Hyperion by Dan Simmons is an awesome space epic with a classic literary twist!
Published in 1989; won the Hugo and Locus awards.
Brent: 4 stars. The book is deeply engrossing, and the stories within it will stick with you for years, but the broader plot that ties the individual stories is a little threadbare, and it doesn’t have a traditional ending. Incredible collection of interconnected short stories, not quite a cohesive novel.
Cody: 5 stars! A masterful amalgam of both real-world literary history and science fiction tropes. The form of the novel engages you deeply in the story of the each pilgrim individually, and their mysterious quest together.
Here's the setup:
Hyperion is a space epic that borrows its form from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Seven pilgrims receive invitations from the mysterious Church of the Shrike to travel to the planet Hyperion from humanity’s various portal-connected “web worlds.”
Each pilgrim is suspicious of one another’s motives, and simultaneously curious about the motives of the church in inviting them to the planet. In an effort to understand each other and what's brought them together, the each agree to share their self-narrated back stories about their previous experiences with the planet of Hyperion and the Shrike. These stories are intercut with their journey on Hyperion toward opening of the Time Tombs and the appearance of the enigmatic, three-meter-tall metal monster, the Shrike.
Hugonauts' Thoughts:
Hyperion was one of the first sci fi books we both read many years ago, and as we have dug way deeper in the genre we have wondered if it was as good as remembered and if it deserved all the hype. Yep, sure does!
Hyperion combines classic sci fi tropes with classic literary tropes and even whole stories (ie., one of the pilgrims’ tales is a futuristic retelling of Romeo and Juliet). Simmons named the book after an unfinished epic poem by the Romantic poet John Keats (also called Hyperion) about the rise of the Greek titans and demi-gods who attempt to topple the Olympians - and that’s very much what the higher-level story here is about too. In addition, an AI recreation of Keats is, in fact, a character in the book! Its meta, and self-referential, and a love letter to humanities history of classic literature and science fiction.
From a pure plot perspective, the winding of the mystery is expertly done by Simmons. Each story in itself is compelling and page-turning, as well as the overarching narrative, and both elements compound upon each other to create a fantastic gestalt of anticipation and wonder.
There are a couple of sections that are fairly sexist and regressive. Particularly the second story, The Soldier's Tale, which is basically a 13 year old boy's idea of romance. It’s worth wading through though - there’s a lot here to like.
Hyperion is a masterwork. You should read it.
PS., The sequel, Fall of Hyperion, is what wraps up the narrative and gives the story its end. They are very much two parts of one story, however, Fall of Hyperion is framed more like a traditional novel, and reads like one. It’s less universally revered than the first book, but entertaining and absolutely worth reading if you want to get more of a conclusion from the stories.
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