Riverworld

[cdr6]

Sometime back I read the Riverworld series (out of sequence) then later read an anthology of short stories based on the original..(the Sci-Fi Channel's take on this series was miserable at best.) Be that as it may, a discussion on the story happened at work last week and the subject was the sheer number of people on the Riverworld...considering that the story premise was that everybody that ever lived was resurected at once. How many people are we talking about? (The lunchroom discussion couldn't come up with a figure.) So I thought I'd toss it out for discussion here, any ideas?<br /><br />Regards,<br />Chuck

 

[thnkrx]

Not quite `everybody who ever lived'. Everybody up until a cuttoff date (1980?). At one point I think a figure on the order of 15 billion is mentioned, but I'm not certain. Mention is made of at least two other planets also being used or being prepared for similiar use.

 

[cdr6]

Thanks guys, I 'll go with the 15 billion figure...I wonder how the figure was derived...

 

[thnkrx]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Thanks guys, I 'll go with the 15 billion figure...I wonder how the figure was derived... <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />A few base points are possible here...<br /><br />population of the world, circa AD 100: about 240-250 million<br /><br />population of the world, circa early 1800's: about 1 billion<br /><br />population of the world, circa 1960's: about 3 billion?<br /><br />population of the world, circa 1980 (the cuttoff, if I remember right): about 4 billion.<br /><br />Figure a lifespan of about 50 years, on average...hmmm....third world and ancient times...maybe 30-40 years.

 

[spacefire]

the exact figure is given in the book, either in the first novel or the last. Of course, I don't remember it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[spacefire]

cut-off date was indeed 1980 something.<br />But please, don't spoil it for the unfortunate souls who haven't read the whole thing.<br /><br />I loved Riverworld, though I agree that some novels drag a little bit.<br />Most of the chapters from PJFs perspective are boring. I'd rather the author had stuck with Burton and Clemens as the two main characters.<br />The second volume (The Fabulous Riverboat) is my favourite. <br />The Sci-Fi movie sucked, but, had poor 'Ares' not died, the film could have matured into a watchable show, of course, not nearly as deep or entertaining as the books.<br />and they should have started it like the books started-with everyone resuscitated at the same time <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[apollo_18]

<img src="/images/icons/blush.gif" /><br /><br /> Wow it's been years since I read that series, from memory, I think that cutoff date was 1983. (hints in the first book suggested a global cataclism hit Earth then)<br /><br /> There was a TV series made of it ?? Was it ever aired in Canada ??