven

by Nesssus

Milo Black has produced a selection of MP3 tunes inspired by the Ringworld Novel by Larry Niven.

Milo hopes to form this collection into a cd album in the future, but until this project is complete the following songs are available for download at MP3.com.

On his own website at http://www.rhinosoft.demon.co.uk/BHMain.htm, Milo describes himself as "An English guitarist/programmer/producer, making what can best be described as psychedelic, progressive space rock". Milo quotes his influences as "Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles, Gong, King Crimson, Genesis, Tangerine Dream and a whole bunch of other stuff".

As a whole, most of the music is instrumental only which makes good background music. A couple of the songs, as detailed below do have backing vocals accompanying them. Aside from filks at conventions which may or may not have been committed to audio tape, this is the first time to my knowledge that someone has tried to illustrate one of Larry's stories musically.

The songs can be downloaded from the MP3.com site either using the links below or going through Milo's own, Ringworld Radio page which contains more information about him and his other musical projects. I recommending downloading the files on to your hard drive because (unless you have a fast connection) the real audio streaming is a very stop and start affair. There are smaller versions of these files on the Radio page for people who don't like large downloads, however these are much lower quality.

All comments below attributed to Nesssus - ratings out of a maximum of

"Blind Spot: In System: Arrival" 5.844mb

This piece of music is completely instrumental. It starts off very atmospheric as if building to a climax and you can just imagine the Liar on its approach towards the Ringworld and the Flyby of the underside of the ring. A large download for an MP3 but the atmospheric beginning makes it well worth the extra download time. At halfway though the piece it changes completely and turns into a more upbeat affair with electric guitar sounds playing over the bassy rhythm.
"Louis Wu" 3.251mb

Louis Wu has self narrated vocals by "Louee Woo" provided by Duane Tate. This is a slow-rock ballad (it reminds me off another tune, but I can't remember what) and narrates the story of Ringworld. I think the guitar is a little over the top and Duane Tate's voice is a little weak, but most importantly doesn't sound one bit oriental.
"Flycycle" 3.631mb

Interspaced in the beginning with what sounds like communications with an Apollo mission and Houston backwards!, this is a hard rock instrumental track. A nice boppy little melody plays over the rock guitar track. Quite what it has to do with a flycycle though, I haven't been able to work out.
"The Arch" 4.099 mb

Another good track, very atmospheric, with a piano solo overlaying the backing track, this almost has a tubular bells sound to it. You can just imagine Louis and his motley crew flying above the Ringworld surface on their way to the wall, being mesmerized by the size of the Arch overhead.
"Teela Brown" 3.650mb

A quirky sounding melody accompanies this track, more electronic guitars, and just when you think that the song will amount to nothing a new rhythm changes the end of the song and makes it sound far more dangerous and exciting that in the beginning, I guess the same could be said of Teela's life.
"Speaker-to-Animals" 5.176.mb

Not a bad soft rock track, this time with a hint of menace, but at five and a half minutes, this track does go on a bit longer than it needs to.
"Flowers and Lace" 4.212mb

Vocals provided by Janet Murphy. This is a good song and is about a woman who has lost her love. I suppose you could think of Prill stuck in the ARM headquarters between the end of Ringworld and before Engineers and missing Louis terribly.
"Nessus" 6.496mb

Currently the largest download, I was intrigued to hear the song inspired by my alter-ego. The song alternates between the frantic, the mellow, the calm, and the downright zany, I suppose you could liken it to Nessus in his Manic-depressive cycle.
"Eye Storm" 3.434mb

This is a swinging rock track with a the ever-present guitar solos that feature elsewhere in this series. The wind sounds are good, but I think that the music fails to do justice to the Eye Storm itself which surely must make the F5 in the movie Twister look like a puff of wind in the park......
"The Tower Called Heaven" 7.972mb
This latest addition to the Ringworld collection starts off with choral voices and then progresses into another heavy guitar number, you hear the occasional churchbell throughout. It does seem to go on a little too long.

Known Space: The Future Worlds of Larry Niven

Ringworld MP3 Review