4.75 ⭐️

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I'm truly sorry, but there are still some of my pending books.

However, I have a strong need to know how everything ends.

It's like a driving force within me that compels me to seek out the conclusions.

Maybe it's because I have an insatiable curiosity or perhaps it's just my nature to want to understand the full picture.

Whatever the reason, I can't seem to rest until I know the final outcomes of these stories.

It's almost as if they are unfinished puzzles in my mind, and I'm determined to find all the missing pieces.

I hope to be able to get back to these books soon and satisfy my longing for closure.

Until then, I'll continue to wonder and anticipate how each one will conclude.

Hyperion Cantos

This novel is the third book in the Hyperion cycle. The action takes place 274 years after the events described in Hyperion. The main character, Raul Endymion, is engaged in organizing a pilgrimage to the planet Hyperion. The world has changed after the fall of the farcaster portals. Instead of the Hegemony, the Order, the direct descendants of the future Roman Catholic Church, has come to power. The Order is given power by the cruciform, which allows any true believer to literally ascend after death. The main character has to deal with one of the new believers and, circumstances force him, he finds himself in a situation where he has to become a messenger in the name of the new messiah, Aenea.

The book is written in the form of a letter, and the main narrator is Raul Endymion himself (the name coincides with the name of a hero in Greek mythology, and the hero of the book also went to a shepherd in his childhood). Like Jesus' disciple, he tells about his life with the messiah. However, unlike the Gospels, this book reveals to us the new messiah as a human being, not as a messenger of God. In fact, it is not even clear what Aenea really represents. And to give the book a more philosophical tone, a lot is said about the nature of love.

This book seemed to me more like a cosmic opera. There is a great journey through the entire galaxy, one person is set against the Galactic Empire, and the empire also sees this person as an enemy and mobilizes all resources to destroy him. This person is a girl named Aenea, who is a cyborg and a human hybrid. She carries within herself the destruction of the old order. Now, in this good vs. evil setting, the entire action of the book takes place. The action is shown to us from both the side of the good and the side of the evil servants of the Order. As in a good cosmic opera, even the evil ones (in this case, Father de Soya) begin to question the justification of their actions and lean towards the good side. Although the plot seems quite banal, and one could even say nothing original, the brilliant characters bring it to life and make it interesting.

I give it a high 9 out of 10 points. I recommend it to everyone.

\\"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever\\". This profound statement holds true when it comes to Simmons' writing. I had forgotten that inner splendor within his works. I had forgotten that luminous emotion, infused with poetry, intelligence, and empathy that grabs you from the edge of a sentence. I had forgotten the colors of the worlds in the network, the galactic celebration of the Holi festival, the regal mass of the templar sequoias, or the grace of the Ouster swarms. I remembered the epic breath, the binding harmony, the balance of the narrative planes. But only the emotion had dispersed over time. Returning and finding everything intact has been truly beautiful.

As John Keats wrote in Endymion, \\"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing\\". Simmons' writing is like that thing of beauty, a source of lasting joy and inspiration.

\\"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever\\"

One of the best sci-fi series that I have ever had the opportunity to read.

After covering 3/4 of this intergalactic journey, I can only say that the void that connects us has never been stronger.

This series takes the reader on an exciting adventure through the vastness of space. The characters are well-developed and the story is full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a believable and immersive universe. The descriptions of the different planets and civilizations are vivid and detailed, making it easy to imagine yourself there.

Overall, this is a must-read for any sci-fi fan. It will transport you to another world and leave you longing for more.

Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion are two essential books for fans of science fiction literature. They are exciting, mind-blowing, beautiful, lyrical, and thought-provoking. The first volume, Hyperion, is often ranked among the top ten greatest sci-fi books ever. However, I read The Fall of Hyperion in November 2012 and only got around to reading Endymion almost two years later. I'm easily influenced by reviews and readers' comments, and while Endymion has more positive reviews than negative, it's clearly less popular than the first two books of the Hyperion Cantos. I remember someone saying that Endymion is like a bad fanfic of Hyperion (which it isn't), and that put me off. But I never removed it from my TBR, and eventually, I was in the mood for it.

