Chapter 8, Ringworld Summary

The Lying Bastard, known casually as the Liar, comes out of hyperspace heading toward Ringworld. Speaker checks the radio, but finds no signals on any wavelength. As the crew approaches Ringworld, they see a thousand-mile-high wall around the edge, holding in the atmosphere. Louis explains to Teela about Dyson spheres, a theoretical way to capture all the energy from a sun by building a spherical shell around it. The Ringworld is a modified version of a Dyson sphere, requiring less raw material.

Speaker is frustrated at the lack of radio communication, and Nessus suggests that the occupants do not use radio. Speaker wants to land on the Ringworld, but Nessus is fearful and forbids it. They compromise and fly past the giant ring. They see a spaceport on the rim, with rings for landing ships. Ships taking off use the velocity...