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Philip Jose Farmer

The Magic Labyrinth (Riverworld Saga, Book 4) Paperback – July 28, 1998

by Philip Jose Farmer (Author)

108 ratings

Book 4 of 5: Riverworld

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The answers behind the enigmatic origins of Riverworld lie at last within reach, as the remarkable gathering of Earthlings--including Sir Richard Francis Burton, Samuel Clemens, Alice Liddell Hargreaves (the real-life Alice in Wonderland), Cyrano de Bergerac, Ulysses S. Grant, and Baron Von Richtoven--finally breaches the stronghold of Riverworld's extraordinary super-race.

But answers would lead to more enigmatic questions . . .

Who is the Mysterious Stranger who taunted the Riverworld resurrectees with hints of the truth? What is the key to the gargantuan computer that wields the power of life and death? The astonishing secrets lie within the Dark Tower--but only for those brave enough to seek them and wise enough to decipher them . . .

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Del Rey
Publication date

July 28, 1998
Dimensions

5.1 x 1 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0345419707
ISBN-13

978-0345419705
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At the end of The Fabulous Riverboat, Sam Clemens finally set out in the great iron riverboat Not for Hire to reach the headwaters of the massive river on whose shores humanity has been resurrected. After 33 years on the river, Clemens and his crew--including the giant subhuman Joe Miller--are finally near the end of their journey, and only one obstacle remains: the evil Earthly king, John Lackland. John is waiting just upriver in the Rex Grandissimus, the first riverboat that Sam constructed and the one that John and his crew hijacked, and he's hell-bent on sinking Sam's boat (and vice versa). Complicating the battle is the fact that both ships likely contain agents of the Ethicals, the group of advanced beings who created Riverworld for reasons unknown. One or more of the Ethicals themselves may even be on board, as are various humans that the rebel Ethical, known as the Mysterious Stranger (but known to Clemens simply as X), enlisted in his cause, which may or may not lead to humanity's salvation.

The battle is set to take place along the shores populated by members of the Church of the Second Chance, a group that believes they must attain ethical perfection in order to proceed to the next phase of existence. The Second Chancers are not violent, but their charismatic leader, La Viro, may attempt to sink one or both of the iron ships in order to prevent the battle. Among the Second Chancers is former Nazi officer Hermann Goring, who had a run-in with Sir Richard Francis Burton in the first Riverworld novel, To Your Scattered Bodies Go. Burton and his companions--among them several people who were contacted by the Mysterious Stranger--are reluctantly serving on John's boat in order to reach the headwaters of the river. But will any of the humans working for X survive the coming battle? And if so, how can they possibly hope to penetrate the tower in the North Sea where the Ethicals are thought to reside? And what could lowly humans hope to do against a race so advanced that they can reshape entire planets and resurrect all of humanity? --Craig E. Engler

From the Inside Flap

behind the enigmatic origins of Riverworld lie at last within reach, as the remarkable gathering of Earthlings--including Sir Richard Francis Burton, Samuel Clemens, Alice Liddell Hargreaves (the real-life Alice in Wonderland), Cyrano de Bergerac, Ulysses S. Grant, and Baron Von Richtoven--finally breaches the stronghold of Riverworld's extraordinary super-race.

But answers would lead to more enigmatic questions . . .

Who is the Mysterious Stranger who taunted the Riverworld resurrectees with hints of the truth? What is the key to the gargantuan computer that wields the power of life and death? The astonishing secrets lie within the Dark Tower--but only for those brave enough to seek them and wise enough to decipher them . . .

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Del Rey; 1st Ballantine Books ed edition (July 28, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0345419707
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0345419705
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 1 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,737,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #209,159 in Science Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
108 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		18%
3 star		9%
2 star		5%
1 star		6%

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Top reviews from the United States

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K. Bullock

Disappointing

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2015

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This review covers The Dark Design and The Magic Labyrinth, because they're really a single book that was broken into two parts for publication. It would have been better if Farmer had a good editor to pare them down into a single volume. Farmer spent far too much time recapping events from the first two books, and he couldn't drop his annoying habit of stopping the narrative every time a new character was introduced to give a 1-3 page biographical sketch. The climactic battle between the riverboats is ludicrous, and the behavior of most of the major characters during the battle(especially Burton) makes little sense. It's readable, but it doesn't live up to the promise of the first book, or even the second.

