Riverworld And Other Stories

Most science fiction authors are content to invent a planet, a spaceship or perhaps the occasional galactic empire. Philip José Farmer looked at that sensible approach, shrugged, and instead imagined an afterlife where every human who has ever lived is resurrected along the banks of a single colossal river stretching around an entire world. Naturally, once you’ve had an idea like Riverworld, ordinary storytelling feels a little pedestrian.

Riverworld and Other Stories is a marvellous showcase of Farmer’s boundless imagination, bringing together tales that gleefully ignore the memo suggesting science fiction should occasionally remain plausible. Whether exploring impossible civilisations, philosophical puzzles, bizarre technologies or encounters that leave readers happily questioning reality, Farmer demonstrates why he earned a reputation as one of the genre’s most original voices. His stories are rarely content with asking "What if?"—they generally continue with "...and then what could possibly make this even stranger?"

The title story returns to the extraordinary Riverworld universe, where historical figures, explorers, emperors, writers and ordinary people all find themselves sharing the same mysterious afterlife. It is a wonderfully outrageous concept that somehow becomes even more entertaining once everyone starts behaving exactly as human beings always have: forming alliances, arguing over power, pursuing impossible dreams and proving that eternity is more than long enough to continue making questionable decisions.

Farmer possessed a remarkable ability to combine grand speculative ideas with wit, adventure and genuine curiosity. Beneath the alien landscapes and impossible scenarios lie thoughtful questions about identity, mortality, civilisation and what it really means to be human. Fortunately, he never lets philosophy get in the way of a cracking story. If existential reflection can be accompanied by sword fights, impossible machines or bewildered Victorian explorers, so much the better.

This collection is an ideal introduction for readers new to Farmer, while long-time fans will appreciate seeing the range of his imagination gathered in one volume. Each story offers another doorway into the delightfully unpredictable mind of an author who consistently refused to colour inside the lines of conventional science fiction. Reading him is rather like agreeing to a guided tour only to discover your guide has quietly replaced the map with a kaleidoscope.

This 1981 Granada edition is in Very Good condition, remaining clean, solid and highly presentable throughout. It has clearly been cared for and is an excellent copy ready for another expedition into some of the most inventive landscapes science fiction has ever produced.

Perfect for collectors of classic SF, admirers of bold speculative fiction or anyone who believes the universe could stand to be a little stranger than it currently appears. Add it to your shelves today and discover why Philip José Farmer remains one of the genre’s true visionaries, proving that when your imagination is big enough, even the afterlife can become the opening chapter rather than the ending. As always from Crappy Old Books—where impossible worlds, forgotten classics and wonderfully peculiar ideas are all filed under "Highly Recommended."

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