Riverworld

A meteor shower claims American astronaut Jeff Hale and he awakens inside a jade-green bubble beneath the surface of a body of water. The bubble is pierced by a cloaked figure who presses a staff to Hale's forehead and floods his mind with images to come. He staggers ashore, naked, to find the future waiting above the waves.

The cloaked stranger implants visions and memories into Hale, hinting at a larger purpose behind their resurrection. Hale grapples with the sudden flood of images as he regains his senses. The moment sets Riverworld's mystery in motion.

Hale crawls onto a beach littered with metal canisters containing unisex clothing. Dozens of people from different lands and historical eras emerge nude and receive the garments. The community begins to form out of scattered ages already stitched into Riverworld.

The castaways learn that Riverworld is a vast riverbank where anyone who ever lived may be reborn in their prime. Language barriers vanish as all understand each other, and food and shelter are readily available. The idea of reliving humanity's lifetime is simultaneously hopeful and uncanny.

Hale befriends Alice Liddell Hargreaves, Mali, and Lev Ruach, forging friendships across time. Hale and Alice slowly fall in love, while Mali and Lev also form a bond. The diverse group begins to navigate Riverworld together, learning its rules and risks.

A Neanderthal among the castaways is killed by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, who emerges as a power player named Nero. Hale argues with Lucius about leadership and ethics, and their confrontation hints at a looming power struggle. The fortress of Riverworld politics begins to take shape.

Slavers under Valdemar erect their own empire and plan to expand across Riverworld. The arrival of hostile forces ups the stakes for Hale and his friends. The balance between pioneers and tyrants sets Riverworld on edge.

In captivity, Hale and his allies meet Monat, an extraterrestrial who died with humanity in 2039, and Gwenafra, a reborn child. Their presence widens Riverworld's mystery and hints at a deeper chronology to the world. The group begins to plan resistance against Valdemar's rule.

During the night, Hale is freed by the hooded stranger Hale saw at his awakening. He hides from Valdemar's men and joins his friends in a daring escape. The escape leads to the fortress where resistance forms around Nero's rising power.

Hale and allies witness Nero kill Valdemar in gladiatorial games and take over his fortress. Nero proclaims himself ruler and begins to consolidate control with ruthless efficiency. The power shift intensifies the struggle for Riverworld's future.

Monat guides Samuel Clemens as he builds a riverboat christened the Go For Broke, a vessel to explore the river and map Riverworld. The boat becomes a strategic asset in the fledgling resistance. Their plan is to use the boat to outmaneuver Nero and his forces.

With the help of a traitor, Nero invades the fugitives camp and imprisons Hale and his comrades. He forces Sam and Monat to reveal how to operate the riverboat, tightening his grip on Riverworld's power. The group endures capture as they plot a counterattack.

Gwenafra frees Hale, and together they overpower Nero and his men to reclaim the riverboat. The rebels secure the vessel and prepare for a forward push upriver. The victory marks a turning point in their resistance against Nero's tyranny.

With Hale now in command, the group travels upstream to explore Riverworld, while Sam remains the pilot. The expedition widens the scope of their mission and tests their leadership and unity. The river becomes a corridor for new discoveries and dangers.

Nero is resurrected in a new body somewhere beneath Riverworld, suggesting Riverworld still holds surprises beyond their travel. The cycle of power and rebirth continues as Hale and his allies push northward. The conclusion hints at unresolved threats looming over their odyssey.