At the end of The Fabulous Riverboat, Sam Clemens finally set out in the great iron riverboat Not for Hire to reach the headwaters of...
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reviews
Jun 20, 2010
Raj
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Supposedly the final book in the Riverworld series, where all the questions would be answered, the final few pages of this were actually quite frustrating as a lot seemed to be resolved right at the end of Burton and co's trip up the River to the tower at its headwaters. And the final few sentences had me tearing my hair out as one of the characters thinks he hears footsteps and then dismisses it as his imagination. Gah! Well, I guess I'll be looking out for Gods of Riverworld now, won't I?
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Nov 25, 2011
Ensiform
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Nine months went by since I read the last book in the series, but this book reveals all the past details as it goes along, and I didn't feel lost. In this one Clemens and John Lackland have their final battle, destroying both their boats, and the Burton and his band go to the Tower, where they save Riverworld by starting up resurrections again and increasing the amount of time humans have to Go On to a higher ethical plane. It was very exciting, despite some slowness when it got too philosophi
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Jul 15, 2011
Jan
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So it ends. Not with a bang, but with a shrug. But that is life, and life is what this series of books is all about. What is life? Wherein lies the essence of life? And what are we supposed to do with it?
As a philosophical discussion about the soul, the Riverworld series works pretty good. But I can't help feeling a little bit ripped off by the far too complex storyline carrying this disussion forward. Too many characters and too many parallell storylines and things happening at the sa More...
As a philosophical discussion about the soul, the Riverworld series works pretty good. But I can't help feeling a little bit ripped off by the far too complex storyline carrying this disussion forward. Too many characters and too many parallell storylines and things happening at the sa More...
Aug 11, 2010
Ryan
rated it: 
Recommended if you read a lot of classic sci fi. The thing that bugs me about this and some of Farmer's other books is that a lot of time is spent between characters speculating on what might be going on. Theries and conjecture are interesting from time to time. But it seems to be what they do most of the time. Anyway, crazy concepts about the nature of the soul and the purpose of mankind are either boring or scary coming from other authors. I thought Farmers sci fi ideas are kind of intere
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Aug 15, 2011
David
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El final de la historia, la explicación a todo... decepcionante, te quedas con la sensación de que tuvo una muy buena idea en la primera novela que debería haber dejado con el misterio en vez de jugar con el lector. Es cierto que hay destellos que te hacen recuperar la fe durante las novelas pero el resultado está muy poco trabajado, casi de niño chico. Una lástima, a ver si con la novela que escribió después para atar algunos cabos mejora un poco la experiencia
Jun 30, 2009
♥ Marlene♥
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Hmm I finished this book last night and yes I do have a copy of book 5 but I don't think I want to read more. All my favorite characters except for Burton are killed and I thought the ending of book 4 a bit weird and sudden.
I loved the part where they climbed the tower and must admit laughing my ass off last night in bed reading about Joe but once in the tower it became boring again.
That is what is wrong with these books, some parts are brilliant and some parts are so bor
I loved the part where they climbed the tower and must admit laughing my ass off last night in bed reading about Joe but once in the tower it became boring again.
That is what is wrong with these books, some parts are brilliant and some parts are so bor
Oct 08, 2010
Dave
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Overall, I enjoyed my journey through Riverworld. It was interesting to visit some historical characters (a few of whom this series introduced me too.) interact with each other. This book was supposed to be the culmination and Mr. Farmer promised that all questions were to be answered. After I finished this book, however, I felt that the story was not satisfactorily resolved.
Feb 01, 2010
Manny
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I'm virtually certain I got as far as this volume before I abandoned the series, but I can't remember a thing about it. All I can recall is that we were given the explanation for Riverworld, and I just thought "Huh"?
I guess I wasn't in a receptive frame of mind, given that some other people appear to like this book. Sorry.
I guess I wasn't in a receptive frame of mind, given that some other people appear to like this book. Sorry.