Endymion is set more than 200 years after the events of The Fall of Hyperion. By then, the Cantos, written by Martin Silenus, has become a legend and a banned book. The story begins with Raul Endymion writing from a high-tech solitary satellite prison. While awaiting his death by cyanide poisoning, he regales us with the story of his adventures with Aenea, who will become a messiah. Aenea is the daughter of Brawne Lamia and the John Keats "cybrid". The book follows their journey via farcasters, with a parallel plot of military agents hunting them down.
Unlike the first two volumes, Endymion has a more straightforward structure and narrative style. It's a chase from start to finish. I can understand why some people are disappointed after reading the previous books, especially Hyperion. The tone is different, less poetic and profound. However, I'm okay with Endymion's less literary style as it shows the author isn't repeating himself. The world-building and sci-fi tech are still great, like the "archangel ships". The characterization is strong, with believable and sympathetic characters. The plot and pacing are good overall, though some chapters from Captain de Soya's perspective drag a little. The climax is thrilling, featuring The Shrike. I can't wait to read the final volume, The Rise of Endymion, which is highly rated. I give Endymion 4.5 stars, knocking off half a star for a few dull chapters.

Two hundred and seventy-four years after the fall of Hyperion, the Hegemony has risen again as a theocracy ruled by Pax, a military organization of the Catholic Church. Although Christianity was in the full phase of extinction during the Fall, thanks to the cruciform and its immortality, Pax has become an expanding power. However, they fear the arrival of a new messiah announced, Aenea, the daughter of the cybrid Keats and Brawne Lamia, who will return from the Tombs of Time on Hyperion. At the same time, a young priest dedicated to the business of duck hunting, Raul Endymion, will embark on the mission of protecting this girl together with the android Bettik, so that she can fulfill her destiny.

The third part of the enormous tetralogy The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons, which attempts to continue and tie up some loose ends of the first two novels by giving us a time jump of 274 years, to show us the consequences of the fall of the Hegemony, the situation of the exters and the TechnoCore. Simmons surprises again, using this time a narration from two points of view, in which one can be the hero and the other the hunter who pursues them. On the one hand, we will have that of Raúl Endymion, with a more intimate and simple style, where he shares with the reader his thoughts, fears, impressions, speaking to us in the past. On the other hand, Father Captain Federico de Soya, using a present tense and a style that involves much more action.

This volume, like Hyperion at the time, is the antechamber of what will come in The Rise of Endymion, as if it were a great introduction. The story may seem very classic, the hero tries to help the damsel in distress to fulfill her purpose while being pursued throughout the universe by her enemy. But Simmons has the ability to do this skillfully and interestingly, changing planets without stopping (each and every one of them with new characteristics and strange cultures) that continue to surprise by the overwhelming imagination they imply. I have to admit that there comes a point where it sins of being too linear and repetitive, you know that our protagonists will arrive at a new location and you can discern what is going to happen, but the pleasure of discovering a new planet and some of its characteristics makes you keep reading without any bother.

In terms of characters, we are presented with a completely new cast, but one that is not lacking in complexity, attractiveness and charisma; but there will be no shortage of a multitude of known characters, such as Martin Silenus or even the famous Alcaudón, who, although not the central argument, still contributes that grain of mystery and ferocity with each appearance. It immerses us again in an odyssey through its universe, providing us with knowledge about the situation that has arisen after the fall of the hegemony, through worlds that are increasingly eye-catching, such as enormous jungles, ice caverns or abrasive deserts. This prologue that will be completed with The Rise of Endymion, turns out to be a story full of action and adventure, a kind of cat and mouse game, a continuous persecution that seems to have no end and that in its final stretch is unstoppable. I really want (and at the same time don't) to pick up the last volume of these impressive Hyperion Cantos and find out how Simmons has managed again to tie up all his loose ends and conclude his story with a bang.

Hyperion was an innovative book that enhanced the science fiction genre. It didn't revolutionize it like some other greats but adopted and evolved amazing ideas from many other books to create a captivating story.

The Fall of Hyperion continued where Hyperion left off, changing the tone and structure while fleshing out the established world. Both books introduced well-constructed, lifelike characters, some of the best in science fiction.

The duology had a proper ending, and Endymion picked up from the loose ends and foreshadowing. However, the fanbase is divided on Endymion. While the majority still accepts it as a great book, some call it fan-fiction. I initially felt disappointed, but it's still a pretty good book.

The story takes place centuries after The Fall of Hyperion, with the human universe ruled by a futuristic Church. The power has shifted, and they have discovered the secret to immortality. The story is built around the prophecy of the One Who Teaches, who is considered a threat by the current power.

The book is well-written, with Simmons' prose being remarkable. The character building is amazing, but the cast falls a little short compared to the previous books. The environment is different, feeling like an adventure book. Overall, Endymion is a good book with some pitfalls, but it's a well-written bridge between the duology and its sequel.

This might just be my favourite book in the series?

Deviating from the sci-fi/horror genre fusion of the first two instalments in the Hyperion Cantos, ‘Endymion’ is a fun adventure story that is primarily an exploration of this universe. Our new hero, Raul Endymion, is tasked with an almost impossible quest of finding and protecting Aenea, the future messiah. It involves toppling corrupt religious empires, time-bending aliens, and a tonne of other fun sci-fi things.

