Hyperion

Rating:
Summary: Un-put-downable!
Review: I wasn't sure what to expect when I first saw this book at my local library, but I thought I'd try it. I was glad I did. I didn't realize that there was a sequel until I read the last page, but luckily the library had that as well, so I've read both. I'll stick to the first book here though. Very compelling and thoughtful, though a bit confusing in some places, like what the cybrid Johnny was--human? Android? Cyborg? I never did quite get that. I also skipped over what I considered unimportant to the plot--the sex scenes (I don't like those cluttering up a story anyway; IMO they're just put there for cheap thrills). Why not just end the section/chapter with Kassad's and Moneta's first kiss and then pick up with some other story? It's not like we don't know what those two are going to do now is it? Althought that's a minor point and like I said, I'm not a big fan of sex scenes in books in general. The pilgrims' stories are very compelling, and the scholar's story in particular is dramatic. I tried to imagine what it must be like to suffer the same fate as Rachel Weintraub--I wouldn't like it one bit. I still think about that. Read this book and make sure you can get hold of the sequel. which drags in some places, but over all is just as compelling. Think I'll check out the other two--I'm pretty sure I can get them from my local library or some other county library (my tax $ at work).

Rating:
Summary: A missed opportunity
Review: One of the things that I find pretty hard to do is review a book that I partially dislike. It is even harder to write about a book that I thought it could have been a masterpiece. Well, "Hyperion" is that type of book.

Simmons is without a doubt a talented writer with a fertile imagination but he has a series of conscious vices that thwart this book. The strong point of "Hyperion" is definitively its structure. Simmons uses the style of Chaucer's classic, 'Tales of Canterbury' as a reference where each individual in a voyage narrates its personal story and the reasons for taking a common voyage (thus we get The Priest's Tale, The Poet's Tale, The Colonel's Tale, and so on.). Most of the stories are interesting and build tension in an impressive way. The Priest's and The Scholar's tales are my favorites but found all of them to be well developed (they are not short stories, all have their own theme and style) and to have sufficient weight by itself. Also, the manner in which the stories end converge in the reasons of each individual to take the voyage to the dreaded "Tombs Of Time".

So far, I will say this is a masterpiece...but unfortunately it is not. The simple reason is that instead of writing a fine piece of speculative fiction, Simmons diverged and in some places (few but very intense) thought he was writing a pulp horror story. This is no surprise as horror is Simmons' main writing field. The result is that we get a series of gratuitous descriptions of bad taste violence that do not add anything to the story. The scenes could remain there but the way Simmons likes to describe them, slow and with painful detail is simply annoying and without any constructive or literary purpose, other than satisfying the cheap market which cries for that type of graphical violence. On a more personal ground I also found quite viscous the way Simmons negatively pictures the Catholic Church which he certainly seem to personally dislike (despise?), thus giving a superficially non-objective and immature perspective.

The book is non conclusive in itself as there is a direct sequel ( "The Fall Of Hyperion" ) and two other related books ( "Endymion" and "The Rise Of Endymion" ),

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary.
Review: .
Whereas typical writers introduce, fill in, and conclude their stories, Simmons' Hyperion books just start and then slowly end. This, to me, is the most natural and welcoming way any story can be written. Nevermind all that self-conscious structuring; you'll see none of that here. That's not to say that there isn't structure in Simmons' books. He structures, alright, but he does it for a reason.
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In the Hyperion series (for the record, the order of the series is: Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, and The Rise of Endymion) you'll find many of the elements that make any literary work spectacular - parallels, symbolism, empathy, historical references, foreshadowing (as much as there is unpredictability), openmindedness, etc..
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You'll come across countless instances where Simmons' biases as a writer shine through in bold statements - and then you'll watch him approach and unravel these statements from opposing perspectives. Few of the underlying statements Simmons makes are not thoroughly analyzed and criticized. If any. The only possible exception I can think of is Simmons' recurring usage of the concept of love. And I must say, he does some marvelous things with it...
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You won't see just one lengthy, drawn-out climax in this book - rather, the entire book is a series of delightful encounters, some profound and some delicate. You'll be shocked at a tragic or wondrous turn of event, or you'll be in awe at the clarity of a particular description, or you'll find yourself nodding, smiling, and murmering crude names to the conniving Simmons as loose ends tie themselves up before your unsuspecting eyes.
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Don't expect to fly through this book (why is that deemed a good thing anyway?). Expect to savor every last detail, re-reading entire chapters if you must. Are you a wine-drinker with an imagination? The Hyperion series is the perfect read for you. Simmons' mastery of language, understanding of human nature, and confidence as a writer place him far, far ahead of nearly all (if not all) of today's other authors.
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Dan Simmons is now my favorite writer. Orson Scott Card takes second.

