Helpful Score: 3
Incredible story of travellers plagued with a puzzle uniting them all. This tale chronicles their individual journeys - how each came to arrive at this deadly crossroad. Particularly interesting is the story of the woman who is aging backward and rapidly running out of time.
Helpful Score: 3
Both the first book and the second book are excellent. The first book is a bunch of related short stories, and the second book ties them together. My friend didn't like it because there wasn't enough action, so let me warn you about that despite the fact that *I* didn't mind.
Helpful Score: 2
I first read Hyperion quite a few years ago. So long ago, in fact, that with my rust memory it was almost like reading it for the first time again. As I recall, I really enjoyed it the first time around. I remember thinking it was a great book. Really great. Sometimes it stinks getting older. This time I can call Hyperion a good book, but not a great one.
Simmons clearly has a lot to tell, and even having read it before I was still surprised that it's only half the story, completed in The Fall Of Hyperion. I found the characters interesting and the Shrike compelling, but I seem to be growing tired of the "journey as story" phenomenon. Why is it so hard to find interesting stories that don't include the main characters traveling vast distances? Here we watch the main characters travel by space ship, tramway, wind wagon, and on foot. I didn't object that much as I was reading it, but it did sometimes seem that moving the characters around was more important than the rest of the story. That got a bit old, particularly in hind sight.
If I have any real gripes, though, they are actually less serious. There were a couple of places where Simmons desperately needed an editor. A few sections of repetitive text and a mention of a checking account (yes, really), for example, bugged me. There were also some possible printing errors in my copy, but they might instead have been writing errors an editor would have found and removed. Editing seems to be a lost art these days.
Finally though, the biggest irritant for me is the cover art. The Shrike has four (4!) arms dammit! Why on earth (or Hyperion) do we have four volumes in this series and only the fourth finally gets that little detail right on the cover? What sort of nitwit artists did these covers without reading enough about what they were painting to get it right. Gah! (Yes, this is trivial, I know, but it's amazing how it bugs me now as I sit here with the books writing reviews.)
Anyway, if you can get past these few oddities and irritants, Hyperion is a good tale. Be prepared to read Fall Of Hyperion too, though, or you'll never know how things end.
Simmons clearly has a lot to tell, and even having read it before I was still surprised that it's only half the story, completed in The Fall Of Hyperion. I found the characters interesting and the Shrike compelling, but I seem to be growing tired of the "journey as story" phenomenon. Why is it so hard to find interesting stories that don't include the main characters traveling vast distances? Here we watch the main characters travel by space ship, tramway, wind wagon, and on foot. I didn't object that much as I was reading it, but it did sometimes seem that moving the characters around was more important than the rest of the story. That got a bit old, particularly in hind sight.
If I have any real gripes, though, they are actually less serious. There were a couple of places where Simmons desperately needed an editor. A few sections of repetitive text and a mention of a checking account (yes, really), for example, bugged me. There were also some possible printing errors in my copy, but they might instead have been writing errors an editor would have found and removed. Editing seems to be a lost art these days.
Finally though, the biggest irritant for me is the cover art. The Shrike has four (4!) arms dammit! Why on earth (or Hyperion) do we have four volumes in this series and only the fourth finally gets that little detail right on the cover? What sort of nitwit artists did these covers without reading enough about what they were painting to get it right. Gah! (Yes, this is trivial, I know, but it's amazing how it bugs me now as I sit here with the books writing reviews.)
Anyway, if you can get past these few oddities and irritants, Hyperion is a good tale. Be prepared to read Fall Of Hyperion too, though, or you'll never know how things end.
Helpful Score: 2
This is the opening volume in what I consider one of the top 5 SF series ever written (I guess I would rank Dune as the top SF series). The writing is superior, characters well drawn, and the plotting excellent. Written for adults (in the good sense of that word). These books are on my keeper shelf - have read the whole series twice already and will do so again!
In the style of The Canterbury Tales, this is the story of a group of people on a pilgrimage. During their journey, each member of the group tells the story of how and why they came to be traveling on this particular pilgrimage. Unlike the Canterbury Tales, however, these pilgrims are all from different worlds and they're on their way to see the Lord of Pain, the Shrike, who will grant the wish of one of them and kill all the rest. The main plot of the book is that simple: a bunch of rather ordinary seeming people go on a trip. But the individual stories they tell are all very interesting and unexpectedly heart-wrenching. From a preacher's interactions with an unusually simple-minded tribe of indigenous people, to a teacher's desperate plight to save his daughter's life, to a private investigator's emotional attachment to a client who's murder she has been investigating, every single one of these stories touched me in some way. There are sequels to this novel and I will definitely be seeking them out.
On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope--and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.
