[Rob B]

Talk it up folks, it's April and time let loose.

Its been a few years since I've read Hyperion but a few things stick till this day"

For lack of a better word, how literate the novel was. The stories of each of the companions was pretty compelling.

The haunting figure of the Shrike is a mystery and something truly alien.

[Gravity's End]

Just...a...little...farther... ...almost...finished...

LOL, I've got about 60 pages left to go, so I'll finish that up tonight and be ready to dissect and discuss tomorrow.

For the time being, let me just say that now I'm hooked and will probably have to read the follow-up books as well!

[Kamakhya]

I read this a couple of year's ago and remember really liking Hyperion, but by the end of The Fall of Hyperion, I had had enough.

I am currently re-reading it for this discussion, but am making only slow progress. I still have almost 300 pages to go!

One of the things I do like very much about this novel is the use of character flashbacks. The individual stories are unique and interesting. They remind me of The Canterbury Tales. (I hope I got that title right!:) ).

I was extremely impressed with the priest's tale. I loved the description of the fire forest. The Bakura were fascinating, though much remains unexplained (at least so far).

I have also gotten through Kassad's story which was pushing the limits of believeability. But I enjoyed the concurrent themes of pain, fear and sex.

I'm finding the novel an exhausting read. I can read maybe 30 or 40 pages at a time before the words start to blur on the page.

Am I correct in assuming that spoilers are ok in this forum where it is assumed that everyone has read it?

Kamakhya

[Gravity's End]

All right, I finally finished the book at about ten minutes to midnight. As no one else has provided too much to comment on just yet, I'll post a broad overview of my thoughts on the book.

First of all, the novel was well-planned and executed, logically speaking. It's already been mentioned how HYPERION is written in much the same fashion as Chaucer's CANTERBURY TALES (with the possible exception of the Prologue, which is exclusively from one character's viewpoint). There are other "classical" references as well, particularly to John Keats.

Overall, I enjoyed the book very much. I will say, however, that this story is NOT self-contained or stand alone. Some people may argue that, but the stated purpose of the characters was to make a pilgramage and confront the Shrike, and that objective was not completed by the book's end.

Of the six stories that were told, the first and last were my least favorite. In fact, I think the Consul's story was very anticlimactic and disappointing. I could sense that Simmons was trying to build our sympathies and understanding for how the Consul was torn in making the decisions that he did, but it just didn't hit me on an emotional level. I thought the story of Sol and Rachel was much more effective as far as emotional impact.

I was impressed, however, with how Simmons could write from the viewpoint of each different personality type. The stories that corresponded with each character changed tone and focus to match that particular person, and that is no small task for a writer.
His skill in that regard cannot be denied, and though there were a few awkward sentence structures throughout the book (particularly when Simmons would repeat the same phrase or word within one sentence), overall his writing is excellent.

What are everyone else's thoughts?

[Gravity's End]

:confused:

Just out of curiosity, did anyone here actually READ this book last month? If you guys are just running behind a little (as I was at first), that's fine. And I know Fitz and Kamakhya have both read it before (and presumably did not reread it); but seeing as how a couple of people nominated and/or seconded this book, and it did win the vote, I'm surprised that no one else has commented on it all week.

[alan empty]

I first read it years ago and could remember a lot of it, but I thought I'd re-read it for this thread. Finished Hoyt's tale last night. I found this really enjoyable, particularly the way it's actually Dure's story. I found Dure to be a very sympathetic character, Hoyt less so.

The Bikura were an interesting idea. I like the idea of them losing all aspects of individuality over time, kind of like rock weathered by the elements. Not particularly realistic in certain ways, but my reservations here get sort of answered by later revelations (in other books I think).

My only real complaint is an incredibly minor one. I'm a big fan of good first sentences/paragraphs in novels - I usually find them more reliable than the blurb on the back. I don't have Hyperion with me to quote in full, but "saurian things" - surely Simmons could do better that "things"?!!

Generally though I love the way Simmons writes. I think he uses language well, throws ideas at you and manages to always entertain. Sometimes I think he promises more than he delivers but that isn't unusual in SF.

