When you are embarking on your 4th or 5th read of the Hyperion Cantos and no one you know has read it so you have to find people on UA-cam to talk to you about it.
We have more chances to convince someone to read “War and Peace” then “Hyperion”, lol It is one the most complex and darkest book ever written. And i think it is the best sci-fi book ever. I usually see it as a evil minded genius “child” of “Dune”.
I know the feeling. I read Hyperion when it came out. By now i read the Cantos about .8 to 10 times, But almost no one i knew read it. Even mostSF lovers i knew didn't know it . By now it has become a classic, but it remained rather unknown for over a decade or so,
@@nichelovek Especially if they happend to read Flasback first. Try telling someone who read Falshback first to read hyperion. That the same writer who extreme rigthwing trash, mostly wrote incredible subtle classics.
@@spiritualanarchist8162 now try being one of very few fans of the multiple hugo and nebula winning author Lois McMaster Bujold. I've often thought the difference between a geek in a hipster is that a geek wants everyone to love the things they love.
The ABSOLUTE BEST along with the "Dune" series by Frank and Brian Herbert and the "Foundation" series by Isaac Asimov. These three series had a profound impact on my life.
@@hoidtakesopioids well since he never responded. Without looking at my audible library or scratching my head over all the past books i've read, 5 top sci-fi books would be; 1 - Neuromancer (kinda niche and a little depressing at times, but amazing nonetheless) 2 - Ender's game series (there's actually like 7 books though people only mention the first two, absolutely amazing stuff, the shadow series parallels it in a great way) 3 - We are legion, we are bob (brilliant, humorous, though provoking, 10/10) 4 - Dune (timeless classic blah blah blah) 5 - Stranger in a strange land (a wee bit dated with the casual sexism but the book holds up and has some of the most quotable passages out there) 6 - bonus round, goes with 5, Starship Troopers (it's better than the movie, i swear) hope that helps :)
@@zacwilliams3574 Add Forever War, Foundation, HHGTTG. I have to say though Hyperion is probably top 3 for me, it's epic but personal and plot driven. Which I like.
The first and third books are my favorite in this series. None of the books are bad, though. Amazing ideas everywhere. What I found most crazy was how Martin Silenus went from one of my least favorite characters to my absolute favorite :)
I love Hyperion it's an absolutely amazing book. Probably my favourite Sci fi of all time. The other 3 are pretty awesome aswell. I was suprised by the ultimate ending and it actually took me ages to find the 4th book.
Thanks for the review! It's interesting... although I've always known that I cannot possibly be the only reader who is enamored of HYPERION, I don't know anyone else who has read it and loved it the way I do. And recently, it's come up on my UA-cam "radar" and I've been reading reviews of it and now I'm feeling as if I'm part of a crowd. Not in a bad way, though.... I LOVE the entire HYPERION/ENDYMION series. I read the first book as a paperback, then found the series in audiobook form, downloaded it, and went from there. There's so much information to unpack in order to properly understand this world that Dan has created that I find I get an ever-deepening understanding of it upon multiple listenings. I do acknowledge that the feel between HYPERION and FALL OF HYPERION can feel somewhat uneven but, as with THE LORD OF THE RINGS, I love a good long story that takes adventure on the road. Dan Simmons can be long-winded in his descriptions but that's what I love about this series-- it evokes such imagery in my imagination, that I can actually "see" the events as they unfold. But then again I'm an artist-- what else can I expect? I love the series for its characters and how they and their relationships evolve over the course of the story as I learn more about them. Even Martin Silenus, who acts like a real dick much of the time, but somehow I end up liking him a lot by the end of the book (even though his cynical dickishness is escalated even more in ENDYMION). ENDYMION, admittedly, gets quite a bit more mystical in feel than HYPERION but it still works for me. It brings up very interesting existential concepts that I find to be fascinating.
Man I agreed with almost every point you made! Extremely similar reading experience with the overly obtuse sci fi beginning and the weirdly long first tale that ended incredibly and sucked me in wanting to know all the other stories.
Love your "book analysis", you really nailed it there. I've read it twice, the 4 books and I think they are the best sc-fi books out there. I will look for your review of the rest of the books in the cantos. Keep up the good work
Fall of hyperion is the dumbest thing I've read this year. Ousters are furries. Void that binds is love. Future super humans have created the tombs for the shrike. But it's the AI that created the Shrike. The Shrike can at any point kill the human God but won't because he wants to ...ehh a fair fight with all 3 parts in place? The cybernet is a jungle. That has lions.. and bear AI... which scare the AI that created a God. There is no explanation for why Rachel Weintraub needs to be the Shrikes companion. The future humans seem to kick the ass of countless shrike. Why... why dont they just kill it..instead of sending one back Kassad makes no sense. And is only there to make a Israel / Palestine allegory by a man who clearly has a bias against Muslims (literally every Muslim world has some jihad or whatever wiping it out) and even Kassad has a weird German / Jiddish sounding name. (Fedmahn) Hyperion sucks. It's just a story that is inspired by multiple different genres of sci fi and blended. It has some good twists and turns but the prose is the worst ever. Simmons extensively and very obviously uses a thesaurus. The plots are full of holes. All the genres ge steals from be does worse. He can't even come up with a single good word for something. Instead we get "the all thing" and even for established words ge manages to ruin them "cyberpuke". Every fkn planet has a lapis sky, when that is a dark blue. Green tinged lapis sky, actually imagining it makes me cringe. Dan simmons is a hack
I enjoyed the first book, especially Lenar's and Martin's stories. Read the second book and enjoyed it even more, especially the parts with Ummon. Have to disagree, though, as I've previously read the Dune series and I enjoyed the first 4 books much more. Plus, there's no arguing how good Dune is. Still, hyperion is pretty good and enjoyable.
