Hyperion

Rating:
Summary: A soul-stirring novel
Review: Less than halfway through this book, I knew that I had found a new favorite Science Fiction author. Hyperion is absolutely breathtaking. It started off a little slow and confusing, but once the seven pilgrims started telling their tales, I was hooked. Each tale is somewhat of a novella in itself, but they are all related in that they deal with the world of Hyperion and the being known as the Shrike. Seldom have I come across a sci-fi book that touched me as deeply as this one did. It transcends the sci-fi stereotype; yes, there are aliens, yes, it takes place in the future, in space, but this is just the setting - the book is about seven human beings and their experiences. It is really just a prologue, setting the scene and introducing the mysteries to be solved. Make sure you have the sequels ready to start right when you finish, because I didn't, and it was torture!

I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they are frequent readers of science fiction or just beginning to explore the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliance in concept, architecture, artistry, and emotion
Review: This series is simply brilliant. You do not need to love sf/fantasy to love this book - no, this literature. The flawless construction of future history, the exploration of humanity's flaws and emancipation, the emotionally engaging story of the protagonist, and the artistically engaging architecture make for a series that is simply not to be missed. This series will grab you by the soul and keep you reading long into the night. By far my favorite sf books.

Rating:
Summary: Very good storytelling, but must be read with sequels
Review: Just finished the book. Very good storytelling, new ideas, interesting cast of characters. It tells very personal stories against a backdrop of vast empires and galactic war.

I didn't give this book a 5 because as a single volume, it doesn't complete the picture enough for it to be satisfying. The ending was way rushed with a (very) few answers thrown in for conclusion. There's too much left open and untold. It is literally a cliff hanger. I very much recommend this book, but be sure to get the sequels as well.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful adventure!
Review: Dan Simmons has written one of the best science fiction stories ever with Hyperion etc. The story resembles canterbury tales and grendel but then goes far beyond. It would be fair to compare it to a mindmeld of Stephen King, Shakespeare and William Gibson.

Rating:
Summary: sci-fi for people who hate sci-fi
Review: i have never been a very big fan of sci-fi. after reading the hyperion series, my opinion will be forever changed. the series was fantastic and after reading hyperion, i had no problems buying the rest of the series. one thing i love is that the endymion and the rise are set in the future (after hyperion) and actually turn out to be a prequel to hyperion. this is not trully a series - more like one big book. paul dure - my god, i was rocked to my foundations after reading his story. read hyperion. i promise you, you will not be dissappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book That Invigorated Science Fiction
Review: A really great book. I could not put it down and I was even reading it for a college class in science fiction. We read this book after a full semester of science fiction and it was definitely my favorite. The references to Well's works are apparent. The Eloi-like Bikarua and the Morlock-like Ousters with their long fingers and limbs are described in the same vein. Also, is it any coincidence that the Shrike is "The Lord of Pain"? A nice little reference to The Island of Dr. Moreau. I also liked his references to the world of cyperspace pioneered by Gibson. The Lamia story is full of talk anout simstim, cyber-cowboys and the like. And don't even get me started with the literary devices that he uses... A great book I would recommend to anyone who likes to read.

Rating:
Summary: Worth the price just for the tale of Sol & Rachael.
Review: An account of six tales from seven desparate travelers as they make a pilgrimage to Hyperion to seek out one the most terrifying monster ever created in fiction, the Shrike. They all have various reasons to risk their lives, and all hold the belief that whoever survives the Shrike, one prayer will be granted.

All six stories (novellas in their own right) are brilliantly conceived, and every reader here has his or her own personal favorite. While the priest's tale is one of the most harrowing I've ever read, I was personally moved by the tale of Sol and Rachael. As a parent, I found this tale especially haunting. As another reviewer mentioned, I will not think of the words "...later alligator...'while crocodile..." in the same light ever again.

This is science fiction told in a grand scale. It is sweeping in scope and Simmons' narrative is extremely imaginative, often fanciful, yet sometimes yawn inspiring. It is not an easy read. For those that know little or nothing about the poet, Keats (me included), much of the narrative may become ambiguous or boring. But despite that (or because of that), Simmons spins a masterful tale of the travelers and of the great war against the Hegmony and the Technocore.

Unfortunately, "Hyperion" is only the first part of a two-part story, and ends unfinished. One has to purchase (unknowingly) "The Fall of Hyperion" to complete the story. My suggestion would be to purchase them both at the same time and enjoy--it's well worth the money.

Although this novel won't be to everyones' taste (what novel is?), I thought it to be one of the best novels I've read in many a year. Between 1 and 10, I give "Hyperion" a solid 8. Had the novels been double bound and sold as one (as they should have been), I would have given "Hyperion" an enthusiastic 9.

Rating:
Summary: TRANSCENDENT SPACE OPERA
Review: HYPERION, AND IT'S THREE SEQUELS, COMPRISE THE MOST INVENTVE AND THOUGHT PROVOKING SCIENCE FICTION EPIC OF ALL TIME. THIS IS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO HATES PRINTED SCIENCE FICTION. I HAD READ MR. SIMMONS' HORROR NOVELS AND WAS BLOWN AWAY. SO I SET ASIDE MY PROCONCEIVED NOTIONS AND FOUND MYSELF ENTRANCED AND IN AWE AT DAN SIMMONS' FAR FUTURE UNIVERSE. ANYONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE THESE WORKS EITHER DOESN'T HAVE THE IMAGINARY FACULTIES TO FULLY REALIZE IN THEIR MIND'S EYE THE INCREDIBLE TAPESTRY THAT DAN SIMMONS WEAVES, OR THE INTELLECT TO PONDER THE THEMES HE PUTS FORTH. AND THE JOHN KEATS REFERENCES WILL UNDOUBTEDLY GO OVER MOST PEOPLES HEADS. I RECENTLY SAW "THE MATRIX" AND ALL I COULD THINK WAS RIPOFF. DAN SIMMONS VISION OF THE HUMAN RACE ENSLAVED BY IT'S OWN CREATIONS IS MORE ORIGINAL AND DISTURBING. AND MR. SIMMONS, BEING A FORMER EDUCATOR ALSO TRIES TO TEACH IN HIS WORKS. I HAD NO INTEREST IN JOHN KEATS OR POETRY UNTIL I READ THE HYPERION SERIES. HE ALSO EDUCATES IN HIS OTHER WORKS SUCH AS CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT (THE HISTORICAL VLAD DRACULA)SUMMER OF NIGHT (A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BORGIA POPES) FIRES OF EDEN (HE INTRODUCED ME TO HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY)AND IN THE CROOK FACTORY HE GIVES US A WONDERFULLY REALIZED PORTRAIT OF "PAPA" HEMINGWAY. I FULLY RECOMMEND THE HYPERION SERIES TO ANYONE WHO WANT THEIR MIND AND IMAGINATION STIMULATED. I FURTHER RECOMMEND ANYTHING ELSE THAT MR. SIMMONS HAS PUBLISHED

Rating:
Summary: Not-outstanding space opera
Review: While some of the individual tales in Hyperion are told well, the overall style is fairly cliched; as I read each of the tales, I had plenty of opportunity to think, geez, I've seen *this* plot device before... Plus, there's the added annoyance of the cliffhanger ending which will require you to purchase Fall of Hyperion. I'm not going to. This is not hard science fiction and those that enjoy or demand plausible science/explanations will not find it in Hyperion.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: This book blew me away. I was looking for a light SF adventure and got so much more. Parts are hilarious and parts are so sad that you want to cry. This is of course partially because it is really a group of small stories told by individuals in the book. If you like thought provoking SF then this is for you.