Scan barcode
benji_dw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hyperion is a classic my friends and family evoke. So I read it. It hasn’t aged gracefully and frankly modern sci-fi’s sensibilities lead to better fiction.
The book is broken up to tell the stories of seven people on a journey to the ‘time tombs’. Of the seven there is only one woman, and that attitude to gender pervades the entire narrative.
It is interesting and different. I thought of totally new things. Full points for novelty.
I am docking points because when it was good it was good (albeit problematic), but when it was bad, it was actually unforgivable. I didn’t find the manic pixie dream girl list quest or self insert sad-boi poet whining compelling at all. The racist language around Indigenous people is extremely gross.
Maybe this book was good for its time. But modern sci fi is better.
The book is broken up to tell the stories of seven people on a journey to the ‘time tombs’. Of the seven there is only one woman, and that attitude to gender pervades the entire narrative.
It is interesting and different. I thought of totally new things. Full points for novelty.
I am docking points because when it was good it was good (albeit problematic), but when it was bad, it was actually unforgivable. I didn’t find the manic pixie dream girl list quest or self insert sad-boi poet whining compelling at all. The racist language around Indigenous people is extremely gross.
Maybe this book was good for its time. But modern sci fi is better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Violence, Racism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, and Colonisation
arl949's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Death, and Colonisation
mheath31's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's the best sci-fi I've ever read. BUT do not go out and start reading this book right away. If you're seeing this review, you've probably read some things about being in the right mindset for this book. You've probably seen words like "disturbing" or maybe even "horrifying."
It's pretty much all true, but I think I might've made it worse in my head? It's hard to tell now that I'm on the other side, living this post-Hyperion life. If you've read anything about this book, you know it's a collection of short stories within the same universe revolving around the world of Hyperion and the mystical Shrike creature that promises to bring pain to humanity.
The first two stories, are probably the most graphic / grotesque. I learned my lesson about reading it at night. I'd say, if the Shrike shows up, just put the book down and go to bed.
The other thing about this book is that it's hard sci fi. I'll admit that I got a little confused by some of the players and concepts at the end. I'm actually excited to loan it out so that I can get insight from another reader. I'll also probably read it again. There's a ton of focus on time and a few theories within the book that aren't cleared up in the end, but I suspect to resolve in the second book.
In summary, walk, don't run, to pick up Hyperion. And by walk, I mean, walk slowly whilst preparing yourself for some intensity and some very violent scenes. But, ultimately, get ready for some great writing and amazing storytelling.
It's pretty much all true, but I think I might've made it worse in my head? It's hard to tell now that I'm on the other side, living this post-Hyperion life. If you've read anything about this book, you know it's a collection of short stories within the same universe revolving around the world of Hyperion and the mystical Shrike creature that promises to bring pain to humanity.
The first two stories, are probably the most graphic / grotesque. I learned my lesson about reading it at night. I'd say, if the Shrike shows up, just put the book down and go to bed.
The other thing about this book is that it's hard sci fi. I'll admit that I got a little confused by some of the players and concepts at the end. I'm actually excited to loan it out so that I can get insight from another reader. I'll also probably read it again. There's a ton of focus on time and a few theories within the book that aren't cleared up in the end, but I suspect to resolve in the second book.
In summary, walk, don't run, to pick up Hyperion. And by walk, I mean, walk slowly whilst preparing yourself for some intensity and some very violent scenes. But, ultimately, get ready for some great writing and amazing storytelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, War, Grief, Cursing, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Alcohol, Violence, Animal death, Gore, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Torture, Murder, and Medical trauma
Minor: Car accident and Pregnancy
manatad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's hard for me to say much except that I was surprisingly enraptured by this novel. I wish I could have taken the time to read it more slowly and savor it, but I had borrowed it off Libby and needed to finish it within the span of three weeks.