This is the third Hyperion review I've watched as I wasn't quite sold on it; you have very trusting eyes, so I've decided to give it a try and get back to you.
I'm currently rereading this series again for the 3rd time. I had to put the first book down again after Rachel's story for a few weeks due to an overwhelming emotional response. I cannot hear "See you later alligator" without tearring up since my first read through over 15 years ago. Absolutely love and recommend these books.
The setup with the pilgrim stories reminds me of the writers stories from chuck palahniuk's Haunted. I love Hyperion for it, the stories set up the characters so well.
Love seeing this book getting some love one of my favourite books of all time and although the second isn't as good the third one Endymion is a really great story.. in my opinion.
Thanks for the review! I just finished this book and I've been trying to find some decent reviews to compare my thoughts against. I like how you mentioned Simmons' control of writing style, it was impressive how he catered it so differently to his characters.
I was led to the Hyperion Cantos by a character in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya who recommended the book to another character as an explanation of her nature. I highly recommend the series. It does not disappoint.
awesome review that avoided spoilers very well -- its been on my list for awhile too, but i just went the three body problem route so it will have to wait but eventually i will read it
I recently got a job where there's a lot of downtime and I can read, this is the first book I've picked up in years and am addicted. Had 15 pages left when I left work today so I'll finish it this weekend, and have the next 3 sitting next to it. Really brought be back into reading as I haven't read much since 2008. Also, I'm in the same boat, been recommending this book to everyone I see.
I whole-heartedly agree with your review of the first book. Especially the idea that it works on its own and can simply be taken as its own thing, without having to read the rest of the series to get to a fulfilling conclusion. But maybe I had a kinda different entrance point, since through my literary studies I was, and am, really really into John Keats. Reading Hyperion, the Cantos parts and the poet´s perspecitve, if you are already infatuated with John Keats, turned this book into an absolute epiphany. I absolutely recommend reading The Fall of Hyperion and The Hyperion Fragment, both epic poems by John Keats, and then revisiting the Hyperion - Cantos by Simmons. Knowing John Keats´ material, work and life opens up so many more roads and facettes of Simmons´ series its breathtaking. The motifs of greek mythos, personal development and pursuit of truth through loss, suffering and sacrifice provided by Keats make him an essential key to unlocking full access to Simmons´ books. I think its even more integral to the whole thing than knowing the Canterbury Tales.
I only became interested in Keats because Dan Simmons is a genius. What's the Keats quote he says in the book about violence? I can't find it on Google anywhere. Unless Dan just made it up
Hyperion and the second part is one of greatest space operas ever written Period! The only other novels that are fairly similar to it are Dune, A Fire upon the deep, and Revelation space.
A friend suggested the Hyperion series to me, and I was not disappointed. Good review. And you've confirmed my suspicions about the first book being formatted like Canterbury Tales.
Read it forever ago and I loved it, especially the Priests tale. I don't ever recall being creeped out by book besides that one, and I mean in the most loving best way possible! Hahaha
That romance gets misunderstood by people who seemed to gave skinmed through the books. It's not that weird of Aeinea is 23 and Raul is 35. Now, of course none of us have any experience with significant time dilation between couples which is why I assume that detractors are just skipping or skimming through critical parts of the story.
All of the tales are super, everyone of them (maybe liking Kassad's romantic maneuver less, but still a pretty good one), but my favorite's got to be the Consul's, following closely by Hoyt's and Weintraub's.
Nice and accurate review, I found this book on the street in my neighbourhood along with part two and a few other fantasy series, clearly a person with my taste..
Farcasting is much more akin to "Stargates" but you can see through them and there is no transition period at all. People have houses that exist on multiple planets at the same time, connected by farcasters (there's even a river than traverses all the planets of the hegemony via farcasters)
I might still place dune as my #1 sci fi, but really its not that much of a sci fi novel (more of just a sci fi setting). As far as hardcore scifi goes hyperion cantos is second to none imo! Thanks for the review so hard to find other people that have actually read it!
I've read it multiple times it is an amazing book. The second book is really like the second half of this book. Books three and four are done the same way they are like one story split in half
I have been purposely skipping Hyperion because of the story within a story style. I have read many books in this style and find myself preferring the story of one character over the others. Your endorsement is so enthusiastic I may have to reconsider and give this one a try. I can't imagine a book you recommend to everyone and their mother...Father, brother, and sister is bad. Fun Video. Nice job.
