The best author I've read at imagining what a super-intelligent being would think like. Aliens that are truly alien, even with the details you wouldn't think of thought through. As a fan of many of Niven's Known Space books, especially about the Pak Protectors, I loved this. As someone new to the series, it is written so you can easily jump in here without consequences. Simply amazing.

He is one of the best SF writers ever. He is flat out THE absolute best collaborative SF writer ever and this is another in that fine tradition.