Hyperion

Rating:
Summary: Richly imaginative, deep and well written
Review: Reviewing these novels is really overkill, but I had to say my piece. Dan Simmons has written a series of novels that are really the most imaginative in all of SF. I enjoyed the sequels as much as Hyperion. I have been reading SF for over 40 years and this series of novels is, in my opinion, second only to Gordon Dickson's Childe Cycle novels in their scope, philosophical depth, imagination and enjoyment. Simmons is just a great writer, and I would place him among the top 10 SF writers of all time. Based loosely on the poems and letters of John Keats, the author has woven around these ideas the most imaginative tale in all of SF. Simmon's imagery is astounding -- he keeps coming up with scenes and plot that you can hardly believe. Endymion and The Rise of Endymion continue the universe created in the first 2 novels, but Simmons smartly continues the story 300 years in the future with new, but still fascinating, characters and astonishing imagery that seems to be the author's hallmark. This is imaginative fiction with philosophical depth, power and just plain great reading.

Rating:
Summary: What you've been looking for
Review: Once I started reading this book, I simply couldn't put it down! I had read Simmons' novella "Orphans of the Helix" in the paperback Far Horizons, and was entranced. It took place in the same universe as the Hyperion novels, and I knew that I had to read Hyperion from all the rave reviews. What I read in Hyperion was stunning....the characters were true to life and each filled with such feeling and emotion. I think most readers can identify with one of the pilgrims, or more than one of the pilgrims. In a way, I think Simmons wanted to capture the reader through one of the characters' stories, and a reader may identify with the brooding, vengeful Consul, or with the hedonistic poet Silenus, or Brawne Lamia the detective who fell in love and lost, or with Kassad as a veteran of war. The whole Hyperion universe is space opera on the grandest of scales....there are androids, instantaneous travel between planets, an AI core that takes place in interplanetary government, Poulsen treatments to extend life beyond 100 years, time travel, cities that orbit in the sky, a dazzling array of religions, ancient aliens, unheard of lost planetary colonists, and much more. Though the story does get confusing and convoluted toward the end, the whole book holds well together....he leaves the reader on a cliffhanger at the end. Dan Simmons' characterization in science fiction is superb. The characters aren't mere cardboard....after a while, they become real.

Rating:
Summary: Rich in detail, well written
Review: This was a wonderful read, it was well thought out and so much went into the details. I found myself not wanting to put the book down as each individual's character was unfolded one at a time. The only criticism I have (and not really a negative) was that at first it was a little hard to follow the technical details, but I somehow think this made it a better sci-fi book. Ending the book with a cliffhanger was upsetting, but it only assured that I would be purchasing the Fall of Hyperion.

Rating:
Summary: Well constructed and entertaining
Review: This is a very entertainng read - well constructed and thought out science fiction which ranks it up there with "Dune" and "Ender's Game". What is particularly appealing is the way each character unfolds their story as their pilgrimage progresses, with each story very different but equally as interesting. The world of the future is painted as vivid and believable, though I do agree with some other reviewers who have commented that the author appears to be totally obsessed with John Keats.

A final comment - don't bother reading Keats' poem "Hyeprion" if you are not already familiar with it - it sheds little light on the complexity of the novel.

Over all it is a rich, detailed and enjoyable epic, great for escapism and one which I thoroughly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: entertaining...i recommend it
Review: I was brousing when by accident i happened on this book...rare to find only good reviews...so i bought it(at a second hand store...sorry amazon)this book is so well written,it covers the experience of a number of characters,from their meeting with each other to each character's recollections of circumstances that led up to their meeting...though it is a good book i have to assume you have to get the fall of hyperion to reach the story's climax...too bad...but i really want to know what happens so i'll bite...(i might even buy it from amazon).

Rating:
Summary: Classic, Excellent Writing and Story--True SF
Review: Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion are essentially one book, so you should buy both and read straight through. Simmons comes up with just the right combination of *science* fiction, plus character development, multiple plot lines and locales to create a masterpiece. The ability to visualize from Simmons' text is an essential part of the appeal. This is far more original than the recycled space/war/fantasy works that dominate the SF scene these days. This is exciting and classic, and should not be missed by anyone that wants an incredible reading experience.

