I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this as a reading experience but I DO know that I will never read a John Keats poem in my whole life, purely out of spite. Eat your heart out, Dan Simmons.

This would probably be a one or two star read if it wasn't for the Scholar stuff.

Certainly an epic Epic. If you enjoy SciFi with the sort of grand sweep found in Dune, for example, then I think this saga will be to your taste.
This volume continues directly from volume 1 (Hyperion) and builds upon the excellent ‘world building’ in that book. The pilgrims we were introduced in #1 now face dilemmas and tasks individually or in small groups, on the mystery world of Hyperion and its sinister Shrike creature.

I missed the excellent Canterbury Tales story telling format of #1, but the several POVs we’d been introduced to in detail as pilgrims to Hyperion do have their own stories to follow now so that’s fine and necessary. There are also a couple of other non-pilgrim POVs we’ve been introduced to. But despite the large number of characters involved in the tale I had no trouble keeping up with their individual storylines. They are all very well defined.

In addition, this is an epic involving literally billions of people across hundreds of planets in the future, a stage for a story which might sound far too grand to handle. Again I think the author manages the epic stage very well, with the overall story being told through the experiences of the POVs.

However, a couple of issues do knock this volume back a bit for me. One is inevitably trying to resolve the plot lines behind the grand scale of the story, with so many people and especially the enigmatic AI world. This does lead to mind blowing events, things so naturally outside the human mind’s experience that any author is going to struggle explaining them in a way that’s easy to follow. Even here I think the author does a reasonable job, especially with the creation of a part human, part AI POV, one foot in each of the important ‘worlds’. This character is based on the real, early 19th century, Romantic poet John Keats - I know, sounds weird but it makes sense if you read it! The author does like his poetry…

God is thrown around as a concept too, quite a bit. Usually as a future super intelligence who it appears is likely to be created both by humans and AI at some point in the future, rather than a conventional present day version of a deity. However, the theological themes sometimes used were probably the second issue that bugged me a bit in this volume. A number of human religions are shown to still exist, albeit to a limited degree, some hundreds of years in the future. Given the role of various religions in everyday life it’s fair to consider their role, even of a new one associated with the Shrike creature! However, the author treads a narrow path with his choice of religious themes to include in detail, and almost entirely Judeo-Christian which I found limiting. Two prominent characters are Roman Catholic priests. As a personal preference I’m always twitchy about catholic priests featuring in heroic roles given my own youthful experience of Irish Catholicism as a child, but at least the author has chosen fairly laid back versions of priests who don’t seem concerned about what happens in the bedroom! Another theological aspect that concerned me a bit involved the poignant story of a Jewish POV, Sol, who spent ages analysing the biblical story where Abraham is asked by God to sacrifice his son. Yes, there is a link to a personal dilemma he faces but his regular agonising on the story itself seemed only worth doing if you thought it had some basis in reality. I guess you can see that I found the theological themes less than interesting.

Anyway, I don’t want to overdo my concerns with these aspects of the story. If you read a grand epic like this I guess there are always going to be some themes that don’t click with an individual.

I should restore the balance by saying that I thought this volume almost lived up to the excellent preceding volume to which I gave an easy 5*. For such a detailed epic story I really think that this author continued it very well here. Even the important but almost incomprehensible AI ‘world’ was fairly well handled. It’s only my doubts about the importance given to some theological themes that mean I’m inclined to knock one star off my rating. And after two volumes I’m still not too sure about the role of The Shrike, a central component of the story! But it is certainly a compelling type of monster!

It seems that these first two Hyperion volumes form a complete story - the other two volumes linked to this (Hyperion Cantos #3 and #4) form another story set in the future. I certainly plan to read them but maybe after a bit of a break.

