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alica2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
One thing that did feel kind of clunky to me was the general structure and pacing, since the story is basically just all of the main characters sharing their backstories while traveling on a (likely doomed) pilgrimage on the planet Hyperion. However, I ended up being so compelled by each character's story that it didn't matter how awkwardly the transition scenes began. All of the stories added some intriguing mystery to the pilgrimage and made the book almost feel like a thriller. Also Sol's story made me cry ;3;
Another drawback is that the story isn't actually complete in book 1, which I guess is acceptable since I knew this was part of a series, but I was still kind of expecting the main plot to have some sort of wrap-up. There were also some slurs that I was not expecting (the main one I can think of right now is the r-slur, and there was also possibly the f-slur). I think there were only a handful of instances of them, but they were still jarring.
Graphic: Sexual content and Dementia
Moderate: Gore
giant_manta_ray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Torture, Ableism, and Sexual content
bandolyre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The story is told in a series of vignettes, one from each character's point of view. Some are very serious, some lighthearted, but ultimately all are tragic in their own ways and help develop the world of the Hegemony and the story of Hyperion and The Shrike.
The book is absolutely magnificent in its story telling: each character feels totally unique in their storytelling style, so that the book feels like it has 6 authors instead of one, but the cohesion of these stories' intersections is something special.
There is one particular vignette that has haunted me for days since I finished the book:
Read Hyperion; don't not read Hyperion. You'll enjoy it if you like:
- space travel time dilation hijinks
- razorblades the space monster
- Persian space marines
- star ships made out of trees
- drunken poetry
- creepy crucifixion imagery
It's a wild ride and I really enjoyed it.
Graphic: Gore, War, Child death, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Genocide, Medical trauma, and Sexual content
jcooper221's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It took me three months to read, however. I’m not a fan of the short-story/anthology format, I kept losing interest after finishing one tale knowing the next would be completely different. The overarching story was pretty static too, not a lot going on, just journeying from one place to the next. Worse,
A few of the tales were interesting, but several were just the author’s barely concealed sexual fantasies.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Terminal illness
captainpash's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: War, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Torture, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Death, and Sexual content
luketheduke022's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, War, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship
It's worth reading! Just a bit of a slog for me.wreckaj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Violence, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: War and Murder
mochikochicken's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual content, War, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship
cynthetic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, War, Torture, and Sexual content
manatad's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: War, Alcohol, Body horror, and Cursing
Minor: Torture, Death, Drug use, and Medical content