Hyperion is amazing. It is really hard to define what it is, it is simply good. I think I read it 3 times, and also listened to a great audiobook from audible. I did read first two books, but I real need to get a bit in the last 2 books too. I fell like the Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion really need to be read together, as a one book. It was split into two books only due to practical reasons, there is a total time and character continuity between the two books, reading just first, without reading the second doesn't much sense. Sure, the second one has a bit different style, but it makes a total sense.
It is hard 'I' in Shrike just like the bird that it is named after. The shrike bird impales its victims on thorns of trees and barber wire fences to eat later.
Intricately knowing all the fundamental details that lead to the collapse of the hegemony and the climax to all the 1st set of memorable characters does take that spot
Probably been mentioned the Shrike, its named after the bird of the same name that impales its prey on thorns. In the context of Hyperion makes lovely if not morbid sense.
Lenar Hoyt's story was the craziest in the first book and is extremely important to the state of the universe in the last two books. I cant understand how some people will only read the first book. The whole story has only just started in Book one.
Easily the best sci-fi series I've read. Shame you didn't finish the reviews of all 4 books. It would have been nice if you had included comments on what story was published separately, the fourth tale I think you said.
It funny how I was just thinking this morning that it's time for me to re-read these four. Looks like a pizza-book binge fest in my future. Enjoyed the vid/review.
@@jayoenix8763 I re-read for the same reason I visit the same friends over and over. Just because I have read a book once doesn't mean I have gleaned all the knowledge and entertainment there is to be had.
I’m reading it right now and I agree the first story drug at first but the payoff was good. I confess I wish he would just get to the confrontation with the shrike already.
Sol's story is the only book that ever made me cry. I've read holocaust survivors books that weren't as moving as what Dan Simmons did with the Scholars story. The entire series is great but Hyperion shines with the brightness of the nuke that Lamia watched with her father. Raul Endymion is my favorite unlikely hero.
You're so right about Cloud Atlas: it SUCKED! ..... It sucked so much that I had to tell off my friend for recommending it, and right after I'd just read the Xeelee Sequence, which is a true hard sci-fi, not an easy act to follow.
There traveling at a percentage of the speed of light. somewhere between 10-25% the speed of light time distortion happens for the people traveling (Time distorts way before that but things start to get weird at the previous numbers) . Thats all pretty standard the uniqueness is how they describe the accumulation of relativistic time lag which is time debt. a similar story that uses the pilgrims chosen for not completely known reasons to go investigate a anomaly is "Salvation" by Peter F Hamilton. Run Lola Run I think is a movie that uses the connected stories model like Cloud Atlas but isn't scifi. Im not reading it I enjoy Audio books and there is a couple of copies on you tube. the original poet has been sent to Hyperion by the CEO to investigate and is talking to emilio is where im at right now. Also if you want more books that explores the effect and complicated human stories of time dilation and traveling at the speed of light you might want to check out Alistair Reynolds. I think he considers FTL or wormholes a unrealistic trope so most of his books do not include it so most human civilizations are disconnected by the time it takes to travel 10 or 20 light years.
Nice, I read Ender's game, Ender's shadow and Speaker for the dead and they are awasome with Speaker being my favorite. Now I am reading Hyperion and Sol's story is making me hold my tears. The priest's story reminded me of Speaker so much.
It is my favorite SciFi book. It is about God and Man, Creator and Creation. It is profound and moving, terrifying and sad. The construction of the book is a wonder to read. Each story sets out the personal collateral damage of the search for God. I am always amazed by this book. it is worth numerous re-reads.
Good review! I uh haven't read all of Hyperion. I couldn't. Writing style was excellent and fun to follow. The story was good, clearly an excellent read. But there was something I couldn't put my finger on. It was so dark, it kinda bothered me. I've read scary stuff before and it wasn't the Shrike that threw me. It was the seeming spiral downward of this stage of human culture and knowledge. I mean, how could this happen and all fingers pointing to the Shrike as its' cause? And it came about so allofasudden. Anyway, one of the reviewers compared it with Dune and I agree, although Dune, though very dramatic, was more uplifting.
Was the blade runner series novel-wise any good? Scifi? I LOVED the hyperion series. I'm startimg the third one soon. It was my first scifi novel, but I do/did have a love of scifi movies. Also was the fourth story the consul's grandmother's story?
I read Hyperion in early 2018 and had pretty much this exact same reaction. I never bothered with the sequels precisely because there was no way to hold the particularly stylish unique flair of the first. Nonetheless, I would like to say that this was not a one time bit of genius from Dan Simmons. I strongly recommend looking into his book "Ilium" for another helping of unexpected story structures, a really intricate world, fascinating characters and stylish writing. Disclaimer: I am only about halfway through as I write this, so I cannot vouch for the second half, but so far it is very very close to the level of brilliance of Hyperion.
I think the second book (Fall of Hyperion) is even better, and is really essential. I feel like 1st and 2nd book should really be considered as a one book from the story perspective. I did read the first book 2 times, and listened to audiobook too. Then I did read 2nd book, and it was clear it was absolutely essential to read it.
