The Mote in God's Eye
by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
The Mote in God's Eye is a science fiction novel by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, first published by Simon & Schuster in the United States in 1974. Set in 3017, it describes humanity's first contact with an alien species, the Moties. It was a Hugo, Nebula and Locus nominee.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Simon & Schuster, 1974
- First published
- Simon & Schuster, United States, 1974
- Series
- CoDominium
The first edition of The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven was published in New York by Simon & Schuster in 1974. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st Simon & Schuster1974 Hardback · CoDominium I own The Mote in God's Eye, Simon & Schuster 1974 Log in to want this
Later and other editions
- Weidenfeld & Nicolson1975 Hardback · CoDominium I own The Mote in God's Eye, Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1975 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Awards and honours
Setting and characters
- Period
- future
- Genre
- science fiction, adventure fiction
Read next
- Followed by
- The Gripping Hand
In print
- Editions recorded
- 31 on Open Library, 19 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 15 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
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Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Mote in God's Eye?
The first edition of The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle was published in New York by Simon & Schuster in 1974.
How many editions of The Mote in God's Eye are there?
We track 2 editions of The Mote in God's Eye, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Did The Mote in God's Eye win any awards?
Yes: The Mote in God's Eye won the NPR Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books, according to Wikidata.
What should I read after The Mote in God's Eye?
In order, it is followed by The Gripping Hand, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- The Mote in God's Eye, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Mote in God's Eye (Q1190888), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 19 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.