Farewell and onward to the River.

My first book of Farmers was 'Dayworld Rebel' which I found in a large book lot buried in the back of a dusty old book store. There were several boxes of books and the owner said I had to buy all the boxes and I decided to buy them. I was glad I did. Dayworld Rebel was in those boxes and I read it in one night while going to school and employed as a night watchman. I had read other science fiction novels and found them to be dry, technical and hard to read. That all changed when I read 'Dayworld' and sought to find more of Farmers works and surprised myself in finding within those several boxes of books other titles including Riverworld and some of the World of Tiers. This was how I had invisioned science fiction to be: adventurous, daring, bold and forthright in scientific explanations that even the common man could understand.

I will remember those days of hunting down all of Farmers novels in the pre-internet days, those days of hunting all the book stores and searching amoungst the dusty shelves for the treasures which had so captivated me and held my imagination for so long.

Loss is tragic and yet the gains are much more appreciated with everything left behind. His stories remain to enthrall future generations and I hope everyone who reads those stories feel the same way I did when I first discovered Phil Farmer.

Farwell Mr. Farmer and I hope the Riverworld or the World of Tiers is exactly how you painted it for me in my own mind.

PS if you happen upon my son, give him a pat on the back.

JT