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I've just finished book 4 in the Known Space series, Ringworld's Children. I have book 5, Fate of Worlds, but I've discovered that that book is actually also the last book in a different series, the Fleet of Worlds series.

Can I read Fate of Worlds straight after Ringworld's Children, or should I read the other four books in the Fleet of Worlds series before reading Fate of Worlds, the book that seems to conclude both the Known Space AND the Fleet of Worlds series'?

Known Space is a LOT more than just the Ringworld novels.

There's a bunch of stories and novellas about before mankind met the Kzinti and other aliens, a bunch of stories before and after the Fleet of Worlds actually left Known Space, as well as the Ringworld "prequel" (well, it introduces the Pak Protectors, but IIRC it was written before the first Ringworld novel) and a few other full novels.
I found the Beowulf Shaeffer short stories particularly entertaining.

I haven't read all the Fleet of Worlds novels, though, so I can't actually answer your question.
Good thing about Niven though, most of his novels and stories stand on their own pretty well, so reading things out of order isn't a terrible sin.

I've only read the Ringworld books... and it still seemed to work on its own... Been over 10 years though so maybe I'm not remembering correctly lol

dang I wanna re-read all those again.

OK. Thanks guys. I'll read away, then.

I found that his short stories and collaborations were his best work. I consider N-Space to be his best solo work, and highly recommend that and Playgrounds of the Mind. His Known Soace stories are usually pretty good, but the “organ-legging” crime stories have aged into hilarity. Check out his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle, too.

PS: if you ever get a chance to meet Larry Niven, don’t. He’s not a people person.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
I found that his short stories and collaborations were his best work. I consider N-Space to be his best solo work, and highly recommend that and Playgrounds of the Mind. His Known Soace stories are usually pretty good, but the “organ-legging” crime stories have aged into hilarity. Check out his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle, too.

PS: if you ever get a chance to meet Larry Niven, don’t. He’s not a people person.

I'd agree about the short stories. I find the same is true for many of the earlier science fiction writers, especially Heinlein, who couldn't end a novel to save his life, but his short stories and a few of his earlier, shorter books are nothing short of genius.