Riverworld

Riverworld is a fictional setting and media property created by Philip José Farmer, first appearing in the 1971 science fiction novel To Your Scattered Bodies Go. The premise posits that all human beings who have ever lived are resurrected along the banks of a single, planet-spanning river. Each person is restored to a physically adult body, and initial amnesia gradually gives way to memory and skill from their previous lives. The river encircles the planet, with communities forming along its course in a wide range of historical and cultural styles.

The central mystery of Riverworld concerns the origin and purpose of the resurrection and the river. The phenomenon is linked to a mysterious artificial Source at the river's head, which appears to be a gateway or access point to other locations or worlds, suggesting alien or higher-level design.

The Riverworld setting was expanded upon in sequels and tie-in novels by Farmer and others, exploring social, religious, political, and technological issues as resurrected people seek leadership, knowledge, and escape from the river continent. The series is noted for integrating historical personages with speculative science fiction, and for its exploration of ethics, belief, and the nature of humanity.

Adaptations: Riverworld has been adapted for other media, including a television miniseries in the early 2000s, and has influenced later works in science fiction.