This is the plot synopsis for the Fabulous Riverboat by Philip Jose Farmer. Again the synopsis is for reference for my upcoming review of the books, as well as my comparison to the TV mini-series adaptation of it. These posts will seem a little sporadic, since I am writing these offline and revising them as I write, then posting them after I feel satisfied with it.
To explain why I'm doing all this writing, I am planning on going back to school (graduate, possibly on to doctorate) for literature. I expect a lot of reading and writing when I finally take that leap, and since I haven't written anything formal in about 7 years (college), I wanted an opportunity to get back into it. So these are my self-assigned writing assignments, complete with these off-the-cuff introductions.
I hope all of you enjoy reading what I'm writing and leave me comments with any criticism, good or bad. With that, here is my plot synopsis of The Fabulous Riverboat by Philip Jose Farmer.
Riverworld Review
The Fabulous Riverboat (Novel)
Plot Synopsis:
The second book in the Riverworld series follows Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), on his adventure traveling up-river in the Riverworld. He's grudgingly partnered with a vicious viking king named Erik Bloodaxe, and Clemens' blood brother a ten-foot tall hominid named Joe Miller who is his best friend and protector. They are searching for iron ore, which is rare on this planet, so that Clemens can build a Riverboat to travel up river. Bloodaxe is interested in the iron ore so that he can build proper weapons for his viking warriors and conquer the river. Clemens has been visited by visions of the beings that created the Riverworld and has been entranced by a story of Joe's when he had traveled to the headwaters. When a meteor crashes near Clemens and his companions, it is revealed that it was manipulated by an Ethical (one of the creators of this planet) so that Clemens could get the materials needed to create the boat. In a visit by one of the Ethicals, Clemens is told that there is a rebellion launched against the other Ethicals to stop them resurrecting humanity. Clemens is told that there are twelve who have been chosen to assist the rebellious Ethical. The twelve have been instructed to go to the dark tower at the headwaters of the river and end the experiment that has resurrected all of humanity. The Riverboat is needed to take all the chosen ones up river and that they will reveal themselves in due time.
As Clemens claims the meteor that has deposited the needed iron ore he allies with King John of Lackland (the real life king of Robin Hood and Magna Carta fame) and betrays Bloodaxe. With King John's help Clemens and his companions fight off opposition, and build a democratic state of Paralando* in order to build the Riverboat. His companions have swelled to include Lothar Von Richtofen (the brother of the famed Red Barron), Cyrano de Bergerac, Livy Clemens (the terrestrial wife of Sam Clemens, who is now with Cyrano), and others such as Odysseus and Mozart. Paralando grows to be one of the most important nations on the Riverworld, having access to the rare iron and steel. They develop technologies and weapons that make them superior to the surrounding nations. Paralando becomes dependent on the wood and natural resources of its neighbors as the nation works to build the Riverboat, leading to diplomatic tensions with the surrounding nations. One nation Soul City, lead by Elwood Hacking, a former militant Black Panther from the 60's in the United States, has particularly tense dealings with Paralando and sends an emissary Milton Firebrass (an American Astronaut from the 20th Century). Firebrass gets close to Clemens, even acting as his chief engineer on the building of the Riverboat, which results in Hacking visiting Paralando himself.
Hacking's visit turns out to be a double-cross, which Soul City's army invades Paralando and take's the still incomplete Riverboat as well as the riches that come with the iron deposits. After the successful invasion, driving Clemens and his close circle back to a hidden location, Hacking's army occupies Paralando and is then invaded by another neighbor. This causes both forces to stretch themselves so thin, that a third force led by King John invades and re-takes Paralando; explaining to Clemens that this was his plan to eliminate all the threats along the river. With all the threats and obstacles out of the way, the team finishes the Riverboat. On the launch day of the Riverboat King John betrays Clemens and runs him off the boat. Clemens finds himself on the shore without his boat and swears that he will build a new one and take his revenge.
*Twain-land in Esperanto the official language of Riverworld.
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