Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Paperback, 481 pages
1990, Spectra
ISBN: 0553283685
Synopsis
On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the 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.
Review
Hyperion is more a collection of short stories than a complete novel. Each story shows the background of one of the pilgrims on their way face the Shrike. Each pilgrim tells their story to the others as they travel in the hopes of figuring out how they are connected.
The stories vary widely and a reader's enjoyment of each will depend on their personal interests and preferences. While I enjoyed the scholar, the detective, the priest and the consul's stories, I could barely force myself to finish the soldier and the poet's stories.
The book as a whole had its share of dull moments. The tension and excitement finally gets going as the pilgrims get closer to meeting the Shrike. The problem is that the book has no ending. The entire story leads you to this meeting and then the book ends right before they get there.
I was definitely left with little satisfaction and the feeling that I read the book for nothing. I wonder what ultimately happens, but I'll never find out. Hyperion just wasn't good enough to make me read the next book in the series.
Rating
Links
Dan Simmons' website
I had this book on my wishlist, but I guess I won't read it. Thank you for your review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! I am always kind of iffy on those (books that have several short stories) because I am never sure if the payoff is worth the time in the end!
ReplyDeleteOHMYGOD! I almost gave Hyperion 5 stars, I loved it so much! I think it's one of the greatest sci-fi books I've read in the last 5 years. I can't believe you didn't love it. While I guess you're right about it being more like short stories, I just thought they all fit together so well that it didn't matter, and I would never have thought to call it short stories. And for me, there was never a dull moment! I'm sad you didn't love it as much as I did. And I feel like usually, we tend to have the same taste in books. Odd, indeed.
ReplyDeleteI know I read a Dan Simmons book once upon a time but I remember being so completely confused about what was going on that I've blocked the title from my mind and haven't picked up another of his books.
ReplyDeleteDon't listen to the noise above. This is definitely one of the all time greats in scifi. It would be a great book to train AI on...The first book is mostly character development, good action, showing the motivation of the individuals and entities. The second book advances the plot much more, has more action, further explains the central conflict. Definitely worth reading if you're a scifi fan...Especially if you've soldiered through Robert Jordan or George Martin. (why do these guys all have nothing but first names?)
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