As the pilgrims seek the Shrike the ominous thing in the eerie Valley of the Time Tombs, avoided by the frightened inhabitants here on the planet Hyperion, it does not appear, what to do? Days pass but still the creature has remained hidden, the letdown effects them they expected to be killed... The six seekers, the dying priest Hoyt , disillusioned soldier Kassad, sad scholar Weintraub ( and infant daughter, Rachel, who becomes dangerously younger, daily) unstable poet Silenus, heartbroken detective Lamia, the no name Consul, he is strangely moody, and the little known Starship Captain Masteen, who vanished on the boat coming here, is he alive? But his presence is felt, something is out there is it Masteen or some monster, they become anxious, frustrated, their provisions get low nerves fray, they start to argue with each other violence becomes inevitable their unity is gone. This haunted lonely place in the middle of the arid desert, the sun beats down wind storms bringing sand that cause their skin to turn raw blind their eyes, gross dirt in their mouths they can't breathe. And the universe is about to explode into chaos the barbarian Ousters have invaded the alliance, CEO Meinia Gladstone on Tau Ceti Center (its capital) the legendary head of the 150 billion citizens of the Hegemony, in 200 dispersed worlds believes the key to victory is these few humans. War which began because of this isolated planet both want, threatens to destroy 500 years of progress even the existence of the race of mankind. "Farcasters" portals to the stars, a type of wormhole which instantly transports people and objects, food, merchandise, warships, anything essential to the survival of civilization to distant locations without it darkness. However the powerful artificial intelligence machines control these, are becoming tired of being second to the less intelligent, arrogant, weak, unreliable, silly, corrupt people who call themselves their masters! A widespread secret conspiracy between the Shrike, Ousters the tree loving Templar Brotherhood and evil machines to eliminate the rule of the descendants, of the lost Earth... Some pilgrims begin to disappear the Shrike finally is seen, the eight mysterious Time Tombs light up, explored by the group but they find nothing inside. And the battle for the great prize Hyperion, is observed by the calm pilgrims her cities pulverized, vulnerable residents, slaughtered while the rapid spaceships maneuver above in the night sky, as crew members fight for life a light show of death for the unfortunates ones , yet strangely below, they are quite indifferent to the outcome, welcome to the 28th Century...A cybrid part human and the other machine, the reincarnation of famous English poet John Keats dreams about the outcome on crucial Hyperion, Gladstone needs him to discover the truth what she can do to win, maybe...Dan Simmons again show how talented a writer he is, well educated with a way with words readers will learn too not just magnificent amusement.

“I wish we had the technology to fight God on an equal basis. To beard him in his den. To fight back for all of the injustices heaped on humanity. To allow him to alter his smug arrogance or be blown to hell.”



A fascinating continuation of the powerful first installment, Dan Simmons' The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #2) follows the characters we met in the first book as well as several others, but with a different perspective of the galaxy-wide ramifications of this fateful pilgrimage.

The stories behind those ramifications take a different structure than the pilgrim's story used in the first book. I thought that structure had worked perfectly. Instead, the story bounces back and forth between the Hegemony government and our characters with much of the weight of the storytelling falling on a nearly omniscient narrator/character. This was probably necessary to tell the bigger story and provide closure to all the unanswered questions from the first novel, but it was a bit jarring, especially in the early going. Still, The Fall of Hyperion is an epic novel that addresses how our humanity can evolve even as it faces serious peril. 4.25 stars

Nakon čitanja prvog dela, mislio sam da me ništa više ne može iznenaditi. Pogrešio sam. Hiperion je bio *wow*, ali ovo je jedna BOMBA od knjige. Simons je zaista genijalan autor. Skoro je nemoguće odati ovoj knjizi počasti koje zaslužuje. Nakon pozadinskih priča likova u prvom delu, ovde konačno počinje prava akcija. Simons je dozvolio svojim junacima da budu tim, pravi tim koji je osvojio moje srce. Zavoleo sam svakoga od njih, žalio zbog nekih detalja i patio za nekim od likova. Zavoleo sam čak i loše likove, pa iz toga možete videti kako ih je Simons izgradio.

Scene su tako živopisno opisane, da vam dugo nakon čitanja ostanu u glavi. Gradjenje sveta, tehnologija, scene galaktičkog rata... sve je na maksimumu kvalitetnog opisa. Simons je tako dobro isplanirao sve, da nećete verovati šta čitate i koliko daleko doseže njegovo planiranje cele radnje. Gomila je obrta u priči, iznenadjenja i mesta gde sam zinuo od čuda i neverice. Taman kada sam mislio da shvatam gde priča ide, BUM i Simons mi pokaže da nemam pojma šta je zapravo smislio. Ova priča je mešavina religija, političke, moralne, ljubavne, realne priče smeštene u daleku budućnost, jednostavno mešavina svega što čitalac voli.