Hyperion was very different from the other books I have read so far this year. The main plot taking place within the present timeline of the novel takes more of a secondary role compared to the backstories of each of the seven main characters, whose personal vignettes make up the bulk of the novel. Each of these embedded narratives is written in a different style and tone, each one as distinct as the character it is associated with. Gradually, the mysteries of the main characters' motivations, the interstellar society they come from, and the dark entity awaiting their arrival on the planet Hyperion, are revealed to us readers before the narrative cuts off abruptly at the end of the book, making it necessary to read the sequel if one wishes to see the story to its conclusion.
I wasn't as bothered by the ending as my previous statement may imply because I found the entire book to be thoroughly enjoyable on its own. I think that the prose of the novel, particularly during the "Hyperion Cantos" section, feels consistently inspired, and I appreciate the numerous references to modernist poetry and classical epics. Dan Simmons explains just enough about the science and mechanics of his fictional universe to leave me feeling intrigued and not bored or very stupid. (I'm not even going to pretend I know enough about physics to tell the difference between what's real and what's speculative in these older science fiction novels.) And best of all, his descriptions of the various planets visited throughout the book, from their unique flora and fauna to the color of their skies, inspired so much wonder in me.
This is definitely a book that I think would benefit from a second reading by me at some point in the future. I'd like to spend more time thinking over what the strongest and weakest aspects of the story are, and to notice if there was anything I missed or glazed over on my brisk first read. Overall, I thought it was a refreshing novel, but I'm not sure precisely what kind of person I would recommend it to. I think there may be a glint of true literary merit to be seen here, but I couldn't recommend this book to anyone who isn't a true sci fi/space opera lover.
Hyperion was very different from the other books I have read so far this year. The main plot taking place within the present timeline of the novel takes more of a secondary role compared to the backstories of each of the seven main characters, whose personal vignettes make up the bulk of the novel. Each of these embedded narratives is written in a different style and tone, each one as distinct as the character it is associated with. Gradually, the mysteries of the main characters' motivations, the interstellar society they come from, and the dark entity awaiting their arrival on the planet Hyperion, are revealed to us readers before the narrative cuts off abruptly at the end of the book, making it necessary to read the sequel if one wishes to see the story to its conclusion.
I wasn't as bothered by the ending as my previous statement may imply because I found the entire book to be thoroughly enjoyable on its own. I think that the prose of the novel, particularly during the "Hyperion Cantos" section, feels consistently inspired, and I appreciate the numerous references to modernist poetry and classical epics. Dan Simmons explains just enough about the science and mechanics of his fictional universe to leave me feeling intrigued and not bored or very stupid. (I'm not even going to pretend I know enough about physics to tell the difference between what's real and what's speculative in these older science fiction novels.) And best of all, his descriptions of the various planets visited throughout the book, from their unique flora and fauna to the color of their skies, inspired so much wonder in me.
This is definitely a book that I think would benefit from a second reading by me at some point in the future. I'd like to spend more time thinking over what the strongest and weakest aspects of the story are, and to notice if there was anything I missed or glazed over on my brisk first read. Overall, I thought it was a refreshing novel, but I'm not sure precisely what kind of person I would recommend it to. I think there may be a glint of true literary merit to be seen here, but I couldn't recommend this book to anyone who isn't a true sci fi/space opera lover.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: War, Alcohol, Body horror, and Cursing
Minor: Torture, Death, Drug use, and Medical content
babudarabu's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Animal death, Colonisation, Grief, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Genocide, and War
sequelmage's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow…I was impressed with this book. Fantastic world-building and a very interesting story that unfolds through what I would describe as 6 novelettes told within a overarching story.
Just be prepared to jump right into the sequel, Fall of Hyperion. This book focuses a lot on the world building and ends kind of abruptly without much of a resolution in the overarching story. I suspect much of that resolution comes in the second book.
Just be prepared to jump right into the sequel, Fall of Hyperion. This book focuses a lot on the world building and ends kind of abruptly without much of a resolution in the overarching story. I suspect much of that resolution comes in the second book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Torture and Alcoholism
More...