IMO - yes. Closely followeby VV's fire upon deep which has the best intro sequence ever which gets you GLUED to the book Instantly. Hyperion is on another level. It is not perfect as i did not like the ending and how the Shrike was destroyed and how they didnt extend and finish the Jesus Christ story..... I didnt read, endymonion, though,so i cant say shit if these topics were handled there . So due to the Shrike ending sequence, i can still say i m looking for a perfect sf book. But Hyperion is very, VERY close to that.
I am most of the way through the first book and loving it. But I have to make a decision on buying the next one in the series and have heard mixed reviews...
i felt the second book resolves the open questions left after the first. if you read the first one, the second one is essential. I'm now wondering whether to read the third, though.
@@ric112 I read the second and loved the answers to some of the big questions and ideas. I actually just finished the third this week. It’s a very different story but starts to look further into some of those big ideas and tackle the ones that weren’t fully answered in 1 and 2. I now can’t wait to read the fourth which is the biggest and longest.
Loved Hyperion......the 2nd book killed my interest to read the rest of the series though. It felt like the author spent years perfecting the perfect book, and used Cant Tales as a guide, then spent 6-months writing the next one with no guide. When I re-read Hyperion, in a few years, I hope to have forgotten the 2nd.
I 100% agree. Well said! The second one is so abysmal. The characters also seemed to have completely deflated and became way different in the worst ways. Hopefully the second book gets purged from my mind soon!
disagree. The second book is very good and opens up the political intrigue between the technocore, hegemony and ousters. I will say that the writing style is less creative in Fall, but its absolutely necessary to enhance the first book and properly set up the last 2 books in the series.
Over all hands down my favorite series of books. Dan Simmons is a master at his craft The Hyperion cantos combines the best of sci-fi, literary reference, world building, and even existential philosophy. I remembering hearing Simmons explain that he had wanted to publish the first two books together but knew it would be indigestible in that format.
this happened to me with "dune", the first book is amazing and my favorite sci fi book ever, but I hated the second book and stopped there, i never bothered reading the rest. considering what wikipedia says about the plots, I won't waste my time, I'll pretend only the first book exists.
When you are embarking on your 4th or 5th read of the Hyperion Cantos and no one you know has read it so you have to find people on UA-cam to talk to you about it.
We have more chances to convince someone to read “War and Peace” then “Hyperion”, lol
It is one the most complex and darkest book ever written. And i think it is the best sci-fi book ever. I usually see it as a evil minded genius “child” of “Dune”.
I know the feeling. I read Hyperion when it came out. By now i read the Cantos about .8 to 10 times, But almost no one i knew read it. Even mostSF lovers i knew didn't know it . By now it has become a classic, but it remained rather unknown for over a decade or so,
@@nichelovek Especially if they happend to read Flasback first. Try telling someone who read Falshback first to read hyperion. That the same writer who extreme rigthwing trash, mostly wrote incredible subtle classics.
@@spiritualanarchist8162 now try being one of very few fans of the multiple hugo and nebula winning author Lois McMaster Bujold. I've often thought the difference between a geek in a hipster is that a geek wants everyone to love the things they love.
ugh so true man
OMG these books. Haven't experienced anything quite like them.
The ABSOLUTE BEST along with the "Dune" series by Frank and Brian Herbert and the "Foundation" series by Isaac Asimov. These three series had a profound impact on my life.
Dune is by far the best IMO, Hyperion series is good but not enough to make it the best Sci fi book or series of all time.
@@wauzers dune is kinda boring.
@@andruskungla6247 Then go watch an action movie.
@@wauzers no thanks. I'l rather reread hyperion again.
@@andruskungla6247 Go for it.
The first paragraph of this book is my favorite in anything I’ve ever read, and I will go on for days about the whole series if I’m allowed. 💖
First, read this series when i was 14, I have since read it over again at least ten times. Top five sci-fi ever for sure!
could you list others in your top 5? I really want to get into sci-fi
@@hoidtakesopioids well since he never responded. Without looking at my audible library or scratching my head over all the past books i've read, 5 top sci-fi books would be; 1 - Neuromancer (kinda niche and a little depressing at times, but amazing nonetheless) 2 - Ender's game series (there's actually like 7 books though people only mention the first two, absolutely amazing stuff, the shadow series parallels it in a great way) 3 - We are legion, we are bob (brilliant, humorous, though provoking, 10/10) 4 - Dune (timeless classic blah blah blah) 5 - Stranger in a strange land (a wee bit dated with the casual sexism but the book holds up and has some of the most quotable passages out there) 6 - bonus round, goes with 5, Starship Troopers (it's better than the movie, i swear) hope that helps :)
@@zacwilliams3574 Lmao, man. You're awesome.
@@zacwilliams3574 Add Forever War, Foundation, HHGTTG. I have to say though Hyperion is probably top 3 for me, it's epic but personal and plot driven. Which I like.
@@zacwilliams3574 not sure about 'We are legion, we are bob', Hyperion cantos is in a different level
There is a tree of pain on which the Shrike impales it's victims; but is the a Shrike toilet of pain? I've always wondered.
The audiobook on audible? Absolutely best voice acting, nailed the characters, amazing, give it a listen! Miss shark, miss shark, miss shark.
shark/shark/shark
do/do/do
Listening to this on audible right now. Great 'read'
The first and third books are my favorite in this series. None of the books are bad, though. Amazing ideas everywhere. What I found most crazy was how Martin Silenus went from one of my least favorite characters to my absolute favorite :)
Uncle Martin!
