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Riverworld : The Great Short Fiction of Philip José Farmer
- GenresScience Fiction
First published November 15, 1987
45 people want to read
About the author
Philip José Farmer
592 books884 followersPhilip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, but spent much of his life in Peoria, Illinois.
Farmer is best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworking of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.
Farmer is best known for his Riverworld series and the earlier World of Tiers series. He is noted for his use of sexual and religious themes in his work, his fascination for and reworking of the lore of legendary pulp heroes, and occasional tongue-in-cheek pseudonymous works written as if by fictional characters.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 7, 2011
I'm going to review this as if it's all three books of the Riverworld saga. It may be the short stories that were released later. In that case, I have not read these.
Otherwise, the three books that make up the main part of the Riverworld saga are really good. I love the premise. In addition to reading the books, I have seen two tv adaptations - both worth watching, but the one from the 1990s is better than the newer one.
I was not familiar with the man Farmer chose to make the lead character; I felt like I was missing a little bit of the story because of that. But there are other historical figures that I am very familiar with throughout the story and those are interesting.
I think the best compliment I can give this story is that I find myself randomly thinking about it years after I read the books. I don't necessarily think about the specific characters and plot that Farmer wrote about. Instead, I think about the world and situation he created and how many stories could come from it.
I actually wasn't too interested in the plot of the aliens and the drive the characters had to figure out what was going on. I think I could have been more interested in it, but Farmer did not write that part too well. It fell flat at the end.
Otherwise, the three books that make up the main part of the Riverworld saga are really good. I love the premise. In addition to reading the books, I have seen two tv adaptations - both worth watching, but the one from the 1990s is better than the newer one.
I was not familiar with the man Farmer chose to make the lead character; I felt like I was missing a little bit of the story because of that. But there are other historical figures that I am very familiar with throughout the story and those are interesting.
I think the best compliment I can give this story is that I find myself randomly thinking about it years after I read the books. I don't necessarily think about the specific characters and plot that Farmer wrote about. Instead, I think about the world and situation he created and how many stories could come from it.
I actually wasn't too interested in the plot of the aliens and the drive the characters had to figure out what was going on. I think I could have been more interested in it, but Farmer did not write that part too well. It fell flat at the end.
July 20, 2010
Riverworld is sci-fi at its best, but as often happens, the first book is the best. Setting up the problem is more exciting than its solution. In other words, the river runs dry after the second novel in the series.
January 11, 2010
my first and favorite sci fi author
October 14, 2010
three book series
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews