maavall

Maavall is a fictional planet featured in the science fiction novel "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It is the homeworld of the Moties, an alien species. The planet is described as being tidally locked to its sun, resulting in extreme temperature differences between its light and dark sides. The Mote, the star that Maavall orbits, is a red dwarf.

The habitable regions of Maavall are concentrated in a twilight zone between the intensely hot, sunlit side and the frigid, perpetually dark side. This zone experiences constant storms and violent weather due to the extreme temperature gradients. The Moties have evolved to live in underground warrens and tunnels to escape the harsh surface conditions. Their civilization is highly advanced, particularly in engineering and technology, driven by the necessity of survival in their challenging environment.

Maavall's ecosystem is characterized by its adaptations to limited resources and harsh conditions. The Moties themselves are biologically driven by a rapid reproductive cycle, a key factor in their societal structure and history. Their planet is depicted as a world of contrasts, where survival depends on ingenious adaptation and a deep understanding of their unique planetary dynamics. The interactions with humanity in "The Mote in God's Eye" are largely shaped by the Moties' homeworld and their history of limited resources.