What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I'm hoping someone can tell me the title of a book I only vaguely remember. As I recall it, there were many different cultures from different periods of history being somehow artificially maintained and kept separate from cultures they would not historically have interacted with (and prevented from evolving I think). Sometimes someone would come along that was exceptional in some way; they would be told the truth and would then work to maintain the system. I can't remember if the system is created/maintained by future humans, or by aliens. The only other detail I remember is a river (I'm familiar with Farmer's Riverworld and that isn't what I'm remembering).

I posted this in the SciFi/Fantasy group Beyond Reality and, in addition to a recommendation & link to this group, I received two good suggestion, but neither one exactly matches my recollection. One suggestion has the cultures preserved in domes of a large space ship (possibly titled Survivors) and the other is Lords of the Middle Dark. Either of these could be right since my memory is very sketchy, but I don't remember a ship and I recall the purpose being to preserve cultures (not as oppressive as Middle Dark sounds).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Midnight at the Well of Souls by Jack Chalker?

Thanks stormhawk but that's not it (if nothing else I'm getting a lot of good books for my to-read shelf). In the book I'm remembering, the purpose of the system was to preserve real historical cultures (native american tribes for example) and the people in those cultures were not aware of the system or that there was anything artificial about their way of life. The protaganist was someone who either noticed problems, inconsistencies, or who just wanted more from life in some way ... can't remember the details, but I know he(?) ends up learning the truth and then becomes one of the people that work to maintain the system.

I think there's an orson scott card series with this subject, I haven't read them tho

There are elements of Ringworld in your description as well.

Pirates of the Thunder series perhaps? Its a 4 or 5 book series that deals with a similar theme. Its sci-fi and set in the future. The description given for this book isn't that great, but it has a lot of things in common with your book.

Two series that match the idea, though not all details, are The Chronicles of Gor by John Norman and A Time Odyssey by Stephen Baxter.

Hum, I'm still seeing a lot of the Pirates way of life in the story line. EXCEPT--that Hawks (one of the principal character) is working to END the system, since its keeping the human spirit too bound down.

But it does have the different societies down perfectly. North, Central and South America has gone back to Native American's with no European influences. The various countries in Asia are back to their own ancient civilizations. Africa---well, better to not even THINK about that, since, except for the areas right around the Med civilization is non-existant. And NONE of the societies has more than bows and arrows. EXCEPT, again, for the Administrators. The Administrators are selected from the ranks of the people of each "nation" and are trained and taught all about what is "really" going on. They are expected to help control the rest of their people and keep the status quo very status quo.

But some of the Administrators want to be free to rule as they wish. And they come up with a way to do it. And that's where Hawks and the other Pirates come in.

Its a very good series, and travels to several different worlds, worlds that, despite the changes that have been forced on the humans of that world ARE inhabited by humans. The Master System Computer uses it powers to force the genetic changes necessary for humans to survive on whatever planet they found instead of trying to force the planet to adapt.

Altho as several others have suggested, I do see why they suggested Midnight at the Well of Souls and Ringworld and the various books of those series.

If it were a single book rather than a series, it might be Phoenix Without Ashes by Ed Bryant, which was a novelization of an award winning script by Harlan Ellison for the TV series he created, The Starlost.

Could it be Terraforming Earth? It's not exactly like you describe, but people were put up into a space station when the earth was going to be destroyed and they keep coming back from preserved cultures through many generations to help the earth along.

Hmmm.. now that I'm reading your post again, I think we're using the word 'culture's' differently, but I'll let you look at the book anyway.

Terraforming Earth

Treason by Orson Scott Card is a stand alone that might fit.

Federation World possibly? While not totally fitting the description, its still sort of like it. Altho this book is more akin to Ringworld ideas. Still thought I'd toss it out anyway.

Enchantress from the Stars

If you needed a poll, I vote with everyone else and say Pirates/Lords of the Middle Dark. I'd really like to know that you've given a swat at the first book - since that sounds a *lot* like the intro.

Some of the remaining books are very sci-fi, like the prison asteroid book.

Lots of great suggestions here, I read descriptions of them all here and on amazon (and I will definitely be reading several of them). None of them is quite what I remember. Pirates is closest but some of the the details don't match. I suspect my memory is faulty, maybe I'm remembering a mix of several stories, or possibly a short story which would be even harder to find. Thanks for all the great responses!

Mary, are you still looking for this book?

Mary wrote: "Thanks stormhawk but that's not it (if nothing else I'm getting a lot of good books for my to-read shelf). In the book I'm remembering, the purpose of the system was to preserve real historical cu..."

Sounds a little like Race Against Time

Any chance it might be A Private Cosmos or others in that series? The series is called The World of Tiers.