Hello!
So nice to discover this site!
I became a fan

Not sure why that was cut off....

Trying to say, I became a fan of Richard Burton after reading Philip Jose Farmer's RIVERWORLD epic sci-fi series that features Richard F. Burton as a lead character.

"... It is not like our world - or any world that can be imagined by anyone but Philip José Farmer. It is huge and mysterious. It has a central river, rimmed by mountains, with a hidden source and an unknown end. Reborn there is every last soul who ever lived on Earth - from prehistoric apemen to moondwelling future civilizations. Reborn there is Sir Richard Francis Burton, translator of The Arabian Nights, explorer, brawler, scholar, womanizer - adventurer. His quest to discover the end of the river, the meaning of this world's existence - and lovely Alice Hargreaves (the real-life model for Alice in Wonderland) form a science fiction adventure that is already recognized as a classic..."

Visit these sites for more infos on the Riverworld series:
http://www.philipjosefarmer.tk/
and
http://pjfarmer.com
(forums and more)

There is also a tv series due out soon, I hope it is done well and features Richard Burton as a charcter!

Have phun!

Stevyn Prothero
Iron Feather Journal

I really appreciate the fact that Mr. Farmer really did his homework on Sir Richard and the rest of the historical figures. He definitely piqued my interest in Burton's life and times.

There was a TV special of the Riverworld series, and unfortunately it did not include Burton -- I assume the producers thought him insufficiently known to modern television audiences. Of course, I have to confess that I found the televised series pretty mediocre and didn't watch the whole thing.

I had a fairly extensive correspondence with Phil Farmer in the mid 1970s, and it was clear from his comments that the Riverworld series was his opportunity to write Burton into a sci fi novel; the TV series completely ignored this primary motivation for the whole Riverworld series... A disappointment overall.

Donald

yes, the film cut out Burton, what a harsh blow :(

Insane really, as a charter like Burton would be amazing on film! So much potential in a sci-fi epic.

Donald, Do you still have those letters? Any chance I can print a few in my zine?

Stevyn@IronFeather.com

I'll check -- that was 30 years ago, and my correspondence from that era has been boxed and stored away, what with moves to 6 cities in 3 countries!I know I still have Phil Farmer's first letter to me, inserted into my copy of the first edition of TYSBG, recommending the book to a fellow Burton-ophile, and that book is in storage in my attic, and will probably be relatively easy to track down.

Donald