Bitno je napomenuti da je potrebno dosta koncentracije za čitanje Simonsa. Prvi deo traži odredjen nivo, dok drugi zahteva punu koncentraciju. Za tren možete preleteti dosta stranica i shvatiti da niste svesni kako je došlo do odredjenih ishoda. Zato pažljivo i razmišljajte u toku čitanja. Dosta je toga što Simons ostavlja da protumačimo sami. Svako će doživeti priču na drugačiji način, kao što će je svako drugačije razumeti.

Nakon čitanja, ostao je neki gorak osećaj. Nekako, boli me duša zbog puno čega. Ostala je ta čudna nostalgija... Želim još. Valjda je tako sa knjigama koje toliko zavolimo? Ne želimo njihov kraj. Ništa više nije isto nakon čitanja Hiperiona i njegovog nastavka. Svestan sam da ću tragati za istim kvalitetom i nadam se da ću ga nekad i pronaći. Od srca preporuka kako za ljubitelje naučne fantastike, tako i za sve ostale. Izadjite iz zone komfora. Pročitajte remek-delo. ❤️

While my enjoyment of the first book was primarily based on vivid characters and their emotional stories, this switched to a way more worldbuilding focused novel, that is almost a Cyberpunk.

It was done very well, but not my preference. There still was some very good character stuff, but while Hyperion felt like it's focus was 85% character- 15% worldbuilding this felt almost like the reverse. And it basically seems like all the least interesting characters got the most time, and we get a new character who is less interesting to me than everyone in book 1 who gets more time than everyone else.

Also holy damm Dan Simmons loves John Keats a frightening and unhealthy amount.

That worldbuilding being really well thought out, and unique, the Shrike and the Tree of Pain being one of the most horrifying things I have read, and the character moments with Sol and Martin still being amazing when they are their carry this book I found frustrating to a 6.8/10. Despite all that, I still mostly enjoyed it quite a bit, just do to the quality of the writing, and the creativity.

I’m a visual person. With me, things have to be neat, aesthetically pleasing, and in some sort of discernible order (even if that order is nothing but visually appealing chaos), otherwise I get cranky. I like charts and graphics and brightly colored pictures. This probably has something to do with the fact that I have synesthesia, specifically grapheme → color synesthesia. For me, everything has a color, and in turn, colors provoke emotions. My brain also automatically attempts to visualize intangible ideas and concepts and place them in locations in space. If I can’t visualize them, it’s very frustrating (the best example of this would be the way I visualize the year as months in a rotating oval). This is also why I have trouble with complicated math. Like many people with synesthesia, I didn’t realize this wasn’t something everybody’s brains did until I was around 25, because most people don’t just go around saying, hey don’t you just love the number 5 because it’s so red?? Or, hey, don’t Tuesdays just suck, they’re so barfy yellow. I can only imagine the incomprehending stares I would have gotten.

The point of this seemingly pointless anecdote of mine is that for about half of this book, I felt completely lost and up in the air because I couldn’t find a way to visualize the structure of the story, which made it hard to derive any satisfaction from it, since my brain was so preoccupied with trying to figure this intangible thing into something more concrete, and it just wasn’t happening. But then at about the 60% mark, something just sort of clicked, and my brain goes, it’s a spiral! And the arms are swirling down to the ground and converging as they go, and at the bottom is the denouement, the end of the story. The arms of the spiral, of course, are the pilgrims and their stories, with the addition of a new POV in the cybrid (a cloned human with the consciousness of an A.I., who also simultaneously exists in the physical world and the datasphere), and the stories of the Ousters and the AI’s, which we touched on in the first book in various pilgrims’ stories. They start out separate, and the swirl of the story pulls them together little by little. It looks confusing as it’s happening, but it all works out in the end.

I’m telling you this because I think the book might be just as disorienting for you as it was for me–though probably not in quite the same way–and I want to reassure you that everything’s going to be okay. I promise that it all makes sense, and all the various threads that don’t seem to have any connection to one another at all–the constant literary allusions, the various characters, the musings on artificial intelligences and religion, the Shrike and its Tree of Pain, the time travel, Colonel Kassad’s half-real sex goddess Moneta, and most of all, Keats and Hyperion, in all their forms–come together in the end. It gave me that feeling that all book addicts are always chasing, that elusive elation that comes only once every hundred books or so (if we’re lucky), where it seems like the universe has converged on us just to give us this wonderful story.

