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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
As I've been reading my sci-fi/fantasy for the past year or two, the Riverworld Saga has been on my list from near the beginning. I do not remember when or where I encountered the concept of these books, but I've known the general plot outline (everyone whose ever lived is suddenly resurrected on a planet that is a single giant river valley) and have been intrigued by it. I went back and forth, but finally bought the first two volumes and dipped into the first one.
I don't know. My feelings are mixed. I'm not sure how much of this is just because I've thought of what a the book based around the concept might be for a long time, or if it really is the sort of worst aspects of 70s sci-fi writing manifesting in the novel. The gender politics are wack and the historical research part is pretty clunky at times. I went back and forth a dozen times while reading this relatively slim volume about whether it was worthwhile to continue. I'm might hang on to volume two for now, but I think there are myriad other series that I'm more interested in than this one.
I don't know. My feelings are mixed. I'm not sure how much of this is just because I've thought of what a the book based around the concept might be for a long time, or if it really is the sort of worst aspects of 70s sci-fi writing manifesting in the novel. The gender politics are wack and the historical research part is pretty clunky at times. I went back and forth a dozen times while reading this relatively slim volume about whether it was worthwhile to continue. I'm might hang on to volume two for now, but I think there are myriad other series that I'm more interested in than this one.
I'm DNFing this book. For me, this is an example of how to develop an interesting premise into a completely boring book full of prejudices and negative views on mankind. Some people think this a sci-fi classic, it even got a prize. Well, this wasn't, unfortunately, the first well-talked book that was nothing for me and certainly won't be the last.
I really wanted to like the book. The premise is fascinating, but the execution doesn't live up to it. The pacing seems off, especially in the beginning. None of the characters are very interesting, and the female characters are all two-dimensional and only exist to have sex with the male protagonists.
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ugh, I just couldn't do it with this one. A really interesting premise can't make up for the terrible writing and unbelievably slow plot. It's a shame, because I was really keen to read the sequel with the Mark Twain focus. Alas, the terrible writing has scared me away.
An excellent story and with a unique mystery. Sets up a great premise for the other books in the series.
A crypto-sexist, blatantly racist jumble of words. Every character feels as if they exist in the main character's head, his vision projected into them, as different and anachronistic as their backgrounds are (Neanderthal, Victorian, Chicagoite, Space-faring..).
The world building : a sandbox minecraft server / sims world populated by with barely thought out random objects, spiced up with rape and murder every other page.
Some titillating imagery weighed down with the author's half-baked philosophy manifested through Sir Burton's mouth - and penny dreadful gimmicks.
Dropped it halfway through.
The world building : a sandbox minecraft server / sims world populated by with barely thought out random objects, spiced up with rape and murder every other page.
Some titillating imagery weighed down with the author's half-baked philosophy manifested through Sir Burton's mouth - and penny dreadful gimmicks.
Dropped it halfway through.
The concept of the book is interesting and unfortunately the attitude and behaviours of people more than likely. There are lots of premises in that the book explores but the one that was most uncomfortably can a bad man really change? There are lots of references and language in the book i needed to look up because of the people used to tell the story. The characters are horrible people and there is no real sense of risk i was more horrified that the world would not let people die. I liked the idea of the story but i just did not think it was well told. That being said the book did make me think and that is part of a good sci-fi book.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
WTF did I just read?
Reminded by [b:An Informal History of the Hugos|31702806|An Informal History of the Hugos|Jo Walton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475502104l/31702806._SY75_.jpg|52384504] that there are quite a few sci-fi classics I have yet to read, I picked this one off the shelf of my local library, in part because the cover was so weird, and in part because the concept sounded fascinating.
This may have won the Hugo in 1972, but it did not win me over. There was just so much rampant sexism, and racism, and why the hell did Farmer think that making Hermann Göring one of the main characters was a good idea? (Flirting with Godwin's law a bit, there....)
It's also totally bizarre to me that someone can imagine a concept like this, but apparently at the same time is incapable of imagining that women might be people. (Or that there might be a time when there existed fewer smokers than non-smokers.)
In summary, I will not be reading the sequels.
Reminded by [b:An Informal History of the Hugos|31702806|An Informal History of the Hugos|Jo Walton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475502104l/31702806._SY75_.jpg|52384504] that there are quite a few sci-fi classics I have yet to read, I picked this one off the shelf of my local library, in part because the cover was so weird, and in part because the concept sounded fascinating.
This may have won the Hugo in 1972, but it did not win me over. There was just so much rampant sexism, and racism, and why the hell did Farmer think that making Hermann Göring one of the main characters was a good idea? (Flirting with Godwin's law a bit, there....)
It's also totally bizarre to me that someone can imagine a concept like this, but apparently at the same time is incapable of imagining that women might be people. (Or that there might be a time when there existed fewer smokers than non-smokers.)
In summary, I will not be reading the sequels.