I just put down the final book in the Riverworld series, Gods of Riverworld. The fourth book ended with what I thought was a definitive ending, and I was surprised to find that there was indeed a fifth book in the series. I had thought it was an additional story set in the same place, kind of like The Silmarillion in regards to Lord of the Rings. However, Gods of Riverworld picked up right where the fourth book ends, and actually turned out to be one of my favorite books in the series. The final chapter of the book is makes for an excellent ending, and really does not only tie everything together, but also makes you smile just a little bit.
Books one through four were focused on the adventures of several resurectees of Riverworld making their way to “The Tower”, and the fourth book ends with them taking control of the Tower. What book five deals with is their actions once in the Tower, since they have the power of the Ethicals, the group that resurrected them on the Riverworld in the first place. If I lost you, check out my other post where I give the basic gist of the series.
I really enjoyed the series. It was imaginative, historically interesting (containing characters such as Richard Francis Burton, Mark Twain, Prince John, Alice…the girl who Alice in Wonderland was based on, Jack the Ripper, and others), and intellectually deep in many respects. There is a constant debate over religion vs. science, and what the “truth” is, at least in the Riverworld series, makes for a good fiction read. If you’re looking for a good, meaty science fiction read, definitely check out the first book in the series, To Your Scattered Bodies Go.
Now I am going to finish up Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science, and then tackle George W. Bush’s biography Decision Points.
2 Comments
You mean the legend of Sasannasquatch -getting ready for VA?
There have been reports of Sasquatch sightings where we will be staying!