Riverworld - a travel through past, present, future and fantasy
Ranked #441 in Books, #32,247 overall
Riverworld is a science fiction saga - with a twist
Philip José Farmer (PJF for short) has written a saga of five novels. This series of books demonstrates how ingenious science fiction writers can be, at their best. This is, what I am on about here: His saga of five books, known as the Riverworld saga.
The very cool thing in science fiction novels is the new world you are given besides the story. Most people like a good crime story, but the world is usually wellknown, but sci-fi expands the world with new places, lifeforms and possibilities. Hence, a crime story written by a sci-fi writer tends to be, a lot more unpredictable, at least the good ones.
The Lens image is called The Parseval's Journey and is made by fraterchaos. See a large version on deviantART and visit fraterchaos' gallery for other fantasy and sci-fi images. Used with permission.
The Riverworld Books by Philip José Farmer
Introduction to Riverworld
Riverworld is a planet, created by someone - who they are must be up to you, the reader, to discover. This planet consists of one large river going from the south pole to the north pole (the concept of poles are used to make it clear, how it looks). The river winds all way around the planet, making it extremely long. Between the river banks are very high mountains, unforceable in size. So it is not possible to travel from one bank to another by climbing over. And now the odd thing, and what makes an intriguing scenery: along this river, every soul ever alive on earth are reborn!
In the Riverworld books we meet a lot of history's wellknown characters. People like Mark Twain, Sir Francis Richard Burton, and also bad guys like Hermann Göring.
Welcome to a journey through history, future and fantasy. Oh, and of course the main character sets out to figure out who did this, and why!
To Your Scattered Bodies Go
First book of the Riverworld saga
In the first book everybody alive on earth, ever, from 5 years old and up is revied along the River in a body aged 25, but with all their memory from past life on Earth. We are talking someting along the line of 37 billion people.The main character is Sir Richard Francis Burton. He soon sets his mind on finding out, who did this. In this book he doesn't, but he does discover some secrets.
He travels to several places on the river and learns about people, and how they rebuild societies, and fight wars. Burton also meets his "soul companion", a historic character that just seems to be, whereever Burton is.
On Riverworld you can not die, or actually you can, but you are resurrected in a new spot next morning.
The Fabulous Riverboat
Second book of the Riverworld saga
We have left Richard Burton to himself. But we do meet some of his mates as well in this book. Sam Clemens, aka Mark Twain, has a dream that he is going to do anything to live out: build a boat noone ever has seen and never will see again on Riverworld. Luck strikes, or actually someone helps luck by allowing a meteor to crash close enough to Sam. Now there are metals on the planet. A big limitation up to now!
Metals are useful, and neighbours want in on the deal as well. Sam and John (Lackland aka Prince John) must go through a lot of trouble and make delicate political decisions to defend their land, and finish the boat.
A mysterious stranger contacts Sam and discloses some information, but nothing much useful.
The Dark Design
Third book of the Riverworld saga
After the Riverboat is finished and launched, the people left behind start building a blimp. The blimp can go high enough to pass over the mountains dividing the shores of the River, hence travel to the North Pole in a straight line, a much shorter path than following the winding river.
Life along the River has also changed and become a lot more valuable. We spend a lot of time with Peter Frigate and meet some other of Earth's great authors.
The blimp, Parseval, makes it to the North Pole of Riverworld, but things are not just over with that. A sinister plan seems to unfold soon.
The Magic Labyrinth
Fourth book of the Riverworld saga
Old friends meet again. Now the planet seems to be falling apart. Some of the grailstones stop working, and a in bloodbath of epic dimensions 17 billion (give and take) people are killed in 24 hours.
A large battle between the river boats and a long journey to the tower concludes the story.
What has happened to the rulers of this world? Who are in charge, and how many are actually agents and not just resurrected earthlings?
Many questions arise in the fourth book, and answers are in there, too.
The Gods of Riverworld
Fifth book of the Riverworld Saga
Related to the books
- movies, games etc
A computer game has been released as well by Cryo Interactive in 1998. Here are reviews on the GameOver website
Steven Jackson Games has released a roleplaying game book, GURPS (=Generic Universal Role Playing System) Riverworld. Read an article on the game book here at Steven Jackson Games.
Other sci-fi writers have teamed up, and written stories in PJF's universe, and released them in compilations together with other PJF short stories. The wikipedia pages and pjfarmer.com (links below), lists these books.
Related to Riverworld
Riverworld
The DVD with the pilot of the Riverworld TV series.
The Complete Riverworld Novels (Riverworld Series)
A compilation of all 5 novels. If you need all of them, buying the compilation may be cheaper.
Links on Philip José Farmer and/or Riverworld
The Official Philip José Farmer Home Page - Riverworld
Overview of Riverworld books and related litteratu more...0 points
Riverworld - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wikipedia entry on Riverworld.0 points
Philip José Farmer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wikipedia entry on Philip Jos%uFFFD Farmer0 points
Riverworld videos
A few scenes rom the Riverworld pilot episode done by Sci-Fi Channel. There were not recorded any more episodes.
Bloggers on Riverworld
- The Magic Labyrinth by Philip Jose Farmer
- The Magic Labyrinth (1980) 400 pages by Philip Jose Farmer. The fourth book in the Riverworld series...
- Riverworld Series – Philip Jose Farmer
- Riverworld Series ? Philip Jose Farmer. Riverworld is an amazing idea. Imagine the entire populati...
- The Riverworld Trailer Is Out - Techland - TIME.com
- Other examples being the World of Tiers books (also by Philip Jose Farmer) and John Varley's Gaea se...
- Riverworld pilot 2003 - DVDRip download
- Failed/canceled pilot created by Sci-Fi channel based upon the book series by Philip Jose Farmer. Fi...
Riverworld acknowledgements
Tell me what you think of Philip José Farmer's Riverworld saga.
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Reply
- science_fiction_novels_cyberpunk science_fiction_novels_cyberpunk Nov 3, 2009 @ 10:34 am
- Your lens is very well done. Like you, I like journeys through history, future and fantasy...
You may like my lens "Thinking worlds":
http://www.squidoo.com/science_fiction_the_alpha_centauri_project_thinking_worlds
Excellent job, I rated your lens 5*!
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Reply
- cstr cstr Aug 14, 2009 @ 12:37 am | in reply to SciFiMystic
- Thanx for your comment! I have not (yet) read Two Hawks from Earth, but I'll put it on my list :-)
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Reply
- SciFiMystic SciFiMystic Aug 13, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
- Fantastic lens! Philip José Farmer has to be my favorite author of all time. Have you read Two Hawks from Earth? You covered the Riverworld saga wonderfully well in your lens.
-SciFiMystic
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Reply
- chazzmania chazzmania Jun 27, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
- I was pretty curious about Riverworld, and you've answered
many questions! I gave you a Thumbs Up on Stumble-
Upon!
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Reply
- SciFi_Author SciFi_Author Mar 12, 2009 @ 10:02 pm
- Great lens! You've created a great overview of the whole Riverworld saga here. When you get a chance, I'd love it if you'd stop by my lens and say hello.
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by cstr
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