Superb!!!

This is a highly recommended series that truly stands out.

The quality of this series is outstanding, with every aspect carefully crafted to provide an immersive and engaging experience.

From the captivating storylines to the well-developed characters, it has all the elements that make a great series.

The production values are also top-notch, with beautiful cinematography, excellent special effects, and a great soundtrack.

Whether you're a fan of the genre or just looking for something new to watch, this series is definitely worth checking out.

You won't be disappointed!

Highly recommended!

Stray Observations:

The Hyperion series, taken as a whole, is truly excellent. The first book stands as one of the greatest works of science fiction to this day. Nevertheless, I hold the view that the sequels somewhat diminished its strengths. There was an abundance of reinterpreting the past stories. It brought to my mind the TV shows Lost or the X-Files. It attempted to tie up an excessive number of loose ends and had to modify the story to conform to the ending.

It seems that there is a significant amount of inspiration drawn from Alfred Bester here. "The Stars My Destination" came to my mind immediately.

There is so much aimless meandering around various locations just for the sake of it. None of it truly advanced the story forward; instead, it just dragged on and on. If 200 pages were cut from this book, it would be considerably improved.

There are numerous parallels and symbolism related to Christianity. It may necessitate a reread to fully grasp.

Aeana and Raul were nowhere near as captivating as the pilgrims.

In fact, at certain points in the story, Raul seemed like a complete idiot.

I have mixed feelings. I may go back and reread it, and perhaps I will re-review it.

I'll be completely honest here.

I initially thought that a whopping two-thirds of the book was an absolute snorefest. It just didn't seem to hold my attention at all. However, the remaining one-third of it was truly amazing! It was like a hidden gem within a rather dull pile of rocks.

Out of the four books in this series, this particular one was by far the worst to listen to in audio format. There were certain things that, when read, would not have been jarring or irritating at all. But when heard in the audio version, they became extremely annoying.

Ah, that familiar feeling of desperately wanting to know more about certain elements within the story and yet knowing that I'll probably never get the satisfaction of having all my questions answered. ;) But that's okay. After all, the Hyperion Cantos is still one of the very best space operas that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I'm just glad that I've finally managed to reach the end of it.

Overall, it's been quite a journey, with its ups and downs, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

This was my 15th Dan Simmons read.

What a perfect, perfect way to end a series. Five stars for Rise of Endymion, but truly, it's five stars for the entire Hyperion Cantos.

The first time I attempted Hyperion, I believe it was in the summer of 2016. This was my second Simmons read, after Summer of Night. However, I wasn't very keen on the sci-fi genre back then, and Hyperion was simply too overwhelming for me. There was so much world building, with abstract concepts galore. Simmons just plunged right into the story and used terminology that I couldn't quite keep up with.

So, last summer, after reading a significant portion of Simmons' other works, I gave it another try. And I'm extremely glad that I did!

The first two books introduce the world (or rather, the universe), and the Shrike, setting up all the scenarios that come into play later. At the time of reading, I had no idea how everything would unfold. The third book, Endymion (my favorite of the four), shows how the "Fall" affected all the worlds and their inhabitants, and how everything has evolved. It also introduces a key player in the series, Aenea. And by this book, Simmons executes a brilliant and gigantic grand finale that's enough to make my brain hurt.

I won't lie, this book was a bit long and heavy at times. It surely has Simmons' trademark "info-dumps," which make you clearly aware that you're reading a Dan Simmons novel. However, the last 150 pages were quite rapid and absolutely fantastic. The final few chapters are tear jerkers, for sure!

Dan Simmons's novels are renowned for their complexity, abstraction, and intricate weaving in both form and style. His capstone novel for the Hyperion Cantos, The Rise of Endymion, is no exception. Like its predecessor Endymion, it follows Raul Endymion, Aenea, and A. Bettik as they assist Aenea in fulfilling her mysterious mission.

Despite his writing skills, Simmons has two notable flaws. Firstly, he can be overly verbose in certain areas while being too concise in others. Secondly, his endings are often crude and leave readers unsatisfied. Having read many of his novels, I believe these are integral parts of his style. I have been more disappointed by Simmons's endings than those of any other novelist, and The Rise of Endymion is no different.

The plot is largely foreseeable. Raul and Aenea must part ways upon their return to the Pax systems. While Raul searches for the ship they left behind, Aenea and A. Bettik continue with Aenea's quest. After fulfilling a time debt, Raul reunites with the group, they spend some time together, encounter the Pax, and then set off to save humanity. It is mainly a milieu story, as Simmons devotes far more time to describing the worlds Raul visits, their inhabitants, and various tangential events than to advancing the plot. These worlds are imaginative, but I often found my attention wandering.

Simmons frequently delves into excessive detail when describing people, places, and events that might be better left to the imagination, while neglecting to provide descriptions for the most crucial events. This isn't the kind of captivating, life-enhancing detail one might expect from a novel like Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast. Instead, this type of detail lacks poetry and is poorly integrated into the story. While Simmons exhibits this tendency in the other novels of the Cantos, it is most pronounced in this one. For instance, it is not uncommon for a character to enter a room and be bombarded with an explanation of every individual present, including name, rank, standing position, facial expression, and an exhaustive list of their outfit. In another example, after arriving on an unknown world, Raul spends numerous pages describing the sky, storms, and his tiresome, repetitive internal dialogue.

There is so much unnecessary rambling in this novel that I was tempted, on many occasions, to skip ahead. For example, when Aenea and Raul are reunited after years of time debt, they engage in a lot of sexual activity, and Simmons spares no raunchy detail. Fortunately, he refrains from going into detail about the characters' bowel habits. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that with the help of a competent editor, this novel could be trimmed by thirty percent without sacrificing any of its unique essence.

One positive aspect of Simmons's penchant for babbling is that we finally learn the backstory behind the Hyperion pilgrimage, the TechnoCore, the so-called "Lions, Tigers, and Bears," the cruciform, and many other mysteries introduced in the earlier volumes. If you thought you understood these elements before, you're in for some surprises. Some of these explanations fit seamlessly with the story told in Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, while others seem forced in hindsight. For example, the explanation of how Old Earth was spirited away doesn't align with the events of The Fall of Hyperion, in which the second Keats cybrid is farcast there, presumably by the TechnoCore, to prevent aiding the Hegemony. There are numerous such instances where the story appears inconsistent with what we were previously told. Ultimately, I think the story in the first two novels was far more elegant and engaging than the one Simmons transformed it into for the final two novels.

On a more positive note, the characters spend a significant amount of time grappling with profound issues such as religion and philosophy, the nature of time, evolution, the universe, and even the definition of humanity. These discussions are interesting, enlightening, and a welcome respite.

When it comes to concluding the story, Simmons truly disappoints. Just as we are anticipating the final showdown between the Church and Aenea – the confrontation that has been building since the first pages of Endymion – Simmons jumps ahead a year and only briefly touches on what transpired. There is no final conflict, no epic battle, no sense of accomplishment, and no satisfaction. As if that weren't frustrating enough, Simmons doesn't even bother to let us accompany Raul as he escapes his Schrödinger box prison.

Instead, Simmons chooses to focus on the love story between Raul and Aenea, building up to the slightly emotional but still underwhelming final scenes that I had anticipated since their reunion on T’ien Shan. If there is one redeeming quality about Simmons's inability to end a novel properly, it's that his endings are always unpredictable. However, this time was no different. Instead of a proper ending, we were simply skipped forward to one of the story's most foreseeable scenes.

If you enjoyed the other novels in the Cantos, you will likely find some enjoyment in this one as well. But make no mistake, The Rise of Endymion is undoubtedly the least creative, the most tedious, and the least fulfilling of all the novels in the series.

Aye on the shores of darkness there is light,

And precipices show untrodden green;

There is a budding morrow in midnight;

There's a triple sight in blindness keen...

I don't think I'll be able to review this one properly. After all, it's the fourth and final book of the series. I hardly believe I'll be able to sway anyone's decision to read the series or not. However, I must say that I've truly relished this adventure that Dan Simmons has enabled me to embark on, within the countless worlds of his Hyperion Cantos. This book did have its drawbacks. For instance, some of the plot twists felt a bit forced at times. But overall, it was a worthy conclusion to what has now become one of my all-time favorite sci-fi series. The complex characters, the richly detailed universes, and the thought-provoking themes have all left a lasting impression on me. I would highly recommend this series to any sci-fi enthusiast.

Remate a la serie, lejos de los comienzos pero cerca del anterior volumen.

The genre of this book is Science-Fiction.

What it tells us is that the papal head at the forefront of Pax dies and a new conclave is approaching to elect the leader of the Catholic Church and, therefore, the one who rules the destinies of all human space. Aenea has grown and sends Raul Endymion on a mission. The exotic assassin Rhadamanth Nemes is rescued from her prison by others like her. Father De Soya must abandon his retirement and return to action. This is the fourth and final book of the Hyperion Cantos and the second (and also the last) of the Endymion Cycle (also known as The Journeys of Endymion).

If you want to know more about this book without spoilers, visit:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com....