I love Hyperion it's an absolutely amazing book. Probably my favourite Sci fi of all time. The other 3 are pretty awesome aswell. I was suprised by the ultimate ending and it actually took me ages to find the 4th book.
Thanks for the review!
It's interesting... although I've always known that I cannot possibly be the only reader who is enamored of HYPERION, I don't know anyone else who has read it and loved it the way I do. And recently, it's come up on my UA-cam "radar" and I've been reading reviews of it and now I'm feeling as if I'm part of a crowd. Not in a bad way, though....
I LOVE the entire HYPERION/ENDYMION series. I read the first book as a paperback, then found the series in audiobook form, downloaded it, and went from there. There's so much information to unpack in order to properly understand this world that Dan has created that I find I get an ever-deepening understanding of it upon multiple listenings.
I do acknowledge that the feel between HYPERION and FALL OF HYPERION can feel somewhat uneven but, as with THE LORD OF THE RINGS, I love a good long story that takes adventure on the road. Dan Simmons can be long-winded in his descriptions but that's what I love about this series-- it evokes such imagery in my imagination, that I can actually "see" the events as they unfold. But then again I'm an artist-- what else can I expect?
I love the series for its characters and how they and their relationships evolve over the course of the story as I learn more about them. Even Martin Silenus, who acts like a real dick much of the time, but somehow I end up liking him a lot by the end of the book (even though his cynical dickishness is escalated even more in ENDYMION).
ENDYMION, admittedly, gets quite a bit more mystical in feel than HYPERION but it still works for me. It brings up very interesting existential concepts that I find to be fascinating.
Thanks for letting us know about the child on the bicycle .
Man I agreed with almost every point you made! Extremely similar reading experience with the overly obtuse sci fi beginning and the weirdly long first tale that ended incredibly and sucked me in wanting to know all the other stories.
Love your "book analysis", you really nailed it there.
I've read it twice, the 4 books and I think they are the best sc-fi books out there.
I will look for your review of the rest of the books in the cantos.
Keep up the good work
Me too, this is the best sci-fi ever
Hyperion is very interesting and really develops the world. Gets you ready for Fall of Hyperion. Fall of Hyperion is f*cking insane later in the book.
Fall of hyperion is the dumbest thing I've read this year. Ousters are furries. Void that binds is love. Future super humans have created the tombs for the shrike. But it's the AI that created the Shrike. The Shrike can at any point kill the human God but won't because he wants to ...ehh a fair fight with all 3 parts in place? The cybernet is a jungle. That has lions.. and bear AI... which scare the AI that created a God. There is no explanation for why Rachel Weintraub needs to be the Shrikes companion.
The future humans seem to kick the ass of countless shrike. Why... why dont they just kill it..instead of sending one back
Kassad makes no sense. And is only there to make a Israel / Palestine allegory by a man who clearly has a bias against Muslims (literally every Muslim world has some jihad or whatever wiping it out) and even Kassad has a weird German / Jiddish sounding name. (Fedmahn)
Hyperion sucks. It's just a story that is inspired by multiple different genres of sci fi and blended. It has some good twists and turns but the prose is the worst ever. Simmons extensively and very obviously uses a thesaurus. The plots are full of holes. All the genres ge steals from be does worse. He can't even come up with a single good word for something. Instead we get "the all thing" and even for established words ge manages to ruin them "cyberpuke".
Every fkn planet has a lapis sky, when that is a dark blue. Green tinged lapis sky, actually imagining it makes me cringe.
Dan simmons is a hack
One of my favorite Sci-Fi books. Thanks for reviewing it!
I enjoyed the first book, especially Lenar's and Martin's stories.
Read the second book and enjoyed it even more, especially the parts with Ummon.
Have to disagree, though, as I've previously read the Dune series and I enjoyed the first 4 books much more. Plus, there's no arguing how good Dune is.
Still, hyperion is pretty good and enjoyable.
This is the third Hyperion review I've watched as I wasn't quite sold on it; you have very trusting eyes, so I've decided to give it a try and get back to you.
I'm currently rereading this series again for the 3rd time. I had to put the first book down again after Rachel's story for a few weeks due to an overwhelming emotional response. I cannot hear "See you later alligator" without tearring up since my first read through over 15 years ago. Absolutely love and recommend these books.
This is so true. The scholars story made me tear up ! I am glad people around the world share the same feeling.
just started reading this book and i have to say its got me hooked, looking forward to finishing it.
Hyperion, I plan to read this a second time.
Third time is even better.
The setup with the pilgrim stories reminds me of the writers stories from chuck palahniuk's Haunted. I love Hyperion for it, the stories set up the characters so well.
Love seeing this book getting some love one of my favourite books of all time and although the second isn't as good the third one Endymion is a really great story.. in my opinion.
Endymions the 4th one
Such a great series. Simmons is a truly talented writer and his other novels like Ilium are amazing.
Nice job. Hope you are still at it. This is one of those things where the end of the second book totally kicked my ass.