Rating:
Summary: Damn Good book.......
Review: I thought there weren't anymore good books out there...doomed to "flashback" reads of tolkien's or r.a. mc avoy's...thank god for dan simmons...next to David Gemmell he is now my all time favorite writer...this book without a doubt will earn the status of a classic(in the league of lord of the rings and such)...the context shows that Mr. Simmons is a most educated person,I had to research his theories on quantum leaps and physics on the whole and he was more or less spot on...then there are the characters...so well developed...each and every one(and then some)at the end you are left wondering what's in store for them and rooting that they all make it...(come on give sol weintraub a break)...I am now compelled to order"the fall of hyperion"I am sure I won't be disappointed ..."Hyperion" DAMN GOOD BOOK buy it.....

Rating:
Summary: The book I've been looking for
Review: Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion are two of the most stunning books I've ever read in any genre. In fact, I thought that Fall of Hyperion was poorly paced--half of the book deals with events I was hoping to see at the end of the first book--and I STILL think these are two of the best books I've ever read. Normally, a good book might have great writing, plotlines, characters, themes, or concepts, but even above-average books rarely excell in all of these categories. Hyperion and its sequel do. It's going to be hard for me to read many other science fiction authors after this.

Now I'm off to read Endymion....

Rating:
Summary: Hyperian: A Poetic Masterpiece
Review: Hyperian is not ordinary fiction or science-fiction. It is not geared towards a reader looking for quick thrills and page-turning excitment, (though it contains both of these). Instead it is aimed towards smart, intelligent readers who enjoy a good story, or in this case six good stories.

Obviously influenced by the Decameron and The Cantebury Tales, Hyperion in many ways is only a prelude to the sequal, The Fall of Hyperian. The tale focuses on seven pilgrams sent to the mysterious planet Hyperion to do battle, with their bodies and their wits, with a mysterious, monstrous creature called the Shrike. On the way, each one tells their story of who they are and why they have been chosen to go to Hyperion.

Looming in the background of this story is the fact that the entire human world, the Hegemony as they like to call it, is on the verge of an Intersteller war. These pilgrams are the last hope for humanity.

At first the novel seems slow, and somewhat forced. Each of the seven pilgrams are distinct, almost characatures. Only until we here their individual stories do we understand that while they might each have different professions, (soldier, detective, scholar, poet, diplomat and priest) do we understand their similarities. In each case the tie that binds is some great ironic tragedy that occured to each of them. At first each character seems one dimmensional. Some even seem rather dislikable, (ie the poet, Martin Silinus, who is either half crazy or half drunk all the time). By the end of the novel we learn to empathize with each of them.

Dan Simmons has also created a fascinating universe in Hyperian. Years before the world wide web became a common phrase in our culture, Simmons had created a Web of his own. People have acces to any information through neural implants which tie them to information stored throughout the galaxy. There are Farcaster Portals, Simmons version of the jaunt, enabling men and machines to travel between distant stars in a split second. There is something called the Technocore, the artifical intelligence which overseas everything.

All this information is revealed slowly, drip by drip. At times the novel is quite confusing, introducing certain ideas we had not heard of before, and only later explaining them. This works quite well. Instead of giving us all the information immediately, Simmons stimulates our curiousity and makes us think about the story as well as react to it.

Hyperian is poetic. It has a rhythym which gradually captures you and makes you want more. Of course the more is The Fall of Hyperian. This novel is just as good, sometimes better, than Hyperian, filled with more action and life-and-death scenarios. Hyperian, however, stands alone as a unique and beautiful novel

Rating:
Summary: What a find!
Review: I have been reading science fiction for over 40 years and I follow the genre closely. I was very surprised to find that I had not only missed Hyperion when it came out but the succeeding 3 books. I have seen the title in many bookstores and passed it out of sheer ignorance. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed two books as wonderful as Hyperion and the Fall of Hyperion. The best part of the books is how those groups that seem to be good and evil reverse themselves to climax in a moving ending. Thank you Mr. Simmons