Scan barcode
goobdiddy's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting sequel, that has kept my attention enough that I'll continue reading the series. This one follows the adventures of Mark Twain (resurrected) on the Riverworld, as he encounters various historical gits from different time periods. There aren't to many more revelations about the creators of Riverworld, or what is going on, but it's a fun story all the same. Hopefully the future books will tell us more about what the heck is going on!
pshotts's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mitchvandiver's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
philster666's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
julia919's review against another edition
2.0
The first book in the series was much better. In this book the pacing was slow, the plot predictable, and just meandered to the end with no real direction except what was to be expected after the first couple of chapters. The premise of the series is good and somewhat unique, but I am a little hesitant to continue if the remaining books don't improve in quality and pacing.
rocketiza's review against another edition
2.0
A great concept with such a poor execution. Wish someone beside a white misogynist had come up with it.
archie_author's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up a copy at a used bookstore and didn't get what I paid for.
While the plot and concept is good, the social and political topics are now dated. Using Samuel Clemens as the MC is a neat idea but the book did not present the historical writer in good light. For the most part, the intrigue is good but in the end it was all chaos.
While the plot and concept is good, the social and political topics are now dated. Using Samuel Clemens as the MC is a neat idea but the book did not present the historical writer in good light. For the most part, the intrigue is good but in the end it was all chaos.
awilderm23's review against another edition
2.0
'It's a strange tale, but no stranger, actually than anything that's happened here since we all woke up from the dead.'
'Death had come to him on earth, and he had been glad because it meant the end forever to all sorrow. He would no longer have to weep.'
'This is a log I keep on all the souls I bring into the world. I intend someday to write a big case history of the infants to find out if any ever amounted to anything. If I can bring one genius, one, into this vale of heavy tears, I will think my life worthwhile. Otherwise, I've been wasting my time bringing thousands of idiots, hypocrites, dogs in the mangers, etc. into this sad place.'
'Such was the drive of their instincts for survival, they fought to keep their heads above water as long as possible.'
'Invincible ignorance always upset him, even though he knew he should just laugh at it.'
'Shadows would be moving inside shadows; daggers would be unsheathed; the air would get grey and chill with stealth and intrigue; blood would spurt. And the sleeping would do well to stir.'
'Death had come to him on earth, and he had been glad because it meant the end forever to all sorrow. He would no longer have to weep.'
'This is a log I keep on all the souls I bring into the world. I intend someday to write a big case history of the infants to find out if any ever amounted to anything. If I can bring one genius, one, into this vale of heavy tears, I will think my life worthwhile. Otherwise, I've been wasting my time bringing thousands of idiots, hypocrites, dogs in the mangers, etc. into this sad place.'
'Such was the drive of their instincts for survival, they fought to keep their heads above water as long as possible.'
'Invincible ignorance always upset him, even though he knew he should just laugh at it.'
'Shadows would be moving inside shadows; daggers would be unsheathed; the air would get grey and chill with stealth and intrigue; blood would spurt. And the sleeping would do well to stir.'
uncertainorigin's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The first book of the series (To Your Scattered Bodies Go) was pretty good. This one is not. It's a different cast of characters and very different style of plot. It's less adventurous and more monotonous, and the premise of Riverworld starts to get old when people like Odysseus, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Jeremiah Johnson appear out of nowhere and save the day. The set of people chosen for the secret mission is suspiciously composed almost exclusively of white men from Western history. This fact is even weirder considering the book actually dwells a lot on racial issues. I'm guessing that part was more progressive and the particular angle of it more resonant at the time when the book was published than it is now. Overall the main character, a cringy Mark Twain, is insufferable, and none of his problems or his adversaries are compelling. The general imaginativeness of the Riverworld setting and the hope that the overall plot of the series would be advanced in some satisfying way was enough to keep me reading til the end, but I was disappointed when I got there. I do not think I will keep going with the series.