I love Hyperion. It's definitely my favourite sci-fi novel ever. The whole series is great too.
You also pronounce Shrike correctly :).
I've been wanting to read this for a while! It's nice seeing you making a good old book review😄
It's goooooood definitely give it a go! I had missed making reviews, I've been in such a reading slump lately (until this book -- !)
Thanks for the review! I just finished this book and I've been trying to find some decent reviews to compare my thoughts against. I like how you mentioned Simmons' control of writing style, it was impressive how he catered it so differently to his characters.
I was led to the Hyperion Cantos by a character in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya who recommended the book to another character as an explanation of her nature. I highly recommend the series. It does not disappoint.
awesome review that avoided spoilers very well -- its been on my list for awhile too, but i just went the three body problem route so it will have to wait but eventually i will read it
The last sci-fi suggestion I checked blew my mind, so this is definitely going on my list. Good to see you & happy new year!
Excellent, this one might even be better... ! Happy new year to you as well!
Which one was that?
Okay this channel was a hidden gem, good reviews and a good taste in books. Hyperion is in my top ten sci-fi series
I recently got a job where there's a lot of downtime and I can read, this is the first book I've picked up in years and am addicted. Had 15 pages left when I left work today so I'll finish it this weekend, and have the next 3 sitting next to it. Really brought be back into reading as I haven't read much since 2008. Also, I'm in the same boat, been recommending this book to everyone I see.
I whole-heartedly agree with your review of the first book. Especially the idea that it works on its own and can simply be taken as its own thing, without having to read the rest of the series to get to a fulfilling conclusion.
But maybe I had a kinda different entrance point, since through my literary studies I was, and am, really really into John Keats. Reading Hyperion, the Cantos parts and the poet´s perspecitve, if you are already infatuated with John Keats, turned this book into an absolute epiphany.
I absolutely recommend reading The Fall of Hyperion and The Hyperion Fragment, both epic poems by John Keats, and then revisiting the Hyperion - Cantos by Simmons. Knowing John Keats´ material, work and life opens up so many more roads and facettes of Simmons´ series its breathtaking.
The motifs of greek mythos, personal development and pursuit of truth through loss, suffering and sacrifice provided by Keats make him an essential key to unlocking full access to Simmons´ books. I think its even more integral to the whole thing than knowing the Canterbury Tales.
I only became interested in Keats because Dan Simmons is a genius. What's the Keats quote he says in the book about violence? I can't find it on Google anywhere. Unless Dan just made it up
Hyperion and the second part is one of greatest space operas ever written Period! The only other novels that are fairly similar to it are Dune, A Fire upon the deep, and Revelation space.
Excellent review. Thank you for it. I love this series and I just wanted to listen to someone speak well about it for a while.
That's pretty much how I felt about Hyperion
A friend suggested the Hyperion series to me, and I was not disappointed. Good review. And you've confirmed my suspicions about the first book being formatted like Canterbury Tales.
Dan Simmons in general is a good author his sci fi fantasys and his horror novels are all pretty good
I'm always interested in good SciFi book recommendations. There's a lot of not great SF books out there, but when you find a good one, it's a joy.
Read it forever ago and I loved it, especially the Priests tale. I don't ever recall being creeped out by book besides that one, and I mean in the most loving best way possible! Hahaha
The Priest's Tale is an almost Lovecraftian horror tale- using the classic "found notebook" gag.
@@jasoncaldwell5627 I'm actually at that point again, but with the audio book this time. Great voice work
The Rise of Endymion was my favorite with Hyperion being a close second. I enjoyed the romance with Raul and Aenea. The adventure never hurts either.
That romance gets misunderstood by people who seemed to gave skinmed through the books. It's not that weird of Aeinea is 23 and Raul is 35. Now, of course none of us have any experience with significant time dilation between couples which is why I assume that detractors are just skipping or skimming through critical parts of the story.
I agree, rise of endymion is wonderful. Also Rhadamanth Nemes is a great name. And a great character
this video convinced me to read the book and i'm enjoying it so far~
I absolutely love this series. I was reading Dune when I started the first book. I'm on Rise of Endymion, and still haven't finished Dune....
Honestly don’t know which one is my favorite. I truly loved each of them.
All of the tales are super, everyone of them (maybe liking Kassad's romantic maneuver less, but still a pretty good one), but my favorite's got to be the Consul's, following closely by Hoyt's and Weintraub's.
Nice and accurate review, I found this book on the street in my neighbourhood along with part two and a few other fantasy series, clearly a person with my taste..
Farcasting is much more akin to "Stargates" but you can see through them and there is no transition period at all. People have houses that exist on multiple planets at the same time, connected by farcasters (there's even a river than traverses all the planets of the hegemony via farcasters)
Yesss, just finished it! Fantastic novel!
I might still place dune as my #1 sci fi, but really its not that much of a sci fi novel (more of just a sci fi setting). As far as hardcore scifi goes hyperion cantos is second to none imo! Thanks for the review so hard to find other people that have actually read it!
