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Hyperion (Gollancz S.F.)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Hyperion is the first of a much-heralded two-part work -- including the The Fall of Hyperion--about the last days of a vibrant yet self-destructive galactic civilization of humans called the Hegemony. The Hegemony is doomed because in exchange for the knowledge needed to conquer the stars, the human species sold its soul to a hive of machine-based intelligence known as Technocore. Six people embark on a pilgrimage to Hyperion, their only hope for redemption, to seek the help of the Shrike, a half- mechanical, half-organic creature that inspires both terror and devotion in its subjects. The book won the 1990 Hugo Award for Science Fiction.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
The book that reinvented Space Opera, newly packaged for a new audience
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In Hyperion we follow seven pilgrims as they move towards the Shrike Temple on the planet Hyperion.
Initially we know little of how the seven came together, why each of them is on a personal pilgrimage, and why the Shrike Temple is significant.
Initially we know little of how the seven came together, why each of them is on a personal pilgrimage, and why the Shrike Temple is significant.
As they journey, they agree to tell their own reasons for the pilgrimage, and thus we get a series of short stories, or vignettes, where we learn the background of each individual. And in doing so, we learn more of the universe in which they live.
There is a bigger story here, a greater canvas on which these icons have been painted, but we only learn part of it - the rest is saved for the sequel - The Fall of Hyperion.
[As an aside, there are four books in total - in addition to the two I have mentioned, we have Endymion and the Rise of Endymion. In reality, it is two pairs of books - the Endymion books are set 250 years later and with a mostly new cast, although knowledge of the earlier books vastly aids their enjoyment. Reading the Fall of Hyperion greatly adds to Hyperion itself, but you can stop there if you wish. Endymion is a new venture - albeit a fabulous one.]
Dan Simmons writes with impressive clarity - while other authors hide behind jargon, Simmons keeps it real and in doing so gives you a clear visual image of his universe. And it is that writing style that makes this a light and pacy read, without losing any of the depth of content.
As a stand alone book, this can seem a disjointed read, but still a worthwhile one. Viewed together with the sequels, it is a wonderful achievement, and one of the great sci-fi classics.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This classic work has so much to recommend it that it’s difficult to know where to start. Its overall reference to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales – in that seven pilgrims each tell their tale as they journey toward their goal – is only one facet of a novel rich with literary reference and wryly judged future historical perspective.
At one point, Martin Silenus the poet tells of his great work ‘The Dying Earth’ the title of which, he points out, was taken from an old earth novel. In the same section his literary agent tells of the realities of book-marketing in the Twenty-Ninth Century. Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ she tells him, is permanently in print, although no-one actually reads it. The poet blithely asks who Hitler was.
No doubt Jack Vance, and many other readers who picked up on the reference to his Nineteen Fifties novel, will be amused at the idea of Vance novels being remembered in an age where Hitler is a name known only to those in the rarefied strata of academia.
The pilgrims have been chosen by the Church of the Shrike to make the pilgrimage to the Time Tombs of Hyperion and petition the Shrike, an alien godlike creature bristling with metal horns and claws.
Each pilgrim tells his tale of why they think they were chosen to take the pilgrimage and in doing so, slowly fill in the backstory of this Hegemony of Worlds, of Hyperion itself and the mysterious Shrike.
Each tale fills in a piece of the jigsaw puzzle depicting complex galactic politics in which it is difficult to judge who are the players and who are the pawns.
A cabal of AIs form the Technocore which seceded from human control centuries ago, although they still manage the web of farcaster portals which link the worlds of the Hegemony, and the Allthing which is, in essence, a futuristic internet. The AIs have their own reasons for being very interested in Hyperion, its network of alien labyrinths and the Time Tombs, to which they believe something is travelling back in time from the future.
At one point, Martin Silenus the poet tells of his great work ‘The Dying Earth’ the title of which, he points out, was taken from an old earth novel. In the same section his literary agent tells of the realities of book-marketing in the Twenty-Ninth Century. Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ she tells him, is permanently in print, although no-one actually reads it. The poet blithely asks who Hitler was.
No doubt Jack Vance, and many other readers who picked up on the reference to his Nineteen Fifties novel, will be amused at the idea of Vance novels being remembered in an age where Hitler is a name known only to those in the rarefied strata of academia.
The pilgrims have been chosen by the Church of the Shrike to make the pilgrimage to the Time Tombs of Hyperion and petition the Shrike, an alien godlike creature bristling with metal horns and claws.
Each pilgrim tells his tale of why they think they were chosen to take the pilgrimage and in doing so, slowly fill in the backstory of this Hegemony of Worlds, of Hyperion itself and the mysterious Shrike.
Each tale fills in a piece of the jigsaw puzzle depicting complex galactic politics in which it is difficult to judge who are the players and who are the pawns.
A cabal of AIs form the Technocore which seceded from human control centuries ago, although they still manage the web of farcaster portals which link the worlds of the Hegemony, and the Allthing which is, in essence, a futuristic internet. The AIs have their own reasons for being very interested in Hyperion, its network of alien labyrinths and the Time Tombs, to which they believe something is travelling back in time from the future.
Structurally, thematically, stylistically this book is a marvel. Each tale has a distinct voice and its own magic, and each is tied into a seamless whole.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can't believe "Hyperion" has not yet been reviewed. In my mind ( and several of my friends) Hyperion is the beginning of the best sci-fi series ever. It is wonderful! The first of the four, Hyperion, opens with a description of a very odd pilgrimage, and moves on to space opera. The characters are beautifully described. Each has their own short story as to why they should be there (and some of these shorts are prize-winners in their own right). I was gripped from the start. This book is epic in its scope, and magnificent in its ambition. I was forced to scour the world for the remaining 3 in the series having finished it. It combines drama, action, love, loss, and faith in one glorious blend. You will love it. The rest of the series is great too. An emotional roller coaster which will keep you gripped to the end.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant
One of the best books I have ever had the pleasure to read.
The tales that each of the characters has to tell on their journey are superb on their own merit. Read more
The tales that each of the characters has to tell on their journey are superb on their own merit. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Codz
Give it a miss...
Am frankly flabbergasted by the rave reviews given by the majority of readers. Like many others who didn't like it, I too had to skip a lot of sections just to get to the (very... Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. Doyle
Disappointing
Got this as part of the Gollancz 50 series and invested the usual effort - up to about half way I quite enjoyed it, but when I read it was part of a series, the writing changed for... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Monkhouse
Very good
A very good book. Scentifically based (sort of), and intriuging plotlines. Recommended, and a good read! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Andreas
Fantastic.
I think that Hyperion is a fantastic example of science fiction at it's best. The story is complex, thought provoking and vividly told from the perspective of seven pilgrims as... Read more
Published 5 months ago by timorosso
Utterly mystified by rave reviews...
I am a fan of Banks, Hamilton and Asher - although, btw, the best sci-fi yet for me is Leviathan Wakes, by James A. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dr Lex
Simply excellent. READ this book!
I loved this book. I loved the many an spectacular surprises, I loved the characters, the action, the violence and the plot. Read more
Published 5 months ago by John
Dated and disappointing
I was expecting a lot more from this, widely regarded as a classic as it is. Its not without invention - the priest's tale was quite involving and gripping - but my God, the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Captain Pig
Worth all the Hype
SF's answer to The Canterbury Tales, with frequent references to John Keats and an actual clone of him appearing within its pages. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Steve D
A pilgrimage with wond'rous tales
Quite simply one of the best works of science fiction ever written! The pleasure (and terror) is in the travelling, not the arriving! Read more
Published 7 months ago by Carl David Roberton
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