Hyperion

[Mhysa]

Has anyone read this series by Dan Simmons?
I thought it was great. It's a mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.

 

[Rob B]

I thought both Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion were great books. Simmons is a top notch author. However, I didn't pick up the Endymion books.

 

[FitzChivalry]

The whole series is great, one of the best sci fi series i ever read.
The Endymion books wrap it all together and bring in lots of plot twists, how could you stop reading the series in the middle FF?

I didn't see any fantasy elements in that series though.

 

[Rob B]

FC: just never got around to reading it, other books rose to the to read pile. I've also seen others say the 2 Endymion books didn't live up to the previous books in the series. I will eventually read them, though.

I **guess** (and this may be a stretch), I can see the group/journey aspect of the first book as a fantasy element.

 

[Hobbit]

I've got to be honest, FF, I actually read the Endymion books first and Hyperion last -it took me two goes to get into Hyperion. Endymion's ending was very emotional for me - big softy!

Fantastic books though - I then reread the Hyperion books (which are clearly meant to be one book but different in style) to spot the links. Very clever, especially if you can also see the literary links to Chaucer and Keats that Simmons so widely acknowledges.

Very much recommended - worth the effort.

Hobbit

 

[FitzChivalry]

I think books 3-4 were on the same level of quality with books 1-2, only different.
In any case, so many things remain unresolved in book 2, that books 3-4 are a must read.


[This message has been edited by FitzChivlary (edited September 04, 2001).]

 

[Keyoke]

Wow.. I personally found the Endymion books to be simply amazing, as good, if not better than the first two Hyperion books.

Of course, the Hyperion Cantos is by far the best series I have ever read. Loved it.. =)

Keyoke

 

[Rob B]

OK OK I'm convinced now. 3 members whose reading habits mirror mine convinced me

. I think I have Endymion in paperback somewhere, must go a hunting.

 

[Hobbit]

Yay! Go FF...let us know what you think!

Hobbit

 

[THT]

Dan Simmons is simply good at everything he writes. The bad thing is that he is writing mystery and thriller fiction novels (and is waning a little bit) now rather than horrow or SF, but his earlier work is superlative. If you get a chance, read:

Carrion Comfort (Bram Stoker award winner for best horror novel)
A Song for Kali (World Fantasy award winner for best novel - it's a horror book though)
LoveDeath (novella anthology including fantasy, horror, SF and "literary" novels)
Phases of Gravity (Speculative fiction)
Hollow Man (horror-SF about telepathy)
Summer of Night (Horror)
Children of Night (Horror-SF about vampires)
Fires of Eden (historical-SF w/Mark Twain as a character)

You almost can't miss with a Dan Simmons novel.

 

[Valada]

I absolutely love this series... It may sound strange, but these books continue to haunt me well after I finished reading them. My favourite is 'Fall of Hyperion' - the narrative viewpoint is brilliant, and I just love the concept of a Keats-cybrid. Simmons manages to weave questions of theology, philosophy, literature and history together in a way that astounds me. I've even managed to convince a few non-scifi readers to pick it up, and while they struggled at first, they too were amazed by Simmons's brilliant writing and unique style. I haven't read any of his horror, but plan to get my hands on some when I get some free time!

Really, I can't speak highly enough of the Hyperion cantos. While I prefer the first two books, the Endymion books are great also. My only issue is that, particularly in 'Endymion', Simmons seems to be stringing the story out to fill pages - some of the worlds through which the characters travel seem a little unnecessary. I know that Simmons likes to create unique places, etc., but did anyone else feel that at times it just went on too long, and didn't really serve the purpose of the novels?

 

[Hobbit]

Actually, I liked that about Endymion - it set a mood. The mountain setting is fantastic imagery, for example.

Having said that, I did read the Hyperion books second (see above) - this may have affected my judgement.

Hobbit

 

[Valeyard]

Like many others hear I've read (and loved) the Hyperion books, but have no desire to read the Endymion series.

The general problem is that I find any series gets dull and repeative after the second or third book. Or I get really tired of the characters and want something new and different. I find this true also of:
- Dune series (fall apart during the 4th one)
- Rama series (hated the 3rd)
- Ender saga (again hated the 3rd)

 

[mundanemies]

To me the whole series is a downward spiral. Hyperion is one of the best SF-books ever written. Fall of Hyperion is good, but misses lot of the magic and innovativeness that was Hyperion. Endymion was occasionally dead boring and Rise of Endymion was average space opera.

Hyperion had great ideas, wonderful structure and brilliant writing and though Simmons' writing didn't actually wither away, it sort of blanded and lost that sense of (wonder?) certain something. C'est ne c'est qui or s-g?

I used to wonder what one reviewer once said that Hyperion stands alone without the Fall of Hyperion, although the first book is just so apbrutly cut short, but after reading Fall, I think that I see it. It is just so different stylewise and when the Core kicks in, the magic is gone...

 

[nicba]

I've tried to read Hyperion some years back. I nearly didn't get through the first book and didn't pick up the rest.

I don't really remember much about it, other than I didn't like the book very much. I remember that I didn't like any of the characters and had trouble relating to them, or caring about their situation. The plot eluded me through the whole book. I remember feeling rather confused and waiting for the "big relevation" to tell me what was going on, or why it was going on. It was something about this group of people traveling across a planet where some monster lurked, or something. Never really did get why they had to make that trek. Or else I have just forgotten it.

I read the book in danish, so maybe it has something to do with the translation. Maybe I should try the book again in english some time, since you all seems to think so highly of it.

 

[aldiboronti]

I hear he`s writing a follow-up to Summer of Night at the moment. The critical reviews of his last couple of books (mysteries) were generally unfavorable, I haven`t read them yet. I hope he sticks to horror/scifi though as in both genres he excels.

 

[jraja]

I would have to say that hyperion and the fall of hyperion are two of the best books in the sci fi genre that I have ever read. Besides being a good read with a great plot, I get such a kick out of his literary references.