My choice: Niven's "Mote in God's Eye" (Given a copy over a year ago, really ought to get around to it...)

lakmiseiru

Read ~1/3 of the book and see whether you want to keep going, then choose.

kevinr

MiGE /is/ SF. May as well read it now as later.

kyrandil

It's awesome, but dark

coolworld

The Mote in God's eye is excellent, and the same goes with the other Niven/Pournelle collaborations, or at least those set in the "Empire of Man" universe.

geoff

It's good (even as an adult, unlike some Niven) and you will no longer be able to resist giggling when you hear Athena types speak of "watchmakers"

Ian, nelhage, erin, peggusus, jesse, cshiley, Sartak, glasser, rowr_grl, dzm, HoodOrnament, hatter