Rating: 
Summary: Amazing continuation to a brilliant series.
Review: This book and its predecessor, "Hyperion," are easily my all-time favorite SF novels, ones I return to every few years, and that never cease to leave me stunned. There is so much here: religious commentary, believable characterizations, a plot that will have your head spinning, literary allusions, humor and slam-bang storytelling. It all serves the story, none of it is affectation or overblown space-opera. It's epic storytelling at its best. Don't miss these books. Buy them, read them, savor them, then read them again.
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Summary: The Subtle Arts...
Review: With a Bang and (several) Booms ,Dan Simmons has managed to exercise the subtle art of misdirection, I think... If all these important things move back in time ( the shrike, most noteably) shouldn't they be weakened by the lack of in-time support...even destroyed by travelling to a time where they don't even exist?...I think we readers should look deep into each action and turn of phrase here. The future seems to be where the Shrike has his stronghold.... Kassad confronts the Monster(s) in a jaunt thru time... his fate to wind up in one of the time tombs as an honored , though fallen hero. How about his time jumping amour... what is the deal? Rachel... The Templars... This is a book to remember folks!!! It cannot be read on it's own. HYPERION is a required lead in... Watch the exploits of Father Hoyt , the cruiform is going to figure in here somewhere. The Catholic Church in a future incarnation will be, as usual involved in some kind of political intrigue... Even if this series continues to follow the people we have come to know, I feel Dan Simmon's will swap ends on us so many times it will be a dizzying, unforgettable ride......Let's all read on!
Rating:
Summary: It Rocks!
Review: Hi, I was only 15 when i read this book last year, and it was the best book i ever read! It was great, and even though it was a bit difficult at first (since i haven't read the first book) after a few pages, i began to understand what was happening in the book. I totally enjoyed it, and it's about my favourite book ever. I totally recommend it to anyone. The book just keeps going and going.........like when you feel a book is about to end, and then it takes another turn, throwing you in further(kind of like this review)............ It did that about a zillion times to me, and i began to wonder if the book was ever going to end........ in short i could have said this in 10 words:I am God, i command you to buy the book.
Rating:
Summary: A Tangled Web Revealed...
Review: Simmons' conclusion to Hyperion opens a deluge of plotlines and character situations so finely detailed and expertly executed the reading is effortless. The Shrike is a more dominant character in this book and as a result, we see it rip the plotline apart from the inside out--with not a word being said. The explosiveness and pain only hinted at in Hyperion are manifested clearly and demonstrate the ability for words to truly hurt--I cringed more reading this book than I can remember in a long time. The introductoin of active politics and technology virtually unseen in the prior book support the plot as opposed to hindering it; we really get a glimpse behind the pilgramage and the true meaning to the Hegemony of Man. A exciting and adept work for Simmons and a keeper for all SF and non-SF readers!
Rating: 
Summary: A multilayered epic
Review: 'Fall of Hyperion' follows the style of an epic which can be read on many levels. It is an analysis of John Keats's poetry, the relationship of God and Man, whether there is a God at all, and the purpose of human suffering all at once--and this to name just a few. I do not think it should be judged in comparison with the first book, as they are both extremely different in structure. 'Hyperion' is a tight novel centering on the past lives of the pilgrims, while 'Fall of Hyperion' is an intricately woven tapestry much akin to epics such as 'Dune'. Both are ingenious in their respective approaches to theme and character. The new character viewpoints, Severn and Paul Dure, are well-developed, and Meina Gladstone is a tragic gem of characterization. The other characters undergo trials that stretch them to the limits, and lend a glimpse into the fragility of humankind. My only complaint is Kassad, who never feels real, though the author obviously admires him very much. His relationship with Moneta was a disappointment to me, as it never developed beyond sex, yet is referred to as 'love'. I didn't see it, and therefore didn't buy it. 'Fall' contains the same trauma and horror from 'Hyperion', on a deeper and larger scale, making some scenes intensely painful to read. But with the pain comes a massive wellspring of emotion which, though still painful, is ultimately a pain which shapes and refines. Simmons is unafraid to go where other authors dare not, and for that he is deserving of praise. The action is such that there is never a slow moment, and the surprises are endless. Without question, Simmons knows how to weave a story. The multiple themes running through this book are difficult to follow. Somehow Simmons meant to tie the poetry of John Keats with questions relating to the nature of God and humanity, but this is done with such complicated strokes that the book probably needs to be re-read many times to be fully appreciated. I for one developed an interest in Keats as a result of reading this book--not to mention an affection for 'Mister John Keats, five feet high'.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy sequel to "Hyperion"
Review: I loved "Hyperion" so much that I was almost afraid to pick the sequel up, fearing that it wouldn't measure up to the incredibly high standard that Dan Simmons had set (see my review of "Hyperion" for more details). I needn't have worried. "The Fall of Hyperion" further demonstrates Simmons' amazing ability to meld science fiction with poetry, two genres that I would have never thought could be combined. There were several points when I had to put the book down in order to digest what I had just read before i was able to continue, it moved me that muchThe characters you have grown to empathize with in the first novel are forced through more unnerving experiences on the world of Hyperion, with the mysterious Shrike. However, the focus of this book shifts somewhat from the first, elaborating on the big picture as well as the events that are happening on Hyperion. I found much of the book to be confusing, but I kept going anyways and it all eventually made sense in the end."The Fall of Hyperion" explores issues that normally do not surface in the science fiction genre: free will and slavery, religion and faith, and whether the ultimate loyalty should be to the institutions that humanity has created or to the human race itself. It is a work of literature that, in my opinion, should be ranked along with many of the other enduring classics that are taught in our schools. This is not an easy book to read - the Shrike is, after all, known as "The Lord of Pain" - but it is well worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Exhausting Exhileration
Review: These two books, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, have to be read together. In a sense, this confers a sense of commitment to the reading experience. But it is a commitment that is well rewarded. Other reviewers have noted the contrast between the two books. The first one is an exposition in narrative possibilities, while the second is an extension of story telling in one exhaustive direction; for example. I would view the architecture of the books as being continuous. The contrast in the structure of the two books accentuates the more subtle aspects of the series that are unifying: the mood (a bright but very windy day in the dead of an extremely cold winter), the visual detail (at the comprable level of Tolkin), and the residual feeling which lingers days, or perhaps years after one has finished reading the book. In short, this is not a book that one reads for escapism. It takes time to savor. It requires a certain stoicism to go through some very difficult scenes. But it is worth every bit of what a reader puts into it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not as good as Hyperion
Review: I loved Hyperion, but must admit that the second part of the story is not as good. It is a very different book and has to stand on it's own story more than Hyperion and it gets sort of long in the middle. I am glad I read it to get the rest of the story, and I will read Endymion after a brief break.
Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: The strength of Hyperion was its structure, loosely modeled on The Canterbury Tales. The pilgrims' stories were focused, fast-paced, and compelling. The Fall of Hyperion tells several stories at once, stretching across 500 pages. Each time we visit a particular protagonist or subplot, we're given another piece of the puzzle. The problem is that oftentimes the characters enter the stage, make their contribution, and then leave with little or no drama. The novel would have been better served by a more focused, more coherent narrative. Many of the questions raised in Hyperion are answered, but the journey isn't anywhere near as interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Everything from Hyperion comes together.
Review: All the elements introduced in Hyperion come together and we see the climactic outcome of the pilgrim's journey and its universe shattering consequences. Not even close to the divine beauty of "Hyperion", but a masterpiece nonetheless who surpasses most works in its scope and wonder.
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