Inferno

Inferno is the first book in a duology. While it tells a complete story within itself, the narrative continues in a direct sequel.

The novel draws heavily from Dante Alighieri's The Inferno, reimagining its structure and various circles of Hell with a science fiction lens.

Inferno showcases Niven's characteristic hard science fiction approach, but applies it to a fantasy premise, a departure from his more typical Ringworld or Known Space settings. It also highlights his collaborative writing style with Jerry Pournelle, similar to their work on Lucifer's Hammer.