I've read it multiple times it is an amazing book. The second book is really like the second half of this book. Books three and four are done the same way they are like one story split in half
The shared moment made me cry
word
I have been purposely skipping Hyperion because of the story within a story style. I have read many books in this style and find myself preferring the story of one character over the others. Your endorsement is so enthusiastic I may have to reconsider and give this one a try. I can't imagine a book you recommend to everyone and their mother...Father, brother, and sister is bad. Fun Video. Nice job.
Hyperion is amazing. It is really hard to define what it is, it is simply good. I think I read it 3 times, and also listened to a great audiobook from audible. I did read first two books, but I real need to get a bit in the last 2 books too. I fell like the Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion really need to be read together, as a one book. It was split into two books only due to practical reasons, there is a total time and character continuity between the two books, reading just first, without reading the second doesn't much sense. Sure, the second one has a bit different style, but it makes a total sense.
It is hard 'I' in Shrike just like the bird that it is named after. The shrike bird impales its victims on thorns of trees and barber wire fences to eat later.
"The Fall of Hyperion" is my favorite in the series, I think it is actually much better than the first one and the next two don't even compare.
Intricately knowing all the fundamental details that lead to the collapse of the hegemony and the climax to all the 1st set of memorable characters does take that spot
I agree with you 100% and I hope you read THE FALL OF HYPERION.
I love the book and you hit it all. Thank you. Subscribing to you hoping for more good stuff.
Probably been mentioned the Shrike, its named after the bird of the same name that impales its prey on thorns. In the context of Hyperion makes lovely if not morbid sense.
Lenar Hoyt's story was the craziest in the first book and is extremely important to the state of the universe in the last two books. I cant understand how some people will only read the first book. The whole story has only just started in Book one.
One of the best, for sure 👌
Great quartet of books
I just started reading Hyperion, about 1/3 of the way through, and I'm having the same kind of reaction: Wow, this is good! Who knew!
I'm reading it for the second time. I first read it 8 years ago, so I only remember bit and pieces of it. But I remember that I really liked it then.
Wonderful books!
I thought the bit with the priest of reminiscent of Lovecraft.
Its too funny to be Lovecraft, but I see where you're coming from
Reading it rn it may be my favorite book of all time omg it’s so good
I'm already 60% of the way through book 3... i started reading the series like 2 weeks ago
Easily the best sci-fi series I've read. Shame you didn't finish the reviews of all 4 books. It would have been nice if you had included comments on what story was published separately, the fourth tale I think you said.
It funny how I was just thinking this morning that it's time for me to re-read these four. Looks like a pizza-book binge fest in my future. Enjoyed the vid/review.
Why would you re-read it? Save the time and read other great books. I can recommend you some which are similar and as good as hyperion
@@jayoenix8763 I re-read for the same reason I visit the same friends over and over. Just because I have read a book once doesn't mean I have gleaned all the knowledge and entertainment there is to be had.
Such a great book, and such an amazing series!
It took me too long to read this book. I'm halfway through and it's already blown me away.
It's top tier sci fi for sure
I’m reading it right now and I agree the first story drug at first but the payoff was good. I confess I wish he would just get to the confrontation with the shrike already.
Hyperion and Endymion..... affected me.... I LOVE DAN SIMMONS!!!
i subscribed to your channel because i like the book AND you`re beautiful !! both are equally the reason for subscription.
You've got it. "Shrike" (rhymes with "like") is named after a particularly brutal real-world bird who has fun with thorns...
ALWAYS START SCI-FI WITH DUNE.
I bought this book but I haven't read it yet. I hope to get to it this year even though it's almost over.
Sol's story is the only book that ever made me cry. I've read holocaust survivors books that weren't as moving as what Dan Simmons did with the Scholars story. The entire series is great but Hyperion shines with the brightness of the nuke that Lamia watched with her father. Raul Endymion is my favorite unlikely hero.
Inb4 Lamia watched the bike behind a blast screen
The best! The whole cantos!
You're so right about Cloud Atlas: it SUCKED! ..... It sucked so much that I had to tell off my friend for recommending it, and right after I'd just read the Xeelee Sequence, which is a true hard sci-fi, not an easy act to follow.
this book is amazing!! that is all.
There traveling at a percentage of the speed of light. somewhere between 10-25% the speed of light time distortion happens for the people traveling (Time distorts way before that but things start to get weird at the previous numbers) . Thats all pretty standard the uniqueness is how they describe the accumulation of relativistic time lag which is time debt. a similar story that uses the pilgrims chosen for not completely known reasons to go investigate a anomaly is "Salvation" by Peter F Hamilton. Run Lola Run I think is a movie that uses the connected stories model like Cloud Atlas but isn't scifi. Im not reading it I enjoy Audio books and there is a couple of copies on you tube.
the original poet has been sent to Hyperion by the CEO to investigate and is talking to emilio is where im at right now. Also if you want more books that explores the effect and complicated human stories of time dilation and traveling at the speed of light you might want to check out Alistair Reynolds. I think he considers FTL or wormholes a unrealistic trope so most of his books do not include it so most human civilizations are disconnected by the time it takes to travel 10 or 20 light years.
I literally swallowed whole four books in 2 months. And then went for Enders Game quadrology.
