Great Jones - Shop now
$9.99 with 44 percent savings
Digital List Price: $17.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $17.50

Save: $10.01 (57%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Larry Niven
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Draco Tavern Kindle Edition

by Larry Niven (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 538 ratings
The #1 New York Times–bestselling author presents twenty-six tales and vignettes from this interplanetary gathering place: “A must for Nivenites” (Booklist).

When a tremendous spacecraft took orbit around the Earth’s moon and began sending smaller landers down toward the North Pole, the newly arrived visitors quickly set up a permanent spaceport at Mount Forel in Siberia. Their presence attracted many, and a few people grew conspicuously rich from secrets they learned from talking to the aliens. One of these men, Rick Schumann, opened the Draco Tavern, a public house catering to all species of visiting aliens.

In “The Subject Is Closed”, a priest visits the tavern and goes one-on-one with a chirpsithra alien on the subject of God and life after death. Rick Schumann is invited to hunt with five folk aliens in “Table Manners”, but he begins to wonder if he will be the hunted. And in the never-before-published tale “Losing Mars”, a group of Martians arrive at the Tavern only to find that humans have mostly forgotten about their neighboring planet.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    276 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tor Books
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2007
  5. File size
    4.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The cantina scene in Star Wars, as Niven (Ringworld) points out in his introduction, partakes of "a hoary old tradition," as do the 27 Draco Tavern stories in this solid SF collection. Most of the tales, set in the 2030s, are short-shorts, often reading like brilliant, half-whimsical notebook jottings. The inverted city carved out of the ice by ocean-dwelling creatures on Europa in "Playground Earth" could be the basis for a novel. Niven tosses it off in a sentence. Many of the best moments are similar hints: an overheard conversation about how an alien species casually denied humans immortality because the perception of death flavors human poetry ("Limits"). The most startling perspective of all comes from "The Green Marauder," in which a two-billion-year-old creature explains how the Earth was "ruined" by "pollution" long ago. These stories are best taken a few at a time, to savor their inventiveness without noticing the undeveloped characters or that, even for bar stories, there's sometimes too much chatter and not enough action. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Throughout an award-winning 40-year career, Niven has taken time out for brief layovers at his favorite interspecies watering hole, the Draco Tavern. Run by inimitable multimillionaire Rick Schumann in the middle of Siberia, where the enigmatic extraterrestrial Chirpsithra made first contact with humans, the saloon serves as trading post and chat room for aliens from every corner of the galaxy. Here Niven corrals all the Draco Tavern tales into one volume that consequently showcases his ability to use sf to explore mind-boggling, universal questions. In one story, the Chirpsithra reveal knowledge of a species that learned what waits beyond death--but were the resulting mass suicides provoked by discovering heaven, or nothingness? In others, Niven inspects such ultimate conundrums as immortality, extraterrestrial intelligence, and computers that outstrip their creators' cleverness. Most of the 27 stories are short shorts that, taken altogether, radiate Niven's wit and technological inventiveness. A must for Nivenites and just plain good reading for everyone else. Carl Hays
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002H8OS06
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor Books (April 1, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 538 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Larry Niven

Larry Niven

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

LARRY NIVEN is the multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of the Ringworld series, along with many other science fiction masterpieces. He lives in Chatsworth, California. JERRY POURNELLE is an essayist, journalist, and science fiction author. He has advanced degrees in psychology, statistics, engineering, and political science. Together Niven and Pournelle are the authors of many New York Times bestsellers including Inferno, The Mote in God's Eye, Footfall, and Lucifer's Hammer.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
538 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and thought-provoking. They appreciate the well-written, witty, and creative stories set in a comfortable and familiar setting. The characters are interesting and beautifully written. Readers find the book easy to read and comfortable, with no hard science content.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

ReadabilityStory qualityWriting qualityCharacter developmentComfortEase of use
36 customers mention "Readability"36 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability and find the stories engaging. They appreciate the well-written characters and lively plots that keep them hooked. The short stories keep readers hooked with their thought-provoking content and enjoyable premise.

"Enjoyed the stories about The Draco Tavern...." Read more

"...But they do not seriously detract. The stories are fun, thought-provoking and offer glimpses of Larry Niven's best writing. Recommended." Read more

"On my phone these entertaining stories help fill the time while I am waiting at various places out and about" Read more

"...And, in the end, what it means to be human. Lovely stories. Funny stories. Sad stories. Mr. Niven pulls no punches. Buy it. Read it...." Read more

36 customers mention "Story quality"30 positive6 negative

Customers find the stories engaging and well-written. They appreciate the straightforward plots and different views on alien groups and interactions. The collection includes the entire Draco cycle, making it entertaining and realistic in a short space.