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Sep 15, 2009
Erik
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By this, the fourth volume in the Riverworld series, I'd grown a bit tired of the cliffhangers and mysterious foreshadowings and, so, gave up on the series after having read this and the preceding three novels one after another.
Feb 25, 2009
Srochat
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The surviving explorers finally get a chance to learn the secrets of the Riverworld ... even as it's put at risk of being completely lost. A worthy wrapup to a powerful series.
Jun 06, 2010
azdbackfan
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The dirigible is long gone.
The two riverboats (long story) are going to have a big battle which takes forever to tell.
What can I say? I liked it enough to read it twice.
The two riverboats (long story) are going to have a big battle which takes forever to tell.
What can I say? I liked it enough to read it twice.
Feb 26, 2009
CD
rated it:
My least favorite of the Riverworld Saga books. Transitional work that might have been more effective by adding more or different twists to the story line.
Sep 01, 2011
Mckinley
rated it:
More of the story of getting to the tower continued.
I figured out my reaction to many earlier scifi by men -- it's androcentric. This series very much so.
I figured out my reaction to many earlier scifi by men -- it's androcentric. This series very much so.
Sep 16, 2011
Diane
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Some very interesting ideas of the purposes of mankind. The "ethicals" aren't that ethical. And I'm losing main characters that I've come to love.
Aug 19, 2008
Travis
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Farmer makes a grand effort to tie everything together and explain what the heck is going on with all these famous people and that big river.
Almost everyone from the first three books show up and there's lots of cool sci-fi bits and intrigue.
The plots and double cross get laid on a bit thick and the pay off isn't quite as cool as the journey to get here, but still a great story in one of my all time favorite series.
Almost everyone from the first three books show up and there's lots of cool sci-fi bits and intrigue.
The plots and double cross get laid on a bit thick and the pay off isn't quite as cool as the journey to get here, but still a great story in one of my all time favorite series.
Jul 12, 2007
Bob
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It was okay... Nice to read the end of the 4-book series, but it ended very abruptly. I literally finished the last page and turned the page expecting more but it was blank! The concept of the Riverworld is pretty cool, and it's too bad that the Sci-Fi channel slaughtered it. The first book of the series, "To Your Scattered Bodies Go" is a brilliant read. Go for it!
Dec 04, 2010
Cuarto libro de la pentalogía de El Mundo del Río.
Por fin se consiguen desvelar los secretos (casi todos mas bien) de este extraño mundo extraterrestre...
En un principio, la historia estaba compuesta por cuatro volúmenes... y este era el último.
Por fin se consiguen desvelar los secretos (casi todos mas bien) de este extraño mundo extraterrestre...
En un principio, la historia estaba compuesta por cuatro volúmenes... y este era el último.
Feb 15, 2011
Robert
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I highly recommend the 1st two RIVERWORLD novels!
Books 3 & 4? No.
I suppose the 6 year gap between books 2 & 3 had something to do with the drop in quality?
What a shame.
Yet the early glory of the series forces me to trudge onward... despite already having reached the Tower in book 4.
UGH.
Books 3 & 4? No.
I suppose the 6 year gap between books 2 & 3 had something to do with the drop in quality?
What a shame.
Yet the early glory of the series forces me to trudge onward... despite already having reached the Tower in book 4.
UGH.
May 21, 2010
David
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This one completes the main Riverworld story. It answers a lot of questions, but ends in a disappointing fashion. It's a good, fast read that is not quite up to the three previous volumes in the series.
Jul 22, 2008
Robin
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This was a great close to the series, which makes me very interested to find out what Farmer came up with to bring the series back for one last go, years later.
Aug 03, 2009
B. Jay
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Like the series itself, each book becomes increasingly fascinating and frustrating at the same time. Most of the pertinant questions are answered, and once the tower is conquered this science fiction story finally includes some real science fiction content. But don't expect to be overly satisfied with how things work out, and don't expect Farmer's assurances that this is the conclusion to deliver either. I will probably read the next book, and I am not so sure I won't be reading it just to sp
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