Philip José Farmer

 

Easton Press Philip José Farmer books

To Your Scattered Bodies Go - Masterpieces of Science Fiction - 1986

 

Author Philip José Farmer

Philip José Farmer, born on January 26, 1918, in Terre Haute, Indiana, was an American author known for his prolific and imaginative contributions to science fiction and fantasy literature. Farmer's career spanned several decades, and he left an indelible mark on the genre with his innovative ideas and unique storytelling. Growing up in the Midwest during the Great Depression, Farmer developed a love for reading and speculative fiction at an early age. His interest in science fiction and fantasy was further fueled by the works of authors like Edgar Rice Burroughs and H.G. Wells. Farmer's formal education included a degree in English from Bradley University, and he later pursued a master's degree in education at the University of Indiana.

Farmer's breakthrough came in 1952 with the publication of his first novel, The Lovers. This marked the beginning of his exploration of controversial and boundary-pushing themes in science fiction. However, it was his Riverworld series, starting with To Your Scattered Bodies Go in 1971, that catapulted him to widespread recognition. The Riverworld series, set in a bizarre afterlife where humanity is resurrected along a colossal river, showcased Farmer's ability to blend speculative ideas with philosophical and ethical questions. Throughout his career, Farmer demonstrated versatility by exploring various sub-genres within science fiction and fantasy. He was not afraid to challenge conventions, and his works often delved into sexuality, religion, and the nature of humanity. Notable works include the World of Tiers series, the Dayworld series, and the Wold Newton Family stories, where he created a shared universe incorporating characters from classic literature.

Philip José Farmer received numerous accolades for his contributions to science fiction, including multiple Hugo and Nebula Award nominations. In 2001, he was honored with the Grand Master Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for his lifetime achievements in the genre. Outside of his writing career, Farmer was an active member of the science fiction community, participating in conventions and engaging with fans. He passed away on February 25, 2009, but his legacy endures through his thought-provoking and imaginative body of work, which continues to influence generations of readers and writers in the speculative fiction genre.

 

To Your Scattered Bodies Go - Riverworld book 1

To Your Scattered Bodies Go is the Hugo Award-winning beginning to the story of Riverworld, Philip José Farmer's unequaled tale about life after death. When famous adventurer Sir Richard Francis Burton dies, the last thing he expects to do is awaken naked on a foreign planet along the shores of a seemingly endless river. But that's where Burton and billions of other humans (plus a few nonhumans) find themselves as the epic Riverworld saga begins. It seems that all of Earthly humanity has been resurrected on the planet, each with an indestructible container that provides three meals a day, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, a lighter, and the odd tube of lipstick. But why? And by whom?
That's what Burton and a handful of fellow adventurers are determined to discover as they construct a boat and set out in search of the river's source, thought to be millions of miles away. Although there are many hardships during the journey including an encounter with the infamous Hermann Goring Burton's resolve to complete his quest is strengthened by a visit from the Mysterious Stranger, a being who claims to be a renegade within the very group that created the Riverworld. The stranger tells Burton that he must make it to the river's headwaters, along with a dozen others the Stranger has selected, to help stop an evil experiment at the end of which humanity will simply be allowed to die.