Destroyer of Worlds is a novel set in the Known Space

Known Space

Known Space is the fictional setting of some dozen science fiction novels and several collections of short stories written by author Larry Niven. It has also in part been used as a shared universe in the Man-Kzin Wars spin-off anthologies sub-series....

 series, by Larry Niven

Larry Niven

Laurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics...

 and Edward M. Lerner

Edward M. Lerner

Edward M. Lerner is a US author of science fiction and techno-thrillers.As of 2010 he has published eight books. Three solo novels, one short story collection, and four novels co-authored with Larry Niven in the Known Space universe...

. It is a sequel to their previous novels, Fleet of Worlds

Fleet of Worlds

Fleet of Worlds are both a location and a book in Larry Niven's Known Space series.The series consisting of this book and its sequels is referred to by the same title.-Novel:The novel, co-written by Niven and Edward M. Lerner, was released in 2007...

and Juggler of Worlds

Juggler of Worlds

Juggler of Worlds is the sequel novel to Fleet of Worlds by Larry Niven and Edward M. Lerner.It is set in the Known Space universe. Most of the book revisits earlier stories...

. It is set ten years after Juggler of Worlds, drawing heavily from Protector

Protector (novel)

Protector is a 1973 science fiction novel by Larry Niven, set in his Known Space universe. It was nominated for the Hugo in 1974, and placed fourth in the annual Locus poll for that year....

, but, like the rest of the series, can sit as a stand-alone.

The plot involves New Terra and the Puppeteers (and the Gw'oth) entering into conflict with a Pak Protector

Pak Protector

Pak Breeders and Pak Protectors are two forms of fictional life in Larry Niven's Known Space universe. The Pak first appeared in "The Adults," which appeared in Galaxy in 1967; this story was expanded into the novel Protector by Larry Niven...

fleet (though not the fleets featured in Protector). It also resolves why Alice Jordan's knowledge about the Pak never entered later novels, and restates the known timeline of the Home conversion to a planet of protectors.