Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #1)
Summary:
On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope—and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
It’s somewhat incredible that this book was written in 1989. Then again, it did win the Hugo award! Similar to how there were elements that Jules Verne nailed when it came to the future – Dan Simmons also nailed it too. A warning, this is not exactly a friendly read for someone looking for an introduction to the genre. Right off the bat you’re thrown into the world of Hyperion without much of an introduction or prologue and there is a LOT. This is a story chalk full of complex elements, concepts, and a lot of references to Keats.
A former Consul of Hyperion is contacted to join a pilgrimage to see the Shrike and meets six others. Through this journey we learn each of the pilgrim’s stories as they realize that they must have been selected for a reason. Through this we learn they all have a connection to the Shrike and they’re making their way there just as it appears that the Time Tombs are about to finally reveal their secrets. The biggest frustration was realizing that very little was resolved in the book and that you must continue the series to find out what happens. While super curious, I’m not sure quite when I’ll be picking up the next in the series..
Warning: Contains repeated (and sometimes gory) violence
Rating: 4 stars!
Who should read it? Folks intrigued by “The Canterbury Tales” meeting space opera.
Want to read the whole series?
Prayers to Broken Stones (Hyperion Cantos #0.5)
The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #2)
Endymion (Hyperion Cantos #3)
The Rise of Endymion (Hyperion Cantos #4)
Orphans of the Helix (Hyperion Cantos #4.5)