FAUST%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP (09/21/83)
From: Gregory Faust <FAUST%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC>
I have not read the Gods of Riverworld, but not only will I not
pay the price for a hardbound, I intend to BORROW the PAPERBACK when
it gets out. The other four major books in the series have left me
begging for no more. If Mr. Sanders, the individual kind enough to
give us a nano-review of the book, thinks that this one is not as good
as the others, it bodes ill indeed!
I have not read a lot of Phillip Jose Farmer so I can't say
whether or not all his writing is not to my taste. I have read Venus
on the Halfshell and thought that it was extremely funny. Maybe PJF
is good at copying other authors styles; he certainly did a good job
of copying Vonnegut's style in VotHS. Is the riverworld series
an attempt on Farmer's part to copy Mark Twain's style? If so, does
Farmer ever write things in his own style?
Have donned my wet suit,
GregRSaunders.TCSC@HI-MULTICS@sri-unix.UUCP (09/26/83)
armer when he waxes philosophically
about points of dubious merit, buy the book and lend it out. If
you are looking for the original ideas and fast-paced entertainment
of the early Riverworld books, borrow it to satisfy yourself that
you have missed nothing. The twist (or two was it?) in the plot
is quite guessible and did not enlighten me on any of the confusions
left by TML.
After allowing for some other opinions to be heard I may write a
more through review of the good and bad points of the book. I did
enjoy the book, although I should have waited, but I was left with
as many questions as before. Perhaps this sleeping dog should be
allowed to lie.
Randy Saunders