Riverworld books in order

The Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer imagines all humans who ever lived resurrected along the banks of a massive river on an alien planet.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Le Monde du fleuve 1971 Philip José Farmer N/A
2 To Your Scattered Bodies Go 1971 Philip José Farmer Buy
3 Auf dem Zeitstrom 1971 Philip José Farmer N/A
4 The Fabulous Riverboat 1971 Philip José Farmer Buy
5 The Dark Design 1977 Philip José Farmer Buy
6 The Magic Labyrinth 1980 Philip José Farmer Buy
7 Gli dei del Fiume 1983 Philip José Farmer N/A
8 Gods of Riverworld 1983 Philip José Farmer Buy
9 River of Eternity 1983 Philip José Farmer Buy
10 Human Spirit, Beetle Spirit 1992 Philip José Farmer Buy
11 The Merry Men of the Riverworld 1992 Philip José Farmer Buy

Riverworld is Philip Jose Farmer’s most famous creation. The premise is breathtaking in its scope: every human who ever lived, from prehistoric times to the modern era, is resurrected along the banks of an enormous river on an alien world. No one knows who built Riverworld or why, and the series follows several characters as they explore the planet and search for answers.

The first novel, To Your Scattered Bodies Go, won the Hugo Award in 1972. The series continued through five main novels and several shorter works. Sir Richard Francis Burton, the real-life Victorian explorer, serves as the primary protagonist, and Farmer fills the world with a wild mix of historical figures interacting across the centuries. The series asks big questions about the meaning of life, the nature of the soul, and what humanity would do with a second chance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Riverworld series?

There are eleven books in the Riverworld series, published between 1971 and 1992.

What is the first book in the Riverworld series?

The first book in the Riverworld series is Le Monde du fleuve, published in 1971.

Which historical figures appear in the Riverworld series?

Farmer populates Riverworld with both fictional characters and real historical figures. Sir Richard Francis Burton, the Victorian explorer, is the main protagonist. Other notable figures include Mark Twain, King John of England, and Hermann Goering, among many others.

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