| "Neutron Star" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Larry Niven | |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Worlds of If |
| Publication type | Magazine |
| Publication date | October 1966 |
"Neutron Star" is an English language science fiction short story by American writer Larry Niven. It was originally published in the October 1966 issue (Issue 107, Vol 16, No 10) of Worlds of If. It was later reprinted in the collection of the same name[1] and Crashlander.[2] The story is set in Niven's fictional Known Space universe. It is notable for including a neutron star before their (then hypothetical) existence was widely known.[3][4]
"Neutron Star" is the first to feature Beowulf Shaeffer, the ex-pilot and reluctant hero of many of Niven's Known Space stories. It also marked the first appearance of the nearly indestructible General Products starship hull, as well as its creators, the Pierson's Puppeteers. The star itself, BVS-1, is featured in the novel Protector (1973), where it is named "Phssthpok's Star". A prelude to the story is also included in the novel Juggler of Worlds.
The first science fiction story to feature a neutron star is Larry Niven's "Neutron Star", published in Worlds of If, October 1966.
Neutron stars are featured in a number of science fiction stories. These are the small remnants of supernovae, a few kilometers in diameter, which are made up exclusively of neutrons. Larry Niven's "Neutron Star" (1966) describes the dangers of flying a spaceship too close to such an object