I'm looking forward to re-reading the whole series. My recollection is a bit hazy, but I can remember which elements of the story have most implication for later events and I'm storing them away in my brain this time. I think I probably missed a lot first time around.

[Gravity's End]

Alan, I have to agree with you that Dure earned more sympathy from me than Hoyt did. Perhaps that's because we became much more intimately acquainted with the former, or because he suffered constant agony for several years until Hoyt found him.

The concept of the Bikura was interesting, although the ultimate lack of an explanation for their society was frustrating. One thing that puzzled me a bit (and I don't know if it was an author error or not), was how the labyrinth, which was supposedly studied in great detail by many people, could have an opening DIRECTLY ACROSS from the opening to the cathedral, and yet no one else besides the Bikura had found the cathedral. I chalked it up to the fact that it was an inaccesible area and perhaps not all of the labyrinth had been discovered and explored, but I still felt that it was a little unlikely.

It would be interesting to see how the "cruciform" and the Shrike are related. I hope this is explained later on in the series.

[alan empty]

GE, there will be an explanation for the Bikura. I don't remember all of it but I wasn't completely convinced by it, although it was quite cool. I won't spoil it for you though :)

I agree about the labyrinth - I can't remember exactly where Simmons goes with this (where has my memory gone??) but he certainly addresses some issues (though not all). When I first read the series I wanted to read them again immediately to fit it all together. I'm hoping this time that I might be able to get a clearer picture. I suspect that they'll be some holes in the story though - he's painting on a very large canvas at times.

There's a lot of unlikely stuff in the series and much of it makes sense in the end.

You get to find out much more about the cruciform and the Shrike - stick with it. You're in for more than a few twists and turns, if memory serves me right (which it clearly doesn't!).

OK, off to read Kassad's story.

[FicusFan]

I read this book a few years ago, and was so outraged by the end of the book that I threw it against the wall and refused to read the rest of the series.

My main complaint is the stated plot of the book is this important, dangerous journey upon which rests the fates of ..(something really, really important, it escapes me now), and the plot is not even really broached in the book. It ends where they should have been way back in the beginning.

My other problem is that the character sketches were really nothing more than the literary equivalent of an SF info dump. Some of that info was important to the story and character development, but it should have been worked into the plot, not become roadblocks to it.

Most of it was filler and backstory that DS wrote so he could make his characters seem real and believable. Making us read it all, is like transcribing your research index card -- 'if I had to write it/research it all, by god you are going to read it all.' Extended character flashbacks are one of my least favorite devices, and that was mostly the whole book.

I realize the structure of the book works like the Canterbury Tales, but you know if I want the Canterbury Tales, I will read them. Whatever else a story does for me, it must first and always entertain -- this one didn't. I felt like I was hanging on by my fingernails to get past all the flashbacks and then the book ends.

I suppose I found the way the book was written so awful because I did love what I got of the real story. I thought DS had a smooth and interesting writing style. I loved: The dangerous, mysterious Shrike, the Time Tombs that move backwards in time, the huge twinkling tree that is their space ship taking them to the planet.

I will probably read the rest one day but I feel really, really ripped off by the whole set up.

[alan empty]

That's an interesting perspective. I really enjoyed Hyperion when I first read it but I remember feeling a bit let-down as well. My reaction though was to immediately read the next book (I was on holiday in Canada at the time and it was fairly easy to find thankfully). I don't remember throwing anything :)

As I said above, I'm now re-reading it. I'm enjoying it even more this time. Probably because I'm not desperate for the plot to advance. I know where Simmons is going this time, so I can just sit back and enjoy the journey.

I finished Kassad's story last night and loved it. I don't think I enjoyed it that much the first time. I can't really discuss why it has more resonance the second time (massive spolier) - you'll have to trust me! FicusFan, you refer to Simmons overuse of background information. For me, that's what makes it such a rich series. Within a couple of pages of Kassad's story you get so much history thrown at you and then it's gone, mostly never to be mentioned again. I love it. For me, it just reeks of authenticity. I was smiling as I read some of it, just savouring Simmons' writing. But, like you, I was probably screaming "get on with it!!!" the first time.

Poet's Tale next. Looking forward to this one.