Hyperion - Dan Simmons

Hyperion

By Dan Simmons

  • Release Date: 1989-05-26
  • Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 1,452 Ratings)

Description

A stunning tour de force filled with transcendent awe and wonder, Hyperion is a masterwork of science fiction that resonates with excitement and invention, the first volume in a remarkable science fiction epic by the multiple-award-winning author of The Hollow Man.

On the world called Hyperion, beyond the reach of galactic law, waits a creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all.

On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope—and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.

Praise for Dan Simmons and Hyperion

“Dan Simmons has brilliantly conceptualized a future 700 years distant. In sheer scope and complexity it matches, and perhaps even surpasses, those of Isaac Asimov and James Blish.”The Washington Post Book World 

“An unfailingly inventive narrative . . . generously conceived and stylistically sure-handed.”The New York Times Book Review

“Simmons’s own genius transforms space opera into a new kind of poetry.”The Denver Post

“An essential part of any science fiction collection.”Booklist

Reviews

  • Mind blowing

    5
    By boneystance
    World building- epic Action- epic Writing- epic Story telling - epic Thought provoking- epic Top 5 sci-fi I have ever read
  • Rich, full bodied sci-fi

    5
    By Twistedmedia
    Deliciously described tale; a great adventure begins! Loved it.
  • Towards a terrifying future

    5
    By Sir Samuel Vimes
    Simply amazing
  • Couldn’t put down

    5
    By jr122156
    Great read
  • Tedious

    1
    By Johnonjoy
    Stories told of a sojourn of semi interesting characters on a disjointed quest. Mindless details of what? Having read Dune, Foundation and Lensman series I expected something on that level and finished feeling that I had been bated into purchasing another book in order to have any sense of completing a story. There is no “hero’s journey “. No character the reader can identify with. Just a feeling that maybe I should not have spent the time reading this book.
  • Wonderful stories

    5
    By Cerebud
    The few complaints here seem to be about not understanding what’s going on. Stick with it. All the odd sci fi elements are explained as you go. Really compelling work.
  • Overrated

    2
    By yassdawg
    What he tries to do in this book doesn’t work. If you’re going to make the narrative confusing and fractured, that’s fine, but it needs to come together at some point. Also the motivations of the characters were rarely clear and they didn’t always do stuff that was in character for them. Very disappointing for a book that I was told by everyone is one of the best sci-fi books of all time. I have no idea what the hype was about. It felt like a college student got high on LSD while reading Neuromancer, went to a Writing class that same day, vomited on the Canterbury Tales and tried to paint what dripped off into a novel.
  • Enjoyed overall, didn’t enjoy ending

    3
    By Wraith74
    This was well written and interesting. Has all the hallmarks of a great book and a great Sci-fi book. However, I had no clue that it was 600 pages of character building and background, ending in a cliffhanger. I wasn’t expecting that and was let down by that. Otherwise fascinating and fun.
  • Great book.

    5
    By AdamusRex
    Although I don’t like the new modern cover. It looks like a design for a science mag, a news article and like all modernized book covers, they are simple, abstract and don’t do the author service. I prefer the old covers that related to the story inside.
  • Meh. Don’t waste your time.

    1
    By bbbooonnneeehhheeeaaaddd
    Bought and read this book because it had won a Hugo and was on many lists for good science fiction. Tbh I don’t know why. It has maybe four or five very good moments and by moments I mean paragraphs. The concept is interesting but the execution is bad and the plot is so full of holes and bizarre forced situations. Even looking back on it now the premise feels a bit half assed. Won’t go into to detail but it’s like some sort of hybrid monster story combined with space opera elements and then a structure where each section is a different characters personal story. All in all it’s really half baked. Love science fiction but for every neuromancer there’s 50 hyperions and I just don’t like this kind of Corny half realized boring work. Aside from one or two little moments this book was a chore to finish and tbh I stopped half way through the consuls story and looked up the ending (spoilers it’s also got a cheesy half baked buy the next book in the serious ending because idk even know why the story is strangely stagnant) because I couldn’t endure another cheesy forced and bizarrely detailed Sex scene. 1/10 just read something else or even a better book again. Best part was private investigator lamia story, but then again that’s already a book and movie ;) that he just copied. Seriously who gave this a Hugo? Also even more points taken off for questionable homophobia and usage of the word f@gg0t AND ALL OF THOSE GOD AWFUL CRACKPOT SEX SCENES.

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