Rating:
Summary: Where do I sign up for the Simmons fan club?
Review: It is a little hard to get a good bead on this book. It almost seems like Simmons started out to write a collection of short stories with a common enigmatic element but then decided to tie that theme into a larger plot; this is especially evident in the last two stories.

In the global scope, we have a group of characters on a pilgrimage. The characters tell their tales en route to the Time Tombs. A place on the planet Hyperion where time flows backwards. Each story has some connection to the being that inhabits the Time Tombs. And that creature is the Shrike. The Shrike is a menacing three meter tall humanoid, covered head to toe with blades. Appropriately, he has another moniker, the Lord of Pain.

One of the most striking talents Simmons shows in this work, is his astounding ability to write with different voices. It goes way beyond word choice and syntax. When he switches from the Priest's tale to the Colonel's tale, the shift can be seen not only in how the fictional storyteller tells the tale, but how the storyteller see's his world.

A very brief synopsis of each short story follows.

The Priest's Tale - Some classic theming here. Kind of "Dr. Livingstone finds the head of the Nile deep within the Twilight Zone."

The Colonel's Tale - Brilliant action story. Real "Die Hard" space and ground combat stuff. Some interesting sex as well.

The Poet's Tale - What cost for the muse? Here Simmons really shows his ability to speak with different voices. At one point in this story, the poet has brain damage that limits his vocabulary to about eight words. None of which can be included in this review. Very funny stuff here, also includes some Simmons jabs at the publishing industry.

The Scholar's Tale - This is the most gut wrenching painful story I have ever read. It actually made me cry, and I think that's the first time a book has ever done that (at least the first time it made me cry because it was good.) Warning - Fathers with daughters, get the hankies out.

The Detective's Tale - Wow, this came out of nowhere. Dick Tracey in a dress, but tougher. A sci/fi detective story, complete with cliches. She's even wearing a trenchcoat for heaven's sake.

The Consul's Tale - A love story for the intergallactic age. Special realativity makes long distance relationships look good. Didn't stir me too much. I think this is where Simmons was really trying to develop the "global" plot. It also struck me as a little bit too "Green Partyish." Not really preachy, but just a little to much "save the planet."

Simmons does some really interesting things with future vernacular and even more interesting things with how a space faring society deals with interstellar travel. The concept of an AI society that exists more or less parallel with the inner and outer human societies is a thought provoking one.

Does it pass the "will I read the sequel test?" Oh yes. Any author that can write as powerfully as seen in the Priest's and the Scholar's tale is likely to sell a copy of everything he or she has ever written to me.

Rating:
Summary: Simmons Should Have Never Abandoned SF
Review: I had the opportunity to meet Dan Simmons at a Writer's Workshop in Kansas in 1993. To my embarrasment, I was the only person in the group of 20 potential writrs who hadn't read Hyperion. When i got back home I bought the book and am ashamed to say I still didn't read it for another NINE YEARS!! Well, I have now and it is nothing short of brilliant! Combining the scope and majesty of Dune with the interpersonal relatings of Foundation, Simmons' most famous novel is a masterpiece of human drama, evolution and expansion into the next realm of reality. The only reason this book got 4 instead of 5 stars is because I now have to read Fall of Hyperion to get the rest of the story!

Rating:
Summary: It's not fair
Review: ...that many folks look down their noses at science fiction. This book is only one of many tremendous works of literature classified as sci-fi. Simmons has a gift for creating characters that involve the reader -- whether that character is good or evil. With this book Simmons joins my list of favorite contemporary writers which includes Robert J. Sawyer, Gore Vidal, Ellen Gilchrist and Vernor Vinge. Forget classifying literature by genres and just read! Wonderful book.

Rating:
Summary: ..At the Tabard as I lay, redy to wenden on my pilgrymage...
Review: On the eve of interstellar war, seven travellers set out on the last pilgrimage to the Time Tombs of Hyperion: the Priest, the Soldier, the Poet, the Scholar, the Navigator, the Detective, and the Consul. Each has been in some way touched by the planet's curse. Each is compelled - by love, guilt, passion, duty, or fear - to return to the beginning place and petition the deadliest, most inhuman creature in the universe to grant him his one wish. One of the seven is a spy for the enemy. The success (or failure) of their expedition will determine the fate of three civilizations.

