This book really could have been half the length and I would have been absolutely thrilled.

There is simply too much philosophizing going on. There is an excessive amount of useless description and an overabundance of exposition regarding the "science" behind why the characters were able to perform the actions they did. The so-called plot "twist," if that's what it was supposed to be, was blatantly obvious right from the start.

Once again, de Soya was far more compelling than any of the major characters, yet he is relegated to an even less significant role in this book. It is truly SO DISAPPOINTING. He might just be one of my favorite characters that I've come across in my recent reading escapades.

I'm glad I read this simply to find out how the story ended (Endymion did leave a fair number of loose ends), but again, I would have been extremely happy if it had been shorter.

If you don't want to waste your time reading this (and there are indeed parts of it that are good, really, but you have to slog through a lot of rubbish to reach those parts) but you've read Endymion and want to know how it concludes, I will gladly spoil the plot for you. Seriously.

Edit 12/20/11: I had to come back and subtract another star solely because I recalled how absurd the whole kidney stone thing was. Seriously? I'm fortunate enough to have never endured that myself, but you expect me to believe that this is a guy who has been shot at, attacked in countless ways, swum through freezing water underground, and so on and so forth, and this is LITERALLY the worst thing that has ever happened to him? What. The. Fuck.

A good book, but perhaps not the ending I was quite expecting. Simmons invests a significant amount of time in highlighting all the key players in this battle, only for it to culminate in a rather simple solution. It didn't quite possess the same impact as, for example, the fall of Hyperion.

However, it did tie up characters like Aena, Raul, Silenus, and the Shrike really well. I am convinced I know who the Shrike is!

Ultimately, I think this book loses its charm for me as the ending always feels inevitable. And that implies that what occurs isn't a shock, only the manner in which it happens. Simmons also devotes too much time to his take on consciousness and the universe. Just tell the story and don't philosophize!

One final note is that some of the world-building in this novel is truly insane. The planet where they meet the Dalai Lama was a stroke of genius!

Overall, while the book has its strengths in character development and world-building, the predictable ending and excessive philosophical musings detract from the overall reading experience.

Finished!

An emotional and epic conclusion marks the end of one of the greatest SF-series of all time. Any top 10 SF list that doesn't include the Cantos holds no interest for me. However, it ultimately tripped over its own greatness. Given the incredibly high standard set by the first Hyperion books, I anticipated an ending that would leave me breathless, but alas, it didn't.

The narration began well, immediately drawing me back into the story with Endymion's personal journey set against a space church plot that invoked a galactic crusade. At times, there was perhaps a bit too much explanation in the church plot, but compared to what I'm currently listening to in "Seveneves", the infodumping here was negligible, and it was still exciting to follow.

However, around the halfway point, the narration suddenly came to a halt due to a chapter-long description of mountaineering. I suspect this is Simmons' hobby, but it felt rather odd and threw me out of the flow.

Thankfully, the last 20 percent was outstanding in terms of pace and the ability to keep the reader on the edge of their seats. Overall, it was a worthy conclusion to this epic of galactic proportions.

All of this would still have earned it 5 stars - BUT... there is one plotline that the reader already knows about some 300 pages in advance, yet it is still treated as a revelation that needs hinting at and drawing out. This was the point where I decided to subtract a star, as it started to frustrate me. I had been hoping for a mind-blowing, out-of-this-galaxy ending.

It may seem like complaining about first world problems, but I must state that the Hyperion Cantos is worth every page, every letter, and every second I spent in this magnificent world created by Dan Simmons.

A story that is mostly excellent and thematically engaging unfortunately has a significant flaw in its pacing. The conclusion of the story holds great promise, with its interesting themes and engaging plot elements. However, the pacing is so horrendous that it detracts from the overall experience. The story seems to rush through important moments, leaving the reader feeling cheated and unsatisfied.

Despite this flaw, there are still many aspects of the story that are值得称赞. The characters are well-developed and the themes are thought-provoking. The author has done a great job of creating a world that is both engaging and believable. However, the pacing issue is a major one and it is difficult to overlook.

Overall, this is a story that has a lot of potential but falls short due to its pacing. It is a shame because the other aspects of the story are so good. With some careful editing and a bit more attention to pacing, this could have been a truly great story.

Really disappointing, to be honest.

I would recommend reading the first three books and then perhaps coming up with your own fourth part to spare yourself from this final novel. I almost never write Goodreads reviews, but I enjoyed the first three so much that I felt it necessary to explain the two-star rating.

Once again, Simmons’ ideas are phenomenal. The literal biosphere, the structure of a space-faring catholic civilization, and so on. However, in this book, they are let down by the odd plot contrivances. Whenever we are about to get a critical piece of information, the main characters engage in cringe-worthy space-sex to avoid any explanation of the plot. Honestly, I think it happened three or four times.

You also have a surprising amount of retcons from the previous books that don't really fit. And Raul, the narrator, really annoys the hell out of me.

Please read at least the first two, though! They are truly excellent and will give you a great foundation for understanding the world Simmons has created.

Rispetto ai due volumi di Hyperion, Endymion mi aveva un pò deluso, pur rimanendo un ottimo libro. Questo secondo romanzo del ciclo, tuttavia, recupera in pieno per storia, ritmo e drammaticità. Tutti i pezzi del puzzle vanno a posto in un finale sempre più drammatico, dove i vari personaggi trovano la loro collocazione definitiva.

E che dire dello Shrike? È veramente così cattivo come sembrava? Questo personaggio misterioso e intrigante rimane una delle caratteristiche più attraenti del romanzo. Certi passaggi quasi filosofici su cosa è l'uomo e come dovrebbe relazionarsi con le altre specie sono anche molto interessanti. Argomenti ancora attuali dopo tanti anni.

L'autore riesce a creare un mondo ricco e complesso, con personaggi ben sviluppati e una trama coinvolgente. Il libro è pieno di azione, ma anche di riflessioni profonde sulla natura umana e sulla nostra relazione con il mondo che ci circonda. Endymion è un ottimo seguito alla serie Hyperion e un libro che sicuramente piacerà ai lettori di fantascienza.

We continue the presentation of one of the greatest science fiction epics in contemporary literature - "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons. I have already expressed my enthusiasm for the first two novels, combined in one volume, part of the series "Great Masters of Fantasy and Science Fiction" by the publisher "Bard". It's time for the continuation "Endymion", containing the third and fourth novels of the cycle. Read the review on "Book Wings": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" series is a captivating exploration of a rich and complex universe. The first two novels set the stage with their vivid descriptions and engaging storylines. Now, "Endymion" takes the readers on an even more thrilling adventure. It delves deeper into the mysteries and intrigues that have been building throughout the series.

The characters in "Endymion" are well-developed and relatable, each with their own unique personalities and motives. The author's writing style is immersive, drawing the readers into the story and making them feel as if they are part of the action. The world-building in the series is also outstanding, with detailed descriptions of the various planets, cultures, and technologies.

Overall, "Endymion" is a must-read for fans of science fiction. It continues the legacy of the "Hyperion" series and offers a satisfying conclusion to the story. Whether you are new to the series or a long-time fan, "Endymion" is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

It's better than the truly awful Endymion, yet it falls far short of the original Hyperion books. Plot holes and retcons are plentiful, making the story feel somewhat disjointed. The revelations that are supposed to drive the narrative are not only predictable but also seem to lack real significance. In fact, the entire conflict simplifies to a rather one-sided affair, with mustache-twirling robot baby-killers pitted against the pure, wise humanists of all religions who possess psychic powers.

Raul remains as hapless as ever, bumbling his way through some admittedly grand and visually stunning settings. However, much of the action that truly matters takes place offstage, leaving the reader feeling somewhat cheated. Simmons leans too heavily on a simplistic exposition of love, which becomes tiresome as Raul experiences the annoying throes of teenage jealousy.

There are numerous irrelevant background characters who are brought up repeatedly, adding to the clutter and confusion. I even had the impression that Aenea didn't really have a consistent voice that was distinct from the way Raul speaks and Simmons expounds. Simmons resorts to having the cast deliver lectures to convey the major revelations, which are not only predictable but also fail to change the direction of the story. Many of the mysteries that matter or involve minor contradictions are left unanswered, and the dangling plot threads continue to dangle.

On the positive side, there are some elements that stand out. The description of the gas-giant planet, the civilization on the mountains, the observer, and the sad and touching ending are all well-crafted. However, these positives are not enough to salvage what is overall a disappointing read.

I almost never give one-star ratings, but this book was truly awful. Simmons seems to love the sound of his own voice. There is absolutely nothing of value being said in this novel. There are random concepts thrown in, presumably because Simmons thought they were cool and unique, but which really should have been left in the drafts. For example, necrophilic hyperparasitism - a virus transmuted through sex with corpses. Seriously, what the hell?

Let's talk about the sex scenes and the pedophilia. Why is the last two books in this tetralogy one big love story between a teenager and her guardian? Evidence: 'the way Aenea had when we first met, when she was almost twelve and I twenty-eight'. Sir, that is a child. Why is there a huge epic love story between a grown man who raised and looked after the girl since she was twelve? And don't even get me started on the scene where he calls her 'kiddo' and then has sex with her.

Writing this review is making me angry. I can't believe it. Aside from the issues with this book, I don't think I loved any of the installments in this series. The first two books had interesting enough ideas to make me want to finish the series, but even then, it wasn't mind-blowing. Thinking back to book one, this story has always kind of given me the creeps. I don't recommend any of the books at all, to be honest. Just read 'Dune' instead.

The Rise of Endymion was truly an awe-inspiring mess.

Page by page, I found myself unimpressed until near the climax. However, when considering the work as a whole, it was awesome if one was willing to overlook its many problems.

As I had written about the previous book, this one feels even more like a foundational work of religion and history. It fully commits to that concept, with both positive and negative consequences. Figuratively speaking, this was the Second Coming. Heresies abounded, especially of the Christian variety. One such heresy was the revelation of the secret nature of Jesus Christ and its implications for the latter-day Messiah known as The One Who Teaches, not to mention the theological foundations of Christianity.

I had severe doubts about this book due to my experience with the previous one. But by the end, Aenea provided a great deal of emotionally resonant fulfillment. Raul, the protagonist, was at best serviceable in his role. From what I've seen, he is a primary problem for many people because of the nature of his relationship with Aenea. I don't believe the protagonist has to be the most important character, but he is an outlier in terms of subordination.

Aside from that, there is so much else that can go either wrong or right depending on the reader. For me, there were a few truly great moments. To enjoy this book, perhaps more than anything else, one needs to have the belief to accept it for what it is rather than what it isn't.

There were numerous times when I felt that Simmons changed his mind about what really mattered or how things should be because he decided the story was meant to take a different path. He had to "choose again," so to speak. Much of the plot and most of its threads were either summarily resolved or left unresolved because the book's defining act overshadowed everything else.

The vast majority of the book is once again about the journey, the significance of which is both sentimental and practical. I must again emphasize that I think the structure of this duology is not suitable as a work of entertainment, although it is excellent for a personal account of a disciple loved by a messiah.

There is a great deal that ventures into the fantastical, especially the implications of the ending. There is a scene with metaphorical angels having wings of light that can extend up to hundreds of kilometers, described in technological terms. It is also the case that apparently, sufficiently advanced empathy is indistinguishable from miracles or magic, although it is given a theoretical scientific basis that is quite audacious. The societal implications are greater than those of the Farcasters.

Reading this was definitely worthwhile. Despite all my concerns, I would gladly read more novels set in this world. However, Simmons swore to never write another novel, though the story continues with a novelette. I am unable to recommend this without reservations. But I do recommend reading both books if you read Endymion, as they are meant to be one.

For me, the tetralogy was an experience. Sims has built a bridge between classic fantasy and a new direction in it.

In this book, there is everything... such as intellect, religion, colonization, extraterrestrial intelligence, and technologies.

In my opinion, many of the things written here are possible in the distant future, such as society, relationships, and progress.

It is a great book that is in the pantheon of fantasy!

This tetralogy offers a rich and diverse world that engages the reader's imagination. The exploration of various themes adds depth and complexity to the story.

The idea of building a bridge between different eras of fantasy is innovative and吸引人.

The inclusion of intellect, religion, and other elements makes the book not only entertaining but also thought-provoking.

Overall, it is a must-read for fans of fantasy and those interested in exploring new ideas and concepts.

A truly remarkable conclusion to an epic universe-wide saga unfolds, delving into profound and vast themes. The very nature of mortality and immortality is explored, along with the essence of religion, the crucial need for freedom of choice, and the sheer joy of evolution. These are indeed colossal topics that are not easily put into words.

I am an avid reader, and it is not often that I shed tears. However, during the closing chapters of this novel, I found myself weeping frequently. After immersing myself in four books, I have developed a deep attachment to these characters and this captivating universe. But I much preferred this emotional connection to the overwhelming panic that was induced by the descriptions of time spent in the Temple of Hanging Air or paragliding over the mountains of that planet. My fear of heights is such that I have nightmares about such scenarios, and I became far too engrossed in those vivid descriptions, causing me to repeatedly set the book aside to allow my heart rate and breathing to return to normal.

I believe the most significant idea that I have taken away from this novel is that life demands change. Our finite lifespans are essential for us to truly appreciate what we possess. Just as we require unhappiness to enable us to savor happiness or contentment when we experience them. People yearn for choices to feel a sense of fulfillment, whether it be in matters of religion (or the absence thereof), work, or the company we keep.

Once again, I am astounded by Simmons' extensive range of knowledge, which this time encompasses climbing technique, hang gliding, Buddhism, and poetry, among other diverse subjects. I am certain that other Simmons books will inevitably find their way onto my to-be-read list in the future. In the meantime, let us strive to learn the languages of both the living and the dead and listen to the harmonious music of the spheres.

Book number 379 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.

Cross posted at my blog:

https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...

Choose again.