The Fall of Hyperion picks up directly where Hyperion left off, with our pilgrims finally approaching the Time Tombs and ready for an imminent meeting with the Shrike. Only, it doesn’t quite pick up there, because we’re all of a sudden seeing the pilgrims through the eyes of another character, who is having dreams (and waking dreams) concerning everything that is happening to the pilgrims, who are light years away from him. Why he would be having these dreams would be a spoiler, but his identity isn’t. SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ HYPERION: The other characters know him as Joseph Severn, but he’s really another genetic double of John Keats, a resurrected artificially intelligent poet/human. He’s a sort of brother cybrid to Johnny, the cybrid of Keats we met in the last book, who is now hitching a ride in Lamia’s skull back on Hyperion. And since John Keat’s famous unfinished poem “Hyperion” is the namesake of this series, you bet it’s important. The narrative shuffles back and forth from Keat’s waking life to his dreams of the pilgrims, and little by little we get all the pieces to the puzzle END SPOILERS. The result, at least for me, was satisfying on a narrative level, but also on that extra level that really gives you the reader-buzz, the level your subconscious lives on, that just keeps giving the longer you think about it.

I’m really, really glad I read this series, and I’m super excited to read the second duology that with this one makes up the Hyperion Cantos later this year.

Concludes the Hyperion Duology with Big Canvas Pyrotechnics, Mind-Expanding Idea
This is the concluding half of the story begun in Hyperion, so for those who complained that the former book didn't have a proper conclusion, they've only read half the tale. This time Simmons abandons the Canterbury Tales format of the former book, which told the back stories of the seven pilgrims to Hyperion in distinct stories, in favor of a linear story that needs all its considerable length to cover the massive and tangled plot and space battles, dueling god-like AIs, space portals, galactic empires, and a final confrontation with the avenging angel called the Shrike. The Time Tombs on Hyperion are central to the plot, as are the two god-like AI beings vying for supremacy. So much happens that it's a thankless task to summarize it. Suffice to say that it's definitely one of the most impressive epic SF space operas in the genre, and well-deserving of its accolades. I'll be interested to see how Simmons follows it up in his Endymion duology set several centuries after the climactic events of Hyperion, since it's always difficult to create a second act to a story that has already reached a satisfying conclusion.

Normally I would try to write a complete review of each book and my reactions/impressions, but I just don't have the time or energy to write reviews that would do this series justice at the moment. I'm listen to the entire 4-book Hyperion Cantos series and just enjoying it as I go...

Utterly awesome. This book was phenomenal in every way. The Fall of Hyperion is a riveting sci-fi epic with heart, intensity, unpredictability, and gigantic scope.

n  

“It’s hard to die. Harder to live.”

n

I have no idea what the past Petrik three years ago was thinking. But I know he made a mistake not continuing to The Fall of Hyperion when he finished Hyperion for the first time back then. It is simply astounding what some authors can invoke with their writing and storytelling. I have mentioned it many times over the past year. Statistically, it has been rare for me to feel wholly impressed or in awe of a book. But with the completion of The Fall of Hyperion, meaning I’ve now read the first half of Dan Simmons’ Hyperion Cantos magnum opus, I can safely say this. The first half of this series deserves the classic status. A standing ovation. The topics and themes tackled were timeless. It is compelling, full of dangers, grim determination, and the scope... my Lord of Pain. This is an Epic space opera with a capital letter. I miss reading epic science fiction on this level of magnitude. Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion delivered that. Yes. Despite what some readers said about The Fall of Hyperion story structure, I consider these two books one inseparable package now.

n  

“I wish we had the technology to fight God on an equal basis. To beard him in his den. To fight back for all of the injustices heaped on humanity. To allow him to alter his smug arrogance or be blown to hell.”

n

The story in The Fall of Hyperion carry on immediately from where Hyperion ended. I will refrain from mentioning the details of the plot. However, the way it is told, especially initially, differs from Hyperion. Hyperion has often been described as The Canterbury Tales in space. Or, to put it simply, Hyperion is a novel of six connecting standalone novellas compiled into one volume. The Fall of Hyperion is not like that. It is the "standard" sequential storytelling structure in science fiction, even though nothing is remotely standard about the quality, story, and scale of The Fall of Hyperion.