"...But the stories illustrate what Niven has always done best: examine strange ideas. Not his limited skills at characterization, or his plotting...." Read more

"...I open a sci-fi book I want strange aliens, weird technology and good plots. Plots about God and sex and the universe and everything...." Read more

"Old school golden age sci-fi . High on the social interactions with aliens. No hard science stuff. Easy and comfortable reading" Read more

"...Because the stories are short, straightforward and set in a comfortable and familiar--for Niven fans--setting, you can pop in and out of the book..." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality. They find the stories witty, well-written, and thought-provoking. The book is described as humorous with a subtle serious tone.

"...The stories are fun, thought-provoking and offer glimpses of Larry Niven's best writing. Recommended." Read more

"...meeting place in the icy siberian tundra, the stories are smart and witty...." Read more

"...The stories were all fun and well written and I enjoyed the book from beginning to end." Read more

"A good piece of humorous sci-fi with a subtle underlining serious bent in the manner of the Hitchhiker's Gide series." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters' development. They find the characters interesting, believable, and thought-provoking.

"...most stories are very well done with thought provoking ideas, solid characters, and lively plots. Recommended -- especially for newcomers." Read more

"...can sometimes be a little...lacking, but his alien characters are often quite interesting, and that's shown in this easy to read collection...." Read more

"...Nevertheless, there is a reality to the characters, and most of the plots are driven by the differences between cultures...." Read more

"...I love the way he can create a story and characters that are thought provoking, entertaining, and real in so few pages...." Read more

3 customers mention "Comfort"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book comforting. It's straightforward and familiar, with a thought-provoking science base. They find it easy to read and enjoy the light, comfortable writing style.

"...No hard science stuff. Easy and comfortable reading" Read more

"...Because the stories are short, straightforward and set in a comfortable and familiar--for Niven fans--setting, you can pop in and out of the book..." Read more

"...that is not only entertaining, but thought provoking and comfortably real science based." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of use"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to use and comfortable to read.

"...No hard science stuff. Easy and comfortable reading" Read more

"...Because the stories are short, straightforward and set in a comfortable and familiar--for Niven fans--setting, you can pop in and out of the book..." Read more

"...This is a great collection of short stories. A very easy and fun read." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Scott Oliver
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice group of stories
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed the stories about The Draco Tavern. I always like reading short stories about aliens interacting in a bar setting, the different life forms and their different atmospheric conditions they need to stay alive. Hope there will be more stories from The Draco Tavern.
    Helpful
     Report
  • James D. DeWitt
    4.0 out of 5 stars Niven Writing to His Strengths
    Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    I've been critical of Niven in my reviews of his most recent works. While some of his earlier works are among the very best science fiction, his more recent novels have been disappointing. With the publication of his Draco Tavern short stories, there's a return to his earlier form. Partly because he is writing to his strengths.

    These stories span the period 1977-2006. Some of the older stories seem to have been revised a bit for this collection. But the stories illustrate what Niven has always done best: examine strange ideas. Not his limited skills at characterization, or his plotting. He's best at dreaming up ideas and exploring their implications. And his aliens have always been aliens.

    Rick Schumann owns the Draco Tavern, and these are his stories. The owner-bartender is the narrative voice, and the adventures mostly, but not exclusively, happen to him. The stories are fairly short - some are very short - and involve the interaction of aliens with humans and with each other. Niven's subjects range from the existence of God to the perils of advanced computing. The last half of the collection focuses on various aspects of terrorism. I have the impression that some of them may have been revised to alter their focus. The refocus is mostly successful. But I wonder why Niven chose to be topical.

    Reviewers should keep in mind this is a collection of loosely linked short stories. They were written over a period of nearly thirty years. So they offer only limited continuity, and there are some inconsistencies. But they do not seriously detract. The stories are fun, thought-provoking and offer glimpses of Larry Niven's best writing. Recommended.
    62 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jim the wide
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good light read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    On my phone these entertaining stories help fill the time while I am waiting at various places out and about
    Helpful
     Report
  • Michael Valdivielso
    5.0 out of 5 stars This IS Larry Niven at his best.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Aliens. Alien cultures. Alien philology. Alien biology. Alien spaceships. Alien children. Aliens getting drunk. Yes, Mr. Niven knows that aliens are just like you and me. But with more legs, two hearts, four eyes and they sometimes move slower. Still, when I open a sci-fi book I want strange aliens, weird technology and good plots. Plots about God and sex and the universe and everything. And I don't want to wait millions of years for an answer! So the universe gave us Larry Niven. And Nivenites were born.
    These stories are about a tavern. A tavern in Siberia where aliens come to drink, chat and, sometimes, cause trouble. 26 stories. Well, 25 plus a play, which explore what it means to be alien. And, in the end, what it means to be human. Lovely stories. Funny stories. Sad stories. Mr. Niven pulls no punches. Buy it. Read it. Enjoy it. Pass it on to friends.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Old school golden age sci-fi . High on the social interactions with aliens. No hard science stuff.
    Easy and comfortable reading
    Helpful
     Report
  • TwoMetreBill
    5.0 out of 5 stars A variation of Clake's Tales from the While Heart
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I kept thinking that he would run out of ideas but they kept coming. I was disappointed when the book ended, I'm hoping for a volume 2.
    Helpful
     Report
  • John M. Ford
    3.0 out of 5 stars Light Comfortable Interruptible Escape
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    This collection of 27 short stories by Larry Niven is perfect to tuck in the bottom of your computer bag and read while you are waiting for something else to happen. Because the stories are short, straightforward and set in a comfortable and familiar--for Niven fans--setting, you can pop in and out of the book without effort or irritation. For this kind of readability it is nostalgically similar to Isaac Asimov's collections, such as 50 Short Science Fiction Tales and 100 Great Science Fiction Short Short Stories.