Yes, there is no denying that "Hyperion" is the work of a master. Dan Simmons is a more than capable writer, versatile, talented, with a wide range of influences. His style is bold, engaging, and assertive (he has a Hugo to show for it).

There is also no denying that "Hyperion" is an ambitious, highly original novel. It is a rich bouillabaisse of genres and narrative structures, loosely adapting the form of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and filling it with jungle adventure worthy of H. Rider Haggard, Philip K. Dickian idiosyncratic mirages, gritty hard-boiled detective fiction, and human drama on par with Card and LeGuin at their best. With a manifold novel like this, variety is at least part of the fun. Simmons perfectly maintains the tones and personalities of his characters, and each of the pilgrims' tales is truly independent.

However, enjoyment isn't part of the recipe. Underneath the trappings of a whiz-bang space opera, the first novel in Simmons' quartet is a subtly repulsive dystopia. The author's galaxy-spanning world-web is a consumerist paradise that has so thoroughly rejected any notion of social conscience, and is filled with such inane, mindless accessory characters, that it is difficult to imagine how it came about. "Hyperion" leaves the reader with no hope for humanity. The novel's mood is perhaps best expressed in its first image: that of a man passionately playing Rachmaninoff on a Steinway while the alien wilderness surges below against the hull of his ship.

Furthermore, it takes a conscious effort to come to terms with the fact that "Hyperion" is told almost entirely through flashbacks, while the central narrative does not really begin until the second book. And while it is useless to complain about the cliffhanger ending, the author might have chosen a more dramatic place to cut off the narrative.

Lastly, entire sections of the book reek of the arrogance of an overindulgent author who is aware of his brilliance. In tale after tale Simmons plumbs the depths of raunchy sex and bad imitative verse (even going as far as to dedicate the sequel to John Keats). Dollops of sophomoric cynicism and non-stop profanity float here and there.

Out of the six tales in "Hyperion", I found three to be unreadable, repetitive, and highly pedestrian. The other three are sublime. It's up to you to decide which ones.

Rating:
Summary: wow
Review: I just finished this book an hour ago, and I am still in awe. This sci fi is up next to Dune by Frank Herbert on my list of "Must Reads". I think that Dune was more planned on the part of the athor though, Herbert was into the research, and explaining everything in detail. Simmons just kinda through everything at me, but in one of the most creative forms I have seen in a long time. I won't bother expaining, just read it, espesially if you like science fiction and have an imagination that you can't seem to control.

Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read in the last 2 years!
Review: I've always put off reading Hyperion for some unknown reason. This year, I was accepted to Clarion West, where Simmons is going to be teaching, so I decided to pick up his most famous book in order to be able to approach the man with semi-intelligent conversation.

I was amazed. The book is made up of six novella length stories told by character on a pilgrimage to the deadly Shrike. Like the Canterburry Tales, each character takes a turn telling his or her tale, and believe me, any one of these tales would be worth the price of the book all on its own. I won't go into any description of the tales because I don't want to spoil your enjoyment, but I can say that they are written in a variety of modes and styles that portray Dan Simmons's superb talents.

Even more amazing, every tale is interconnected to the larger frame story: the pilgrimage. Each tale holds a vital clue to the pilgrims' future meeting with the Shrike.

For careful readers, Hyperion holds references to major literary works of our world, including Pounds Cantos and Shakespeare (and I already mentioned Chaucer). This is a book that was not only worthy of the Hugo, but should have been considered for "literary" awards as well.

One note of caution to those expecting a pat ending: the pilgrimage does not end in this book. You'll have to continue to Fall of Hyperion, as I'm going to do immediately. Simmons's work is so awe inspiring, so exquisite, that I'm both excited and intimidated to have him reading my own work this summer.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly the best SF novel ever
Review: There are a lot of people who claim that modern science fiction writers lack creativity, but they're wrong, and the proof is in this book. In terms of character, setting, plot, and style, "Hyperion" outdoes almost every other SF novel ever written. It captures the same sense of wonder that was first found by great authors like Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein.

The story concerns seven pilgrims who are on a voyage to visit a mysterious creature called the Shrike on the planet of Hyperion. They decide to each tell the story of their lives and explain why they chose to take this voyage. The seven characters are the story's main strength, as Simmons gives each one a unique tone and realistic motivations, thus preventing the book from getting boring. The other amazing part of this novel is the imagination that goes into describing the alien worlds that humanity inhabits in this far future universe. I won't spoil it by giving away anything else. In summary, buy this novel and read it! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and start reading "The Fall of Hyperion".