n  

“Mobs have passions, not brains.”

n

In The Fall of Hyperion, readers are bestowed with new knowledge about the Hegemony of Man, TechnoCore, The Shrike, Hyperion, the Ouster, the advanced technologies of the series, and many more. The Hegemony, the Ousters, the AIs, and the universe are drawn to the Shrike and Hyperion. But remember, the Pilgrims we read about in Hyperion are drawn there, too. As we know from Hyperion. And more importantly, they are still incredibly dominant in the narrative. They are the main characters. They are not reduced to the supporting character roles, as some readers have claimed. I am legit confused about why some readers would say it's not worth continuing to The Fall of Hyperion. Thinking about it… this was the main reason the past Petrik did not read The Fall of Hyperion back then. A relatively mixed reaction, especially the voices who speak the sequel do not revolve around the pilgrims as much, made him waver. Do not make the same mistake. The Fall of Hyperion IS the direct and fitting sequel to Hyperion.

n  

“Every age fraught with discord and danger seems to spawn a leader meant only for that age, a political giant whose absence, in retrospect, seems inconceivable when the history of that age is written.”

n

Read the passage above. Ladies and gentlemen, that leader is Meina Gladstone, and I was not prepared to read such an ironclad character and leader that she is. Dan Simmons dared to convey the first part of The Fall of Hyperion through the perspective of a new character named Severn. While it is true the first part will take a bit of time to get used to because we are put into the perspective and story of Severn and Gladstone, this does not mean we did not get to see the continuation of our beloved Hyperion Pilgrims’ story. Not at all. Severn has the ability to view the events the Pilgrims undertook in real-time progression during his dreaming session. This means we, the reader, DO get to read the next chapters of their story right from the beginning of The Fall of Hyperion. It might be safer to continue what has been done well in Hyperion, letting the Pilgrims take the central stage entirely again from the beginning, but I believe that would lessen the overall quality of this book. Without the involvement of Severn and Gladstone, I do not think all the story arcs in The Fall of Hyperion would succeed at reaching the insanely epic scope. I am still trying to wrap up everything I’ve read in The Fall of Hyperion. It seems inevitable that a second read is imminent in the future.

n  

“Sometimes… dreams are all that separate us from the machines.”

n

Instead of thinking or expecting the Pilgrims would be left in a supporting character role, the way I see it is this. Severn and Gladstone were two additional main characters on top of the Pilgrims. The balance of the spotlight on these characters has been done with meticulous precision. I did not feel like one character took the spotlight the most. They are equally important in this journey. If you read my review of Hyperion, I mentioned that The Detective’s and The Consul’s Tale, while they’re more enjoyable on reread, were my least favorite parts of the novel. Reading The Fall of Hyperion has shone a new perspective for me. I have faith rereading Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion will ensure another upgraded reading experience. I honestly cannot imagine Hyperion without The Fall of Hyperion now. These two form an absolute union. You haven’t finished the story in Hyperion if you haven’t finished reading The Fall of Hyperion. Father Dure/Hoyt, Kassad, Martin Silenus, Sol Weintraub, Brawne Lamia, and The Consul. Their story came to a rewarding end in The Fall of Hyperion. Not Hyperion. The Fall of Hyperion developed and finished everything setup in Hyperion. All of them have their respective crucial part, and I am not ashamed to admit I was left emotional, stunned, satisfied, and in awe with everything that transpired in their harrowing expedition.

n  

“In the end—when all else is dust—loyalty to those we love is all we can carry with us to the grave. Faith—true faith—was trusting in that love.”

n

Personally speaking, one of the things that impressed me the most about the two books in Hyperion Cantos so far is the myriad of elements and intricacies Simmons packed into the world-building. There were also some organic implementations of real-life figures and titles in the story, such as John Keats (who I ashamedly didn't know was a real poet and he wrote a poem named Hyperion) or Dying Earth by Jack Vance, to name a few. And I am confident the Endymion books will amplify this factor further. This book was ahead of its time, and I am not surprised why it became such an impactful inspiration to many science-fiction authors. Not only that, just like in Hyperion, Simmons managed to flex his versatility in writing and storytelling here. From engaging multiple third-person narration, first-person narration, past tense, present tense, poetry, and philosophical writing to pulse-pounding actions, brutality, and emotionally heartfelt moments. The Fall of Hyperion has it all.