A stunning tour de force, this Hugo Award-winning novel is the first volume in a remarkable new science fiction epic by the author of The Hollow Man. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
Review
Each of [the pilgrim's] stories would make a superb novella on its own. -- The New York Times Book Review, Gerald Jonas --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
Product Description
On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope--and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.
A stunning tour de force, this Hugo Award-winning novel is the first volume in a remarkable new science fiction epic by the author of The Hollow Man. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
Review
Each of [the pilgrim's] stories would make a superb novella on its own. -- The New York Times Book Review, Gerald Jonas --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
Product Description
On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope--and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.
Simmons creates a wonderfully imaginative and totally engrossing world. Be sure to get the second book in the series along with this one. The mystery of the shrike is only getting started by the end of the first book and you will be itching to know what happens next!
One of the best science fiction books every written - a classic.
I was not able to finish this book. I read a lot but admit that I like the action packed stories better than the descriptive hard Science Fiction. Not sure if this qualifies as "hard sci fi" but it was a burden to read for me.
Lots of people like this book and I think that most people know of it so I am sure it is a well written story but its not my cup of tea.
Lots of people like this book and I think that most people know of it so I am sure it is a well written story but its not my cup of tea.
Awesome book. Different from a lot in the way it's told. My first time through a few years back, I got confused, but I paid more attention this time, and it was really easy to follow, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great fun to read.
The novel is about a collection of seven characters who are traveling together on a pilgrimage, each for their own reasons. Because they have a lot of time during the journey, each takes a turn telling his or her story about what led them on the pilgrimage and for some 'why'.
Some of the stories were more compelling for me than others. Simmons' writing is detailed and I enjoyed it for the most part; however, I feel like if I hadn't been listening to it on audio book, I probably wouldn't have finished it. The tales I didn't enjoy were hard to get through even though I was just listening. While I know they are all important and will come together in the next book, some of them just weren't that interesting to me.
I found the Priest's tale to be fascinating because it involved researching an unusual people, culture, and religion on a different planet. The Scholar's tale interested me because it involved an unusual occurance of space-time. And, finally, the Consul's tale interested me because it was a tragedy-romance type story.
The Soldier's tale in many places just seemed silly to me, but I have to admit the conclusion to it was interesting. The Poet's tale was mostly boring to me, but it did have a few high points. I didn't enjoy the Detective's story, but that has a lot to do with my dislike of that particular genre anyway.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable experience, but I'd warn the reader that it is heavy and detailed reading.
Some of the stories were more compelling for me than others. Simmons' writing is detailed and I enjoyed it for the most part; however, I feel like if I hadn't been listening to it on audio book, I probably wouldn't have finished it. The tales I didn't enjoy were hard to get through even though I was just listening. While I know they are all important and will come together in the next book, some of them just weren't that interesting to me.
I found the Priest's tale to be fascinating because it involved researching an unusual people, culture, and religion on a different planet. The Scholar's tale interested me because it involved an unusual occurance of space-time. And, finally, the Consul's tale interested me because it was a tragedy-romance type story.
The Soldier's tale in many places just seemed silly to me, but I have to admit the conclusion to it was interesting. The Poet's tale was mostly boring to me, but it did have a few high points. I didn't enjoy the Detective's story, but that has a lot to do with my dislike of that particular genre anyway.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable experience, but I'd warn the reader that it is heavy and detailed reading.
Although it bugged me to read a book whose premise is borrowed from Chaucer, I really enjoyed this book. The stories are gripping and the world is interesting. The author creates very real and scary antagonists. I didn't like the sequel nearly as much, even though it wraps things up.
So this book won the Hugo award, and I understand why! This book was a pretty quick read, and I found the story very captivating. I often compare this to sci-fi version of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians. Beyond that (without giving away too much) there is a combination of suspense and intrigue that keeps you reading. Loved it!!
Absolutely loved that book. Very entertaining!
I have found the entire seried very hard to get into.. I do know a lot of people that enjoyed it very much. For me I think it was a liitle too much fantasy.
A tour de force masterwork!
Wow. This was an exceptional book. I enjoyed the characters and how each of their unique stories came together for the plot.
Dan Simmons is a masterful writer. He deftly treads that fine line between too much description of a fictional world and too little description. If you like science fiction, this is worth a read!
Dan Simmons is a masterful writer. He deftly treads that fine line between too much description of a fictional world and too little description. If you like science fiction, this is worth a read!
Greatest series I ever read....sort of sci-fi Canterbury Tales. Read it!!!
One of the best science fiction books I have ever read from one of the best authors. I have 2 of these books or I wouldn't be swapping it.
Well written science fiction.
Wow. Six stories in one.