This book takes the readers on a thrilling journey through a complex and imaginative universe. The story is filled with rich characters, each with their own motives and desires. The death of the papal head sets in motion a series of events that will have far-reaching consequences for the entire human race. Aenea's growth and her mission add an element of mystery and excitement, while the appearance of Rhadamanth Nemes and the return of Father De Soya bring new challenges and conflicts. Overall, "The Rise of Endymion" is a captivating and engaging read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

An exceptional fantastic-philosophical epic. Dan Simmons showcases a wealth of knowledge in various philosophical trends and constructs a comprehensive world and atmosphere.

Here we encounter Aenea again, who continues her mission against the Church and the cruciforms. The girl begins to spread her philosophical teachings. She has mastered the power to teleport people and objects.

Hunt Maszyn also appears, who piloted a treedolphin to Hyperion. From the tombs of time, Fedmahn Kassad emerges, who has not only made peace with the Shrike but is also an ally.

Leonard Hoyt would have been better off not resurrecting because he manages to create a sum of evil that continues to ooze until the end of "The Triumph of Endymion".

However, in the end, everything comes back to where it started.

From the beginning to the end of the epic, the dynamics are maintained, all the events and characters are so masterfully intertwined that I can truly admire the genius of the author.

This is a massive work that cannot be confined within any framework nor described in a few sentences. The ending of the series is remarkable, just like the previous books, adding the final touches, filling in the gaps, and bringing clarity to the entire saga.

A unique series that I rank very close to "Dune" in terms of complexity.

P.S: The philosophy of Teilhard de Chardin (1881 - 1955) - a French paleontologist, anthropologist, theologian, and philosopher - which Dan Simmons incorporated into the book through Aenea's words, deeply touched me. I was so impressed that I read certain parts of his works and writings. A remarkable personality!

"To see and feel your beloved naked for the first time is the purest earthly enlightenment. If there is a true religion in the universe, it must include this truth or it will always remain a kitchen. To make love with a woman who deserves that love is one of the few absolute rewards of being a human being, balancing all the pains, losses, awkwardness, loneliness, madness, and compromises of human life. To make love with such a woman compensates for many mistakes." (Chapter 18)

6.0 stars.

Hyperion is on my list of All Time Favorites, right alongside the other three books of the Hyperion Cantos. In my humble opinion, when it comes to science fiction space opera series, the Hyperion Cantos, along with the Dune series, stands at the very top. And Dan Simmons is truly one of the best writers in the field today.

Hyperion is widely recognized as a classic in the world of SF. However, I firmly believe that the other three books in the Cantos, namely The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, and this particular novel, are equally outstanding. I think it's a real pity if readers only stop at the first novel. Because in my view, science fiction doesn't get any better than this. It's worthy of the HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION.

This remarkable work has also received several prestigious accolades. It is the winner of the Locus Award Best SF Novel. Additionally, it has been nominated for the Hugo Award Best Novel and the British SF Award.

Dan Simmons has truly crafted a masterpiece with the Hyperion Cantos, and it's a must-read for any science fiction enthusiast.

At the age of 19, I am certain that I will never encounter another novel quite like The Rise of Endymion.

I can hardly put into words how deeply I relished this book. While reading it, I underwent nearly every conceivable emotion. In fact, I must admit that I shed tears on multiple occasions. These books have touched me in a way that nothing else has, nor ever will.

As I've mentioned in my other reviews of the previous books in the Cantos, the characters are among the numerous highlights. Each character possesses a distinct personality, and I've been able to identify with each one in some fashion. While reading 'Endymion', I didn't view Raul, Aenea, and A. Bettik as three separate entities but rather as a single character. However, in 'The Rise of Endymion', one of these individuals stood out more prominently than the others, and that was Aenea. I can't precisely say what connected me to Aenea (perhaps The Void Which Binds played a role), but she is likely my favorite character among any book, film, or otherwise. Raul is also an outstanding character, as he is the narrator of the story, and you experience everything he does, which is yet another reason why this book is so remarkable. Not only do the characters seem real, but so do the worlds and the environments. I began and completed this book while on holiday, but a significant portion of that holiday was actually spent within this universe.

The Rise of Endymion is complex in certain aspects, as it weaves together the entire story that commenced nearly 300 years ago. But this complexity does not detract from the enjoyment of the story. I know I will never savor a story as much as the Hyperion Cantos, and I also know that I will reread this book again in the future. I'm already eagerly anticipating that day and envy anyone who is about to embark on this journey for the first time.

I'm glad to have had the privilege of reading this book and the others in the Cantos, but I'm also saddened to bid farewell to the characters and the worlds that I've visited throughout this wonderful journey. I'll be reading 'The Orphans of the Helix' shortly, which is set after the events of The Rise of Endymion, and I hope to return to this universe again in the future with new stories from the brilliant Dan Simmons.

Just terrible.