2 people found this helpful

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danielcooperclark

Head-Spinning Marvels

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2017

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The occasional elaborate interludes at first annoyed me. I didn't want the fast-charging plot to flounder in a tangle of verbosity. But then I grew to cherish them as they meandered away from the main narrative. Then I settled in, charmed and filled with wonder at the energy and vastness of the author's vision, and perhaps most particularly at the good-natured robustness with which he populated Riverworld. The quartet of volumes took me years to read, as I'd dip in only a few minutes every week. The fascination stayed fresh and stays with me still. Life is good! And Farmer helps make it so.

One person found this helpful

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Hugo E

A satisfactory wrap up

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2020

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I’d recommend this only to avid fans of book three curious to learn about what’s in the tower. The origin and mission of the tower are revealed, yet it takes all the book to get to it. It felt too exposition-driven and not enough dialogue-driven. It reads like a novel from 1969. I did enjoy the time on the great river boat and how immersive Burton’s paranoia came through. Solid 3 stars.

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Kindle Customer

Get it now.

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2018

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Another spellbinding classic from Philip Jose farmer. Strongly suggest you get it now. Stand-alone novel, but works even better if you have read the three previous books.

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Matthew Hanna

Bad Ending To A Good Series

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2013

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The Riverworld series kind of declined gradually ending with this poor read. I had better theories in my mind about the nature of Riverworld but this was a pathetic ending. This was a very slow read with the finale suddenly and quickly taking place in only the last few pages. Oh well, I can at least say I read the whole series.

2 people found this helpful

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philip of the river

My favorite of the Riverworld sequals

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2008

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This is the best of the 4 "To Your Scattered Bodies Go" sequels purely because of the paddle wheel boat battle. I was able to visualize this more than anything I have ever read, probably because books 2 & 3 lead up to this moment in book 4, and it was rather satisfying to read. If you have read the first 3 books, you'd be a fool not to read "The Magic Labyrinth". The fifth book, "Riverworld Gods," is intriguing as well.

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Buddy Massey

Another Great Book In The Riverworld Series

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2015

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This is one of the books of the Riverworld Series and it Really is a Great book itself. Once you start with this few series of books I'm sure that you will be hooked by the series And will find yourself looking for more books by Phillip Jose Farmer

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christopher Chase

All good, enjoying book.

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2019

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A ripping yarn

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Top reviews from other countries

K. C. Simm

The Last and Weakest

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2007

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As with other reviewers I found this last book to be a little anticlimatic. Given the initial premise of the story, given also the epic way it had been written, the complexity of the story, the attempt to bring it all together in a final tidy ending does not work as well as it should.

Farmer is more than a fine writer. He is up there with the best. His concepts, this series included are intelligent, sometimes with elements of genius. He uses words well, he usually develops his stories interestingly, just not unfortunately with this one.

Perhaps there is a case for saying a final book should not be written. Titus Alone from the Gormenghast series,springs to mind. As with this book it leaves one with a feeling of dissapointment. I loved the idea of a number of my heroes, (some that became my heroes because of these books) all together in these stories. I liked the idea of the author himself appearing, (Peter Jarius Frigate). I just was left with something I didn't want but had to have with this last book, just because it was the last.

As a matter of interest, apparently there has been a movement afoot for several years to film these stories. I think we have reached the point where such a thing could be done and done justice.

One person found this helpful

internet.doctor

Good bbok BUT .......

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2014

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This book does explain what happens, where and why, for those who did not work it out for themselves but I found that for some reason the author started to waffle on and ramble. He seems to go into far too much detail first at the beginning of the book (re-capping) and then later dream sequences and charters, he goes into far too much details and tends to waffle a bit , this book could have been added to the last, and likewise some of the historical descriptions in the last one could do with a trim. Don’t get me wrong Phillip Jose farmer is a good writer and I like his works but he does tend to ramble when he can’ think of which way to go or to flesh out the story. Hey readers make up your own minds, it still a good story for all that.

One person found this helpful

Ben Goodale

I read this when I was younger and loved it. Re-reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2017

Verified Purchase

I read this when I was younger and loved it. Re-reading, sure Farmer seems to be a bit self indulgent with some of his back histories of people and philosophical discussions, but I remember when I was younger finding these fascinating. But the big story - wow, Riverworld is an epic concept and this is where they get to the mythic tower at the top of the planet and hope to find answers to all their questions. Read the series, epic thought provoking SF.

2 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Another great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2017

Verified Purchase

My grandson is chuffed again

One person found this helpful

Mr. N. G. Laven

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2014

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great

One person found this helpful

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