    Enough about the format--the content is good, too. A series of interesting bar discussions happen in the Draco Tavern. Because the bar is next to Earth's one alien spaceport, it is constantly full of off-planet visitors, consuming exotic drinks and puzzling over the oddities of human culture. Bartender Rick Schumann offers helpful explanations, mediates disputes and cashes in on the occasional million-dollar idea. Readers profit as well, from Larry Niven's fascinating walk-on cast of alien species and his inexhaustible supply of "big ideas."

    This book was a 2008 Christmas present from my 13 year-old daughter, Katie, who spent a week's allowance on it for me. It made my Christmas day, as I was able to pop in and out of it while opening presents, cooking Christmas dinner and juggling friendly interruptions from family and friends. Thanks, Katie--a great choice!
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Thomas Randolph
    5.0 out of 5 stars A superior collection of short science fiction stories on various topics
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is a collection of short stories discussing various sf topics including life after death, biology and culture, and nonhuman psychologies. While not perfect, most stories are very well done with thought provoking ideas, solid characters, and lively plots. Recommended -- especially for newcomers.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Bradley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent book. Lots of short stories of a future earth after alien contact. Brilliant ideas, concepts and perspectives. Be careful! You can't just read one.
    Report
  • V. Wanner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unerwartet hochwertige Unterhaltung. 5 von 5.
    Reviewed in Germany on September 10, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    Ich habe mir von "The Draco Tavern" das selbe wie von den meisten SciFi-Shorts-Sammlungen erwartet, nämlich vielleicht 30% wirklich Interessantes und Innovatives, weitere 30% Wiedergekäutes aber Unterhaltsames und 40% Müll.

    Von den Geschichten die einem hier präsentiert werden, ist aber wirklich keine einzige richtig "schlecht" und damit entpuppt sich dieses Buch als eine der besten Kurzgeschichtensammlungen die ich bisher erstanden habe.

    Die Geschichten sind allesamt wirklich kurz, eben 27 auf knapp über 300 Seiten verteilt, macht im Schnitt 11 Seiten für jede einzelne.
    Dabei wird wirklich jedes Thema von Religion und Politik, bis hin zu den praktischen Aspekten von Kindererziehung unter Aliens und Computerspielen angesprochen.

    Die Draco Taverne selbst gibt dabei dem ganzen ein "aus-einem-Guss-Feeling", das es von den meisten anderen Sammlungen (auch denen von einem einzelnen Autor wie hier) abhebt.

    Uneingeschränkte Kaufempfehlung.
    Report
  • twm
    4.0 out of 5 stars aliens but no kzin ;-)
    Reviewed in Germany on December 8, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    If you are looking for a "Known Space" or "Ringworld" universe novel, this is not for you. But "The Draco Tavern" is a collection of short stories each of which I found interesting or at least entertaining. There are lots of different aliens but no Kzin, Puppeteers and also no Ringworld humanoids which I for one find rather refreshing.
    Report
  • davidj
    4.0 out of 5 stars The best pub in the world?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    At last, a collection of Larry Niven's Draco Tavern stories. A pub in Siberia where aliens have a drink and tell tall tales. The Chirpsithra claim to "rule" the Galaxy, rather benevolently though. The stories are all told from the point of view of Rick Schumann, owner and barman of the Draco Tavern.
    The early stories have the bite of cautionary tales like his first "Tales of Known Space" short stories. In "The Schumann Computer" the frightening consequences of ultimate knowledge are explored.
    The later stories sadly seem to lack that cutting edge a bit, but "Loosing Mars" does have a funny end, almost.
    Report
  • Technocrat Prime
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have
    Reviewed in Germany on April 30, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    If you like Larry Niven, this book is a definitive "must have", and if you don't know him, it is the perfect way to get introduced to one of the greatest SF writers ever.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report