Picture: The Shrike by Jaime Jones



Simmons never ceases to escalate the stakes and magnitude of the narrative with each new chapter. Juggling the themes of godhood, technology, machinery, artificial intelligence, parenthood, found family, faith, leadership, and art constantly. Eventually, everything reached an explosive climax sequence brimming with palpable sacrifice, pain, glory, love, and hardship. Simmons did all of this with a relatively short word count. Both Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion cumulatively range about 360,000 words long, and it felt like I've read an entire hefty trilogy. Readers, if you haven't met The Lord of Pain and its Tree of Pain in the Time Tombs of Hyperion, you don't know what you're missing out on. But believe me, you are missing out on something devastatingly brilliant.

n  

“Those who ignore history’s lessons in the ultimate folly of war are forced to do more than relive them … they may be forced to die by them.”

n

To conclude this review, I am elated that I decided to reread Hyperion and continue with the series this year. The Fall of Hyperion is a magnificent example of grand science fiction executed with finesse. It is one of the best sci-fi novels I’ve ever read. The last 5-star rating I gave to a sci-fi novel was to Disquiet Gods by Christopher Ruocchio in April 2024. That was a year ago. If you’ve been following my YouTube channel, you’ll know I’ve been more stingy with my 5-star rating since the end of 2023. However, it would be a grave mistake for me to rate both Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion with anything below a 5-star rating. They are now on my list of greatest science fiction books of all time. I am curious to find out how the second half of the Hyperion Cantos, the Endymion books, can top the Hyperion books. I will find out about that sooner rather than later. I predict we will learn more about the Ouster in the Endymion books, and I am pumped about that prospect.

n  

“Love was as hardwired into the structure of the universe as gravity and matter.”

n

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Az első rész ott zárult, hogy a zarándokok kézen fogva elindultak végzetük felé egy toszom nagy lépcsőn, egyfajta fiók-katarzisban részeltetve az olvasót. A második rész meg úgy kezdődik, hogy mindenki, de tényleg mindenki baromi nagy szarban van.

Ha össze kéne foglalnom ezt a kötetet, így tenném:
Hét ember a galaxis ánuszgyűrűjétől pár centire meg kell oldjon egy kérdést, mert különben az egész emberiség kipusztul. Ám mivel igazából a kérdést sem értik, ráadásul egy lázálomszerű, legyőzhetetlen entitás* is settenkedik körülöttük, ezért nagyjából annyi esélyük van, mint galambtojásnak a kerületi pingpong-versenyen. Ebből fakadóan a regény alapérzete a reménytelenség – hogy az ember nálánál sokkal nagyobb, felmérhetetlen erők játékszere, muslica a szélviharban. Mindez pedig bő 600 oldalon, hm, hát nem egy kéjutazás. Nem csoda, ha ez a permanens reménytelenségérzet belőlem kétfajta olvasói stratégiát váltott ki. Az egyik, hogy időnként inkább valami mást vettem elő helyette, hisz még a kínai totális állami kontrollról olvasni is könnyedebb túra mentálisan, mint a Hyperion. A másik stratégia meg az előre menekülés. Olvasni, minél gyorsabban olvasni, hátha a végén jobbra fordulnak a dolgok. Értve ezalatt, hogy nem az emberiség egésze pusztul ki, hanem csak majdnem az egésze.

És hát lehet gyorsan olvasni. Mert magunk közt szólva: zseniális. Sok, sok, de zseniális. Mert Simmons pontosan tudja, milyen érzést akart kiváltani belőlünk, és meg is vannak az eszközei ahhoz, hogy véghez vigye rettentő tervét. Az egy dolog ugyanis, hogy ez a könyv az írói fantázia karneválja, amiből olyan világépítő erő árad, hogy a fal adja a másikat. Az is egy dolog, hogy a benne lévő metafizikai kérdések mélysége szédítő, szerintem Heidegger is kábé ilyen elgondolkodtató dolgokat akart papírra vetni, csak hát olyan unalmasan sikerült neki, hogy nem olvasta el senki. Hanem a nyelv. Pont ma került szóba – és pont egy sci-fi kapcsán – hogy a nyelv nem önmagáért való cél, hanem eszköz, aminek feladata, hogy elmondjon egy történetet, illetve újnak ható, erős érzéseket tudjon kiváltani az olvasóból. Amennyiben egy író a nyelvet mint eszközt úgy használja, hogy ezeket a feladatokat kvázi tökéletesen elvégzi, akkor az ég adta egy világon semmi nem indokolja, hogy ne nevezzük műveit szépirodalomnak.

