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Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld
series consists of the following books...the mistakes in Amazon.com's synopsizes
are both amazing and ridiculous. I have attempted to correct them as I
find them, but I kept the erroneous information intact (for a good laugh, if
nothing else)...corrections appear following the mistakes in
this color:
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To Your Scattered
Bodies Go |
SYNOPSIS: All those who
ever lived on Earth have found themselves resurrected--healthy, young, and
naked as newborns--on the grassy banks of a mighty river, in a world
unknown. Miraculously provided with food, but with no clues to the meaning
of their strange new afterlife, billions of people from every period of
Earth's history--and prehistory--must start again.
Sir Francis Bacon (Sir Richard Francis Burton)
would be the first to glimpse the incredible
way-station, a link between worlds. This forbidden sight would spur the
renowned 19th-century explorer to uncover the truth. Along with a
remarkable group of compatriots, including Alice Liddell Hargreaves (the
Victorian girl who was the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland), an
English-speaking Neanderthal, a WWII Holocaust survivor, and a wise
extraterrestrial, Burton sets sail on the magnificent river. His mission:
to confront humankind's mysterious benefactors, and learn the true
purpose--innocent or evil--of the Riverworld . . |
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The Fabulous
Riverboat |
SYNOPSIS: Resurrected on the lush, mysterious banks of Riverworld, along with the
rest of humanity, Samuel Langhorne Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) has a
dream: to build a riverboat that will rival the most magnificent
paddle-wheelers ever navigated on the mighty Mississippi. Then, to steer
it up the endless waterway that dominates his new home planet--and at last
discover its hidden source.
But before he can carry out his plan, he first must undertake a
dangerous voyage to unearth a fallen meteor. This mission would require
striking an uneasy alliance with the bloodthirsty Viking Erik Bloodaxe,
treacherous King John of England, legendary French swordsman Cyrano de
Bergerac, Greek adventurer Odysseus, and the infamous Nazi Hermann Göring.
All for the purpose of storming the ominous stone tower at the mouth of
the river, where the all-powerful overseers of Riverworld--and their
secrets--lie in wait . . . |
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The Dark Design |
SYNOPSIS: Years have passed on Riverworld. Entire nations have risen, and savage
wars have been fought--all since the dead of Earth found themselves
resurrected in their magnificent new homeworld. Yet the truth about the
Ethicals, the powerful engineers of this mysterious "afterlife,"
remains unknown. But a curious cross-section of humanity is determined to
change that situation . . . at any cost.
Intrepid explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton leads the most remarkable
voyage of discovery he has ever undertaken. Hot on his heels are Samuel
Clemens, King John of England, and Cyrano de Bergerac. Spurred by the
promise of ultimate answers, they chart a course across the vast polar
sea--and toward the awesome tower that looms above it. But getting there
will be more than half the battle. For death on Riverworld has become
chillingly final ... |
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The Magic
Labyrinth |
SYNOPSIS: The answers behind the enigmatic origins of Riverworld lie at last
within reach, as the remarkable gathering of Earthlings--including Sir
Richard Francis Burton, Samuel Clemens, Alice Liddell Hargreaves (the
real-life Alice in Wonderland), Cyrano de Bergerac, Ulysses S. Grant (who
does not appear in any of the novels at any time, nor do I believe he is
even mentioned), and
Baron Von Richtoven (the Baron does not appear,
either, but his cousin does)--finally breaches the stronghold of Riverworld's
extraordinary super-race.
But answers would lead to more enigmatic questions . . .
Who is the Mysterious Stranger who taunted the Riverworld resurrectees
with hints of the truth? What is the key to the gargantuan computer that
wields the power of life and death? The astonishing secrets lie within the
Dark Tower--but only for those brave enough to seek them and wise enough
to decipher them . |
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The Gods of
Riverworld |
SYNOPSIS: Thirty-five
billion people from throughout Earth's history were
resurrected along the great and winding waterways of Riverworld. Most
began life anew--accepting without question the sustenance provided by
their mysterious benefactors. But a rebellious handful burned to confront
the unseen masters who controlled their fate--and these few launched an
invasion that would ultimately yield the mind-boggling truth.
Now Riverworld's omnipotent leaders have been confronted, and the
renegades of Riverworld--led by the intrepid Sir Richard Francis
Burton--control the fantastic mechanism that once ruled them. But the most
awesome challenge lies ahead. For in the vast corridors and secret rooms
of the tower stronghold, an unknown enemy watches and waits to usurp the
usurpers . . . |
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synopses and cover images shamelessly lifted
from amazon.com |
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