Nice, I read Ender's game, Ender's shadow and Speaker for the dead and they are awasome with Speaker being my favorite. Now I am reading Hyperion and Sol's story is making me hold my tears. The priest's story reminded me of Speaker so much.
I am reading this damn thing right now!
You pronounced it correctly eventually. SHRIKE sounds like BIKE or STRIKE.
1. Detectives tale
2. Priest’s tale
3. Poets tale
4. Scholars tale
5. Soldiers tale
6. Consuls tale
It is my favorite SciFi book. It is about God and Man, Creator and Creation. It is profound and moving, terrifying and sad. The construction of the book is a wonder to read. Each story sets out the personal collateral damage of the search for God. I am always amazed by this book. it is worth numerous re-reads.
Is that a JORGE CAMPOS shirt in the background???
yeah but can your cat dance to the tune of the river rain playing on my window sill
A shrike (pronounced like strike but h instead of t) is a kind of bird that is kind of a nasty predator
moreeee videosss I read all 4 books 2 years ago, rn I'm rereading and just finished FoH.
Good review! I uh haven't read all of Hyperion. I couldn't. Writing style was excellent and fun to follow. The story was good, clearly an excellent read. But there was something I couldn't put my finger on. It was so dark, it kinda bothered me. I've read scary stuff before and it wasn't the Shrike that threw me. It was the seeming spiral downward of this stage of human culture and knowledge. I mean, how could this happen and all fingers pointing to the Shrike as its' cause? And it came about so allofasudden. Anyway, one of the reviewers compared it with Dune and I agree, although Dune, though very dramatic, was more uplifting.
Only books that come close to the Dune series...
Was the blade runner series novel-wise any good? Scifi? I LOVED the hyperion series. I'm startimg the third one soon. It was my first scifi novel, but I do/did have a love of scifi movies.
Also was the fourth story the consul's grandmother's story?
do androids dream of electric sheep is a great book, but much more sober and slow in comparison to Hyperion.
I read Hyperion in early 2018 and had pretty much this exact same reaction. I never bothered with the sequels precisely because there was no way to hold the particularly stylish unique flair of the first. Nonetheless, I would like to say that this was not a one time bit of genius from Dan Simmons. I strongly recommend looking into his book "Ilium" for another helping of unexpected story structures, a really intricate world, fascinating characters and stylish writing.
Disclaimer: I am only about halfway through as I write this, so I cannot vouch for the second half, but so far it is very very close to the level of brilliance of Hyperion.
The first novel is an excellent book. But it is worth reading the other books as well. The Endymion-Novells (3 and 4) are amazing in their own right.
I think the second book (Fall of Hyperion) is even better, and is really essential. I feel like 1st and 2nd book should really be considered as a one book from the story perspective. I did read the first book 2 times, and listened to audiobook too. Then I did read 2nd book, and it was clear it was absolutely essential to read it.
IMO - yes. Closely followeby VV's fire upon deep which has the best intro sequence ever which gets you GLUED to the book Instantly.
Hyperion is on another level. It is not perfect as i did not like the ending and how the Shrike was destroyed and how they didnt extend and finish the Jesus Christ story..... I didnt read, endymonion, though,so i cant say shit if these topics were handled there .
So due to the Shrike ending sequence, i can still say i m looking for a perfect sf book. But Hyperion is very, VERY close to that.
Nothing prepares you for the tragedy that is 'The Scholar's Story'
What was the shrikes motivation
I got this book as a reddit secret santa and just finished reading it. I very much agree with your good video.
I am most of the way through the first book and loving it. But I have to make a decision on buying the next one in the series and have heard mixed reviews...
i felt the second book resolves the open questions left after the first. if you read the first one, the second one is essential. I'm now wondering whether to read the third, though.
@@ric112 I read the second and loved the answers to some of the big questions and ideas. I actually just finished the third this week. It’s a very different story but starts to look further into some of those big ideas and tackle the ones that weren’t fully answered in 1 and 2. I now can’t wait to read the fourth which is the biggest and longest.
@@davidrobinson8954 ok cool, thanks. I might just give it a go then
Loved Hyperion......the 2nd book killed my interest to read the rest of the series though. It felt like the author spent years perfecting the perfect book, and used Cant Tales as a guide, then spent 6-months writing the next one with no guide. When I re-read Hyperion, in a few years, I hope to have forgotten the 2nd.
I 100% agree. Well said! The second one is so abysmal. The characters also seemed to have completely deflated and became way different in the worst ways. Hopefully the second book gets purged from my mind soon!
disagree. The second book is very good and opens up the political intrigue between the technocore, hegemony and ousters. I will say that the writing style is less creative in Fall, but its absolutely necessary to enhance the first book and properly set up the last 2 books in the series.
Over all hands down my favorite series of books. Dan Simmons is a master at his craft The Hyperion cantos combines the best of sci-fi, literary reference, world building, and even existential philosophy.
I remembering hearing Simmons explain that he had wanted to publish the first two books together but knew it would be indigestible in that format.
this happened to me with "dune", the first book is amazing and my favorite sci fi book ever, but I hated the second book and stopped there, i never bothered reading the rest. considering what wikipedia says about the plots, I won't waste my time, I'll pretend only the first book exists.