Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Required reading in my graduate school meant a genre book every semester. Science fiction was up to bat my first year, and this was the book that ended up being chosen. Hyperion was the sort of book that people either absolutely enjoyed or totally hated. Obviously I ended up in the former group. It is indeed like a futuristic Canterbury Tales that include everything from world-connecting portals to high functioning AI. Then of course there's the Shrike, but I'm not telling you about that particular nightmare creature. Each story is in some way connected as seven travelers hope to find answers to the questions in their lives on the planet Hyperion, where structures move backward in time and the Shrike waits for them all. Some readers may find it slow, but I found it fascinating. The scope of the universe that Simmons creates, as well as the powerful language and images he creates, is inspiring. There are plenty of questions you will have yourself as things progress, but they may only be answered in the next book, The Fall of Hyperion. And yes, I read that too.
P.S. I don't know what it is, but I totally love this cover.
Notes from the playlist: "Numb" by Alanis Morissette
2 comments:
I myself have mixed feelings with regards to the Hyperion cantos. The first book left me intrigued, the second was an absolute joy, but the third and fourth were a huge letdown!
yeah, I had a great time with them and I keep meaning to read the next two, but I can just never get around to it. I might look at them differently whenever I do since the main story seemed to pretty much wrap itself up after the first two. At least enough that I was quite satisfied.
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