The general consensus on Goodreads is that ‘Endymion’ doesn’t live up to the first two books within this series - I both agree and disagree. I don’t think that ‘Endymion’ is as well-written as the first two books, but it is certainly the most enjoyable book in this series. Where ‘Hyperion’ is arguably Simmons’ magnum opus, a complex piece that explores a range of artistic, theological, philosophical topics, ‘Endymion’ is just a tonne of fun. It’s meta, it’s funny, it’s almost a love story?? It’s just a good time. That’s not to say it’s lacking in discussions - this instalment expands on the themes introduced at the start of this series - from religious fanaticism, to critiques on empire and colonisation, as well as an emphasis on the importance and value of art and culture within society.

Furthermore, I loved how diverse this book is. As Endymion and Aenea traverse the universe, we meet a range of peoples from indigenous to Muslim planets. I love that this book actually represents humanity, and not just the western portion of the world.

I do think the first half was better than the second (pace could’ve been better, there were a lot of moments that dragged for me), and I feel very uncomfortable about the romance introduced in here. It’s questionable, to say the least. But I’m still excited to see how everything unravels in the final book!!

Overall, yes the first two books have more to offer, but this one was much more enjoyable to read, in my opinion. It's a book that manages to blend adventure, humor, and thought-provoking themes in a way that makes it a truly engaging read. Despite its flaws, it has won a special place in my heart as a fun and exciting addition to the Hyperion Cantos series.

As I mentioned in the reviews of the first books, this series is rich in theological elements.

This book elevates the level to a sci-fi adaptation of a prophet's tale. It is a modern inspiration of a classical story, presenting a dark future for humanity. Despite all the technological advancements and the spread of the population across hundreds of worlds, the greed for power and control over people still leads to another tech-based religious tyranny.

Simply put, the story jumps forward nearly 300 years from the end of the Pilgrims' journey in book two. We witness that during those centuries, after the fall of the Hegemony, a new entity, the PAX, emerged to fill the power gap across the scattered worlds. The PAX is a religiously based entity that uses the technology of the cruciform to enslave entire worlds into an eternal mass of believers. Just like any fanatical religious system, it seeks to eradicate other belief systems that do not conform to its calling.

Then comes the news of a new 'prophet' child. If allowed to grow into full womanhood, her existence will endanger the PAX. As expected from such a fanatical system, they plot their fastest and deadliest means to kill this new prophet before she becomes a threat to them.

The adventure that follows continues another chapter in the battle between the core AI and humanity, with an ending that leaves the reader eager to pick up the last book immediately!

MiM

Endymion is the third installment of the Hyperion Cantos saga by author Dan Simmons.

Although it is a continuation of the previous books in the Hyperion Cantos, it is not, so to speak, a direct continuation of the story we know from the previous books. The story takes place almost three standard centuries after what happened on Hyperion and with the Alcaudon. The main characters are Endymion, who seemingly has always wanted to be a hero, although at the moment his goals didn't seem very clear to me. Perhaps he got involved in all this out of gratitude or just because he had nothing else to do. In any case. The other character is Aenea, the teacher. She is a mystery. While many questions are answered throughout the book, there are still many questions left unanswered.

The book itself is good. It is the typical Simmons style that we know, but this time it seems that the story is completely linear, which makes it easier to read, but it still remains something dense, like all his books on futuristic science fiction. If you want to start reading Simmons or science fiction, perhaps these books are not the best first option. Maybe after reading a few self-contained fiction books, you could be encouraged to read this saga.

The only thing I noticed about this book is that the story didn't advance as quickly as I would have liked. I think some chapters and pages could have been shortened if we hadn't gone around in circles so much. Even so, I recommend it to lovers of science fiction and those who have already read the previous two books. I know they will like it. I recommend it 100%.

I've truly relished this novel. There are no qualms or hesitations on my part in bestowing upon it a five-star rating. I simply can't fathom anything to nitpick or criticise about the book. It is exquisitely written, boasting outstanding characters and an excellent plot that is both intricate and filled with thrilling twists and turns.

The Hyperion Cantos universe crafted by Dan Simmons is a realm that I never desire to depart from when I'm immersed within it. Reading these wonderful and amazing books gives me the sensation that I'm actually there, which is a feat achievable only by the very best of fiction. For me, these books are indelibly etched in my memory, the scope and imagination being truly staggering. The characters are three-dimensional, they seem to come alive and breathe within the novel.

I'll conclude by expressing this one word: WOW! It truly encapsulates the sheer brilliance and captivating nature of these books.