Ilyen értelemben pedig ki merem jelenteni, hogy a Hyperion-sorozat a XX. századi szépirodalom egyik csúcsteljesítménye.

* A Shrike. És nekem csak most esett le, hogy a Shrike magyarul tövisszúró gébicset jelent. Ami több mint stílszerű. És nézegetve ezt a képet, nos, ez a madár tényleg egy igazi szörny.

This was a terrific book, especially the final 150-200 pages or so. You get all of these different personalities, and their takes on what's going on and also their actions; they're so varied in their goals, yet it really does all come together in the end.

Nothing is as it seems. The war with the ousters, the ousters themselves... the Core. The tech, hell the whole galaxy is full of surprises. Expertly done.

There's a lot of philosophy in this book, and a dab of religion. I didn't feel that it was preachy, and I really enjoyed reading the author's intellectual breakdown of thought, love, feelings... I will guess that the author does believe in a higher power, though not a Christian one, but really it doesn't matter. I didn't agree with a lot of the beliefs that the characters portray, but some did resonate with my own beliefs. Regardless, it was fun to read almost a dissertation of one character in particular's awakening (if you would call it that).

Please, don't let that put you off, though, if you don't like philosophy- this is a very short section at the end of an amazingly written story. I've never read anything quite like it. I'll definitely read more of this guy, and if you're on the fence about Hyperion or its sequel, I say go for it.

While somewhat uneven at the start this book developed into an awesome story with some of the most distinct, memorable and well developed world-building I've ever read, interesting and sympathetic characters, a strong central plot, cool literary references (mostly stemming from Simmons' serious man-crush on John Keats) and some thought provoking philosophy (although Simmons loses marks for incorporating philosophy into the plot and world in an organic and interesting way rather than through a series of forced monologues from every single character as the great Mr. Erikson has shown us is the best, in fact only, way).

The first 1/2 to 2/3 of the book was probably a 3 star read but towards the end the momentum built and everything came together in impressive fashion. If I was an objective, professional reviewer I would probably be obligated to reflect the weak start in my rating, but the conclusion was so powerful and well done and left me with such a positive feeling about this book that I've decided to be generous (note: this could also apply to pretty much every Malazan book). Also since I'm writing this review at 5 p.m. while eating cereal, in my boxers, and in between trying to play "Tears in heaven" on the accoustic guitar, it's probably fair to say that the "professional reviewer" ship has sailed.

The start of this book was kind of hit and miss. I felt that the pilgrims' storyline lacked the focus and tension of the first book. The tension of the lonely journey and the mystery of the pilgrims combined with the vastly different storylines that each further developed a unique aspect of the world and/or plot were replaced by confused, anti-climactic wandering around. However the new plotline following "M. Severn" was interesting, especially in how it elaborated on the conflict and politics that were hinted at in the first book. The introduction of Meina Gladstone was also cool as she became the strongest and most compelling character in the series.

However from about 2/3 of the way through everything that was set up started to come together and made this book un-putdownable (it's a word because I say it's a word, come at me language police). Most of the Pilgrims finally found interesting, relevant storylines after wandering around aimlessly earlier, mysteries began to be unraveled and the stakes of the political game were raised ever higher. The ending was one of the best I've ever read. It wrapped up pretty much all the loose ends satisfyingly and in style and set the stage brilliantly for the next half of the series. I hadn't been planning to read book 3 for a while but now I'm really intrigued to see what the fallout of the events at the end of this one will be.

Overall this was an epic, memorable and thought provoking SFF tale, that despite it's weaknesses has left a massive impression on me. I'm now really interested to see how this story and world will be further developed in the second half of this series.