A better way to explain what I felt while reading this book is given inside the book: when one of the characters is undergoing torture. The torturers use a machine that simulates "crushed testicles" and "hot wire behind the right eye" in the victim's brain. That is how one feels while dragging through this book—and I mean it when I say dragging because that is precisely what you will be doing by the final chapters. Hell, I would go so far as to claim that the problems began from the 3rd book and precipitate into this avalanche of dogshit. An avalanche because the issues are myriad, but I will go over some of them without giving away any spoilers.

First of all, there is just too much useless information. The protagonist drones on and on about how he learned a particular trivia either from his grandmother, from some event that occurred in his past, or from some book he read in a library. And this pattern is repeated ad nauseam—it's as if a vast majority of the book is filled with information that contributes absolutely nothing to the plot. Sometimes, the information is straight-up repeated—what you read in a previous chapter is repeated, for reasons unknown. More than half the length of this book is simply unnecessary.

Secondly, the protagonist is insufferable. He is so bland and empty that you will find yourself praying that his chapter doesn't return on the next page. In fact, the book should be renamed to “The Rise of Side Characters” because certain side characters, particularly Federico de Soya, added more life to the plot than the protagonist. The protagonist is literally an empty shell who merely observes the plot. But he wouldn't be so insufferable if that was his only role; his personality is outright unendurable, and you feel the urge to slap him across the words.

New and interesting ideas are presented initially to give you a sense of excitement, but then the book slaps you in your gaping and anticipating face with the next monotonous passage. This book is a recycling plant of the older ideas, yet it also murders a lot of established ideas of the older books by basically saying, “they were wrong”. There is so much repetitiveness; like, 45% of the book is just concepts from three books ago. A lot of the obstacles in the plot of the previous 2 books are just retconned as “misinterpretation of the narrator”. We are supposed to believe that the first 2 books are merely attempts at poetry by a poet character, who misinterpreted a lot. So this particular problem, truth, plot element is now rendered unnecessary.

And, lastly, the protagonist's obsession with the girl is just too much. I will not go into details about how problematic that whole thing is—there is already a lot written on it. The relationship, and the way it develops in the narrative, is just downright childish. It pops up spontaneously—the character treats the girl like a child and a friend, repeatedly calling her "kiddo", and then, all of a sudden, he's in love with her to the point of obsession. In the span of a single chapter. It's outright insanity. And by this point, the book will limit itself from referencing her by her name when she says or does something. Instead, it will use words like'my beloved, my friend, my darling' repeatedly, in the most inappropriate of places. For example, “My beloved looked calm,” in the middle of a meeting discussing war strategies. “Her face is impassive. This is unlike my beloved.” “”Away,” said my beloved.” AND HE KEEPS CALLING HER KIDDO, EVEN DURING SEX SCENES. The word 'kiddo' is repeated 57 times in this book and 23 times in the previous book. And the sex scenes are so corny and come out of nowhere. Not to mention the protagonist's weird comments about the girl that make you think the author has never had a proper conversation with a woman (even though he has). The love story starts off bordering on paedophilia for the first few hundred pages, and then it graduates to simple obsession, with the justification being that she's grown up (the protagonist will mention how the girl's breasts and hips have developed?). This whole portion of the story, which is actually a significant part of the story, is absolutely unconvincing.

It is truly disappointing to see this series deviate so far from the foundations set by the first book, which won it the Hugo award, and descend into absolute self-indulgence. If there was any goal to this book, it was self-indulgence. That is why you will not find yourself invested in anything in this book, and you will be speed reading throughout, just to get to the obvious plot points which are withheld from you by the other protagonist for made-up reasons, just to convince you to slog through the muck that is this book, only slightly redeemed by its finale.

Boy, does this book really take a strange turn halfway through.

I've always maintained that if there's one thing I have a soft spot for, it's those long, drawn-out pages filled with metaphysical explanations of fictional science fiction gizmos. Just so you know, these things don't actually exist in the real world, and thus they lack any educational value that one might gain from a dry lecture on a genuine scientific topic.

Anyway, this book begins as a travelogue, and the places described are even more otherworldly and captivating than in the previous installment. There's a healthy dose of action and some surprising disclosures about everyone's favorite spiky killing machine, the Shrike.

The conclusion of the book, although bittersweet in the vein of Sol and Rachel's story, isn't nearly as ingenious or unexpected as Simmons seems to believe. As a result, we're subjected to page after page of angst as the book's not-so-bright hero, Raul Endymion, struggles to untangle a mystery that the reader has already figured out 800 pages earlier.

Essentially, this book is far too long for its own good. Anyone interested in learning the conclusion to the Hyperion tale would be wise to stick to the written pages, which can be easily skipped through, and avoid the audiobook version.